The 34' FT's

Topic: The 34' FT's (Read 2119 times) previous topic - next topic

The 34' FT's

July 10, 2016, 08:07:40 pm

After some study of Barry and Darlene Brideau's Personal Website I discovered that 34' FT's were built in more years than I thought. Apparently....and check me here...they started in 1998 and ended in 2005. From 1998 through 2002 they were no slide floorplans. In 2002 they apparently made both a no slide and a slide version. From 2003 through 2005 they are only slide floorplans. And, in 2003 body paint became standard.

Engine/tranny combinations during these years were:

1998 - Cummins 8.3-325hp (electronic?) w/6 spd Allison 3060R
1999 - Cummins 8.3-350 (electronic) w/ 6 spd Allison MD 3066R
2000 -2001 Cummins ISL-350. 2000 Allison HD 3066R. 2001 MH 3000
2002-2004 - Cummins ISL-400 w/Allison MH 3000
2005 Cummins ISL 02-400 w/ Allison MH 3000

Ideally this is the length coach that we're initially attracted to. Which years and engine/tranny combinations are best? Is it possible to find build quantities to see just how many of each year were built.

Anything else about these years I should be aware of.

I assume starting in 2006 forward only a 36 foot coach was built.

Randy

Re: The 34' FT's

Reply #1 – July 10, 2016, 08:28:40 pm

Randy:

Forum member dhackney (Doug Hackney) was collecting Foretravel data and assembled a spreadsheet, I'm not sure if he is still active, but here is a link to what he had put together, maybe this will help you. In his spreadsheet, there is coach quantity built per year data, and the MSRP page is a pretty good list of coach lengths made in any particular year.

Foretravel Data

Re: The 34' FT's

Reply #2 – July 10, 2016, 09:51:48 pm

I'm here to tell ya that Forrest is a 1997 34' coach. Cummins C8.3 325hp Allison 3060 tranny.

Re: The 34' FT's

Reply #3 – July 10, 2016, 10:35:03 pm

We started looking for a 34' in 2009. They were rare. Finally switch to 36' because there were many more of them. Finally found and bought our 2001 U320 36' in 2011. It works very well for us.

Re: The 34' FT's

Reply #4 – July 10, 2016, 10:43:48 pm

Other than to say the 2003+ with full body paint is definitely worth the price of admission, I can't think of any issues you should be concerned with that are particular to the 34'. They certainly are rare, so your search is going to have to be nationwide if you are serious about finding one. That said, I found mine just 100 miles from my home

Re: The 34' FT's

Reply #5 – July 11, 2016, 11:35:32 am

I wanted a 34' when I bought my 36', just couldn't find one. Satisfied with the one I bought though.

Re: The 34' FT's

Reply #6 – July 11, 2016, 11:54:23 am

I loved my 34 foot 99

Re: The 34' FT's

Reply #7 – July 11, 2016, 01:08:39 pm

I bought my 34' from MOT before it was even listed. The previous owner was dealing on a 2001 36' with slide that I was looking at and Mel called me to tell me that the coach was no longer available but a nice 34' was traded in on it. Mel said I should decide quickly as it was a rare size. At the time I thought it was another salesman lie. But now I am glad I got it.

Re: The 34' FT's

Reply #8 – August 15, 2017, 10:45:18 pm

I'm resurrecting this thread only to update that WE FOUND A 2000 34' at MOT and purchased it today!

We never did find a 34' no slide to look at. In March of this year we saw one on OTM and made plans to visit NAC to check it out as well as visit MOT and FOT. By the time we got to NAC it had been sold. We learned later it had joined the revolving stable of FT and SOB coaches owned by forum member JCUS. I remember contacting Jim then to congratulate him back then.

After visiting NAC under the tutelage of Mike and Jackie Harbordt we left knowing all the great restaurants of NAC and meeting Mel Cordray at MOT. We've been pestering MEL since then to find us a no-slide 34 or 36'.

Two weeks ago I check with Mel to discover that a 34' "in good shape with paint" was being delivered to MOT. I shot a quick email to Jim and discovered by luck that it was his coach and quickly had Mel put a hold on the coach. Karen and I flew out this past Saturday and spent 3 days in the coach checking her out and having a PDI done. Today we pulled the trigger and are thrilled to be the next owner (6th by our count from records) of this Texas coach originally purchased in Dallas in 2000. We had an enjoyable chat with the 4th owner who had the coach for over 10 years and kept great records in over 75,000 miles of ownership.

Even though Jim owned the 34' for less than a year we're thrilled to own one of his coaches after getting to know him and better understand his love of FT and the care he put into deciding to buy this coach and improve it during his ownership.

So we actually get to start with the coach we originally thought we wanted....a 34' no-slide and although it may not be our last we can certainly pledge to enjoy it and pass it along to the next owner in the shape that we've come to understand is common for Foretravel (especially Forum) owners.

Much more to come....

Re: The 34' FT's

Reply #9 – August 15, 2017, 10:51:44 pm

Well, I'm glad ya'll finally got to see one in person! 34's are the best. You'll never want to go bigger.

Re: The 34' FT's

Reply #10 – August 15, 2017, 11:06:28 pm

Quote from: krush – August 15, 2017, 10:51:44 pm

Well, I'm glad ya'll finally got to see one in person! 34's are the best. You'll never want to go bigger.

Even though we didn't get a chance to hook up in Florida I appreciate all the advice and comments.

"Never" is a long time......

Re: The 34' FT's

Reply #11 – August 15, 2017, 11:25:54 pm

Congrats!! I walked through that coach at OTM in late February 2017 when we had work being done at OTM. Nice!

Re: The 34' FT's

Reply #12 – August 16, 2017, 05:46:09 am

Congrats!

Re: The 34' FT's

Reply #13 – August 16, 2017, 08:31:28 am

Triple Nickel has a 1989 GV ORED 34' with the 8.2 DD. Currently in Florida.

Re: The 34' FT's

Reply #14 – August 16, 2017, 10:02:35 am

...this is wonderful news...so enjoyed our visit when y'all came to see my ol' gal way back when.....you two really did your homework! I assume your motorcade club membership is in the works? ....if not, get Beverly to get you signed up on the free one year deal then we can get you to the Florida Christmas rally! Hope to see y'all down the road again soon!

Re: The 34' FT's

Reply #15 – August 16, 2017, 10:55:28 am

Hey guy's congratulations on your new motorhome, If you take Miz Dani's advice I will see you in December. I have joined the motorcade so I can hang with the southern crew.

Re: The 34' FT's

Reply #16 – August 16, 2017, 11:03:46 am

Awesome. Congrats. Love 34'

Re: The 34' FT's

Reply #17 – August 16, 2017, 09:09:25 pm

I hope this doesn't mean an end to the surveys I looked forward to seeing the responses.

Congratulations

Re: The 34' FT's

Reply #18 – August 17, 2017, 03:30:51 am

Congratulations, Randy! We love our 34'.

Re: The 34' FT's

Reply #19 – August 17, 2017, 08:22:39 pm

Congratulations on the new to you coach.

Re: The 34' FT's

Reply #20 – August 20, 2017, 08:38:01 pm

Nice looking rig. Noticed your driver's side mirror is swung back. After a year of owning my 1997 U270 34 foot, I just turned it forward, just like the passenger's side. My mechanic said you can see approaching traffic better. Plus, looking through one pane of glass vs two to four panes is much clearer. Thoughts?