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Looking to Purchase

Newbie to the max looking to purchase 1996 - 1999 U270 - U320 34 - 40' w/350HP or greater. Also, any advise on best features/must haves on these models will be appreciated. Thanks ...
___________________________
Chuck

"A nation of sheep will soon have a government of wolves." --- Edward R Murrow

Re: Looking to Purchase

Reply #1 –
Welcome to the forum.  You have a great question that the members will have answers to for sure.  Know that as you step up from 270 to 295 to 320 you just keep adding features, larger generators and higher house power.

The link to this part of Barry Beams shows floor plans in one column and good info on the features in the other, by year and model.

Foretravel Specifications, Floor Plans, Photos & Brochures by Year

For us, we wanted the Walnut interior, not standard till the step up to the 295's, and did not care about Aqua Hot, that is standard on the 320's.  All the coaches any given year have the same build frames, just more or less power.  Our 325hp, pulls our loaded weight with full fuel, water, propane and our stuff of 28,300# without a problem.  We have now towed the Avalanche without issue 1600 miles last month, and are still under the max. design specs.

All that said, understand Foretravel custom built coaches all your years that were not per the spec. sheets.  You have stepped on a slippery slope, enjoy the adventure.  And if you update your location, you are very likely to get an invitation to see some personal coaches.
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: Looking to Purchase

Reply #2 –
Hello Chuck and welcome!
We love our Aqua Hot.  It keeps us snug when temps are in the teens (coldest we have been in) and endless hot water for a hot shower even after several loads of laundry.  Every time I drive our coach I learn to appreciate more and more the transmission retarder.  I would not want to be without it.  Lots of luck!
Bill
Bill and Joyce, The House2 and Dashboard Pig III
2000 U320 4210 CAI (The House2)
Build # 5733
2019 F150 King Ranch FX4

Re: Looking to Purchase

Reply #3 –
Welcome, Chuck!  Just decide on your budget ... plan on having another $5 -$7 K to address items that you need to maintain or upgrade ... and start looking at things in person.  A lot might depend on whether you will be using the coach for 2+ weeks at a time (vacations or slightly longer trips) or perhaps full timing.  There are a LOT of variables.  But, this is definitely the place to start narrowing down your wish list and deciding your priorities!  Just read EVERYTHING ... and don't be afraid to ask questions.  We have collectively made every mistake under the sun ... and your questions will always be answered respectfully.  You may have a few things to tell us!! 
Carol & Jeff Savournin
Usta have a '93 U225 36', Usta have a '95 U320 40', Usta have a '02 U320 40'
Usta have a 2006 Born Free, Usta have a 2011 Phoenix Cruiser
Usta have a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4dr
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."  Steve Jobs

Re: Looking to Purchase

Reply #4 –
Not really a lot of options, but the modifications are unlimited.  And I would definitely be wanting Aqua Hot.  But could live without it.
1994 U225
build #4514

Re: Looking to Purchase

Reply #5 –
Welcome to the forum.  Not too long ago Carol, my DW, and I were in the same position as you.  Read every thing you can, not just here, but also on the forums for the coaches on your short list.  Compare features, build qualities and models.  As we were traveling with our TT before we purchased our Ol Girl we chatted with many owners of other brands and asked them if they were to get another coach, what brand and model.  Many said without hesitation - Foretravel.  This forum is a wonderful place filled with helpful passionate owners.  As others have said:  ask alot of questions and enjoy the ride. ;D
Scott & Carol Seibert
2001 42' double slide U320 - Sold
Previous - 2002 36' U320

Re: Looking to Purchase

Reply #6 –
The question I tried to ask prospective Foretravel customers somewhere in the process was what uses did they envision for the coach.

Big difference for use in cold weather.  Any propane furnace dries the air somewhat in the coach.  Aqua hot is moist heat and has less temperature fluctuations.  Three zone plus engine heat and a separate thermostat to kick on the bath zones heater fan for the underneath only. So four zone in a way.

The original Foretravels way back always had multiple ways to do the coach functions where possible.

Oven and cooktop and convection microwave, furnace(s) and electric strip heaters in the roof airs, multiple separate lighting systems. .motor aid water heating and the propane water heater that had the ability to have a 110 volt heating probe added to it.  Dash heat and air conditioning. 

I know its more modern to use heat pumps but I will keep my electric strip heaters in my roof airs as they do work at cold weather unlike heat pumps.  Backup to the aqua hot and dash heat.

Plugged in to a pedestal for power and nice weather widens your choices. 

97 and up had problematic dual pane windows that really help the interior noise and heat transfer in and out.

Ducted 97 and up roof air allows the bedroom air to move up to the bath area.  Less noise if running at night.  Plus one air can feed the coach in heat or cool depending on needs.

