'95 U280 spotted on a dealer lot in Pac NW

Topic: '95 U280 spotted on a dealer lot in Pac NW (Read 790 times) previous topic - next topic

'95 U280 spotted on a dealer lot in Pac NW

September 22, 2015, 03:50:29 pm

Driving by and it kinda leapt out at me, something about a unihome that always catches my eye. I didn't bother the sales guy to look inside, but on the outside it sure is clean. Airbags look recent, tires are a bargaining chip due to age, engine bay looked very clean indeed. Motorhomes,Country Motors, Motorhomes, Diesel Pushers, Recreational Vehicles, if anyone is shopping. i will find myself needing to drive by there again in a week, if someone was desperate to get an opinion on it and some independent photos perhaps...

Re: '95 U280 spotted on a dealer lot in Pac NW

Reply #1 – September 22, 2015, 04:01:41 pm

Sweet looking rig with a decent price, too.

Craig

Re: '95 U280 spotted on a dealer lot in Pac NW

Reply #2 – September 22, 2015, 04:11:57 pm

She does make a nice picture.

Re: '95 U280 spotted on a dealer lot in Pac NW

Reply #3 – September 22, 2015, 04:47:48 pm

More than a couple of forum members are up there, maybe one (or all!) can take a gander if someone's interested. Looks like a nice coach!

Re: '95 U280 spotted on a dealer lot in Pac NW

Reply #4 – September 22, 2015, 04:51:50 pm

Looks clean enough, unusual colors, first 280 I have seen in red, most were blue and green. The 300's usually had this color scheme in 95.
Gary B

Re: '95 U280 spotted on a dealer lot in Pac NW

Reply #5 – September 22, 2015, 04:53:58 pm

Sure looks purdee..and priced right

Re: '95 U280 spotted on a dealer lot in Pac NW

Reply #6 – September 22, 2015, 05:30:28 pm

Like border crossings, the first question is: "papers please".

Re: '95 U280 spotted on a dealer lot in Pac NW

Reply #7 – September 22, 2015, 09:29:34 pm

Tomorrow I may be headed down for a look see just out of curiosity as it is only 1/2 hour out of my way. It does look nice in the photos but as with all things some can be hidden. Want to check front and end caps to be sure but as with mine it could be pristine but would need the upgrade anyway. Hopefully I make it there to see it. If I do I'll let you know what I find. Price seems good and these are a no brainer going across the border for Canadians. Took me all of about 1/2 day to do everything and back to the US. Just let the US border know the particulars with papers 3 days in advance. If I did not have one already I'd be all over it. It is kind of awkward one for each foot!

Re: '95 U280 spotted on a dealer lot in Pac NW

Reply #8 – September 22, 2015, 10:05:08 pm

By all means folks. As we are in the market for a FT. I would love to have a trained eye give it a bit of a look see & tire kick. If it seems to be a good deal & isn't about to collapse, Then we can come out to Mt. Vernon from Walla Walla to look ourselves. Maybe even do a meet up with someone and go over it as well. We are RV virgins & need all the help we can get. But then, Don't we all.

Re: '95 U280 spotted on a dealer lot in Pac NW

Reply #9 – September 22, 2015, 10:29:48 pm

Does anyone know what the U280 can tow? At most I would have an 18' enclosed with our 4,200lb GLK-250 in it, As the Mercedes 4X4 can't be towed. So about 6K at Most.

Thanks

Re: '95 U280 spotted on a dealer lot in Pac NW

Reply #10 – September 23, 2015, 08:06:24 am

Quote from: bigdog – September 22, 2015, 10:29:48 pm

Does anyone know what the U280 can tow?

"Fun with Search" shows this Towing

Re: '95 U280 spotted on a dealer lot in Pac NW

Reply #11 – September 23, 2015, 11:16:44 am

Quote from: Michelle – September 23, 2015, 08:06:24 am

"Fun with Search" shows this Towing

Bloody h**l, So my 4,200Lb GLK-250 is rated to tow more than this motorcoach. That's pretty sad.

Re: '95 U280 spotted on a dealer lot in Pac NW

Reply #12 – September 23, 2015, 11:47:52 am

Quote from: bigdog – September 23, 2015, 11:16:44 am

Bloody h**l, So my 4,200Lb GLK-250 is rated to tow more than this motorcoach. That's pretty sad.

My 1990 U280 had only 2,000 lbs difference between the GVWR and the GCVWR...but there is no way I could stuff enough into the coach to reach its GVWR...so I had plenty left to haul my 4400 lb toad and stay within GCVWR.

Calculate in reverse. Take the GCVWR and subtract the proposed trailer/towed weight (minding the hitch rating). Then you will see what your coach's GVWR can be while towing. I think I had over 7500 lbs of capacity on my old coach to divide up between carrying capacity and towing capacity. You can develop even more available weight capacity by lowering the fuel, fresh water, and grey water you carry in the older models.

