Our "new to us" 1997 Foretravel U295 40'

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Our "new to us" 1997 Foretravel U295 40'

November 24, 2020, 09:58:08 pm

Any advise pros/cons on this bus ?? all new to me

The Coach Is a 1997 Foretravel U295 40'
Build # 5146

Re: Considering a purchase on a 199742 foot fore travel u293

Reply #1 – November 24, 2020, 10:02:47 pm

Quote from: Jimmy – November 24, 2020, 09:58:08 pm

Any advise pros/cons on this bus ?? all new to me

Like any used piece of equipment, get a inspection from a competent knowledge person of Foretravels! Pictures help and location!
There may be an forum member on here that is close by and can check it out for you. Might be worth your time!

Re: Considering a purchase on a 199742 foot fore travel u293

Reply #2 – November 25, 2020, 06:35:52 am

Jimmy,

Welcome.

Now if you mean a U295, Foretravel didn't make it in a 42' in '97. In '97 they only made 42' in the 320 version and that was only 2 coaches. If you can supply some more info, pics., or a link to what you have found it would help figure out what you have by the tail. Someone here may even know the coach. Lot to learn to keep from buying a pig with lipstick or a great coach.

Mike

Re: Considering a purchase on a 199742 foot fore travel u293

Reply #3 – November 25, 2020, 07:48:43 am

Welcome

As a newbie myself I wished I had thought about and found this site prior to my purchase. Although I love my FT and am glad I purchased my excellent coach a few items such as bulkhead issues and AquaHot would have been looked at more closely as I did not know anything about those issues. Have a good trustworthy inspector (and include yourself in the process) Check those items as they both can be wickedly expensive to fix
Peter

Re: Considering a purchase on a 199742 foot fore travel u293

Reply #4 – November 29, 2020, 08:34:42 pm

Ok sooo I pulled the pin and bought the coach Its a 1997 U293 Build # 5146. I thought it was a 42 foot ? has an 8.3 cummins
Hasn't been used in a while but for the most part, well taken care of. Needs a fuel line. Haven't moved it yet Top right Corner of the DS windshield, looking at the coach, looks protruded and has a bunch of black caulking around it. Looks like a cheap fix for a leak. Definitely plan on making proper repairs on it. any suggestions tips would be greatly appreciated, thanks !

Re: Considering a purchase on a 199742 foot fore travel u293

Reply #5 – November 29, 2020, 08:51:30 pm

VERIFY, but likely a U295 and 40'.

Re: Considering a purchase on a 199742 foot fore travel u293

Reply #6 – November 29, 2020, 09:08:15 pm

Sorry, my eyes failed me, its a 1997 U295 not 293

Re: Considering a purchase on a 199742 foot fore travel u293

Reply #7 – November 29, 2020, 09:08:40 pm

Quote from: Jimmy – November 29, 2020, 08:34:42 pm

Ok sooo I pulled the pin and bought the coach Its a 1997 U293 Build # 5146. I thought it was a 42 foot ? has an 8.3 cummins

8.3 Cummins would have been in a smaller coach than a 42 and the 42 footer was only in the U320. Did you not see Pamela & Mike's post?

And if it doesn't have a tag axle, it's not a 42 footer

Re: Considering a purchase on a 199742 foot fore travel u293

Reply #8 – November 29, 2020, 09:17:08 pm

Quote from: Jimmy – November 29, 2020, 09:08:15 pm

Sorry, my eyes failed me, its a 1997 U295 not 293

I purchase the coach from an elderly retired gentleman who purchased it from the original owner in Florida where it originated from. The coach was mostly used in Florida but transported owner and family from Florida to Connecticut

Re: Considering a purchase on a 199742 foot fore travel u293

Reply #9 – November 29, 2020, 09:21:01 pm

Welcome to this group of crazed Foretravel owners.

Sounds like you may have to pull the windshield (possibly both) and have it reset. With you being new to the RV world a 36' coach looks as long as a football field. The electronic 8.3 mated to the 3060R is a great combo. Post some pics. when you have a chance.

Mike

Re: Considering a purchase on a 199742 foot fore travel u293

Reply #10 – December 03, 2020, 09:30:44 pm

Finalized the Deal. Im the proud owner of a 1997 U295 Foretravel Haven't started it yet, needs a fuel line from tank to filter, front windshield needs to be reset, and needs front tires maybe rears as well. Coach has been sitting for about a year or so but still happy to take ownership. Started taking a few things apart to install fuel line, hoping it'll be completed tomorrow sometime. we'll keep ya posted, wish me luck. LOL!

