WANTED: Foretravel with "Bus" front end

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WANTED: Foretravel with "Bus" front end

September 01, 2016, 11:54:15 am

My wife Deb, son and I are looking to go on a 9 month USA trip in a Foretravel. My requirements are:

- Front end like a modern "Bus", with forward door entry
- No significant leaks, rot or rust
- 36 ft or less diesel pusher
- Decent maintenance done. However, I am a handy man with advanced shade-tree mechanic skills, so I am not too picky. I will probably end up putting on solar panels.
- Less than $35,000. No bank loan will be required.

We have tested the RV lifestyle in a 1985 28Ft Fleetwood Southwind gasser and are ready to move up. I realize we will end up with a '90s model with high miles, but that's expected.

Tim

Re: WANTED: Foretravel with "Bus" front end

Reply #1 – September 01, 2016, 12:42:58 pm

A Foretravel U270 is the model most likely to meet your requirements. Here Foretravel U270 are examples of those that have been sold by Motorhomes of Texas. You could try searching the Web for Foretravel U270 models for sale.

Re: WANTED: Foretravel with "Bus" front end

Reply #2 – September 01, 2016, 12:54:24 pm

You're on the right track with this forum, but I'd suggest posting a separate thread off the classifieds. That way, a lot of folks can post insight without driving the mods nuts.

Re: WANTED: Foretravel with "Bus" front end

Reply #3 – September 01, 2016, 01:03:20 pm

look for a 95-97 U-270 may be a bit rough, pay attention to Bulkhead, tire age, battery age. Refrigerator unless already replaced could quit during your trip

adding $10k to your budget will greatly expand your quantity of options and the quality of what you can find on the market

Re: WANTED: Foretravel with "Bus" front end

Reply #4 – September 01, 2016, 01:19:42 pm

Tim,

I moved your post from Classified (where others can not comment without a moderator approving the post) so you can get feedback.

Brett
Moderator

Re: WANTED: Foretravel with "Bus" front end

Reply #5 – September 01, 2016, 01:21:55 pm

Quote from: Tim Fiedler – September 01, 2016, 01:03:20 pm

adding $10k to your budget will greatly expand your quantity of options and the quality of what you can find on the market

Great advice.

Chris

Re: WANTED: Foretravel with "Bus" front end

Reply #6 – September 01, 2016, 01:33:17 pm

Oops!! Thanks

Re: WANTED: Foretravel with "Bus" front end

Reply #7 – September 01, 2016, 01:39:17 pm

Have you reviewed my post for a '98 U-295 at 36 feet. It seems to meet your requirements but it is a little outside your stated "budget". We can talk.......(863) 984-2192.

Fred

Re: WANTED: Foretravel with "Bus" front end

Reply #8 – September 01, 2016, 01:57:42 pm

Quote from: Tim Fiedler – September 01, 2016, 01:03:20 pm

adding $10k to your budget will greatly expand your quantity of options and the quality of what you can find on the market

Good point, we bought this coach a couple of years ago, paid high dollar for it after what I thought was the POs honesty. The PO before the PO we bought her from took excellent care of her, and provided paperwork to back it up. Little did I know, the coach was sold to us needing all the fluids/filters replaced, plus the brakes are now suspect. Granted, she had a new paint & stripes job, plus (what I thought) were fresh tires (which will need replacing shortly.) So, besides Tim boosting the price, I'd have to say, you need to know what "Coach Bucks" are. 1 CB = $1,000.00. Have 10 CBs ready after the coach is bought. There are many on this forum that will say that's too little, and they speak from "buyer's remorse". This Forum and RV Trader are the only sites I'd look at. O.K., these bad girls are some of the finest and the best, just do your homework.

Re: WANTED: Foretravel with "Bus" front end

Reply #9 – September 03, 2016, 06:39:17 am

Agreed. For example, airbags are rubber parts that can crack like the sidewall of a old tire. Fifeteen year old bags probably should be replaced regardless of miles or storage. I am almost sure that most sellers have not spent $10k to replace eight airbags. So, I would expect a fastidious owner of a 1998 vintage rig to have these replaced. I would bet that none of the U270+ rigs I am looking to purchase have replaced them. So, if I spend $10k more on a 1998 rig, I would expect that the airbags were replaced.

