50 things to check before you buy your used foretravel

Topic: 50 things to check before you buy your used foretravel (Read 2557 times) previous topic - next topic

50 things to check before you buy your used foretravel

June 15, 2010, 04:48:14 pm

Steve, that fifty ideas on what to check is a great idea. If I can find my checklist for the coach I bought two years ago I can get most of them that way. We can put it as a sticky post and let others add to it as well.

Re: 50 things to check before you buy your used foretravel

Reply #1 – June 15, 2010, 05:30:48 pm

That is a really terific idea. I am sure that many of us here can contribute something to the list of 50.

Bulkhead issue

Retarder accumulator bracket

Is there a surge protector?

Are three that come to mind.

Re: 50 things to check before you buy your used foretravel

Reply #2 – June 17, 2010, 12:01:33 am

Well, I have been working on this list. I think it will be bigger than I thought. I would like to post it sometime this week for comments and correction. I tried to write with all the years in mind but I have never had an all electric coach or some of the electric blinds and systems. So a general turn on and learn to run is what I put there.

Re: 50 things to check before you buy your used foretravel

Reply #3 – June 17, 2010, 05:33:51 pm

Steve, I finished it up last night but want to proof it when I get home. I will post it later tonight when I get home from work. Long day and it will be more than fifty things too..

See Message http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=10866.0

Re: 50 things to check before you buy your used foretravel

Reply #4 – June 19, 2010, 10:52:19 am

John,

The timing of this great post could not be more perfect. My wife and I are hopefully on Monday picking up our new to us 2001 U320 36' from Calif. Coach Co. We are very excited to join the RV experience and especially thankful and excited to join the wonderful Foretravel family. This forum as well as the Yahoo forum have been a great resource for us over the past 6 months and we appreciate all that we have learned from everyone on both forums. With that said I will be printing out this list and heading to Costa Mesa to put the coach through her paces.

Scott Beard
Newbie and about to be owner.
San Bernardino, CA

Re: 50 things to check before you buy your used foretravel

Reply #5 – June 19, 2010, 10:56:52 am

Scott, they are pretty nice to work with. I have talked to them on the phone.

Re: 50 things to check before you buy your used foretravel

Reply #6 – June 19, 2010, 11:06:36 am

John,

They are very nice folks. Steve and Tony have been very patient and very thorough. I would recommend them to anyone in the future. It is very tough to find Foretravel's out in California. We were so dedicated in our search we even made a trip NAC in search of a coach. As it turned out the first Foretravel we physically saw was the one we bought several months later. Funny how things work out.

Re: 50 things to check before you buy your used foretravel

Reply #7 – June 19, 2010, 06:11:07 pm

John,

Thank you for that super list!

Tony

Re: 50 things to check before you buy your used foretravel

Reply #8 – June 19, 2010, 06:33:45 pm

That is one amazing list. I can't think of one thing you missed.

Re: 50 things to check before you buy your used foretravel

Reply #9 – June 19, 2010, 08:52:42 pm

Great list. How can we add to the list. I noticed that there was nothing on making sure the tires have the correct load range for the weight of the coach. There may be other additions. Maybe it would be good to send additions to a specific person who could review them.

George

Re: 50 things to check before you buy your used foretravel

Reply #10 – June 19, 2010, 09:00:09 pm

Quote from: George Hatfield – June 19, 2010, 08:52:42 pm

Great list. How can we add to the list.

Like this

http://beamalarm.com/Documents/bulkhead_separation.htm

Re: 50 things to check before you buy your used foretravel

Reply #11 – June 19, 2010, 11:08:58 pm

Quote from: George Hatfield – June 19, 2010, 08:52:42 pm

Great list. How can we add to the list. I noticed that there was nothing on making sure the tires have the correct load range for the weight of the coach. There may be other additions. Maybe it would be good to send additions to a specific person who could review them.

George

George I thought there was a line in there to check the date codes. If the tires are range H they will be fine and even G load range will be ok on most coaches but you will have to air them up more. As to PDI you should request a weighing but it should have been done before you buy. It is too late to find out at the PDI the front or rear axle is over weight. So,nthatbis whynit is not in the PDI inspection.

Re: 50 things to check before you buy your used foretravel

Reply #12 – June 20, 2010, 01:12:02 am

I wish I had checked the load range on my tires prior to purchase. We have a 2003 U295 36" and it had load range G tires all the way around. I agree that load range G is OK for the rear tires on our coach, but not for the front at near maximum weight. I replaced the fronts with load range H (cost $500). You really don't need to weigh the coach. Just check the tire rating and then the manufacturer's inflation tables for the coach's tires at maximum weight (i.e., according to the official weight placard) of the coach. That will tell one if the tires are appropriate. I think this should be done before the coach is accepted.

