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Topic: New Here With Questions About A 97 3602 U270 (Read 1914 times) previous topic - next topic

New Here With Questions About A 97 3602 U270

Good evening folks, I am new here and this is my first post, I live in the DFW area of North Texas and currently have a Puma Toy Hauler but I am looking to get a pusher and towing my GMC for a toad.  My past RV's started with a TT in the mid 70's, then a Class C, a Slide In, and my latest a 5er.

I have been looking around at brands N and T but I met a nice gentleman this past week that had a older Foretravel that looked great to say the least, so I am adding this to my list too.

I found one for sale and I will only be about 200 miles from next week, so I plan on going over to take a look at it but I have some questions if you folks can help me out  :)  .

The coach is a 97 Foretravel 3602 U270, the listed engine is a C8.3 325HP.  Has this been a good engine for coaches?  They say it is coupled to a 6 speed Allison which I have a newer version in my GMC which had been good so far at 80 K.

It is also listed with Spring Suspension and not airbags, does this suspension give a good ride?  These roads in Texas and some other places I have been have been rough on RV's to say the least.

What is the construction of the coach like, is it wood frame, does it have fiberglass insulation or is it a foam sandwich?

It has a Power Tech generator, was this a factory generator or has someone changed it out?

Are there any other things in particular I need to look at on this vintage coach other that the usual water leaks and the like ?

Thanks
Steve
Steve

1997 U270 36' build 5179
Motorcade #18147
1980 CJ5

Re: New Here With Questions About A 97 3602 U270

Reply #1 –
Eight air bag air ride.  Air disk brakes.  STD powertech 8kw diesel gen.  6k tow capacity.
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: New Here With Questions About A 97 3602 U270

Reply #3 –
If you have a link, someone may be able to give you more information.

Listing the wrong suspension doesn't give me a warm and fuzzy.  With a 20 year old coach, its "care and feeding" is important. Not being aware of what suspension it has suggests .... well, you know.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: New Here With Questions About A 97 3602 U270

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Caflashbob –
Eight air bag air ride.  Air disk brakes.  STD powertech 8kw diesel gen.  6k tow capacity.

 Thanks Caflashbob, I am trying to gather all the info before I go over there. The folks at this consignment store are not very accurate in their advertising.  They have advertised a 210 hp Cummins 7.5 L engine at least 3 times but when I call the manufactures with the chassis ID they said it was a 5.9 l engines, they also like to fudge on the lengths.
Steve

1997 U270 36' build 5179
Motorcade #18147
1980 CJ5

Re: New Here With Questions About A 97 3602 U270

Reply #7 –
I have sometimes seen air bags called air springs.
 
Trent
Trent and Jean Eyler
2000  U295  4003  WTFE  ISC  350
Build#5603 MC#17385

Re: New Here With Questions About A 97 3602 U270

Reply #8 –
Quote from: wolfe10 –
If you have a link, someone may be able to give you more information.

Listing the wrong suspension doesn't give me a warm and fuzzy.  With a 20 year old coach, its "care and feeding" is important. Not being aware of what suspension it has suggests .... well, you know.

Thanks woolfe 10, this place is bad about the info in their listings, to do have some good stuff but their advertising hurts them  :(
Steve

1997 U270 36' build 5179
Motorcade #18147
1980 CJ5

Re: New Here With Questions About A 97 3602 U270

Reply #9 –
Quote from: TulsaTrent –
I have sometimes seen air bags called air springs.
 Trent

Thanks TulsaTrent, I guess that could be the case but most of their other add do call them airbags to that made me wonder.  I need a smoother ride as my poor 2013 toy hauler has had the staples in the paneling shear off and then the paneling comes loose  :o
Steve

1997 U270 36' build 5179
Motorcade #18147
1980 CJ5

Re: New Here With Questions About A 97 3602 U270

Reply #10 –
Listed at PPL?
John  and Cathy VanKampen
1999 U270 36ft build 5426

Re: New Here With Questions About A 97 3602 U270

Reply #11 –
My guess is that your coach in question is just up the road from us. Send me a PM if you need us to take a peek at the thing. Is it parked near WurstFest on I-35?
Paul & Kathleen
1995 U320c SE 40'
Build 4681 --Cummins M11 /17511
"That Irish Girl"
Red MINI " 40"

Re: New Here With Questions About A 97 3602 U270

Reply #12 –
Quote from: Old Knucklehead –
My guess is that your coach in question is just up the road from us. Send me a PM if you need us to take a peek at the thing. Is it parked near WurstFest on I-35?