Re: WANTED: Foretravel with "Bus" front end

Reply #10 – September 03, 2016, 07:30:50 am

Also the fuel lines are due for replacement and it is about 1800 bucks. If the fridge is original it may or may not last. I would budget 10k for repairs if many of the big things are not done yet. Big things are tires, fuel lines air bags shocks brake rotors and on the 8.3 lift pump and exhaust manifold issues. Also check the condition of the radiator and CAC. On my 01 I have replaced tires, fuel lines radiator CAC, batteries, shocks and air bags and fridge in the last couple years . That is why records are important on buying an older coach and is worth spending a bit more to get the coach in the first place.

Re: WANTED: Foretravel with "Bus" front end

Reply #11 – September 03, 2016, 08:05:11 pm

I've considered selling mine then waiting a few years before we consider getting back in (we are on a 3 year debt free plan). It has 4 new (this year) and 2 newer (last year) tires, new main fuel line, new rear brakes and wheel seals all around, new ECU last year. Some needs too, like air bags eventually, a board for the front heater and a charge for the AC.
180W of solar on the roof keeps the batteries up in storage, both roof airs do fine, reefer works good. $23K if I were to sell it.

Re: WANTED: Foretravel with "Bus" front end

Reply #12 – September 03, 2016, 09:00:14 pm

Quote from: Tim – September 01, 2016, 11:54:15 am

My wife Deb, son and I are looking to go on a 9 month USA trip in a Foretravel. My requirements are:

- Front end like a modern "Bus", with forward door entry
- No significant leaks, rot or rust
- 36 ft or less diesel pusher
- Decent maintenance done. However, I am a handy man with advanced shade-tree mechanic skills, so I am not too picky. I will probably end up putting on solar panels.
- Less than $35,000. No bank loan will be required.

We have tested the RV lifestyle in a 1985 28Ft Fleetwood Southwind gasser and are ready to move up. I realize we will end up with a '90s model with high miles, but that's expected.

Tim

Check this one out
1997 Foretravel U270, Escondido CA - - RVtrader.com

Re: WANTED: Foretravel with "Bus" front end

Reply #13 – September 03, 2016, 09:20:39 pm

Outside is normal faded for 20 years old.

Would concentrate on everything underneath.

The words my Rv buddies and I hate to hear is "it never gave me no trouble."

Means everything needs replacement or service.

The 97 has good enough gelcoat to buff out normally.

If you ask about fuel lines and tire dates and shocks and exact batteries and how old the seller will either know that you know or may be more flexible.

If all original and old tires and batteries and such can easily use up $10-15 coach bucks.

We are more than $20k into ours after purchase but a perfect condition coach with new everything mechanical perfect is a joy to drive and safer and easier to use.

Sixty miles from me

Re: WANTED: Foretravel with "Bus" front end

Reply #14 – September 03, 2016, 09:34:23 pm

Not far from where we are... the ad says 36' but it is obviously a 34'. The center storage bay is the same size as the wet bay and the fuel tank/battery/propane bay. No mods or upgrades listed or visible in pictures, but tires and batteries supposed to be new. Not a bad price if the structural/mechanical essentials are good.
Don

Quote from: craneman – September 03, 2016, 09:00:14 pm

Check this one out
1997 Foretravel U270, Escondido CA - - RVtrader.com

Re: WANTED: Foretravel with "Bus" front end

Reply #15 – September 03, 2016, 09:34:42 pm

The ad says all batteries and tires replaced this year.

Re: WANTED: Foretravel with "Bus" front end

Reply #16 – September 03, 2016, 10:08:28 pm

nice price for a 34' buy it!

Re: WANTED: Foretravel with "Bus" front end

Reply #17 – September 03, 2016, 11:22:24 pm

There are obvious cosmetics
Decal removal and replace 3200.
High quality four part gel coat 1100
Fridge appears original 1500 plus
Window seals 200 per hole plus
Awnings are in bad shape with rear either thread bare or rips may be dirt.
It appears to have been sitting a long time. Ask for fuel receipts and note dates as well as other records of course. New tires and batterys to move it and yet the old fridge would support sitting. If so, the hoses, seals, steering box, gaskets etc may be suspect. Air bags, fuel hoses, and shocks are common at this point.

