Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Potential purchase of a 1999 Foretravel M11 450 HP (Read 939 times) previous topic - next topic

Potential purchase of a 1999 Foretravel M11 450 HP

Good morning, I am recently retired and I am interested in purchasing a 1999 Foretravel 40 ft U320 with the Cummins 450 HP M11 motor. I understand this is an older coach and I believe it is the last year of the M11. It appears to be very well cared for. 95,000 miles on motor.  My question is if I purchase this coach does anyone know if parts are readily available for motor repairs and was this motor a decent power plant or was it problematic? I am new to all this but have been searching for the right coach over the past year. I like all the options this coach offers for the price. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Chuck Wiggy
Coloma, Wisconsin
Sold my 1999 U 320 40 Ft. M11 450 hp
Build # 5468
2009 Silverado

Re: Potential purchase of a 1999 Foretravel M11 450 HP

Reply #1 –
Awesome coach and driveline. Repairs and parts readily available, but seldom needed with proper maintenance and operation Loads of info available on this site by using search function in upper right hand corner of home page Welcome and good luck with your search!! What part of the country are you in?
Tim Fiedler    2000  Foretravel U-320 4010
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna 185 on Aerocet 3500 straight floats. (1/4 share)
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Potential purchase of a 1999 Foretravel M11 450 HP

Reply #2 –
I am very happy with our 1995 400 hp M11. As far as I know the M series engines were some of the best Cummins ever produced. I believe they still produce them for the military.
David and Carolyn Osborn
1995 U320C SE 40' Build 4726 Feb 1995
FMCA 147762
Motorcade 17186

Re: Potential purchase of a 1999 Foretravel M11 450 HP

Reply #3 –
Quote from: muskyman475 –
  1 if I purchase this coach does anyone know if parts are readily available for motor repairs
2.  was this motor a decent power plant?
3.  Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Chuck,
1. No problem what so ever. Don't know what repairs you may be thinking of, but most of the things you will need are just normal maintenance items. If you are thinking of something big like a complete overhaul all those parts are available.
2. More than decent closer to excellent.
3. A lot of these engines are still on the road. We have one in a grain haul truck that was bought at an auction. It had over 500,000 miles on it when we started hauling rice with it to the dryer. Rather than a pinch hitter it is used weekly hauling farm equipment around from place to place.

Post more info as to the coach you are looking at as someone here may know that coach.

Mike

Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

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

Re: Potential purchase of a 1999 Foretravel M11 450 HP

Reply #4 –
Wow, thank you all! You just made me feel like my patience in searching may have paid off. I truly appreciate the feed back and am looking forward to my new life. Safe travels!
Chuck Wiggy
Coloma, Wisconsin
Sold my 1999 U 320 40 Ft. M11 450 hp
Build # 5468
2009 Silverado

Re: Potential purchase of a 1999 Foretravel M11 450 HP

Reply #5 –
Welcome. You might be interested to know, that as rare as Foretravel coaches here in Wisconsin are, there ARE several owners scattered thru ought the state. Even two that I know of right here in the Wausau area. Even tho they are older units they are still loved and enjoyed.
Quality , design, workmanship, and durability are unsurpassed in the Class A arena.
Not just pretty at first look, but all the way thru on everything. (well, maybe not the black water tank)
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Potential purchase of a 1999 Foretravel M11 450 HP

Reply #6 –
Nitehawk,
  I have often wondered why I do not see more FT coaches up here.  Hopefully, I will be part of this limited group within the next week or so? Thank you!
Chuck Wiggy
Coloma, Wisconsin
Sold my 1999 U 320 40 Ft. M11 450 hp
Build # 5468
2009 Silverado

Re: Potential purchase of a 1999 Foretravel M11 450 HP

Reply #7 –
Million mile plus motor at 80k pounds load.  Not fully broken in until 150k miles in a truck on the truckers forums.

No EGR.  No DEF. 

Have the valves and injectors adjusted.  Replace the cam position sensor and the ambient altitude sensor.  Both cheap and easy.

If you want noticeably better power and mileage have a resonator installed replacing the very restrictive factory muffler.

Plus makes the bedroom cooler quicker after a drive.  Yes it's more noisy.  Stock the motor downshifts under a medium throttle application.  Unrestricted the M11 will stay in gear and Torque in the hills. 

1 to 1 1/2 more mpg.

At 60 you should get 10 plus mpg on level ground and  minimal winds.

Heavy tow and high winds and hills  can drop to 5-6 mpg.

Add a Donaldson blue tech air filter.  Much less restrictive and much better dust filtering than a paper filter.

Drive it hard.  Bet it not broken in yet.  Nature of rv owners,  baby their coaches.
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob & Susan
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: Potential purchase of a 1999 Foretravel M11 450 HP

Reply #8 –
The driveline is the least worrisome part of the uni-coaches. The bigger issue is to do a detailed inspection of the house systems. Checking the bulk heads, evidence of water leaks are one of the biggest issues these coaches & their owners face. I'd get hold of one of the local Wis. owners and ask them for help in an inspection.

If you see an area that you have questions about. TAKE PICTURES and post them on the forum with your questions. This place is full of very experienced owners who know these coaches from stem to stern and inside out.

Go to the link for a 50 item list of things to look at and also search on this forum for inspections.
50 things to check before you buy your used foretravel

[edited to link to original material, which is on the forum - Michelle]
Thanks Michelle.
Jerry & Nona and Kimeru the cat that thinks she's a dog
1998 36' WTFE U320  #5314 Motorcade #17711
USAF 1975-1995
2019 Subaru Crosstrek 'toad'
2003 Subaru Legacy touring car
jerry Fincher | Flickr

Re: Potential purchase of a 1999 Foretravel M11 450 HP

Reply #9 –
I'm not far away and never mind a drive up north. If the coach is local, and you need help, contact me.
There is a Cummings Care facility just south of Milwaukee on Ryan rd.

I have a taste for Kringles.
1995 U320C SE 40'
Jeep 4x4 Commander - Limited - Hemi
"The Pack"  Yogi and Diesel our Airedales -  Charlie our Boxer/Akita mix. Gone but NEVER forgotten Jake our yellow Lab.
NRA Law Enforcement Firearms instructor - Handgun/shotgun
Regional Firearms instructor for national Armored Transp. Co.

Re: Potential purchase of a 1999 Foretravel M11 450 HP

Reply #10 –
Uh, the freshest Kringles are in Racine. They are made there and absolutely delicious when freshest. :))  ^.^d
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Potential purchase of a 1999 Foretravel M11 450 HP

Reply #11 –
Quote from: nitehawk –
Uh, the freshest Kringles are in Racine. They are made there and absolutely delicious when freshest. :))  ^.^d

Have to drive through Racine to get to Milwaukee. I usually stop at the Iron Skillet/truck stop, there is a OH bakery inside with a good stock of freshly made Kringles. 24 hrs too!
1995 U320C SE 40'
Jeep 4x4 Commander - Limited - Hemi
"The Pack"  Yogi and Diesel our Airedales -  Charlie our Boxer/Akita mix. Gone but NEVER forgotten Jake our yellow Lab.
NRA Law Enforcement Firearms instructor - Handgun/shotgun
Regional Firearms instructor for national Armored Transp. Co.

Re: Potential purchase of a 1999 Foretravel M11 450 HP

Reply #12 –
Local Trader Joe's here in so cal has Racine made Kringles every so often.

"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob & Susan
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