The '97 U320 at MOT

Topic: The '97 U320 at MOT (Read 1743 times) previous topic - next topic

The '97 U320 at MOT

May 09, 2012, 07:22:38 pm

I am curious if anyone here has seen or knows anything positive or negative about this coach?

Thanks, Mike

Re: The '97 U320 at MOT

Reply #1 – May 09, 2012, 09:00:39 pm

Hello, I would be more than happy to answer any questions that you may have about this coach!

Stewart Canty
MOT

Re: The '97 U320 at MOT

Reply #2 – May 09, 2012, 09:18:26 pm

Mike,

I see 2 1997 U320's on MOT's side - a brown one and a green one. Which are you asking about?

Michelle

Re: The '97 U320 at MOT

Reply #3 – May 09, 2012, 10:27:14 pm

Unknown about the specific coach(s) but DW and I are on our first trip in our new to us 1997 u320 40'er.

Unbelievable road bus. I have driven everything in the Rv business in the 70's,80's and up to mid 90's and rv'ed in almost every model and brand made and the m11 red top 450 and the xtarder with the relay disconnected to allow the xtarder to operate on cruise is a drunkards dream to an old Rv sales manager from the early days of deisels.

Massive powerful quiet coach with strong brakes.

7 mpg driving it hard. 9 to 10? At 65mph.

A keeper for us. A price that was doable and a product worth fixing. Maneuvers pretty well for a 40 but I am way experienced. BIG COACH if you are timid.

Try to steal them of course.

It drives from the bottom of the steering wheel. No sawing at the wheel. Big grin driving this one. Mine. A real bus.

Bob

Re: The '97 U320 at MOT

Reply #4 – May 10, 2012, 06:06:44 am

Thanks for the comments. The model I'm interested in is the $43.5k model with 106k miles.
1997 Foretravel U320 40' Motorhomes of Texas

Re: The '97 U320 at MOT

Reply #5 – May 10, 2012, 07:56:16 am

I have looked at the pictures and writeups but do not see $20K difference.

Can someone please enlighten me?

Thanks,

Trent

Quote from: Steve & Michelle – May 09, 2012, 09:18:26 pm

I see 2 1997 U320's on MOT's side - a brown one and a green one. Which are you asking about?

Re: The '97 U320 at MOT

Reply #6 – May 10, 2012, 08:40:59 am

Mileage maybe on the $64,500 coach?

Re: The '97 U320 at MOT

Reply #7 – May 10, 2012, 09:24:57 am

When we have looked at coaches at MOT, we have been able to walk into and around the coaches. A very quick in person viewing, has shown us the differences that photos just can not convey. Nothing like that time on the lot. Do all you can online, know as much as possible from the Foretravel spec. sheets on Barry Beam's link site. Then spend a day in east TX.

Some of the coaches we have looked at finding ours, did not need 2 minutes of looking, or just the use of our nose.

Re: The '97 U320 at MOT

Reply #8 – May 10, 2012, 09:43:29 am

Price cannot be the final decision. Makes sure the coach plan works for you. Get the everything cked out. Spend the time for a real close look. Understand where the cost could be to bring the coach to your satisfaction both operating systems wise and comfort. Had to buy my second one to do that. Dan

Re: The '97 U320 at MOT

Reply #9 – May 10, 2012, 10:16:31 am

Ditto with Dan.

Took us 3 tries to get the coach we wanted. You do not want to know the $$ we spent. BUT, we did learn a great deal about these marvelous machines. If you would like information on what we SHOULD have done PM us. I have always been a great learner by making mistakes..

Re: The '97 U320 at MOT

Reply #10 – May 10, 2012, 10:56:58 am

Both are 400hp. Sure like my red top 450hp. Used by FT for many years after. Depends on if you drive through the Rockies much. Flat ground the difference may not be noticeable.

Both are consigned. One owner wants more I guess

Re: The '97 U320 at MOT

Reply #11 – May 10, 2012, 11:34:04 am

If consigned, it costs nothing to ask Foretravel to contact the owner and arrange a conference. Maybe they will, maybe they won't.

Re: The '97 U320 at MOT

Reply #12 – May 10, 2012, 12:26:27 pm

Also, 43.5k is a good deal - depending on condition. The owner on the other coach could be upside down and need the 64K. This owner may want to move it quick...

Re: The '97 U320 at MOT

Reply #13 – May 10, 2012, 01:37:50 pm

Unless there is something major wrong with the coach, that looks like an exceptional buy to me. I have been told by some of the old time Foretravel people that the two most reliable years of manufacture are the 1993 and the 1997 coaches.

I will be surprised if it does not sell very quickly.

Re: The '97 U320 at MOT

Reply #14 – May 10, 2012, 08:55:16 pm

We bought our U225 thinking that it would be the one we would be using but that U320 at the lower price would be hard to walk away from if I were ready to pull the trigger on our full retirement plan. What I'll end up doing is upgrade our coach to the point where it's exactly the way I want it and then go buy another one.

There's a lot of that going around, I bet.

Craig

Re: The '97 U320 at MOT

Reply #15 – May 10, 2012, 11:51:04 pm

I am a old time foretravel manager. 20 plus years ago. Excellent coaches then.

The 1997 unihome u320 40 I just bought is the end of a thirty learning program. I witnessed the first twenty years in great detail. Now I get to see the final results.

All the issues I had to try and work around in the older coaches have been fixed in this one.

Every single issue. Ducted air with a crowned roof for the increased headliner height. Aqua hot system is the only way I would own a coach anymore after using this one.

