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Topic: Another Clueless Wannabe (Read 2943 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Another Clueless Wannabe

Reply #20 –
Quote from: Neal Pillsbury –
I never saw any FT earlier than the 1999 model year, with the wider (28.5" ID) door and screen door.  Ours is 26.5 "ID, frame wall to frame wall.
I corrected my original post in order to avoid misleading anyone in the future.
Thanks,
Neal
Neal,

We definitely have the screen door in the 1997 U295. Marilyn just measured the door and apparently we DON'T have the 28.5" door. She measured the widest opening at 26.5". The narrower opening against which the door seals is a bit smaller, maybe 25.5" +-.

New or experienced, some of us are clueless about some of the details. :facepalm: I learn new stuff almost every time I read a few posts. I learn even more by visiting someone's coach.

Re: Another Clueless Wannabe

Reply #21 –
A 1996, 270 was our second MH.  My wife fell in love with Foretravels after seeing a couple of them on display at a rally where I was taking a Defensive Driving Course for MH's.

Lotsa great info already.  The "smaller" door on a 96 will take a refrigerator and a Spendide wash/dry machine.  If you are a big as I am, you can do both of these replacements/installs by yourself.  (Other motorhome brands demand that a windshield be removed....)

We have taken our 36' 270 to some rugged places.  This coach never complained while we fulltimed for 6 years.  We still use it now that we built a house.  The house is on a road that UPS refuses to deliver.

I am no mechanic, but I do my own maintence and repairs.  The 8.3 is a marvel and simple.  I do wish I had installed an Amsoil synthentic filter system and would have only had to conduct regular tests instead draining and replacing all that oil every six months.

Good luck.  Don't spend too much time deciding.  Life is so short....  andy

Re: Another Clueless Wannabe

Reply #22 –
I have to say that my 99 270 34 foot was a joy to travel in and to get my feet wet. It was my first coach and I thought it was big. Ha... I know know about 8 lane u turns.  I will also go out on a limb and say 97-2001 are the best years for FT. They were making about 300 coaches a year. They had it down.  Depending on how much you will want to travel and where and when will help you decided on the 320 and aquahot vs propane.  I travel a lot in the winter so it was a no brainer. As to the double pane windows. If they have the creeping seals they will have to be fixed or replaced sooner or later. That is a pretty big expense.  If you see a coach that has single pane windows you can always upgrade them to new dual ones. You might factor that into your budget too.  I agree with the upgrades. Look for the TVs Headlights and see if the batteries are new as well as the tires.

Re: Another Clueless Wannabe

Reply #23 –
Here is the place that does the windows in FL - if you find a coach that looks like it has "snakes" in the windows - I thought I remember $150 a window, but you could call them and ask

RV SERVICES - Suncoast Designers | RV Window Repair, Custom Windows Designed and

If you search the files, you will probably find more information on DIY, as well as a Phoenix based company that does the work as well. If you can put up with the look, the windows still seemed to preform ok with the "snakes", and on mine, only one window was pretty noticeable.

Re: Another Clueless Wannabe

Reply #24 –
Hey Cajk, I know how you feel about never even being inside a Foretravel. My first time was last Aug at MOT. The thrill of a lifetime was started there. Cant say enough good things about them and the way they treated a couple who were just kicking the tires and getting a feel for the brand. If they could have just turned down the heat and humidity in the state it would have been perfect.

They allowed us to tour 5 or 6 FT's, explaining some of the differences and then showed us a 99 Newell. It was really nice, but the wife and I both like the looks and feel of FT. I guess that fine wine fits my pallet better than Champagne. Since that time, I have been looking, studying and learning. Just found this forum and joined this week. My mind is full of info that would have been impossible to obtain otherwise.

We looked at an older GV today as our "starter" rv. When we were inspecting it, the quality, fit and comfort just blew us away. The winds were blowing 35 mph, but it was quieter inside than in my 6 yr old, well insulated sticks and bricks. We didn't take it for a test drive because of the wind and one of the dually's had a flat which he is fixing tomorrow.

Bottom line, I've looked at hundreds of other brands, nearly bought 5 from emotion, but luckily I didn't and now have the chance to buy much better quality for an affordable price. Also get the advantage of all this knowledge shown on this forum. Enjoy the ride.

Re: Another Clueless Wannabe

Reply #25 –
The few times we have had to use the propane furnace the noise is equivalent to the air conditioning units running above our heads. We usually use the heat strips while we are plugged into shore power. We have never camped in sub zero weather.

To me the main difference between a 34 foot and a 36 foot coach is the center storage bay. 34 foot has a smaller center storage bay. The galley in the 34' is also about a foot shorter than the 36', and so is the living area. The bathroom and the bedroom are the same.

Re: Another Clueless Wannabe

Reply #27 –
Your welcome Bob, where have you been?

Richard B.

Re: Another Clueless Wannabe

Reply #28 –
Hi Chuck,
I just saw this post:

"First, do any of you have any direct knowledge about these particular units at MOT?  I would be very interested in any history, details about interior or tire condition, or (better yet) your opinion of them if you have actually walked through them recently. "

I am the previous owner of the 1996 U270 at MOT.  I would be happy to tell you what I know about the coach.
If interested please send me an email at rriggs@argotechnologiesinc.com or you can reach me at 832-549-0290.
Good luck on your search.

