Narrowing the search

Topic: Narrowing the search (Read 1730 times) previous topic - next topic

Narrowing the search

June 17, 2012, 08:41:21 pm

As promised, here are some specific questions. We're focusing on U280 and above coaches from 1993 to 1997. I've been told that the 1997 is probably the best "bang for the buck" since all of the major improvements are present then. Newer coaches are just refinements. Using NADA prices as a guide, a '97 is about as new as it will be possible for us to go, and that will be a stretch.

Okay, here are the questions.

1. I understand that a U280 has a GW of 28,000 pounds, and a U300 has a GW of 30,000 pounds. I'm assuming that the U280 has a slightly lower empty weight than a U300, but that it probably isn't a 2000 pound difference. Does that mean that a U300 will have a somewhat greater carrying capacity than a U280?

2. From the information on Barry Beam's site, it looks like anything under a U300 has a propane generator, while U300 and above has a diesel generator. Was diesel an option for the U280 and U295 coaches?

3. NADA shows both Unihome and Unicoach for 1995 and 1996. For 1994 and 1993 they list Unihome and Grand Villa. Is what NADA calls the Grand Villa on the Oshkosh chassis and the Unihome on the Foretravel chassis?

4. For 1995 and 1996, is there any difference in specifications between the Unihome and Unicoach models? Obviously there is a difference in appearance, and I'm assuming in chassis. What about engine/transmission, generator, etc.?

That's enough questions for tonight. I'm sure that over the next few months I'll have many more. Again, thanks to all of you who are so willing to share your knowledge with me and willing to put up with all my questions.

Re: Narrowing the search

Reply #1 – June 17, 2012, 08:49:20 pm

The flat nose, bus type Unicoach was introduced in 1995. Prior to that they were all the Grand Villa style mid entry, slanted front. I believe that 1991 was the last Oshkosh chassis. If it is 1992 or later and listed as a Unihome, it should be the Foretravel Chassis. Foretravel Unihome chassis was available in a U225, U240 both with Torsialastic Suspension and 36 feet and the U280 and U300 with 8 air bag suspension and available in 36 or 40 feet.

The U225 and U240 were both 96" wide chassis and had shorter storage bays. The U280 and U300 from 1992 on had 102" wide chassis and taller storage bays. I believe the 1994 and newer U225 and U240's were also 102" wide. That extra 6" in width is hardly noticeable when driving but very noticeable in living space.

Re: Narrowing the search

Reply #2 – June 17, 2012, 08:55:51 pm

Kent. my 93 was Oshkosh with springs and the 5.9 cummins
John

Re: Narrowing the search

Reply #3 – June 17, 2012, 08:58:08 pm

Quote from: John Haygarth – June 17, 2012, 08:55:51 pm

Kent. my 93 was Oshkosh with springs and the 5.9 cummins
John

That's a new one on me. Thanks for the clarification John. Was it called a Unihome?

Re: Narrowing the search

Reply #4 – June 17, 2012, 09:01:56 pm

here are some pics I just scanned of it.

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Reply #5 – June 17, 2012, 09:05:00 pm

That was a slick lookin coach, John. Its too bad you succumbed to the flat nose fad.

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Reply #6 – June 17, 2012, 09:15:47 pm

Here's everything you ever need to know about Foretravel specifications:
Foretravel Specifications, Floor Plans, Photos & Brochures by Year
Peter

Re: Narrowing the search

Reply #7 – June 17, 2012, 09:19:05 pm

Also, NADA does not always have their facts on all specs due to low volumes of a particular coach. For instance, the 1997 model year does not show a U270 34 ft. coach...I have one.
Peter

Re: Narrowing the search

Reply #8 – June 17, 2012, 09:30:06 pm

Thanks, Peter. That's where I'm getting my information. Right now I've got 12 coaches on my chart, from a 1993 U280 to a 1997 U320. NADA puts the last one just slightly out of our budget. Basically, I centered on 1995 and went two years either side of that, taking coaches from a U280 as the lightest and up. I'm trying to narrow the list a bit. I have a suspicion that we'll probably end up in the 93-95 range, but who knows, it might happen that just at the time we're ready to really buy someone will put a 97 up that is just what we want, and they want it gone quickly. We know we're buying a used coach, and each owner has his own idea of what the coach is worth (or what he has to get out of it), so a 93 might be priced above a 97. We're not that far, yet, but that's where we're headed.

