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Topic: Wanted to buy (Read 1105 times) previous topic - next topic

Wanted to buy

Hi all,
I am looking for a mid 90's and up Foretravel U295 OR U270 or 36 ft Bluebird that is for sale hopefully somewhere near Connecticut.

Thanks,

Don / Mystic, CT 860-460-3282
Don

Re: Wanted to buy

Reply #1 –
Don;

The bluebird is a good coach , but know that they are steel with a histry to rust . Then there is the extra weight to haul around. Now you have to deal with the fact that they are out of business. This might make it more easy to decide. Good luck.
Brad Metzger
2010 Phenix 45'

Re: Wanted to buy

Reply #2 –
I too looked at Bluebirds and Foretravels.  In my research I found I would have to drop back 10 years on a Bluebird, to get into a 36', and need to be in for more than $10,000 in costs for the same condition.  Weight was already mentioned, and Bluebirds are said to usually weight almost a 1,000# per foot.  The steel was both good and maybe also a future problem.  Check the step areas and the battery compartments, many are rusted away.  That the company is gone, was an issue as well, but all the doc. available are now with a Florida company.  And the higher degree of complexity with the Bluebird was a worry for me to try to maintain and trouble shoot in the future.  Relays, and lots more wiring for many more systems.

The best help was from this forum and also the Bluebird forum.  The Bluebird forum is a huge wealth of info, help and history, and have many very knowledge and helpful members as does this forum.

Maybe the best advice from the Bluebird forum was to have $10,000 to spend on coach upgrades and repairs the first year, and to plan on needing $5,000 each additional year.  With that in the bank I started shopping.  I hope that those budget numbers are not what the  Foretravel U-225 might cost me.

Good luck in your search, we sure enjoyed finding our classic coach.
Dave Cobb
Buckhorn Lake Resort The Club, #6202, Kerrville TX
check the map.  I do rent it out when I am traveling!
2001, U320, 36' #5887, in Kerrville, FT Club #17006, (7/23 to present)
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Summit, white
EX: 98 U295, 36' #5219, (mid door), (4/13-10/23)
EX: 93 U225, 36' (4/11 to 4/13)

Re: Wanted to buy

Reply #3 –
Don, We looked at Bluebirds before getting our Foretravel I found that a 36 foot Bluebird has limited cargo storage, Steel construction heavy, company gone. I know some people that have had blue birds 1982,1986, 1999, years they all told me these coaches were hard on battery's when not on shore power, and were a wiring night mare an hard to winterize Blue Bird was always overkill with switches and relays with poor wiring documentation for the mentioned years. I feel your are getting a lot of bang for money with Foretravel, I worked at a RV dealer for 5 years saw some real nightmares with production coaches.

Happy Hunting
Craig
Craig Wickham
1997 U295 36 Ft.

Re: Wanted to buy

Reply #4 –
Thanks Greg,
I am looking at a 1997 U295 that is located in GA with a washer and dryer.

Any issues with you unit of that year.


Don
Don

Re: Wanted to buy

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Donmystic1 –
Thanks Greg,
I am looking at a 1997 U295 that is located in GA with a washer and dryer.

Any issues with you unit of that year.


Don
We have owned our 1997 U295 CAI 36' since April, 2010. Specific issues that we have encountered include:

 -- Genwizard autostart was removed by previous owner. Wayne at FOT said some of them were unreliable.

 -- We had the dryer vent replaced at Xtreme P&G because the original vent appeared to be allowing rain water into the coach in high winds. Also, the vent would flap open while the coach was in motion.

 -- Tank level sensors/indicators via the Audit system are not accurate. They are pretty consistent, but not as useful as I would like to have.

 -- We had the outside entry step rebuilt at Xtreme P&G. The original design allowed water to collect and cause rust damage to the step. We kept the same step, but added some drains to cut down on accumulation of water. Xtreme also cleaned up the rusted steel and gave it a good coat of protective paint.

 -- The headlights are so low that they do not illuminate the road well. Some folk have modified the headlights a much more functional arrangement that also uses better lamps. We don't like to drive at night and have been satisfied with the lights since I modified the aim of the lights.

 -- The rear view camera/monitor tend to be pretty tired after 14 years.

All of those issues are relatively minor and can be fixed. We owned another brand 37' DP before we bought the Foretravel. There were original design, quality, and construction issues in that coach that could not be fixed.

We have lived in the U295 for several weeks out of the 16 months we have owned the coach. We usually travel for three to 18 days at a time. The experience has been good. We have lived in the coach in temperatures ranging from -5F to 105F. We have been safe and comfortable.

Our home is about 180 miles for Nacogdoches. We have had service done at MOT, FOT, and Xtreme P&G. If you buy a Foretravel, try to arrange a trip to Nacogdoches to let the experts at one or more of those facilities check and service the unit. Plan to stay with the coach during the process. Staying on site will make a big difference in your service experience.

Best wishes for a successful search for your coach.
J D Stevens
1997 U295 CAI 36' Build #5085
2002 Subaru Outback
Motorcade 16869
Bellville, TX

Re: Wanted to buy

Reply #6 –
Thanks Steve
Don
 

Re: Wanted to buy

Reply #7 –
Hi Don,  I have owned both, a 1990 Bluebird SP36 with a Cat 3208, and our current 1994 Foretravel U300 with a Detroit 6V92. The Bluebird was about 12,000 lbs heaver than our 40' Foretravel, it was only 96" wide not 102" that the newer Foretravel is. Even though the Cat 3208 engine was rated @ 300 HP it lacked the power needed to pull 6% + grades. I do like the newer, 1995 through 2000 Bluebirds with the sixty series engines.  Both, are solid well built coaches, and I for one would not be afraid to purchase either if they had been well maintained, But it would be hard to give up the ride and interior finish of our current Foretravel.    ^.^d
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Gerry & Brenda
CHARLOTTE HARBOR, FL
1994 Grand Villa - # 4466
U300 Unihome - 6V92 Detroit
4 speed Allison - Jake Brake