Help on buying my first Foretravel

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Help on buying my first Foretravel

July 27, 2018, 12:30:51 pm

Greeting from Idaho
Looking to buy my first Foretravel and desperately needing advice, so here's what I can tell you about it's potential use.
I live in Idaho and my purpose is mostly 4-7 day mountain escapes and one trip per year back to Tennessee.
Budget under 90K but would prefer to stay closer to 60K.
Quality and care is more important than age. ( my 1998 SL500 with 60K miles may be a good example)

Anyone ever deal with M of Texas?
There are not any in Idaho to touch or drive.
Engine preference? (mountains)

Thanks for any response you may share
Greg

Re: Help on buying my first Foretravel

Reply #1 – July 27, 2018, 12:39:09 pm

Check out Whitakers 99 in the classifieds,looks good to me!!!!!!!

Re: Help on buying my first Foretravel

Reply #2 – July 27, 2018, 12:54:49 pm

I have always thought the 95 and 96 U320 was about as good as you get. Simple electronics, M11 Cummins engine with 6 speed Allison transmission and no slides—- slides seem to be about 50% of the problems you face. There are plenty of them out there under your budget and you should be able to find one with lower miles (although the miles seldom matter, i would not hesitate to look at a high milage well maitained coach). Motorhomes of Texas is a good place to start looking, talk to Mel.

Re: Help on buying my first Foretravel

Reply #3 – July 27, 2018, 01:20:15 pm

Second talking withMOT and Mel

Re: Help on buying my first Foretravel

Reply #4 – July 27, 2018, 01:30:59 pm

Quote from: Kemahjohn – July 27, 2018, 12:54:49 pm

(although the miles seldom matter, i would not hesitate to look at a high milage well maitained coach).

X2..In my experience with coaches (30 years), I've developed what I call the '80K rule' in that that's where wear and tear start to happen. I'd sooner a high mileage coach with paperwork (lots). Too many 'war stories' about POs selling the coach just before the 'rule' applied!

Re: Help on buying my first Foretravel

Reply #5 – July 27, 2018, 02:18:01 pm

I'm at MOT as we speak and would be glad to eyeball anything they have on the lot. I second the suggestion of calling Mel. Have your pocketbook ready because if one is nice and priced right you won't have time to go gather up the money for it.

Re: Help on buying my first Foretravel

Reply #6 – July 27, 2018, 02:36:32 pm

Quote from: Johnstons – July 27, 2018, 02:18:01 pm

I'm at MOT as we speak and would be glad to eyeball anything they have on the lot.

Any GVs for sale?

Re: Help on buying my first Foretravel

Reply #7 – July 27, 2018, 02:46:04 pm

Major change in 97's with ducted air allowing the bedroom air to be moved forward taking the noise out of the bedroom. Also three house batteries on 320's which have the best mountain motor.

Also wallpaper lightening up the former walnut walls and conventional cabinet doors versus the no longer available tambour doors.

Plus dual pane windows, considerably quieter. Less furnace run time.

320's and some 295's optionally have a aqua hot hydronic heating which is quieter and for alot of owners a more comfortable feeling heating system for both the house and unlimited hot water.

Oh 97's have a 2" wider entry door. And a screen door

The ducted air can have the opposite end of the coach's roof unit to feed the other end depending on how you adjust the many ceiling directional/closing off ceiling vents.

97 and up are all this same technology. To this day. Add fancier everything and slides and paint as the years progressed

Re: Help on buying my first Foretravel

Reply #8 – July 27, 2018, 03:05:51 pm

Motorhomes of Texas (MOT) is a class act in our dealings with them. We arrive in Nac on 4 August and have service scheduled with MOT Wednesday 8 August.

Re: Help on buying my first Foretravel

Reply #9 – July 27, 2018, 05:12:02 pm

Please see Brian's coach.
2001, 40ft U320, Build # 5865, Mileage 78,800, In Montana, Price reduced.
He is over in Helena, MT. Easier to see the one in TX.

Re: Help on buying my first Foretravel

Reply #10 – July 27, 2018, 06:53:47 pm

You want a Non-slide 36' U320. 97-2001 or so will fit your budget.

M11 and the retarder for the mountains. Aquahot and dual pane windows for the winters.

Re: Help on buying my first Foretravel

Reply #11 – July 27, 2018, 08:16:08 pm

There's a couple of prospects on eBay right now, but a trip to Nac is time well spent.

Re: Help on buying my first Foretravel

Reply #12 – July 27, 2018, 08:18:36 pm

A 98 or 99 should get you the wider entry door as I recall. It makes a difference. U320 with the ISM11 and the 4000 series Allison and the Aqua Hot is a great set up. If you want a slide look at 2001, newer dash style, ducted AC. Very few non-slide 2001 coaches. 99-01 used the same slide mechanism, pretty solid. Our 01 is on the original bladder. Most slide problems are preventable with careful use. Just like the AH and generator. Likely more 40's out there. More room in the bathroom and kitchen. 36' is a nice size for us. See as many as you can. The differences can be subtle and very hard to see in pictures. Whatever you find that you get serious about have it inspected. When you find the right one you will know. An educated buyer will be more in sync with sellers and result in a better end result.