I think you will find yourself over 15cbs with this very easily even if you are one of the great shade tree and better mechanics on the forum. Michelle did an analysis of costs and I don't remember the key words. It was more accurate than I care to remember.

On the other hand it may have good bones and provide you a base to have one your way. That is what we did and so far no regrets. We had a good inspection done by Brett Wolfe and knew what we were getting into.

Re: WANTED: Foretravel with "Bus" front end

Reply #18 – September 04, 2016, 01:50:29 pm

THAT, is a good price for a low mileage U 320

Re: WANTED: Foretravel with "Bus" front end

Reply #19 – September 04, 2016, 02:33:28 pm

We are at 35 "Coach Bucks" Coach was in very good shape, lots of updating. Valences around all windows were re-covered, new curtains in bedroom, new skirt around base of bed, replace door window (creeping seal), re-carpet bedroom and trim in rest of coach, change to a 32" flatscreen TV, add a satellite dish, re-tile bathroom, re-upholster dining chairs and drivers and talking seat on the passenger side, and a 44" 4K Flat screen TV to the front (already had a 32" flatscreen). New Notebook for silverleaf. New wrap around interior shade. Replaced old frig with a new Samsung residential refer.
Added David's A/C vent extenders to the living area (what a difference that made). New woven material installed on steps. New front wrap around shade, 2 new "Red Top" Optima start batteries with Optima maintainer. Electric shoreline reel. David in remod did the A/C work, refer and front TV mods. Added 40" Flat screen TV to basement.
There are too many small items to list like 2 air bags, 2 air manifolds, numerous air fittings and valves. Air dryer update. many systems checked just because. Replace 1 basement door as it had been tapped by someone somewhere be fore my ownership.
Rebuilt steering box.
Coach was pretty much stripped of graphics before I got her, finished stripping and added new graphics until we decide on paint, headlights and step conversions.

Take in mind that this coach really needed nothing......Mrs Smith wanted it her way and I had my needs.....

All in all I love my coach, it meets our needs and we are comfortable.

May you find what you are looking for and good luck.

John

Re: WANTED: Foretravel with "Bus" front end

Reply #20 – September 06, 2016, 10:54:19 pm

Thanks for all of your replies. It is interesting that many of the listings I am looking at have not done the proper maintenance, yet want a big price. Guess I'll have to hold out for a coach that has decent maintenance.

I also started looking at the Newmar Dutch Star. I know...blasphemy! However, there are many more listings, for the same price, slides are available with arctic packages.

Do all Foretravels, even U270's have cold-weather packages, built-in, with heated basements?

Re: WANTED: Foretravel with "Bus" front end

Reply #21 – September 07, 2016, 10:24:27 pm

I think Newmars are a good product, just not the same level as Foretravel. We looked seriously at one near us before we bought our coach, and it was very nice. Just not quite in the same league. That is not to say you wouldn't be happy with a Newmar; just compare the two before you make a decision.

Re: WANTED: Foretravel with "Bus" front end

Reply #22 – September 07, 2016, 10:50:14 pm

Quote from: Tim – September 06, 2016, 10:54:19 pm

Do all Foretravels, even U270's have cold-weather packages, built-in, with heated basements?

Yes, same construction just different power trains and "goodies". Even my 25 year old coach has a heated basement with insulation on basement floors, walls and bay doors.

Re: WANTED: Foretravel with "Bus" front end

Reply #23 – September 07, 2016, 11:03:33 pm

Suggestion, get down and look up at the bottom of the basement floor. Foretravels have an inch and a half thick rigid styrofoam insulation in the basement floor sandwiched between top and bottom fiberglass skins. Most other coaches that I have looked at, including Monaco Dynasties and higher have plywood covered with undercoating for the basement floor. The you can see the exposed angle iron framing underneath instead of Foretravel's smooth underbelly with rigid styrofoam insulation between tubular steel framing sandwiched between the fiberglass skins. Not sure what Newmar does down there...
Don

Re: WANTED: Foretravel with "Bus" front end

Reply #24 – September 08, 2016, 12:21:37 am

If you are serious about the winter use option my personal choice would be any aquahot unicoach.

Coach Capable of -40 f from many reports.

Doable in a propane heater coach with additional bay heaters and monitoring.

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