Re: Considering a purchase on a 199742 foot fore travel u293

Reply #11 – December 03, 2020, 09:59:59 pm

Quote from: Jimmy – December 03, 2020, 09:30:44 pm

Finalized the Deal. Im the proud owner of a 1997 U295 Foretravel Haven't started it yet, needs a fuel line from tank to filter,

If this coach has the original fuel lines, you are well-advised to replace ALL of them, including those to generator and, if equipped, AquaHot. The fuel lines age out, and if all the same age, all need replacement lest they leave you stranded. There are many threads about this on the forum.

Re: Considering a purchase on a 199742 foot fore travel u293

Reply #12 – December 03, 2020, 10:57:14 pm

Quote from: Jimmy – December 03, 2020, 09:30:44 pm

Finalized the Deal. Im the proud owner of a 1997 U295 Foretravel Haven't started it yet, needs a fuel line from tank to filter, front windshield needs to be reset, and needs front tires maybe rears as well. Coach has been sitting for about a year or so but still happy to take ownership. Started taking a few things apart to install fuel line, hoping it'll be completed tomorrow sometime. we'll keep ya posted, wish me luck. LOL!

Congrats, we have a 97 U295 also. Love it
Chris

Re: Considering a purchase on a 199742 foot fore travel u293

Reply #13 – December 03, 2020, 10:59:58 pm

Quote from: Michelle – December 03, 2020, 09:59:59 pm

If this coach has the original fuel lines, you are well-advised to replace ALL of them, including those to generator and, if equipped, AquaHot. The fuel lines age out, and if all the same age, all need replacement lest they leave you stranded. There are many threads about this on the forum.

Here is my logs on changing our fuel lines on a 1997 U295 36'. It's a Cat 3126, but will be the same for the most part

Fuel Line replacement

Chris

Re: Considering a purchase on a 199742 foot fore travel u293

Reply #14 – December 09, 2020, 11:16:49 am

Have to replace the main fuel line from the tank to filter. Can anyone advise the easiest way to access the top middle of the tank to disconnect and reconnect the new line? Ive drained the fuel, unbolted the tank, and ran the new line from back to front already. They're are to plastic vent pipes on the ds of the tank which is not allowing me to slide it to the passenger side ? its a 149 gallon aluminum tank, with inlets on both sides

Re: Considering a purchase on a 199742 foot fore travel u293

Reply #15 – December 09, 2020, 11:54:46 am

Have you looked to see if the drain plug is stopping you? I had to lift the passenger side of the tank up about 1 inch to clear.

Re: Considering a purchase on a 199742 foot fore travel u293

Reply #16 – December 09, 2020, 12:05:07 pm

On a '97 you will generally need to remove the door, door hinge bracket, door latch on the floor, and front door trim to have enough room to get it out. I remove the tank out the passengers side when doing this job but other have had success going out the drivers side. I don't understand why the battery compartment vent pipes will have anything to do with pushing the tank out the passengers side.

Mike

Re: Our "new to us" 1997 Foretravel U295 40'

Reply #17 – December 09, 2020, 01:06:25 pm

Quote from: Texhub – December 09, 2020, 12:33:16 pm

Hello forum moderator's.

Please fix the title of this. For future search it will be useless as it currently is.

Mark

Good idea. Done.

Re: Our "new to us" 1997 Foretravel U295 40'

Reply #18 – December 10, 2020, 07:16:13 am

I am in the middle of this job on a 1997, and like Mike stated, the battery compartment vent pipes should not prevent pulling the tank out the passenger side.

I pulled it out the passenger side, partially because that is where the engine return, generator return, tank vent and aqua-hot connections are located and mostly because I do not have space on the drivers side to slide out the tank.

The battery vents can be moved out to the way if needed. They are held in place by caulk which I removed and slide them into the battery compartment to allow better visual access on the driver side.

The biggest challenge for me was the tank was in very tight. I used a come-along to pull it out and had to use it to pull in back in too after putting wire pulling lube on the side of the tank.

As others have noted, take care to prevent kinking the hose when sliding the tank back in. I was taking care and still did it.

Re: Our "new to us" 1997 Foretravel U295 40'

Reply #19 – December 10, 2020, 11:08:59 am

Where are you?

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