EBAY '97 40' U320

Topic: EBAY '97 40' U320 (Read 1635 times) previous topic - next topic

EBAY '97 40' U320

June 14, 2012, 08:43:58 am

May be of interest to someone. No reserve so could go pretty cheap!

Big 40' 1997 Foretravel U320 with 400HP Cummins M11 and selling W/ NO RESERVE!

Re: EBAY '97 40' U320

Reply #1 – June 14, 2012, 11:22:59 am

I looked at motorhome and liked it and the no reserve status (means will sell). I then looked at their feedback and though it was good, certainly was a lot of "private" transactions. Waaay more than I would expect. I certainly would view, evaluate my purchase prior to paying the bill to insure representation and description was accurate.

Re: EBAY '97 40' U320

Reply #2 – June 14, 2012, 11:36:26 am

As it is up north, check bulkheads. If driven on salt roads and not hosed off, they could be a real issue.

Re: EBAY '97 40' U320

Reply #3 – June 14, 2012, 11:41:27 am

Quote from: wolfe10 – June 14, 2012, 11:36:26 am

As it is up north, check bulkheads. If driven on salt roads and not hosed off, they could be a real issue.

I agree. It is a certainty that a 97 Unicoach will need to have the bulkheads redone...about $1,300 done by others front & back. But, this is a well built unit with the long lasting M11 engine and 4060R Allison.
Peter

Re: EBAY '97 40' U320

Reply #4 – June 14, 2012, 11:42:03 am

The phone numbers come back to these two outfits.

Total Outdoor Adventures
1090 Manchester Ave
Wabash, IN 46992
Phone: 260-414-1978

and

Trucks Plus
(260) 571-1868
1812 S Wabash St, Wabash, IN 46992-4120

Trucks Plus has a BBB rating of F. Reason 2 "Problems with Product / Service".

Re: EBAY '97 40' U320

Reply #5 – June 14, 2012, 11:50:32 am

roof and sidewall delam would be my major concerns, plus the condition of the aquahot. If it goes for $25-30K it would be a heck of a deal if repairs were less than 10K.

Re: EBAY '97 40' U320

Reply #6 – June 14, 2012, 01:52:11 pm

I like the relocation of the retarder wand versus mine which is next the the wall. Good idea

Re: EBAY '97 40' U320

Reply #7 – June 14, 2012, 06:27:34 pm

RE: I like the relocation of the retarder wand versus mine which is next the wall.

Side dash panel is made up of square segments and any light switch or retarder joy stick can be easily relocated from one square to another. Lift up the side panel and make changed from underneath.

Retarder stick should be mounted where you can easily and quickly use it.

Re: EBAY '97 40' U320

Reply #8 – June 14, 2012, 09:08:14 pm

Quote from: Dave Head – June 14, 2012, 11:50:32 am

roof and sidewall delam would be my major concerns, plus the condition of the aquahot. If it goes for $25-30K it would be a heck of a deal if repairs were less than 10K.

Would your budget go up if it were a 450? Just asking.

The coach may well have 28k miles as it has creation windows without seal creep. May be a real deal either way.

Bob

Re: EBAY '97 40' U320

Reply #9 – June 14, 2012, 11:36:29 pm

Since I own a 400hp M11, I will say no. I get 9 mpg most of the time. The 97's were 450 hp - the other improvements are what's critical - aquahot, ducted air, dual pane windows, maniblock system and smart wheel are made the 97 a step up in my opinion...

Re: EBAY '97 40' U320

Reply #10 – June 15, 2012, 12:03:32 am

Good chance it is a 450 M11 and the listing agent just made an error.

Re: EBAY '97 40' U320

Reply #11 – June 15, 2012, 12:07:31 am

any body on the board live close to inspect?? I may be interested as a project for a few months. NADA has this unit -ingood condition at between 35-45k after the 10% discount. HMM
John

Re: EBAY '97 40' U320

Reply #12 – June 15, 2012, 12:15:58 am

Looks like a new microwave. I wonder if the door opens? I ran into this when I was thinking of replacing mine.

If it does open I want the brand and model.

see ya
ken

Re: EBAY '97 40' U320

Reply #13 – June 15, 2012, 12:42:27 am

Interested as well as I'm bidding.

Quote from: John Haygarth – June 15, 2012, 12:07:31 am

any body on the board live close to inspect?? I may be interested as a project for a few months. NADA has this unit -ingood condition at between 35-45k after the 10% discount. HMM
John

Re: EBAY '97 40' U320

Reply #14 – June 15, 2012, 12:50:56 am

Quote from: Dave Head – June 14, 2012, 11:36:29 pm

Since I own a 400hp M11, I will say no. I get 9 mpg most of the time. The 97's were 450 hp - the other improvements are what's critical - aquahot, ducted air, dual pane windows, maniblock system and smart wheel are made the 97 a step up in my opinion...

The 97 weighs more so the change to the 450/1450 was a help. Mine is just fast enough. Less power to weight ratio would be not as much fun for an old Rv sales manager with a heavy foot like me. I would think your 95 is similar to my 97.

