Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 11, 2025 ...

More questions

October 29, 2011, 09:14:07 pm

The more I read, the more interested I am in Foretravels, and I've come up with a few more questions. It looks like our budget will have us looking at coaches in the early to mid 90's.

1. Were any FT coaches of that era wide bodies (~8.5' wide vs 8' wide)?
2. We want to visit the Tetons for a few days in the winter, and that means cold temperatures. Are the various tanks (water, fuel, etc.) heated? How well insulated is a coach of that era?
3. Is there any sort of regional FT rally planned for somewhere around SW Missouri? Branson seems to have various brands holding rallies there all the time.

Thanks for the advice.

Quote Selected

Re: More questions

Reply #1 – October 29, 2011, 09:44:23 pm

Ours is 1997 U295. It is 8' 6" wide. '97 and newer have double pane windows. In our U295, the rear propane fired, forced air heater has a couple of 2" ducts into the basement to help keep tanks and basement supplies from freezing. Units with Aqua-Hot have basement heat with a basement thermostat.

Last year we spent four days between Christmas and New Years Day in temps of 0-10F in Billings, MT, with minor problems. There were some frozen items in the basement, but no damage. All systems worked. We plan to go to Billings, again this year.

We will probably be in Smithville, MO, for Thanksgiving. Perhaps you could visit us and see our coach while we are there.

Quote Selected

Re: More questions

Reply #2 – October 29, 2011, 10:31:52 pm

We spent several days in our 99 U270  at -8F and a week under 0F in Jan (in NM) with a significant wind, and although we used a lot of propane and elec for heat, we didn't have anything freeze.  I did put 100W drop lights in the water compartments, and our furnace blows hot air into the basement compartments.  The tanks sit on the insulated floor of the basement, which has maybe 2 inches of insulation.  We also have double pane windows, which make a big difference, but you can use bubble wrap on the windows for real cold snaps if you only have single pane.  We also put two fitted sheets of Reflectix up on the inside of the windshield, and that makes a huge difference.

Quote Selected

Re: More questions

Reply #3 – October 29, 2011, 10:41:36 pm

My '94 U225 is just like J.D. for the basement tank heat.  Rear furnace for the Black and gray and front furnace to heat the fresh water take.

I have read that they are fairly well insulated, but can't say for sure yet.  Our first big trip was in this coach was this past early March and it was not cold except when we left home.  Engine heat kept us plenty warm enough.  Hopefully some will help us out.

Quote Selected

Re: More questions

Reply #4 – October 29, 2011, 11:28:05 pm

92 up U280 and 300s were 102". U225 were all 96. Last year U240 (95) was 102". All unicoach were 102". 280\300 had the big bays with bay heat and diesel generators.

Quote Selected

Re: More questions

Reply #5 – October 30, 2011, 01:51:33 am

David,
The early 90's ('92 for sure) had single pane windows, but shades and curtains on each window (except front only has a curtain) that keep heat in, most cold out. Walls are pretty well insulated, except for inside the upper cabinets, where there is a pair of aluminum strips securing the vinyl to the insulation. Condensation forms on the aluminim strips in cold (below freezing) weather and drips on to the vinyl. We wipe it off with a terry cloth towel. Other than that, no real issues. Water and heater bay has ducted heating from rear furnace in our '92 as Dave Head mentioned.

Quote Selected

Re: More questions

Reply #6 – October 30, 2011, 05:31:51 pm

Thanks, everyone! This is quite helpful. The U-280 and U-300 models are 40-footers, aren't they? I'm thinking that, for fulltime use, that's the length we ought to be looking at.

Quote Selected

Re: More questions

Reply #7 – October 30, 2011, 05:39:16 pm

36 or 40. Avail in both.

Quote Selected

Re: More questions

Reply #8 – October 30, 2011, 07:38:30 pm

So a U-300, for example, can be either 36' or 40' but both models have the same gross weight of 30,000 pounds? Obviously there is a difference in empty weight, since one is four feet longer than the other. What I'm looking at is carrying capacity and GCWR. We're looking at FT coaches, so space and weight capacity are important considerations. Sounds like the 36' would have more weight-carrying ability, but the 40' would have more space. Correct?

Quote Selected

Re: More questions

Reply #9 – October 30, 2011, 07:49:47 pm

You are correct.  Go here for a lot more info:
Foretravel Specifications, Floor Plans, Photos & Brochures by Year
 

Quote Selected

Re: More questions

Reply #10 – October 30, 2011, 08:11:10 pm

U-300's almost all were 40'. U-280 had more at 36', with some at 40', but same GVWR, so cargo carrying capacity ends up less, but has more storage space. Go figure.

Quote Selected