Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 06, 2025 ...

1996 u295

February 26, 2021, 10:11:13 pm

I am looking at a 1996 36' u295 with the  300 Cummins .Is this sufficient power on this coach for the mountains out west?

Quote Selected

Re: 1996 u295

Reply #1 – February 26, 2021, 10:31:40 pm

The answer depends on 2 things:

1.  What are you going to pull as a towd?

2.  Do you always want to be the first one to the top of the hill?

We have been over the Rockies 3 times both ways.  Our 40' U280 with C8.3 300 HP pulls 4000 pounds (car + tow dolly), and I have never been embarrassed by our coach's performance.

300 HP will get the job done.  400 or 450 HP will get you to the top quicker.

Quote Selected

Re: 1996 u295

Reply #2 – February 26, 2021, 10:39:58 pm

Probably not pulling over a 4000# toad and just don't want to keep traffic behind me at 40mphor less

Quote Selected

Re: 1996 u295

Reply #3 – February 26, 2021, 10:44:53 pm

We have pulled a few mountain grades where we got down to 4th gear at 40 mph, but those are few and far between.  When that happens you are just stuck in the right lane, but you have lots of company (18 wheelers).  Gives you a chance to enjoy the scenery going up, and the ride down the other side is exciting enough to make you quickly forget about the slow climb.

Quote Selected

Re: 1996 u295

Reply #4 – February 26, 2021, 11:15:06 pm

It will get the job done. It is not always just getting up the grade but sometimes getting stuck behind someone else (18 wheeler) who is just a bit slower and you don't have the poop to pass.  You will learn what you can do and it will be OK.  Relax and enjoy the ride. If you think you will be only satisfied with more then you might want to look for U295 a year or two later with a 350 HP or a U320 with an M11 450 HP.  Nobody ever wishes they had less HP. 

Very little of your total drive time will be going up long grades.

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."  Teddy Roosevelt

Quote Selected

Re: 1996 u295

Reply #5 – February 27, 2021, 05:00:38 am

I have plenty of go-go juice and still find I prefer to hunker down in the right lane on steep grades. They are stressful enough and it's nice to just kick back and get in a rhythm with the semis

Quote Selected

Re: 1996 u295

Reply #6 – February 27, 2021, 07:37:13 am

There will always be someone faster than you no matter how much HP you have. The faster you try and go the more likely you are to have folks trying to get around you, often passing on your right to get by. Sometimes even "hot rod" semis and RV drivers.

Much less stressful to stay out of the fast lane, hit the cruise and enjoy the view. Easier on fuel mileage and gentler to 20 year old diesels.

Quote Selected

Re: 1996 u295

Reply #7 – February 27, 2021, 08:40:36 am

You will be faster than all the loaded 18 wheelers on  grades.  You will be slower than the empty ones.  Just straight physics (power to weight ratio).

Quote Selected

Re: 1996 u295

Reply #8 – February 27, 2021, 11:38:18 am

We just turned 250K on that engine,great simple motor,parts availible.

Quote Selected

Re: 1996 u295

Reply #9 – February 27, 2021, 12:28:17 pm

I had 325 HP in the last coach and it always got me where I wanted to go and now I have 450 HP and it definitely pulls better.
It's going down hill that is the biggest concern. I am in the mountains a lot.

Quote Selected

Re: 1996 u295

Reply #10 – February 28, 2021, 11:17:37 am

Nobody will be throwing beer cans at you on grades. So no worries. Great engine.
Chris

Quote Selected

Re: 1996 u295

Reply #11 – February 28, 2021, 11:43:03 am

Yes if it has Cummins C8.3 engine, as engine size counts, not HP. We have this engine in 325 HP rating and pull Jeep Grand 5,400 lb car and climb ALL mountains without overheating, but down shifting. Been doing it for 20 years and love our simple mechanical no computer engine. We only have two 12 v wires to engine, one for fuel shutoff solenoid and one for intake manifold preheat. Would not have it any other way.

Quote Selected

Re: 1996 u295

Reply #12 – February 28, 2021, 01:53:27 pm

Living in the PNW we have crossed over the Rocky Mountains and the siskiyou man pass several times pulling a toad AND not pulling a t.  You will be climbing at 45 mph either way.    Possibly more often with the toad.   
  Get a MH with the retarder joy stick .... or an engine brake cause you'll have to go down the other side.

Quote Selected

Re: 1996 u295

Reply #13 – February 28, 2021, 09:00:25 pm

thank you all for responding, sets my mind at ease. this FORETRAVEL motorhome family is amazing ,look forward to a rally

Quote Selected