Potential Purchase

Topic: Potential Purchase (Read 1928 times) previous topic - next topic

Potential Purchase

April 21, 2013, 10:39:42 am

My wife and I are getting close to purchase a RV for retirement. Have looked at many 5th wheels because we own a F350 daully and that seemed to make sense. Friends feel we would be happier in a MH.
This we will sort out in time, but for a year now a 1998 U270 with approximately 45,000 miles has been sitting for sale in the storage lot next door. Owners bought a new gas MH and want to sell. The more I walk over and look at it , the more I am intrigued. I like quality build of the Foretravel and would rather buy older and quality then new and cheaper with new gizmos.

Questions:
Buying a MH to keep lets say ten years, would I be sorry the with a 1998 model. We would not be fulltimers but mainly snowbirds.

How would a Foretravel of this vintage compare to a more common make (Monaco or similar) 2001-2003 year.

Appreciate your thoughts,

Kevin
B.C. Canada

Re: Potential Purchase

Reply #1 – April 21, 2013, 11:19:25 am

kevin
I am on my second foretravel. my present coach is a 98
which is the last year of the 8.3 mechanical cummins.
I have been tempted over the last 10 years to upgrade
to a newer foretravel, but any that I have tested would
just be a newer coach, not an upgrade. we do not need
a slide, because we don't live in our coach, we travel in it.
if the coach passes inspection, you cannot go wrong with a
foretravel. there are several foretravel owners in b.c.

Re: Potential Purchase

Reply #2 – April 21, 2013, 11:39:37 am

The DW and I (with kids) put a lot of miles under a 29' Alpenlite 5th wheel about ten years ago so I can speak to the difference between a Foretravel and a 5er.

The biggest difference to me is that it's incredibly comfortable to drive. Visibility is excellent compared to a pickup truck so the view of traffic ahead is not impeded as much by vehicles in front of you. The convenience of having someone go get a cold soda out of the fridge is not to be underestimated. And, with the engine some 30 feel behind you, it's quiet enough to talk in normal tones or listen to music. No air noise from a door, either (at least for the driver). And a (legal) nap in the back bedroom while the DW drives is nice, too.

The second big difference is that we don't have to drive a 3/4-ton (or 1-ton dually) pickup everywhere. We can tow our Jeep or our sedan. Or we can tow the sport fishing boat or a golf cart trailer. At least one person on the forum had an enclosed trailer for his Jeep with a workbench and then mounted solar panels on the top so that he could park the trailer in the sun while keeping the motorhome in the shade and then plug a 50-A cord into the trailer!!! 1kw of panels did the trick!

The third advantage is fuel capacity. My older Foretravel has only 100 gallon capacity but the newer models (like the one you're looking at) can carry more. My pickups had 35-gallon tanks and that meant looking for fuel every 300 miles; and planning potty breaks around those stops. Heaven forbid that someone had to go to the bathroom after only 150 miles!!!

Longer range combined with the ability to determine fuel prices along the way in real time with your cell phone means you get to plan ahead for the least expensive fill-up!

One annoyance with a trailer, especially if you like to travel during cool weather, is that the trailer is always cold when you arrive. The motorhome stays warm while you drive and is warm and comfortable when you stop.

Backing up in a 5th wheel always meant that one rear corner of that trailer (and anything that was behind it) was invisible. A motorhome doesn't bend so you can see both rear corners in the mirrors and the rear-facing TV lets you see what's behind you. It's still a good idea to place someone back there for safety, but you're still much less likely to back over something nasty.

And finally, if something comes loose while traveling in a trailer you are not going to know about it until the next time you go back into it. With a motorhome you know immediately if there is a problem and you can pull off the highway and address it before it becomes a bigger issue.

Not everyone agrees, of course, but this has been our experience.

Craig

Re: Potential Purchase

Reply #3 – April 21, 2013, 11:45:04 am

Excellent run-down, Craig. The only thing I'd add is that if it's raining and you stop for the night you don't have to get out and get wet, just simply set the brake and settle in.

Re: Potential Purchase

Reply #4 – April 21, 2013, 12:06:13 pm

I'm still trying to figure out why anyone in their right mind would buy a new gas MH and want to get rid of their 1998 Foretravel? I enjoy going to RV shows just to compare the fit and finish of my 1994 Foretravel to the brand new rigs on display. And my Foretravel wins out every time. And you should see the look on the salesmen faces when they ask what kind of a motorhome I have. They don't even try to sell me anything, even when they hear its a '94.