George

Re: 50 things to check before you buy your used foretravel

Reply #13 – June 20, 2010, 03:23:35 am

We weighed all the coaches at a mid-Atlantic rally a couple years ago. There was not much difference from coach to coach on the front axles. The rear was where we saw it with the single slide 40 foots being at or over 20k. The fronts were all about the same unless there was a tag. Prevost run right about 20k for the front as well as heavy on the rear.

Re: 50 things to check before you buy your used foretravel

Reply #14 – June 20, 2010, 08:51:25 pm

One other thing we could put in is what to do pre buying.
An example is the weighing of the coach and verifying that the major components are still being made. The intellect boards or the Javalna system.

Re: 50 things to check before you buy your used foretravel

Reply #15 – June 23, 2010, 06:25:58 am

I might also add that you should have a 10 to 20% cash or credit reserve on your planned purchase price to cover things you never even thought of !! ( if you don't need it, you can apply it to upgrade things you never even thought of )

Re: 50 things to check before you buy your used foretravel

Reply #16 – June 23, 2010, 06:49:40 am

Quote from: 93 u300 – June 23, 2010, 06:25:58 am

I might also add that you should have a 10 to 20% cash or credit reserve on your planned purchase price to cover things you never even thought of !! ( if you don't need it, you can apply it to upgrade things you never even thought of )

I agree but rather than a percent I would use the figure of 10-20,000 dollars. Heck a new set of tires is 3k alone.

Re: 50 things to check before you buy your used foretravel

Reply #17 – August 24, 2013, 04:48:04 pm

Re: 50 things to check before you buy your used foretravel

We hopefully will be buying a Foretravel this winter or next spring. So in preparation for that, I have copied and customized John's original list. Many of the added items I took from the follow-up thread to that original list:
1.   Check for leaks in the LP gas system.
2.   Check for rust jacking in bulkheads on '01-'05 Unicoaches - see ForeForums bookmarks for information.
3.   Ask the PDI person if the fresh water tank has been sanitized. Check the fresh water for taste and odor.
4.   Test the operation of TV remote controls.
5.   Check the operation of all GFCI-protected receptacles.
6.   Use an A/C receptacle tester to check the wiring and function of all receptacles.
7.   Check the stability and reliability of the retarder accumulator bracket.
8.   Now connect to shore power while monitoring the voltages and status of the input AC power lines at the power/surge suppressor monitor panel.
9.   Check that the Propane, Carbon Monoxide, and Smoke Alarms function properly. Check date codes of all safety equipment.
10.   If coach weight can be determined, check for tire load range and pressures appropriate for weight of coach
11.   If there are electric cable or hose reels, extend and retract them several times to insure proper operation.
12.   Check for proper operation of the ice maker if applicable.
13.   Make a careful inspection of end caps as appropriate.
14.   Check the base of the radiator for any moisture.
15.   Check that electrical bay door lock actuators are functional.
16.   Ask PDI person how often you should expect your HWH pump to cycle after you have leveled.
17.   Check that the dash radio, CB radio, etc. function properly.

I also added the following Material & Tools list:
1.   Tire pressure gauge
2.   Soap bubbles for LP leak testing
3.   Clipboard with note paper for taking notes
4.   OBDII code checker
5.   Video camera for recording the inspection
6.   Volt-ohm-meter
7.   Kitchen utensils for drawing water, testing microwave, etc.
8.   AC receptacle tester
9.   Air hose and nozzle, etc.
10.   This checklist on the clipboard
11.   Aerosol can for testing LP leak detector
12.   Material for making smoke for testing smoke alarm

Re: 50 things to check before you buy your used foretravel

Reply #18 – August 24, 2013, 04:57:57 pm

Checking bulkheads applies to all earlier Unihomes and Unicoaches as well, not just 2001-2005.

Re: 50 things to check before you buy your used foretravel

Reply #19 – August 24, 2013, 09:12:20 pm

Quote from: John S – June 23, 2010, 06:49:40 am

I agree but rather than a percent I would use the figure of 10-20,000 dollars. Heck a new set of tires is 3k alone.

Accurate number. If not needed that's great.

Always wondered how accurate a dollar a mile in fuel and repairs would be. Tends to be in clumps then driven a while.

Tires and batteries are $5,500 range.

As potential customers used to roll their eyes at those numbers I usually mentioned that this lifestyle if not for the faint of wallet....

Why is this so much money? Because its worth it.....

Bob

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