I know that NADA doesn't list every possible coach, especially the really low volume ones. It still gives a relative comparison, though.

Re: Narrowing the search

Reply #9 – June 17, 2012, 10:53:52 pm

David,

Our 1997 U295 is pretty much stock. GVWR is 30,000#. We weigh about 28,200# with food, supplies, people, dog, fuel, and water. We usually travel for only one to three weeks at a time.

The features we like in the 1997 model include diesel generator, double pane windows, solid cabinet doors (rather than tambour), ducted air conditioning, and pantograph hinges on most bay doors. The two propane furnaces have served our purposes well.

Foretravel Specifications, Floor Plans, Photos & Brochures by Year is a great resource for comparison of features. We used information from there, MOT web site, MOT site visits, FOT web site, and information from Foreforums to guide our purchase.

Re: Narrowing the search

Reply #10 – June 17, 2012, 11:08:15 pm

Quote

Our 1997 U295 is pretty much stock. GVWR is 30,000#. We weigh about 28,200# with food, supplies, people, dog, fuel, and water. We usually travel for only one to three weeks at a time.

We had the same 1997 U295 in our previous FT. Full-timed in it, too. It's "Joey Bed" went the full width. I prefer that to the two "half-widths" in our U-320. Lower cost maintenance than a U320 was nice.

Happy Hunting!

best, paul

Re: Narrowing the search

Reply #11 – June 17, 2012, 11:33:48 pm

Kent makes a good point as he refers to "that flat nose fad", be sure and compare the flat nose to the long nose, view wise. It's like the difference between an Imax and a 8mm home movie. Of course,being an Okie he may have different priorities than looking outside while driving,like not wanting to miss any action on the bug zapper hanging from the air conditioner vent or making sure his pack of coon hounds is behaving.

Re: Narrowing the search

Reply #12 – June 17, 2012, 11:57:59 pm

David,

As long as you stick with the '93 -'96 U-280 or U-300 in the Grandvilla Unihomes (yes there were a few Grandvillas made in '96, but only a handfull), they had the proprietary Foretravel chassis (not Oskosh). Most came with a diesel generator. I have seen very few U-280's with a propane generator. The U-300 came with a bigger engine (most often a 350 hp Detroit Diesel, or a CAT versus the Cummins C8.3 300 hp), so some of the increased carrying capacity was eaten up in engine and transmission weight. However, I would guess that one would probably gain close to 1500 lbs in carrying capacity. In '95 the Unicoaches began to be built; the U-270's came with the same C8.3 engine, though the horsepower was increased by 25 hp or so from year to year.

The term Grandvilla did not refer to chassis/suspension; simply the mid-entry, slanted front windshield, which was found in the U-225, U 240, U-280, and U-300. Unihome did refer to the semi-monocoque construction/chassis. The 8 airbag suspension was limited to the U-280's and U-300's in the Grandvillas in '92-95. U-240 had the Torsillastic suspension. Unicoach was the "bus" style, but still had the semi-monocoque construction.

Hope this helps.

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Reply #13 – June 18, 2012, 08:21:25 am

J D , Careful, You may start a fight with your statement that you prefer the Solid cabinet doors. One of the things I DON"T like about the later models is that. I love the Tambour doors, they stay closed and never need adjusting nor do they need new struts.

Gary B

Re: Narrowing the search

Reply #14 – June 18, 2012, 08:56:16 am

The DW and I are also in the comparison stage of a Foretravel purchase and have wondered about the difference in viewing between the 'flat nose' vs 'slanted nose' builds. Should we assume the flat nose is preferable for traveling? Is this the IMAX reference?

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Reply #15 – June 18, 2012, 09:02:24 am

The flat front model has larger windshields and a better view out through them, including to the sides which helps to spot cars in that blind spot, that was the Imax reference. There are those who say the long nose versions get better gas mileage and they have a classic look to them.

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Reply #16 – June 18, 2012, 09:17:00 am

I like the look of the Unihome and the mid entry. Its nice having the DW alongside me instead of slightly behind. Its not because I'm worried about being stabbed in the back... Its also quieter having the door that much farther away .:-)

That said, you get more effective room in the coach with the front entry layout, and more effective under storage IMO.