Thanks Old Knucklehead but it is south of I-10 and Sam Houston.
Steve

1997 U270 36' build 5179
Motorcade #18147
1980 CJ5

Re: New Here With Questions About A 97 3602 U270

Reply #13 –
Quote from: Super8mm –
The coach is a 97 Foretravel 3602 U270, the listed engine is a C8.3 325HP. 

Steve,

With this info from your post, would this coach happen to be the coach you are talking about?
1997 Foretravel Unicoach 3602 U270 for Sale (37626)

Pamela & Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: New Here With Questions About A 97 3602 U270

Reply #14 –
Actually, I feel a lot better knowing that the inaccurate information is coming from a consignment lot and NOT the owner.

PPL is the largest RV consignment lot in the U.S.

As with most consignment lots, the condition of their vehicles range from terrible to pristine-- depends on how the owners cared for them.

Said another way: caveat emptor.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: New Here With Questions About A 97 3602 U270

Reply #15 –
Thanks Wolfe10, I have been browsing pushers for the last 3 to 4 months and have seen some that make you wonder how they even got to a lot to some very nice ones.

My biggest concern is how sound one is and functional over the finish, the little stuff is not a problem either.  Example this last week in a class I took we used my Suburban water heater for show and tell and I notice that my Element and thermostat covers along with the
 boot for the igniter wire show signs of excessive heat so I need to replace those and the cause for this is the flue collector back does not fit tight to the case so it is letting heat escape to the side so I will have to add a couple of more screw down that edge to seal it up better.  This sort of small stuff I enjoying doing.
Steve

1997 U270 36' build 5179
Motorcade #18147
1980 CJ5

Re: New Here With Questions About A 97 3602 U270

Reply #16 –
When looking at a 97 U270 you need to check the engine serial number to determin the HP some 97's had the 300 hp engine.
The selected media item is not currently available.Bill&Doris 97 U270 36'
University of Parris Island Class of 66
Semper Fi  Build# 5174 MC#17094

Re: New Here With Questions About A 97 3602 U270

Reply #17 –
Hold-on a minute Bill!

I learned something...so if some 97s had 300 hp, how early did that change to when some other coaches had more than 300?  Was it only in 97?

I had in mind maybe the 95's, some GV had 325.....i have not had a reason to know those hps but you have me thinking.  I bet you already know this so i can be lazy and not have to search Beamalarm!

Thanks
Mike
2001 U320 4010 Build 5878 (Gus)
Wrangle Unlimited Toad
Nacogdoches

Re: New Here With Questions About A 97 3602 U270

Reply #18 –
Quote from: Bill Willett –
When looking at a 97 U270 you need to check the engine serial number to determin the HP some 97's had the 300 hp engine.

Thanks Bill I will call them tomorrow and see if they will give me the Coach VIN and Chassis ID numbers, so I will see if they can give me the engine S/N too.

I have had to do this on others I have looked at also.
Steve

1997 U270 36' build 5179
Motorcade #18147
1980 CJ5

Re: New Here With Questions About A 97 3602 U270

Reply #19 –
Six things determine the value of any used coach:

Condition
Condition
Condition
Equipment
Miles
Model year.

I would pay a large percentage premium for garaged like new coaches

The $25k and the $50k similar coaches here are probably heavily weighted on the condition.

Easy to spend the difference between on equipment if not up to date.

If the $25k one has new everything underneath move quickly....
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: New Here With Questions About A 97 3602 U270

Reply #20 –
Thanks Caflashbob, they say it has 140683 miles so it has been used but that is not bad for a diesel but did they take care of it?

I will have to look it over, in, out, on and under now.  :)
Steve

1997 U270 36' build 5179
Motorcade #18147
1980 CJ5

Re: New Here With Questions About A 97 3602 U270

Reply #21 –
There is a garaged member coach here that was posted for sale.  That was the $50k coach.

Tires, fuel lines, shocks, air bags, full fluid change is an easy $10k+. 

Not to scare anyone but this is reality.  Batteries another $1,500?

Then we can start on inverters, solar if wanted,

"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: New Here With Questions About A 97 3602 U270

Reply #22 –
I called FT with the VIN# and it is a 325hp cummins, it is a E25 engine and a MD3060R transmission.

the floor plan is WTDI but she didn't know what that layout looked like, and the Unit # is 5179.

She could not tell if it had airbags or what the listed tow capacity is on it.

Now to figure a fast route from New Braunfels to Houston without a lot of road construction "LOL"
Steve

1997 U270 36' build 5179
Motorcade #18147
1980 CJ5

Re: New Here With Questions About A 97 3602 U270

Reply #23 –
It will have HWH level system and airbag suspension
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)