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Looking to purchase a 2001 U320 - any thing to watch for?

February 21, 2015, 12:23:09 pm

We are about to purchase an '01 U320. It is a single-owner, beautiful coach but we have never owned a Foretravel before and want to know from the 'experts' on here if there is anything we should watch for or check out? We are moving up from an '03 Monaco Diplomat.

We spend a lot of time RVing in the 'off-season' up here in the Canadian Rockies. Our current coach has Aqua-Hot which makes this much easier and more comfortable to do. We enjoy getting out to some of the ski hills and campgrounds in the winter when it is quieter.

Any input or feedback from the group would be appreciated!

Rob

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Re: Looking to purchase a 2001 U320 - any thing to watch for?

Reply #1 – February 21, 2015, 01:16:53 pm

Here is a start for you.

The things to look for when buying a coach.

50 things to check before you buy your used foretravel

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Re: Looking to purchase a 2001 U320 - any thing to watch for?

Reply #2 – February 21, 2015, 01:25:02 pm

try the search function on the forum for PDI or pre-delivery inspection

check out this web site -http://www.beamalarm.com

Search the forum for "bulkhead inspection" - very few coaches have issues, but good to know what to look for

see what service records are available for last 5 years and see what PM has been performed

check age of tires, batteries and refrigerator - consider if replacement likely or imminent

Personal Message Brett Wolfe here on the forum and see if it is feasible to meet him at the coach for a PDI

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Re: Looking to purchase a 2001 U320 - any thing to watch for?

Reply #3 – February 21, 2015, 01:49:32 pm

Rob,  2001 U320s are a good choice.  What length?  Slides? 

General condition often tells a tale of the owner's taking care of the unseen stuff.  We have seen many when we were looking that were in pretty rough shape on the things you could see.  Everything else was probably the same.

Big ticket items like engine and house batteries, tires, service required are all things that be a part of an offer price but are also expected recurring expense.  If the service records are good that is reassuring that the maintenance has been taken care of.  Many buy a coach and do a complete maintenance on everything just so they are starting at a known baseline.

Lots of folks at this coach's age are starting to replace air bags, fuel lines and shocks.  These are time, climate and mileage related.  You may not need to do any or you may need to do them all.

Look in the Aquahot cave for any signs of leakage.

Check in the D1 bay (under the driver's seat) for signs of steering box leakage.

The PDI lists and the 50 things to check are good.  A professional inspection is good if you can get one done.  We had ours done for a few hundred.  The owner fixed all of the significant stuff.  We didn't worry about weak cabinet door struts and things like that.

Ask away.  You will gets lots of feedback.
Roger

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Re: Looking to purchase a 2001 U320 - any thing to watch for?

Reply #4 – February 21, 2015, 02:00:03 pm

   You are definitely "Stepping Up" in the consideration of a (new to you) Foretravel. These coaches are on the "Top Tier" ...
 Find the right one, and you could enjoy it for the rest of your lives.
  A one owner coach is hard to find at all and if you have a clear and concise service history from these folks on the one you are considering, you are 1/2 the way to finding the right one.
  I wish you well and will be hopefully doing the same thing in the future if I can again, find a near perfect unit that has been well documented & cared for.
  You have the assistance of lots of nice folks here with endless knowledge & experience in these coaches. I have learned a lot on this forum, much beyond my past experience & ownership of a Foretravel & Bluebird Wanderlodges and others in the past years.
    Keep reading and you have a virtual encyclopedia of good information to help you along!

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Re: Looking to purchase a 2001 U320 - any thing to watch for?

Reply #5 – February 21, 2015, 02:50:01 pm

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Some great insight into a few things we need to check. We are getting a mechanical inspection done and have also checked and the bulkhead separation looks to have been repaired back at the factory. We understand that some items are expected to be replaced due to the age, but overall, based upon our walkthroughs so-far, everything looks good and we do have many of the service records.

The coach we are looking at is a single-slide, 40' unit.

