Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Well, for better or worse... (Read 1969 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Well, for better or worse...

Reply #20 –
Congrats and welcome aboard Mike - Good deal!

Re: Well, for better or worse...

Reply #21 –
Quote from: Yetch –
One of the problems I encountered is I can not find any history on this coach.  FOT did have some service info but would not let know what was done.  This was before I actually bought the coach, so I don't know if they will release this info to me now that I am the owner.  So, before I pick it it up, I have put 6 new tires on it, synthetic trans oil change with filters, engine oil change with filter, fuel filters, brake lube and adjustment, generator service with filters, aux air pump filter change, and air dryer filter change.  Let's see, did I miss anything!  Oh yea, new toilet!
Hopefully, this will get me down the road for awhile...

A front right  wheel seal failed on me at 100k miles.  The seals inner lip was fairly worn so the sealing area was not enough and when I went 80 downhill by not paying attention and hitthe brakes heavily warming everything it leaked.  No one had driven this coach aggressively like almost all large rv's

Absolutely normal for me as I am sure I use my coach much harder than the average nice conservative Rv owner.  I am used to appraising used Rv' s many years ago.

Drive and use the coach hard first.  Find out right away what it needs.  Can last forever with systems and chassis maintenance items. 

I cannot imagine actually wearing out the physical box.  And with a unicoach the fore's really made their version of a bus.  I had forgotten,  as I drove and sold the prototype unicoach with a dd series 60. had their version of aqua hot with radiators.  No fans.  Worked great.  Fun fast.  0 to 60 in 18 seconds.  Time yours.

Foretravel made 6 or so prevost conversions in 35' and when prevost stopped building the 35' shell and went to 40' only they dropped out. I have driven and rved in these several times.  Now that I see, driving the u320 myself,  that they finally made a perfect  suspension/m11/xtarder/aqua hot/enclosed bays/dual pane 8-10mpg  40' wtbsbid wide body, solid wood bus. 

My personal 1997 40' mini bus is a great drive.  40' for the floor plan and with a steel/fiberglass shell you got better insulation and a tougher outside and 30,000 pound weight.

No wonder beefed up versions are still being sold with the same design but with a tag.  Even more stability.  And gvw. 

Sorry to run on but I was at the start of the pusher market and I am almost pleasantly  surprised at the final version of the coach. 

Ultimate 1980 ored is my 1997.  No slides, no paint.  A foretravel....

Interesting to get to own the end product.  I hope you all appreciate what you are driving.

Cosmic coincidence for me.  Way fun.  I laugh every time I go in the coach that foretravel made this.  Good for them and all of us.

Bob



Re: Well, for better or worse...

Reply #22 –


Check with your local Cummin's shop. If any service was done at Cummin's they have it on record. They are not "supposed" to give out that information, but if you buddy up the shop forman he will give you the information.

Re: Well, for better or worse...

Reply #23 –
Was it a consigned coach? Will they let you speak to the owner? Was this the 97 that was 'extremely well priced' to the point of suspiciously low?

Re: Well, for better or worse...

Reply #24 –
Actually did check with Cummins; no record of service.  FOT does have some records, and at least told me nothing major.  Yes, it is the coach that was listed for 43.5k.  The story is that the owner passed away, and the cosignee was an agent for the estate sale.  And whether you agree or not, that price is within the NADA average retail. I feel that I got an extremely good deal. The coach is in remarkably good condition.  The exterior shows some shadow lines of the original graphics that had been removed, and my plan is to remove the current graphics, and sand/buff/polish the entire coach to get the gel coat back to sterling condition.
 

Re: Well, for better or worse...

Reply #25 –
Quote from: Yetch –
Actually did check with Cummins; no record of service.  FOT does have some records, and at least told me nothing major.  Yes, it is the coach that was listed for 43.5k.  The story is that the owner passed away, and the cosignee was an agent for the estate sale.  And whether you agree or not, that price is within the NADA average retail. I feel that I got an extremely good deal. The coach is in remarkably good condition.  The exterior shows some shadow lines of the original graphics that had been removed, and my plan is to remove the current graphics, and sand/buff/polish the entire coach to get the gel coat back to sterling condition.

Exactly where mine is now.  There are deals out there but you have to be the "big" guy and be willing to fix things both large and small.

The 97's appear to have a fairly small volume dash air system.  A poster had a picture of a 99 here and the a/c tubing was much larger and the hoses larger to the dash vents.  Dash appears similar so maybe an update might be worth checking into.  No not cheap I assume.

My fuel line is bad also.  Rear A/c cover came off today on the road.  15 years old stuff fails.  Duh.  The chassis air controller on mine sticks also.  Air pressure drops locking parking/safety brake.

Then will fill....intermittent.  Part not expensive just gets oil fouled per my mechanic buddy.

Shocks need tightening as the Koni's are adjustable.  Plus my suspension makes noise from the bushings as it goes through its travel.  Anyone fixed this issue?

Bob