Re: Narrowing the search

Reply #17 – June 18, 2012, 09:39:49 am

Quote from: Gary Bouland – June 18, 2012, 08:21:25 am

J D , Careful, You may start a fight with your statement that you prefer the Solid cabinet doors. One of the things I DON"T like about the later models is that. I love the Tambour doors, they stay closed and never need adjusting nor do they need new struts.
Gary B

D'oh! I hope I don't get banned or moderated for stirring up trouble.

We had tambour doors in a 1976 Airstream trailer. They were plastic slats on a fabric back. They tended to warp and not work smoothly. It could have been an operator problem. I don't recall complaints from anyone about the tambours in a FT.

'97 to '01 seems to be a sweet spot for our preferences. I think I would like some of the changes in new models, but have been very pleased with our current coach. It's interesting and informative to read about folk's preferences and experiences.

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Reply #18 – June 18, 2012, 09:44:28 am

The tambour door differences seem to be the Foretravel doors are short height and vertical parts. The Airstream are horizontal, and I can see where they could sag over time. Have to say that every wood part, door, cabinets, joints, tambour doors works like new, after 18 years of service.

Re: Narrowing the search

Reply #19 – June 18, 2012, 09:45:12 am

Quote

'97 to '01 seems to be a sweet spot for our preferences.

We've had a 1997 U295 and now have a 1999 U320.

They've certainly been a sweet spot for us. Of course, YMMV.

best, paul

Re: Narrowing the search

Reply #20 – June 18, 2012, 09:49:53 am

Quote from: Chuck Pearson – June 17, 2012, 11:33:48 pm

Kent makes a good point as he refers to "that flat nose fad", be sure and compare the flat nose to the long nose, view wise. It's like the difference between an Imax and a 8mm home movie. Of course,being an Okie he may have different priorities than looking outside while driving,like not wanting to miss any action on the bug zapper hanging from the air conditioner vent or making sure his pack of coon hounds is behaving.

We Okies like "Sittin Hi Up" in our Grand Villa. Its also safer being up there. I get sceered sittin low and seein what's cummin up close like in them silly flat noses.

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Reply #21 – June 18, 2012, 09:53:14 am

Quote from: Dave and Dolly Cobb – June 18, 2012, 09:44:28 am

The tambour door differences seem to be the Foretravel doors are short height and vertical parts. The Airstream are horizontal, and I can see where they could sag over time. Have to say that every wood part, door, cabinets, joints, tambour doors works like new, after 18 years of service.

You never have to replace the hydraulic closer on a tambour door. I consider them a better answer than door than the newer ones.

Re: Narrowing the search

Reply #22 – June 18, 2012, 11:26:14 am

Dave, just so I'm clear on this, the Foretravel tambour doors slide left and right with the wood pieces being vertical. The Airstream tambour doors slide up and down, with the wood pieces being horizontal. Is that right?

Re: Narrowing the search

Reply #23 – June 18, 2012, 11:30:22 am

Quote from: Chuck Pearson – June 18, 2012, 09:02:24 am

The flat front model has larger windshields and a better view out through them, including to the sides which helps to spot cars in that blind spot, that was the Imax reference. There are those who say the long nose versions get better gas mileage and they have a classic look to them.

Yes, the later models (Unicoaches) have a larger windshield. Not sure the human eye can take in more field of vision than is afforded in the earlier models (Unihomes). This is particularly true if the front center-mounted TV has been removed as we did when we went to an LED TV stored up against the ceiling

And, those extra square yards of glass in the Unicoaches really heat up the interiors when driving toward the sun. Same when parked.

So, there are definitely some of us who prefer the Unihome's smaller glass area.

All changes are NOT moves forward. The first Unicoaches had a real hard time keeping the driver and front passenger cool enough with the large increase in frontal glass area. It was only in later model Unicoaches that adequate ducting was run all the way forward to keep that area cool.

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Reply #24 – June 18, 2012, 11:31:42 am

Quote from: kb0zke – June 18, 2012, 11:26:14 am

Dave, just so I'm clear on this, the Foretravel tambour doors slide left and right with the wood pieces being vertical. The Airstream tambour doors slide up and down, with the wood pieces being horizontal. Is that right?

Correct. And a signature custom feature on all earlier Foretravels. But, they were very expensive to make, hence the move to one solid piece of wood for the doors.

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