Re: Potential Purchase

Reply #5 – April 21, 2013, 12:08:49 pm

I like the ride and comfort on the road with a Foretravel . Even in a crosswind I can drive most of the time with one hand on the wheel. Better then 8 mpg pulling a toad and when I get where I'm going 25 with the car. There is good support from the MFG and this Forum is great. Then there is the fit and finish of a Foretravel they hold up well over the years.Gam

Re: Potential Purchase

Reply #6 – April 21, 2013, 12:14:33 pm

Kevin where in BC are you? I am in South Okanagan and Wyatt is on the Island. We have a few members around if you need any help.
John H

Re: Potential Purchase

Reply #7 – April 21, 2013, 12:21:12 pm

I also live in BC, in Victoria.
I have a 1996 U320, and even though I could have bought a newer coach or one with slides I did not and here are the reasons:

I chose Foretravel over other brands because Foretravel is a quality, finesse engineered coach which drives, rides, and handles the best there is available. Foretravel is also one of the most well built and trouble free coaches available, just check the "RV Consumers Group" evaluations and see for yourself. I chose Foretravel even though I had never heard of Foretravel when I started a 1.5 year research project to determine which make and model I would purchase.

I chose a 1996 U320 because that was the last year of the Tamboured cupboard doors, the walnut wood paneling, dual propane furnaces and a propane hot water heater. The U320 after 1996 came with hinged cupboard doors, vinyl wall paper and Aquahot. I did not want Aquahot because I dry camp for months every winter and Aquahot requires more power to operate then furnaces and is more expensive to maintain. Most folks with Aquahot love it, it is a very good system.

I chose the U320 because it has the Cummins M11 (10.8 L) with 400hp, and an Allison 4000 series tranny with a retarder. No more crawling up mountain passes for me.

With Foretravel, after 1996, the highest new price with most options and walnut cabinets is the U320, next is the U295 with walnut but a smaller engine and fewer options, then the lowest price is the U270 with oak cabinets and fewer options yet. These three models all have the same body construction.

The choice of trailer verses motorhome was easy for me because I wanted to bring a convertible car with me and would not want to drive a big dually around town. I would have little use for a pickup truck.

Re: Potential Purchase

Reply #8 – April 21, 2013, 12:27:17 pm

Dont forget the old saying about preferring a 10 year old Foretravel to a brand new anything else new, seems to still be the case.
Dave M

Re: Potential Purchase

Reply #9 – April 21, 2013, 01:43:00 pm

Well, there may be a few thousand posts for you to dig though here in the archives, but I think the prejudiced among us would say get the Foretravel MH.

They last forever (I had a 1999 U-270 36', loved it, but wanted slide and Aquahot). Buying older quality is always a grew move (think 2002 Lexus LS430 with 150,000 miles on it - will cost a buck or two for maintenance, but no less costly way to experience that level of luxury, and most of the depreciation already in the rear vie mirror.

Get it checked by someone familiar with FT's Tires, Batteries, Refrigerator, and Upgrades are where your money will go quickly If it has sat rather than been used, expect stuff to act up first year or so, they seem to break less the more you use them PLan on 8 MPG (better than your dually with 5'ver I would think, better mileage if you travel 65 or less.

Have fun, and welcome to the Forum!

Re: Potential Purchase

Reply #10 – April 21, 2013, 01:44:52 pm

Glitz, Slides, financing a new coach is easy, and some folks just like new

Not saying I think it makes sense, but these are only reasons I can think of....

Re: Potential Purchase

Reply #11 – April 21, 2013, 02:33:17 pm

Quote

I'm still trying to figure out why anyone in their right mind would buy a new gas MH and want to get rid of their 1998 Foretravel?

Many people as they get older don't feel comfortable driving and parking a large coach.

Re: Potential Purchase

Reply #12 – April 21, 2013, 03:16:23 pm

Quote from: JohnFitz – April 21, 2013, 02:33:17 pm

Many people as they get older don't feel comfortable driving and parking a large coach.

I hear ya...I still miss the 2000 Winnie Rialta (VW Chassis). Great for long trips (never fulltiming).

Re: Potential Purchase

Reply #13 – April 21, 2013, 04:45:21 pm

Kevin, Mine is a 95 U280, take a look at how many 18 year old SOB's you find still on the road. I have had this ten years and other than maintenance it has had only two major repairs, a fuel injection pump and brakes. Pump was probably just a fluke. This forum has a couple owners in Canada and they may be able to give you a closer look at their FT's.
Good luck
Gary B

Re: Potential Purchase

Reply #14 – April 21, 2013, 05:53:10 pm

I live by my statement that an older Foretravel is better and a new anything else. I am on my second 1993 and the only reason I changed coaches is that we are full timing and we wanted the larger storage area, wider chassis and 4 extra feet of length. Based on our limited budget we did not want a lot of the costly bells and whistles that require more maintenance, including slides. We are very comfortable with just the two of us and a 110 dog in our 40 footer, no slides.