I sold a lot of L10's in monacos way back when. These have more power by quite a bit.

Bob

Re: EBAY '97 40' U320

Reply #15 – June 15, 2012, 12:52:02 am

Quote from: John Haygarth – June 15, 2012, 12:07:31 am

any body on the board live close to inspect?? I may be interested as a project for a few months. NADA has this unit -ingood condition at between 35-45k after the 10% discount. HMM
John

That would be wholesale

Re: EBAY '97 40' U320

Reply #16 – June 15, 2012, 12:05:26 pm

Benjie, I will not go over 25k on it so will let you keep bidding and hope you get it. I just wanted to play with it then sell.
John

Re: EBAY '97 40' U320

Reply #17 – June 15, 2012, 12:39:14 pm

John, I'm not sure I'm willing to go up to 25K. I'm technically looking to sell my U295 and wait to repurchase something until my 2 year old is about 4. I'm bidding because if I get it super cheap, then why not! Maybe I shouldn't have posted it here! ;-)

Re: EBAY '97 40' U320

Reply #18 – June 15, 2012, 02:45:17 pm

Benjie, once I knew you were bidding I decided to let you go for it as it is not important to me. There are many others out there I can buy, but I do not unless I get it below wholesale like the one we have and the first one. So carry on my friend.
John

Re: EBAY '97 40' U320

Reply #19 – June 15, 2012, 02:57:37 pm

Thanks John! If I decide to drop off under $25K, I'll let you know! I'd basically be purchasing this site unseen other than the pics. I'm willing to take a large amount of risk at a low enough price, but my guess is this may go for quite a bit more than $25K. I'm doing some more research and going to call them, but I'm a little concerned about things like delamination, bulkhead, roof leaks, how the engine/transmission/generator has been maintained, etc. Basically, all the high cost items that you can't see in pics!

Re: EBAY '97 40' U320

Reply #20 – June 15, 2012, 03:26:13 pm

I think a fair allowance for deferred maintenance & repairs on this unit is $10,000. I assume new tires, full bulkhead repairs, batteries, starter, alternator and full fluid changes to start. Maybe a full detail at $1,000 may be in order as well. Then the problems may begin, but I've allowed enough to keep me happy with the purchase at no more than $25,000. Then again, maybe the seller is barking up the wrong tree and will pull the unit off the auction before it's done.

Peter

Re: EBAY '97 40' U320

Reply #21 – June 15, 2012, 03:54:00 pm

Peter,

Actually, $10,000 may be way low if things like the coolant have not been maintained (this is a linered engine and if run for a year without SCA or ELC coolant, the cylinder walls could be shot). And as we have seen, bulkhead repair can run from a broken bolt or two to complete separation requiring rebuilding. $1,300 is NOT worse case scenario for bulkhead repair.

Not trying to paint a gloomy picture, but there are some coaches not worth even (what you think is) a bargain price.

Just went through this on another forum on an SOB. Exceptionally low price (low enough that many though it was a scam), but upon inspection, it was determined that the unit was in FL with windows that had leaked for a LONG time-- mold, and even mushrooms growing inside. No price would make that one a bargain.

As with any purchase CHECK IT OUT or have someone who is competent check it out for you.

Now, on one you have never seen, as long as the seller is legit, make an offer "Subject to inspection and test drive satisfactory to buyer-- said inspection and test drive to be complete by DATE." Obviously, the shorter the lag until the DATE, the more likely a seller would be to hold it off the market until you can inspect.

Have bought and sold sailboats that way-- last one a two year old Pacific Seacraft Crealock 37' we sold to a guy who lived 2,500 miles away. Selling price more than our stick home. We agreed on price, he flew in that weekend, did a quick look and called a marine surveyor to inspect. By Monday, we had money in our broker account and the boat was mast down and loaded on a custom 18 wheeler on the road from FL to WA. But, had he not been satisfied, he would have only been out his expenses, nothing for the boat.

Brett

Re: EBAY '97 40' U320

Reply #22 – June 15, 2012, 04:10:13 pm

I have tried to buy RV's on ebay in the past that were no reserve. Everytime I was outbid at the last second. A month later the same unit would reappear. Inquiries would get "the buyer didn't pay", but there would be no bad feedback posted. Many times there is someone they know with a top bid set that will actually get them above what they want. A review of the past sales shows one that looks a whole lot like this one that was pulled by the seller. Didn't dig far enough to see if it was the same seller. Big ticket items are risky.

Re: EBAY '97 40' U320

Reply #23 – June 15, 2012, 04:18:36 pm

I agree. It was listed, I started watching, cancelled, and now relisted. We'll see how it goes.

Best Regards,
Benjie

Benjie Zeller
(512) 587-4628

Re: EBAY '97 40' U320

Reply #24 – June 15, 2012, 04:19:46 pm

With protected bid identities a straw buyer for the dealer can bid it up to where they want.

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