Re: Greetings Foretravel Owners Reply #25 – July 27, 2014, 09:44:35 pm We have 3 way 10 gallon propane water heater in our 99' U270. I can't remember running out of hot water yet. It heats while driving surprisingly quickly, uses silent electric when ever plugged in, and the noise of the propane burner is barely noticeable unless the window nearest the water heater is open. For hot water, it suits us fine... for cabin heat, I love the idea of AquaHot as far as the silent multi zone heat and all that. What I don't like about AquaHot is the diesel smell. Maybe you don't smell it in the coach, but I have been bowled over at times in a campground by the smell outside of one. I have read some about propane fired hydronic heaters and that sounds more like it to my way of thinking. I know Foretravel experiments with a few in the early Unicoach days... As I have said many times, my only regret in a U270 VS. the U295 and U320 (Love the Oak cabinetry) is not having the bus style compartment doors. Pretty much everything else is subject to my modification (and I am not ruling even that out!) to something that suits me better than the technology available in any model in that era.DonQuote from: goldbehen – July 27, 2014, 09:19:52 pm I do like the idea of endless hot water. Maybe I can still imagine myself as "roughing it" if I go without the aqua heat. I have seen mention of catalytic heaters as an quiet alternative heat source if needed. I guess aqua heat is what separates the ultra luxury from the luxury. Maybe it'll have to wait until the next one. Quote Selected
Re: Greetings Foretravel Owners Reply #26 – July 27, 2014, 10:33:16 pm Greeting FT seekers. Best of luck on your quest. Keep asking questions.Don, Rudy Legett would tell you if you are getting gassed out by exhaust fumes then it is time for some maint on the AquaHot. In tune they emit almost no visible exhaust fumes and not much diesel smell. Many people use a Genturi exhaust vent that puts either your generator exhaust or Aquahot exhaust up at the roof level of your coach.I think my generator exhaust is much worse than my AquaHot and neither are very bad at all.I have had both forms of heat. My preference is for the AquaHot now that I have had one for four years. Hot water fast and endless. Heat that seems more comfortable, less dry than from an LP furnace. And pretty quiet. I have an off switch on the from defrost blowers used by the AH when I want more quiet and speed controls on the other fans. Best seems to be that the temps is very stable in a narrow range with the heat on.AH wasn't the main reason I bought this coach but if I ever buy another it will be right up there.We are from Minnesota. Heat is a way of life for us.Roger Quote Selected
Re: Greetings Foretravel Owners Reply #27 – July 28, 2014, 02:23:19 am Quote from: goldbehen – July 27, 2014, 09:19:52 pm I do like the idea of endless hot water. Maybe I can still imagine myself as "roughing it" if I go without the aqua heat. I have seen mention of catalytic heaters as an quiet alternative heat source if needed. I guess aqua heat is what separates the ultra luxury from the luxury. Maybe it'll have to wait until the next one.Cat heaters require special monitoring. They consume oxygen. Window must be open. Quote Selected
Re: Greetings Foretravel Owners Reply #28 – July 28, 2014, 02:47:38 am When I started looking for our dream coach, Aquahot was on my list of must haves. When our dream coach turned out to be a drop dead gorgeous 38' U295. We have since reset our list of must haves and learned to cope with two ducted propane furnaces, two ducted roof a/c units with heat pumps, and a 10 gallon propane/electric/motoraid water heater that has never run out of hot water. Quote Selected
Re: Greetings Foretravel Owners Reply #29 – July 28, 2014, 08:27:21 am Quote from: rbark – July 27, 2014, 06:48:01 pmAlso, no duel pained windows from '96 and earlier, or the wider front door with a screen door.But, no tambour sliding doors on the cabinets after '96 Quote Selected
Re: Greetings Foretravel Owners Reply #30 – July 28, 2014, 10:21:10 am AH is pretty quiet and no smoke. I fact after a winter night the ground by the genset will be darkened but not by the AH. Quote Selected
Re: Greetings Foretravel Owners Reply #31 – July 28, 2014, 11:57:13 am Elliott, that is true. Wish Foretravel had never stopped making those. Quote Selected
Re: Greetings Foretravel Owners Reply #32 – July 28, 2014, 12:05:29 pm Quote from: rbark – July 28, 2014, 11:57:13 amElliott, that is true. Wish Foretravel had never stopped making those.From what I understand they were not made by Foretravel, and their supplier stopped making them.Roland Quote Selected
Re: Greetings Foretravel Owners Reply #33 – July 28, 2014, 02:13:49 pm Quote from: John S – July 28, 2014, 10:21:10 amAH is pretty quiet and no smoke. I fact after a winter night the ground by the genset will be darkened but not by the AH. The ah if set for sea level will leave a dark patch at 8k feet. Quote Selected
Re: Greetings Foretravel Owners Reply #34 – July 28, 2014, 03:29:54 pm I was in west Yellowstone in June. It snowed and sleeted and ran the AH with no soot mark. I had my ah serviced by Rudy last in Houston which is pretty close to sea level. Quote Selected
Re: Greetings Foretravel Owners Reply #35 – July 28, 2014, 08:38:39 pm Quote from: John S – July 28, 2014, 03:29:54 pmI was in west Yellowstone in June. It snowed and sleeted and ran the AH with no soot mark. I had my ah serviced by Rudy last in Houston which is pretty close to sea level.Does your ah unit have a straight out exhaust tip or a down turned one? Both my gen and a/h have down turned ends added on. Quote Selected
Re: Greetings Foretravel Owners Reply #36 – July 29, 2014, 01:36:05 am We are currently in Alaska on a Motorcade with 21 other coaches. Our 1997 U295 is the oldest, shortest, possibly "simplest" coach in the bunch. It works well. We've used it in temperatures from -10F to 110F. We are currently about 6,300 miles into a 10,000 mile trip. We've had two minor problems that required outside assistance and delays of about two hours each. Each was related to a bolt failing due to fatigue or coming loose for some reason. They were repaired quickly and will probably no require attention again for many years.We had an "open house" among the coaches in the Motorcade a few days ago. I looked at several nice coaches that had zero, one, two, three, or four slides. They varied in length from 36' to 45'. I came back to our "no slide" 36' coach and am pleased with it. We are enjoying the adventure with all the other Foretravelers.A coach like this can be bought in the 50K price range. We paid in that range four years ago, and the price for a 1997 has remained pretty steady. Features that we like in the 1997 and newer coaches include: double pane windows, ducted air conditioning, screen door, and hinged cabinet doors (not tambours). Other folk like the wood and tambour doors of older coaches. Some like the electronics and newer design features. Quote Selected
Re: Greetings Foretravel Owners Reply #37 – July 29, 2014, 08:00:54 am Turned down ends at a slight angle backwards. I had an issue with my AH and it left a soot spot so I called Rudy. He told me right where to look to fix it up. Now do not get the soot spot with the AH and a small darkening with the genset. Quote Selected
Topic: Greetings Foretravel Owners