When we first started I was very concerned about the age of the coach and should I invest in keeping and old coach running. First of all, the cost has been minimal and no more than a 6 year old coach of any brand. It is not only built well with a quality drive train, all of the equipment and appliances are top of the line as well. We are are still using our original refrigerator, ice maker, hot water heater, one air conditioner, central vacuum cleaner and stove. It is equipped very similarly to the new seven figure coaches at least with all of the essential bells and whistles. I could easily drop another 50 grand into it and still be ahead of the game of buying an new SOB. Think Hard about it. It may be a very good deal and you won't believe how relaxing a week end, a week or a month in the Foretravle will be.

Re: Potential Purchase

Reply #15 – April 21, 2013, 08:02:54 pm

I have a 2001 and it is great. I hope to keep it for the next ten years or so. Then again the new Phenix might call my name one day too.

Re: Potential Purchase

Reply #16 – April 21, 2013, 08:27:46 pm

Kevin, after researching EXTENSIVELY, I have become convinced that an older Foretravel is definitely the way to go. The DW and I still have to sell the stx & brx but after that it is pretty certain which way we will go. If you do go for it, like said before, have some of the others in your area help check it out to give you some reassurance from some very knowledgeable people. If you decide to go otherwise, let the word out also. Someone else on this forum who are looking for the right rig might be interested. Good luck with your decision.

Re: Potential Purchase

Reply #17 – April 21, 2013, 08:35:47 pm

Kevin, we researched for several years, narrowing to the class of RV, then brands, then finally looking for a coach to buy. One of the questions we had to answer was how much we planned to travel compared to how long we would remain in one place. We learned that if you are going to stay in one place for months at a time a towable is a better choice. If you move 2-3 times per month then a motor home makes more sense. We chose to avoid slides. If you are used to them you will need to go newer than what we went with.

If you are interested in our story, PM or email me and I'll share our thoughts. The biggest bit of advice I can give is to prepare your "mission profile" before you go shopping. Figure out how you will use your coach first, and you won't be trading shortly after buying it.

Re: Potential Purchase

Reply #18 – April 21, 2013, 10:14:35 pm

Thanks to all for the great responses and input.

I was at our business today, yes open Sunday, and walked next door to look the U270 over a bit more. I have always prefered older classy things. Never been a fan of glitsh and glamour, I really like her lines, in a way, reminds me of a Volvo stationwagon, boxy but portray sense of quality and security.

It is parked at a heavy equipment service centre where they service semi trucks and RV's. Haven't had a chance to speak to owners who are still away south I will be interested in why they went with a gas unit but as said by one of you, a simpler MH is propably the reason.

The unit seems clean but not perfect. Rubber seals around some windows are smudging, decals peeling but no body damage and certainly could use a good power polish and wax. Mechanically the shop who also look after my equipment, know the owner and say it is well maintained.

May take for a test drive this coming week. I believe they are asking around $45,000 but will see what I find out.

Thanks again for your great input.

Kevin
Vernon, B.C.

Re: Potential Purchase

Reply #19 – April 22, 2013, 12:09:51 am

Quote from: kevlor80 – April 21, 2013, 10:14:35 pm

I believe they are asking around $45,000 but will see what I find out.

Thats a steal!!!!

Re: Potential Purchase

Reply #20 – April 22, 2013, 12:16:10 am

We have a 99 U270 36', and absolutely love it. Over the last two years, we spent lots of time looking at other Foretravels, older, newer, slides, no slides, and finally decided that our U270 was the perfect coach for us and would be our home for a long long time, so we bit the bullet and had the outside "remanufactured" at Xtreme. Now it's our "new" coach and we already have all the upgrades and tweaks that we've installed over the years. They are truly wonderful machines, and this forum provides all the support and camaraderie that one could ask for. So join the club! You won't regret it.

Re: Potential Purchase

Reply #21 – April 22, 2013, 12:33:33 am

Quote from: PatC – April 22, 2013, 12:09:51 am

Thats a steal!!!!

A Steal? Wow I was thinking a little high. That's why I'm on here getting educated. What was a U270 selling for in 1998 ?

Re: Potential Purchase

Reply #22 – April 22, 2013, 01:15:08 am

Kevin depends on if it is a 36' or 34'.
A 36 was around $259,000 and a 34' was $253,500
My 2000 36' U295 was $350,000.
So you see they were very expensive compared to other makes.
I live just south of Penticton and if you want it is only 1 1/2 hrs drive to you if you get to the point of being really serious but would like another owner to see what I thought.
John H

Re: Potential Purchase

Reply #23 – April 22, 2013, 08:48:18 am

It all depends on condition. If everything was perfect including tires, then 45K would be reasonable. $30 to $45K

Re: Potential Purchase

Reply #24 – April 22, 2013, 09:19:05 am

True, but the alternative in this case is a 5ver which in my opinion would be even worse!

Quote from: JohnFitz – April 21, 2013, 02:33:17 pm

Many people as they get older don't feel comfortable driving and parking a large coach.

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