Dual pane windows, heated bays, parallel compartment doors, the xtarder that works on cruise control, a powerfull enough engine to pull the hills at any speed wanted, no sway in crosswinds, trucks from the other direction hardly are noticeable. Giant generator, almost 2,000 mile range under perfect conditions, large tank capacities, cord reels, outside faucet, better front visibility, live able floor pans, solid wood cabinetry, no tape on the edge of the hollow core closet doors, electroluminescent dashboard, killer brakes with or without the xtarder. Used the xtarder every few miles across the midwest to slow the coach down without touching the service brakes.

I have used every major brand and most models made in the Rv business and the 97 I have drove 1600 miles in the three days in is the best overall coach I have used.

Current foretravel production is this 1997 technology plus the slides and better electronics.
I personally am not a slide buyer as the long term maintenance and added weight and loss of storage and price were too much of a deterrent to me.

The final good point was today after driving from Albuquerque to wichita which was 689 miles and with no headwinds and no hills with the cruise on at 65mph and a three thousand pound tow car and no generator or aqua hot and the coach took 69 gallons of fuel.

Red top 450 cummins celect plus.

Amazing coach for this much money. Mine needed a wheel bearing seal on the road. The grey tank leaks, the water tank indicator does not read full. That kind of stuff. Creeping window seals, decals removed, white gelcoat still pretty good.

There is not a better made or driving coach ever made especially for this price. And it's mother ship still exists.

Sorry to run on but the overall quality and driving experience cannot be duplicated for this amount of money anywhere else in the Rv industry.

My mechanic buddy mentioned that most coaches are used up at 15 years of age. These are not. Not perfect but way more good left for this money and the best ride in the business

Bob

Re: The '97 U320 at MOT

Reply #16 – May 11, 2012, 12:15:57 am

Some reply back a bit may have said it a 400 hp. I think this is the 450 hp M11.

Re: The '97 U320 at MOT

Reply #17 – May 11, 2012, 12:25:18 am

Quote from: Michael Jackie – May 11, 2012, 12:15:57 am

Some reply back a bit may have said it a 400 hp. I think this is the 450 hp M11.

Both listing said 400. Who knows? Unless some one looks to see if the motor is a red valve cover.

Re: The '97 U320 at MOT

Reply #18 – May 11, 2012, 02:38:27 pm

Both of the 1997 u320's are powered by the ISM 450hp Cummins!

Stewart Canty

Re: The '97 U320 at MOT

Reply #19 – May 11, 2012, 03:29:45 pm

Quote from: stewartcanty – May 11, 2012, 02:38:27 pm

Both of the 1997 u320's are powered by the ISM 450hp Cummins!

Stewart Canty

I really enjoy mine. It's a M11 celect plus is the red valve cover engine. Make sure that's what's in these. Early 97's had the 400's. Not 450 red tops.

Big difference in performance and value.

Bob

Re: The '97 U320 at MOT

Reply #20 – May 22, 2012, 01:03:19 am

This seems like a pretty good price for a '97 40' U320. Curious if anyone's checked it out? My guess is there are some glaring issues for it to be priced this well and still for sale.

1997 Foretravel U320 40' Motorhomes of Texas

Re: The '97 U320 at MOT

Reply #21 – May 22, 2012, 01:48:16 am

One of the issues is that when a motorhome in the US has over a 100k miles it seems you cannot get a bank loan to buy it and that I was told makes selling one a lot harder. I was told this at FT last year byone of the salesmen when I had him look at mine as a possible trade in on one on the lot. Ours has 82000 and would get a premium because of condition etc (more than I paid for it 3 yrs ago)!! Looking at the pictures I do not see more than 10k worth of updates, but would have to call them as far as mechanical condition. Just looking in the NADA book and it shows to buy at wholesale 38k and sell around 56k, so priced right by the looks of it.
John H

Re: The '97 U320 at MOT

Reply #22 – May 22, 2012, 12:18:40 pm

Quote from: John Haygarth – May 22, 2012, 01:48:16 am

One of the issues is that when a motorhome in the US has over a 100k miles it seems you cannot get a bank loan to buy it and that I was told makes selling one a lot harder. I was told this at FT last year byone of the salesmen when I had him look at mine as a possible trade in on one on the lot. Ours has 82000 and would get a premium because of condition etc (more than I paid for it 3 yrs ago)!! Looking at the pictures I do not see more than 10k worth of updates, but would have to call them as far as mechanical condition. Just looking in the NADA book and it shows to buy at wholesale 38k and sell around 56k, so priced right by the looks of it.
John H

We have a similar coach and are realiy enjoying it. Did not try to finance it so was not aware of the 100k issue.

I have a list of needed repairs for ours that is normal for a 15 year old 100k coach that we are working on. Expect it. 5-10k dollars will bring mine back to 90% condition on the mechanical systems. Well worth the time and money to me. The drive is an eye opener.

No wonder these listed for $382,000. The xtarder is the bomb. 12% grades last week never touched the service brakes.

Had a Fed ex van stop short in front of me at 65mph as he misjudged a turn in new mexico and I got to test the air disk brakes and xtarder. No problem. Seriously safe.

What else can you buy for this much money that has this much good left in it? And a factory still alive?

Bob

Re: The '97 U320 at MOT

Reply #23 – May 22, 2012, 09:24:44 pm

The problem with trying to finance a coach is not necessarily the mileage,and with some banks or finance companies, the age, although ten years is a cutoff, and with some 15. USAA will do even older coaches than 15 years. But they will not finance more than the average retail as depicted by NADA. I know that when you start adding the extra equipment, some things are are the list, and some items that are on the coach are not even considered. But the bottom line is NADA's avg. retail.

Affiliate Notice