1992 U280 $19,995 in Houston

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1992 U280 $19,995 in Houston

September 08, 2017, 04:00:05 pm

1992 Foretravel Unihome Grand Villa U280, Houston TX - - RVtrader.com

No personal knowledge about coach, but this one just popped up at PPL.

Re: 1992 U280 $19,995 in Houston

Reply #1 – September 08, 2017, 05:40:27 pm

Not saying it's the case with this coach, but after all the flooding, prospective buyers should be VERY careful buying ANY vehicle in Houston area.

That said, this one looks decent in the photos (what you can see of it). Interior has some upgrades. Mechanical...who knows?

Re: 1992 U280 $19,995 in Houston

Reply #2 – September 08, 2017, 05:57:10 pm

Chuck,

Completely agree-- need to be checked carefully.

But, after the recent number of almost irrationally priced Foretravels on the market......

Also, many areas of the Houston metro received no rising water damage. Our whole subdivision in League City had no homes damaged with our 52" of rain from Harvey. We are near enough to salt water that even Harvey could not flood the whole Gulf of Mexico!

Re: 1992 U280 $19,995 in Houston

Reply #3 – September 08, 2017, 06:13:43 pm

First year of wide body with side radiator. Slightly different floor plan than ours with a bath giving some privacy with guests onboard. 36 foot so excellent for the western states. Red carpet could be easily replaced. Decals look terrible on bumpers, can't see decals on sides well. Headliner might be discolored or could be the photo. Looks pretty good from the interior shots. 300 hp 8.3 Cummins and higher torque rated MT 747 Allison four speed trans. Strange engine door.

Pierce

Re: 1992 U280 $19,995 in Houston

Reply #4 – September 08, 2017, 07:03:08 pm

Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart – September 08, 2017, 06:13:43 pm

Strange engine door.

I was thinking perhaps it was replaced, and is still in primer?

Re: 1992 U280 $19,995 in Houston

Reply #5 – September 08, 2017, 07:54:19 pm

Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie – September 08, 2017, 07:03:08 pm

I was thinking perhaps it was replaced, and is still in primer?

Looks solid with a tool compartment lock on the left side. I blew the photos up and viewing on 43" monitor. Don't think you can buy a new door. I need one and have been looking for a couple of years. Will make one up soon.

Pierce

Re: 1992 U280 $19,995 in Houston

Reply #6 – September 08, 2017, 09:29:35 pm

Same layout as our 91 GV ORED which works very well for us. An interesting location for the TV, Wonder why?? Have a great day ---- Fritz

Re: 1992 U280 $19,995 in Houston

Reply #7 – September 08, 2017, 10:36:50 pm

Quote from: fkjohns6083 – September 08, 2017, 09:29:35 pm

Same layout as our 91 GV ORED which works very well for us. An interesting location for the TV, Wonder why?? Have a great day ---- Fritz

The new 4K TVs allow for a close viewing area without eye fatigue. I saw a British Foretravel with the big screen right across from the front sofa. Would drive you crazy in the old days but great now. I've got a 43 inch 4K as my monitor about two feet in front of me from where i am typing now and love it.

Pierce

Re: 1992 U280 $19,995 in Houston

Reply #8 – September 08, 2017, 10:51:14 pm

Quote from: fkjohns6083 – September 08, 2017, 09:29:35 pm

An interesting location for the TV, Wonder why??

So you can sit comfortably on the couch and watch TV without getting a painful cramp in your neck? Our 39" is in the same general location.

Re: 1992 U280 $19,995 in Houston

Reply #9 – September 08, 2017, 11:01:10 pm

There is nothing quite like going down the road a foot above everyone else. I often miss our 92 U280 and wonder about the wisdom of upgrading. Those are unbelievable coaches. The cockpit is like no other and that mid entry door was just perfect for us.

Re: 1992 U280 $19,995 in Houston

Reply #10 – September 08, 2017, 11:38:56 pm

MT647 trans

Re: 1992 U280 $19,995 in Houston

Reply #11 – September 09, 2017, 01:30:43 am

Quote from: Dave Head – September 08, 2017, 11:38:56 pm

MT647 trans

Quite right. I was thinking airplanes.

Re: 1992 U280 $19,995 in Houston

Reply #12 – September 09, 2017, 12:43:04 pm

So, do we assume the coach has a four speed and no retarder?