Rob

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Re: Looking to purchase a 2001 U320 - any thing to watch for?

Reply #6 – February 21, 2015, 02:54:12 pm

2001 is one of the best years per James Triana - unique slide system in that year ("train") but LOTS of info on the forum regarding any needed diagnosis and repair

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Re: Looking to purchase a 2001 U320 - any thing to watch for?

Reply #7 – February 21, 2015, 07:00:06 pm

Tim is right, the 2001 U320 is one of the best year/models.  Good fiberglass, updated dash, full ducted air all the way to the front a very solid choice.  40' models have some nice floor plans.

Slide design evolved over time from the first in '99 (I think) going forward.  The 2001 were a different design from later years. The guys at MOT and FT told me that working on them was easier.  Even though you have to pull the slide to change the bladder it is easier than the later models where the slide move into the coach. I had my slide adjusted to move the back end up in the opening just over a 1/16".  The guy at MOT got it done in less thn an hour.  He said it was much more complicated on an 02 or 03.  I looked at an 03 last week and the mechanism is about 10" wide floor to ceiling, past either end of the slide.  That is a lot of room used up for for the mechanism.  In my 2001, it is about 8" wide and about 30" high at each end inside the slide.  It is compact and for us it has worked every time.

Good luck with your inspection.  If it works out you will get a very desirable coach.

Roger

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Re: Looking to purchase a 2001 U320 - any thing to watch for?

Reply #8 – February 21, 2015, 10:42:43 pm

Thought 02 was the unique slide, train mechanism......not the 01.  Never cease to learn on the Forum

We have a 01 40 ft u320, got it from a Nac dealer three years ago, 135000 miles when bought it.  Send PM Rob with phone number  if want to talk our experience.

Mike

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Re: Looking to purchase a 2001 U320 - any thing to watch for?

Reply #9 – February 22, 2015, 10:05:24 am

I think Mike is right, the "train" mechanism is on the later coaches.  The '03 I looked at last week had a guide channel embedded in the bottom of the slide room.  From wear marks some rollers or pins rode in this track as it moved in and out.  At each end of the bottom of the slide there were stainless steel looking strips glues to the slide bottom that looked like they where the slide rode on rollers or something as it moved in an out.  The '01 slide has none of that.  I don't know which is better, if one is harder on seal bladders or not.  Ours has worked every time with no problems.


See John's clarification of slides/years below.  Thanks John. 

Roger

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Re: Looking to purchase a 2001 U320 - any thing to watch for?

Reply #10 – February 22, 2015, 11:32:35 am

The 01 has the same slide as the 99,00 and 01.  Then late in 01 and 02 they used the train version for one year. 

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Re: Looking to purchase a 2001 U320 - any thing to watch for?

Reply #11 – February 22, 2015, 09:39:37 pm

Look especially at air bags, tires, batteries, fridge, AquaHot, inverter - these are the things that are expensive to replace.

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Re: Looking to purchase a 2001 U320 - any thing to watch for?

Reply #12 – February 22, 2015, 09:48:41 pm

John S is correct. 2002 only year that used the "Train" system. 

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Re: Looking to purchase a 2001 U320 - any thing to watch for?

Reply #13 – February 22, 2015, 09:48:58 pm

The bulkhead are the only "uniquely Foretravel" thing to be concerned with. The rest of the systems are similar to most all other motorhomes of the same size/power.

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Re: Looking to purchase a 2001 U320 - any thing to watch for?

Reply #14 – February 22, 2015, 11:12:51 pm

Bret, as you, i was trying to think of things unique to Foretravels.  I think the bulkhead is a good one though hopefully on an 01 will be good, still check.  Perhaps the retarder is another almost unique mechanism, as is the slide bladder system.

I have noted the train system to potential buyers of 02s as different.  Whike i cannot think of much more about the 01 versus other foretravels and yet versus the Monaco these come to mind...slide with bladder, retarder, bulkhead, maybe the air spring and HWH leveling system?

Good luck Rob.

Mike

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