Re: Help on buying my first Foretravel

Reply #13 – July 27, 2018, 10:19:07 pm

Having just gone thru this process I can share with you my recent experience. My plan was to buy in 2 years for retirement. Didn't have much plans on using it the next year or so. I wanted a 36 foot non slide Foretravel. I thought the aqua hot sounded like a good thing to have, and wanted to have the ability to stay off grid for as long as possible. My plan was for lots of solar and lithium batteries to accomplish this. So when a 1999 U320 coach with 1500 watts of solar and 600 amp hours of Victron lithium batteries came up on the forums for sale, even though I was not ready to purchase it, I jumped at it. Not I can tell you that there have been a few times since, and I'm sure a few times more later on that I will say to myself what did I get myself into?? But still liking my decision. As others have said, I have found my foretravel to be overall a pretty quality product. Since I am the 4th owner, there have been some mods made that I am not to impressed with, but overall a great coach. The engine and trans is strong. The basement was replaced. So most of the issues these coaches tend to have have been addressed. But there are still things. The air leveling system is complex and prone to leaks. There a a million moving parts on these things. Pretty complicated overall. I have yet to take it anywhere, still doing some upgrades. The advice on these forums is invaluable. Pretty much why I went with Foretravel.
No matter what coach you go for, be prepared to either spend a lot of money paying someone else to fix stuff that breaks, or learn to do it yourself and still pay but less and learn invaluable lessons on what goes into making this home on wheels.
As to your particular concerns, 60K will get you a pretty good coach. Easy to find in Texas, harder where you are. Save at lease 10-20% for fixing/upgrades. I plan in the next few years to spend 50% of the purchase price on upgrading it. (or more).
Decide if you really want a slide or not. Sure it gives you extra floor space. But the hassle of fixing it when it goes wrong (and it will) is imo not worth the few extra feet. My non-slide 40 foot is big enough for us. There is a lot of storage space in it. And out the door is a entire world of space just waiting to be used.......

Re: Help on buying my first Foretravel

Reply #14 – July 28, 2018, 12:11:05 am

Hi Greg,

First of all you made the best decision right up front - selecting a Foretravel. After 13 RV's over 35 years, you are not going to find a better choice for reasons beyond the coach quality itself. Things like easy IDing parts through the build number, tech support from both the factory & MOT.
My approach once I decide to find an older Foretravel was to contact MOT and discuss what I was looking for. Mel was my contact and he noted my wish; low miles, under $100,000, 36", 400 or larger motor ( I live in Colorado and drive over many passes), no Aqua Hot ( problematic from past experience), service records, stored indoors & not in need of tires & batteries, Well, three weeks later he alerted me that a "Barn Find " was on the way in. Mel described it and it seemed like it would work. The coach was a 2003, 36", 22,000 mile coach with a service track record., one slide and no damage.
I flew in to Dallas and drove to Nac. Mel arrange for a reasonable Motel, loaned me a vehicle for my 3 day stay and I stayed over night in the coach and drove it. While at MOT they repaired numerous items I found needing attention. Not perfect, but with about $15,000 worth of service over 18 months it is now the sweetest MH I ever owned. In my case it was parked for 12 years indoors which lead to many dried gaskets throughout the coach. From past communications, 15 to 20% service is not unusual.
So, with all that said, decide what you want, how much you want to spend and place a find order with MOT.
Good hunting and don't be in a hurry. Hope my experience helps.

Re: Help on buying my first Foretravel

Reply #15 – July 29, 2018, 05:35:10 pm

Thanks to everyone for so much information and really good advice so far and I do appreciate it very much. I feel like a sponge

Greg

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Help on buying my first Foretravel

July 27, 2018, 12:30:51 pm

Re: Help on buying my first Foretravel

Reply #1 – July 27, 2018, 12:39:09 pm

Re: Help on buying my first Foretravel

Reply #2 – July 27, 2018, 12:54:49 pm

Re: Help on buying my first Foretravel

Reply #3 – July 27, 2018, 01:20:15 pm

Re: Help on buying my first Foretravel

Reply #4 – July 27, 2018, 01:30:59 pm

Re: Help on buying my first Foretravel

Reply #5 – July 27, 2018, 02:18:01 pm

Re: Help on buying my first Foretravel

Reply #6 – July 27, 2018, 02:36:32 pm

Re: Help on buying my first Foretravel

Reply #7 – July 27, 2018, 02:46:04 pm

Re: Help on buying my first Foretravel

Reply #8 – July 27, 2018, 03:05:51 pm

Re: Help on buying my first Foretravel

Reply #9 – July 27, 2018, 05:12:02 pm

Re: Help on buying my first Foretravel

Reply #10 – July 27, 2018, 06:53:47 pm

Re: Help on buying my first Foretravel

Reply #11 – July 27, 2018, 08:16:08 pm

Re: Help on buying my first Foretravel

Reply #12 – July 27, 2018, 08:18:36 pm

Re: Help on buying my first Foretravel

Reply #13 – July 27, 2018, 10:19:07 pm

Re: Help on buying my first Foretravel

Reply #14 – July 28, 2018, 12:11:05 am

Re: Help on buying my first Foretravel

Reply #15 – July 29, 2018, 05:35:10 pm

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