Re: 1992 U280 $19,995 in Houston

Reply #13 – September 09, 2017, 01:17:57 pm

Quote from: mike leary – September 09, 2017, 12:43:04 pm

So, do we assume the coach has a four speed and no retarder?

Correct.

Re: 1992 U280 $19,995 in Houston

Reply #14 – September 12, 2017, 10:50:28 pm

I looked at this one this morning, but I walked away. All these stories of floor damage under the wet bay makes me worry, maybe too much. I started my walk around by crawling underneath. This one seems to have a removeable section of the fiberglass under the center of the wet bay, I guess that is normal? It looked kind of blistered up as though there was rust under it, pushing it out of shape. There was considerable rust and flaking at the through the floor port for the hoses. There was also some rust and flaking where the dividers meet the floor. Normal or serious, I don't know enough to tell. Under the passenger window there were two cracks through the outer skin, maybe impact damage? The water heater was covered with soot and some of the wiring burned. The inside walls of the engine compartment were covered with what seemed to be soot as well. The tires looked brand new but were made in China. The air bags looked worn, but much of the suspension was freshly painted black so it was hard to get a an idea of the true condition. The front A/C was reportedly replaced last year, and the refrigerator was replaced at some point. The install on the refer is a bit rough. That engine door is actually kind nice. Positive latch and a lock.

My gut feeling just made me pass on it. I did not drive it or even hear it run. The red carpet though, it kind of grows on you.

Re: 1992 U280 $19,995 in Houston

Reply #15 – September 13, 2017, 10:35:11 am

I really like my Sampsons and will buy a fresh set. Look around and it is hard to find any poor reports on them .

Re: 1992 U280 $19,995 in Houston

Reply #16 – September 13, 2017, 11:11:24 am

If Apple can become the world's biggest company with computers made in China, there's no reason a tire company can't make excellent tires there.

Pierce

Re: 1992 U280 $19,995 in Houston

Reply #17 – November 22, 2017, 08:38:26 am

This U280 is still for sale, now on special for $13,495, and I am of course second guessing myself. That seems like a lot of coach for that money. Has anyone else actually gone and checked it out? I really shouldn't have been looking when I did, I wasn't actually ready to buy anything that day. Things were moving too fast for me. I should have walked in with a just browsing attitude, there was no real rush. I may have walked away from a good coach.

Who does professional pre-purchase inspections in the Houston area?

Re: 1992 U280 $19,995 in Houston

Reply #18 – November 22, 2017, 08:41:12 am

Quote from: rvtinker – November 22, 2017, 08:38:26 am

This U280 is still for sale, now on special for $13,495, and I am of course second guessing myself. That seems like a lot of coach for that money. Has anyone else actually gone and checked it out? I really shouldn't have been looking when I did, I wasn't actually ready to buy anything that day. Things were moving too fast for me. I should have walked in with a just browsing attitude, there was no real rush. I may have walked away from a good coach.

Who does professional pre-purchase inspections in the Houston area?

Contact our own Brett Wolfe. I wouldn't buy a coach without him.

Re: 1992 U280 $19,995 in Houston

Reply #19 – November 22, 2017, 08:50:26 am

Mike,

I think your original "gut feeling" (2 months ago) about this coach sounded right. DO NOT even think about buying this particular coach without getting a qualified pre-purchase inspection. Brett is the #1 choice for that job.

Re: 1992 U280 $19,995 in Houston

Reply #20 – November 22, 2017, 10:56:12 am

I don't see the mileage anywhere in the ad. How about asking for some high resolution shots of the underbelly, engine from the back and top plus the generator compartment including hours, tire dates, air bag photo facing the rear tires. Slow time of the year for sales and these coaches are not getting any younger. It's pretty cheap to fly down and take a look with an inspection after that. That asking price means it will go for $12K or perhaps lower.

Pierce

Re: 1992 U280 $19,995 in Houston

Reply #21 – November 22, 2017, 01:10:08 pm

Perhaps a member that is an owner could swing by as well - If I was there I would go look for you and take pictures/ask questions. FaceTime is GREAT for the "up close from a distance" review.

$$$ can add up fast on this type of coach unless you want to and can do work on it yourself. But they are usually worth fixing up when purchased for this price range unless drivetrain, leaks/delamination or crazy bad bulkheads rear their head.

Tim Fiedler

Sure Start Soft Start

TCER Direct generator-gas-prod 630 240-9139
Gen-Pro

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