Foretravel in a u330 is the only builder to use a heavy duty Diesel engine. Over the road truck sized....the others are medium duty to my knowledge.  Less revs even longer wear I assume.  Even bigger 4000 series world Allison trans.  Million mile stuff. 

The aqua hot does heat the furnaces and hot water while the engine is on automatically.

Back up heating if the diesel burner on the aqua hot did not work and you needed more heater output than the 110 volt element does produce. Or had no 110v. In an emergency I suppose you could run the engine at high idle for a long period of time without damage.

Fans and pumps are 12volt on the system. 

Belt and suspenders was the original Foretravel design. 

New coaches got away from the heat strips.  Manufactures probably quit making them I suppose.  The aqua hots reliabilty is very high but not 100%. 

We have the normal dometic two way side by side refer and as a backup a dual power 100 pound chest freezer under the coach. Backup again. Could run it on battery power from the alternator in a pinch.

Strong brakes and a retarder.  Backup again. 

Old school build for trouble design. 

Look carefully at Barry's web site and spend a lot of time comparing the features and equipement differences between the years.  Dash heat and air changed to bigger capacity in the 99's and up.  Better if you drive in the heat of the desert going west into the sun.

Grand villas had shorter windshields and driving into the sun was less blinding and lower heat gain. 

Unicoaches are flat floor. 

More maintenance and purchase price with slide outs.  Slides have the galley on the other side from the non slides.  Look at the floor plans.  We like the dinette on the door side looking out at our campsite. 

I think 99's got two inches deeper countertops?

Bob



"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Looking to Purchase

Reply #7 –
Our coach is a 1997 U295 36'. My target was a 1999-2000 U320. The coach we bought hit a sweet spot for us. It was affordable for us and came with a 1994 Jeep attached to the back. Tires and general periodic service were the only expenses required for us to get underway.

Features that we like that were introduced in the U295 in 1997 compared to most earlier U295s include: hinged rather than tambour interior cabinet doors, double pane windows, pantograph (bus style) bay doors, screen door, and ducted air conditioning.

We got the lead on the coach via this forum. It was listed on Craigslist. Find what may work for you and then keep watching here. Notify people here regarding what you think you want. Also, contact sales staff at Foretravel of Texas (FOT) and Motorhomes of Texas (MOT) to let them know what you want. Many of the coaches never make it to public advertisements.
J D Stevens
1997 U295 CAI 36' Build #5085
2002 Subaru Outback
Motorcade 16869
Bellville, TX

Re: Looking to Purchase

Reply #8 –
Welcome to the most group of information I have experienced. Everyone has given great feedback. My experience is that we became full timers way faster than expected. Brick and motar sold in 2 months instead of 11/2 year as quoted by Realtor.
 With this winter going into the single digits more than I have ever seen, Aqua Hot is a must. Cozy warm and no frozen pikes like all of my neighbors have been experienceing. Even there holding tanks freeze. The powerful m11 offered in the 320 is great. Retarder great. Floor plans is personal preference. Living in it we like solid sliding door at the galley to bathroom then large closet in front of bed. Makes for very quiet bedroom and very dark during the day if you nap. A slide would be nice but you also get bad and good with that. We can drive away in minutes. And beabe to walk around while driving easily.
Good luck and happy camping!
99 U320 40
97 Jeep wrangler toad
Now full time 8 months
Starting a new brick and wood home
Chattanooga, Tn

Re: Looking to Purchase

Reply #9 –
Welcome to the group. You have received great information so far. Our coach is a U270 which we have owned for seven months and have traveled 5,000 miles.  As others have said, the U295 and U320 have equipment as standard that are options on the U270. In our case the U270 had a stainless steel sink in the galley rather than porcelain or solid surface as in the U295 and U320. We much prefer the stainless steel. Also, our coach has manual water fill shut off,  manual dump valves and other such items that are electric and standard on the other models. We prefer the simplicity of these items on our coach. Two items that the U320 has that we would like would be the Aqua-Hot and the Koni shock absorbers.  Other than that, we are very happy with our U270.
Good luck with your search and happy camping.
Larry and Terry
Ex 2004 U270 36'

Re: Looking to Purchase

Reply #10 –
Welcome to the forum.

Besides Barry's great site there are a number of videos of Foretravel's on Youtube.  Some are by dealers for sale (most are already sold) and by owners.  These will give you an insight as to features, layout etc.


Keith
Keith, Joyce & Smokey the Australian Cattle Dog
1995 U320 SE Extreme 40' WTBI Build # 4780, with a Honda CR-V hopefully still following behind.
Motorcade # 17030
FMCA # F422159
 

Re: Looking to Purchase

Reply #11 –
Welcome, Chuck. Lots of helpful advice here. Ask lots of questions so you can focus on the right coach for you. Once you start looking at specific coaches let us know what you are looking at. Someone here knows the coach (maybe even owned it once) and can give you some detailed information. Others now own similar coaches, and can help you too.