Rodger

Re: Another Clueless Wannabe

Reply #29 –
Rodger,

Sent you a email.  Really appreciate the offer of info on the "prior" coach - We need all the help we can get!

Chuck and Jeannie Avery

Re: Another Clueless Wannabe

Reply #30 –
This may seem obvious, but the newer the coach the more improvements and technology that have been added through the model years. In fact, there have been so many improvements that the new coaches with all these technologies are so expensive and so luxurious that these are no longer camping vehicles but palaces on wheels.

I can live with either a ducted or non-ducted system. Having said that, the ducted system does have a better airflow and distribution.

Re: Another Clueless Wannabe

Reply #31 –
We are very happy with the two roof units. In really hot weather, we close the windows and keep the front roof air on while under way.  The forward air does a good job reaching the two front seats even if the dash air is not working. While we are rarely plugged into shore power while on the road, when we are, the noise from the roof air is much less annoying than the rear heater cycling on and off during the night in cold weather.

Pierce

Re: Another Clueless Wannabe

Reply #32 –
Peter and Beth,
Pierce and Gaylie,

Thanks for quick replies to my A/C question.  (The moderator, I guess, split my question off to a separate thread, in case anyone else wonders why you are talking about A/C types)  You are all giving me exactly the kind of info we need for our shopping trip to MOT next week.  We don't want to rule out any potential coaches based on erroneous preconceptions.

Thanks, Chuck and Jeannie Avery

Re: Another Clueless Wannabe

Reply #33 –
Had ductless on my 89, ducted on the 99 and 2000. COuld live with either, prefer ducted on the 2000, one air cools entire coach at night, as previously noted

Hated the noisy propane furnace at night, wife even worse. If you are a light sleeper, take that into consideration vs. aquahot.

Re: Another Clueless Wannabe

Reply #34 –
Quote from: Tim Fiedler –
Hated the noisy propane furnace at night, wife even worse.
Uhh ---- if wife reads the forum, you might want to phrase that comment in a different way. :P

We had direct air flow from roof units in SOB. We have ducted air flow in the U295. We prefer ducted.

We don't like the noise of the propane furnaces. The rear furnace is not very noisy. The front furnace makes lots of racket right next to the dining table. I've tried to baffle it, but haven't found a satisfactory solution yet. However, we won't change coaches just to get Aqua-Hot. However, if we change coaches, the next one will probably have AH.

Re: Another Clueless Wannabe

Reply #35 –
Quote from: cajk –
...  You are all giving me exactly the kind of info we need for our shopping trip to MOT next week.  We don't want to rule out any potential coaches based on erroneous preconceptions.

Thanks, Chuck and Jeannie Avery

Chuck and Avery
As you look, also note the Tamdour (rolling) doors of the overhead cabinets, at least on those 1996 and older.
When I think about something newer than our '96 I have to think hard about giving them up.

The '96 also has non-ducted A/Cs. They are no problem for us.
We run north (out of Texas) in the summer. I think I can count on one hand the times we had both A/Cs on at the same time during the day and just about that many times for the forward one alone at night.
I did build deflectors out of thin plastic cutting boards to avoid dust in the overhead carpeting.

HTH

Re: Another Clueless Wannabe

Reply #36 –
Elliot,

Thanks for the tip on the "tambour" doors in your coach.  I hope to look at a '96 U295 36' while I am visiting Nacogdouches next week.  (It is the one listed in the classified section of this forum.)  Since I see you are currently online, perhaps you could explain any other special features unique to the U295.  I looked at Barry Beam's excellent collection of factory brochures and specs, but he seems to have a "data gap" in the '96 U295 info.  There is a little generic list of features, and zero floor plans.  Since you own this model, you ought to know best how the '96 U295 differs from other models and model years.

Thanks in advance for any other tips, info or insider secrets!

Re: Another Clueless Wannabe

Reply #37 –
We looked at the private for sale, 36' 1996 U295, hope you look, you will not be disappointed.  As to the features understand the 295 is midway between a 270 having less things, and 320, having more features.  I looked at the 95 and 96 feature lists, and you can use the floor plan for either year to better understand the layout.  Hopefully someone will find the info on that coach in all the paperwork and send it to Barry for his incredible library.

Re: Another Clueless Wannabe

Reply #38 –
From what I see there are 2-floor plans for the 40' u295 and 3 for the 36'. The u295s where made from 1995 through 2005 and the floor plans where about the same. Remember that with optional equipment a u295 can, I think ,have everything that a U 320 has except the larger engine and trans. I have a 1999 U295 with most everything except Aqua Hot and the larger engine trans.Gam

Re: Another Clueless Wannabe

Reply #39 –
I have attached a copy of the spec sheet for the '96 U295.
Also the floor plans.
Compare these with the 270 and 320 and then give another shout..

You would have to look at the build specifications of the individual coach to see if different but I have the Cummins 300 hp 8.3, probably close to the last year for the mechanical (as opposed to electronic) engine.
As I said, I really like the Tamdour doors on the upper cabinets.
At some time a little later (Maybe even the '97) got a bigger (bigger than 24") door with a screen.

As Dave Cobb said, the model numbers (U270, U295, and U320) seem to be used more to distinguish trim lines. Just like cars, I understand more things became standard as you moved up. I looked at a 320 and the 295 and the 295 suited me more.

HTH