I remember some of the 1980s Fleetwoods had a GVWR that would be exceeded if there were two people in the coach at the same time, with no clothing or food items. Not so for Foretravels.

Re: '95 U280 spotted on a dealer lot in Pac NW

Reply #13 – September 23, 2015, 11:56:14 am

In the U.S.A. those manufacturer weight limits are unenforceable because they are not covered by any state or federal laws. The only laws on the books are designed for axle weight limits(even for pickups) set by either federal or state DOT's that are designed for OTR commercial trucks.

Re: '95 U280 spotted on a dealer lot in Pac NW

Reply #14 – September 23, 2015, 03:14:54 pm

Quote from: Twig – September 23, 2015, 11:56:14 am

In the U.S.A. those manufacturer weight limits are unenforceable because they are not covered by any state or federal laws. The only laws on the books are designed for axle weight limits(even for pickups) set by either federal or state DOT's that are designed for OTR commercial trucks.

I'm not worried about the police. I'm worried about the structural integrity/stability to tow a car on a trailer. However, I just talked on the phone with a fellow in Ok that was very involved with the Foretravel club (?) that said the frame and the drive axles in the U280 & U300 are the same. And their tow ratings are miles apart.

I suppose it is the same as it is in the auto industry. MARKETING to push one into a higher dollar rig to get the tow capacity above the hauling a lawn mower level.

RANT ALERT!!!
I just went through tow ratings misery when returning to the states from Germany. I wanted to buy an American made fuel efficient vehicle to tow my Caterham (car and trailer are only 1900Lbs) But to no avail. ALL the American and all but one European brand down grade their vehicles tow rating for the American market unless equipped with a V6 or V8 In Europe a Golf, Jetta, Passat diesel I4 is rated to tow 3,300Lbs. The same cars from the same factory in Mexico that come to the USA are down rated to 1,000Lbs. Want to tow more than 1,000, Then you need to spend nearly 10-20K more on a V6 VW suv. A call by me to VW North America resulted in the rep actually stating that it was in fact marketing. People in Europe only very rarely buy an SUV. That is why I bought my Mercedes diesel SUV. It was the ONLY fuel efficient vehicle that was rated to tow my Caterham on it's trailer. My GLK 4X4 diesel (2 liter twin turbo 204HP 369LbFt) is rated at 3,500 towing. Gets 30MPG towing and 42MPG when not.
RANT OVER!!!!

Re: '95 U280 spotted on a dealer lot in Pac NW

Reply #15 – September 23, 2015, 03:27:38 pm

How did this thread become a towing Q & A?

Re: '95 U280 spotted on a dealer lot in Pac NW

Reply #16 – September 23, 2015, 03:32:12 pm

Quote from: mike leary – September 23, 2015, 03:27:38 pm

How did this thread become a towing Q & A?

Because I'm interested in buying that FT and I need to tow my vehicle and as a newbie I asked.

Re: '95 U280 spotted on a dealer lot in Pac NW

Reply #17 – September 23, 2015, 05:02:34 pm

Quote from: bigdog – September 23, 2015, 03:32:12 pm

Because I'm interested in buying that FT and I need to tow my vehicle and as a newbie I asked.

Sorry for the rant, I stumbled on the towing part without putting 2+2 together from your earlier post. We have good friends in Walla Walla, I don't think our fresh Fore will fit in their driveway like the 31' Airstream did. I searched the web for six months until I found ours, the price they're asking is right in there. We paid 4K more for ours, but she had fresh paint, new tires and files from both POs that showed everything had either been repaired, modified or replaced; important stuff for any coach in the 80 to 150 K range. It's the files that should sell the coach! Good luck! M

Re: '95 U280 spotted on a dealer lot in Pac NW

Reply #18 – September 23, 2015, 05:11:24 pm

No worries Mike.

Re: '95 U280 spotted on a dealer lot in Pac NW

Reply #19 – September 23, 2015, 07:20:19 pm

Just got off the phone with that dealer. Someone already has put a hold on it. The salesman said it has a freshly rebuilt Cummins 8.3 and has all receipts from the rebuild just 5,000 miles ago. (Turbo let go in San Diego and sent shrapnel into the engine) Has had the same owner since 2001 & they have all his maint records as well as the PO's. It does need new black circles.

Re: '95 U280 spotted on a dealer lot in Pac NW

Reply #20 – September 23, 2015, 07:36:52 pm

Quote from: bigdog – September 23, 2015, 07:20:19 pm

Someone already has put a hold on it.

I'd be keeping in touch w/the dealer, I'd imagine a chunk of change to "put a hold on it".

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