Looking to purchase FT

Topic: Looking to purchase FT (Read 1676 times) previous topic - next topic

Looking to purchase FT

June 09, 2020, 01:30:41 pm

We are looking to purchase a FT 2000 to 2004 U270 or U295 36'. In my research I'm trying to figure out the actual length of a 36'. I've Seen figures from 36 feet, in a 2005 brochure to 39' 3" to 41' 3". Our RV shed is 40' x 20', actual 39' 8" x 19' 5". I thought a 36 foot would be 36 feet in length?

I think I figured out that these years the slide out was optional?

And coach leveling systems are they standard or optional?

Thank you for your help!

Re: Looking to purchase FT

Reply #1 – June 09, 2020, 01:59:40 pm

8 airbags and HWH leveling system standard on all these years Virtually 100% of these years will have slides. In 36 only one slide I believe in these years As to length I can't help, but I'm sure others will chime in If you are looking at MOT they will be happy to measure actual coach for you

Re: Looking to purchase FT

Reply #2 – June 09, 2020, 02:18:59 pm

U320 has aquahot and more power. Both good things. Maybe harder to find. Worth sourcing if a cool weather user or area as its heats the tank bay

Re: Looking to purchase FT

Reply #3 – June 09, 2020, 02:38:25 pm

Dave, I have a 2001 36' U320 single slide. I have coach house (fancy name for the barn) that is 39' 4" inside with the doors closed. My coach fits in there with the tow bar attached. About 20" in front. Maybe 6" in the rear to the folded tow bar. I can move all the way around if I step over the tow bar in the back.

In those years they switched dash styles in 2001 for most models. Ours has ducted air conditioning (roof top AC vents) all the way to the front of the coach, a big plus. Slides started in late 99. By 2001 it was rare to find one without a slide. 99-2001 uses a shorter A frame LR slide mechanism. 2002 only used a "Train" mechanism. 2003 and later use a full height mechanism at each end if the LR slide. By 2002 many coaches added a BR closet slide. This moves the bed about 4" to the opposite side, reduces walking space on that side, and eliminates the side overhead cabinets in the BR as well as one BR window. Some late 2003 and 2004 have the bed in the slide (an EastWest Bed) and a different floor plan.

Make every effort to see as many coaches as you can. Try to learn what the differences are from year to year and model to model. Imagine yourself using each floorplan variation. How does the bathroom work? How will it work for eating at a table or a booth dinette or a J dinette? How does the kitchen feel? What colors work for you? You can reupholster, put in new floors and shades if you want to someday but it would be nice at first to not have to do it right away.

Check the mechanical things and the house things (AC, furnace, water heater, water pump, waste and water tanks and more. These are the things that have to work. Tire and battery age could be big expenses soon so knowing how old they are is important.

Be a smart shopper, you will know your coach when you see it. Be ready to buy when you do. And then make it your own and have fun.

Re: Looking to purchase FT

Reply #4 – June 09, 2020, 04:30:20 pm

Thanks Roger

I will be a smart shopper. I currently own a 5th wheel so I have to sell that first. Gives me time to research and look. So a 36 is actually 36 feet long. I'll download the specs for a U320 and look at those. I was eliminating that model thinking it was a tag model.

Do you happen to know the height?

Re: Looking to purchase FT

Reply #5 – June 09, 2020, 04:37:35 pm

Dave L,
You might have found those 39'3"-41' 4" numbers on BeamAlarm.com. But you might have not realized, those are the total length of 41"4" is u-turning coach, and the walls they hit with the front and back body parts. The other numbers 39'3" are the curbs that the tires will hit making a u-turn on a street with curbs. They are not the overall length of a 36' coach.

And read the spec. sheets and realize there are lots of differences between 270, 295, and 320 models.
One example, is water pump switches, one on the 270's, 3 on the 295 and 320's. Note, a single furnace on a 270, that is huge, but 2 on a 295, one aft, that is smaller, one in the galley that is larger, then likely Agua Hot system on 320's.
Bay doors are different, counter surfaces of Corain increase as the number goes up. Likely there are 50+ upgrades up the line up.
Interior wood choices from oak, to walnut, some cherry. It's a slippery slope, and as mentioned, shop and shop, and find the floor plan that works for you.

Re: Looking to purchase FT

Reply #6 – June 09, 2020, 05:08:50 pm

I think the nominal height is 11' - 4 1/2" I have 11' - 11 1/4" door opening and 12'- 0" to the bottom of the roof trusses. I have a CB antenna hit, it is gone. old cell phone antenna hit sometimes, it is gone.

U320 adds a lot of upgraded trim and features. biggest are the AquaHot (mixed bag of opinions, I would never own a coach without it), the bigger ISM11 engine (more HP, more torque) and the bigger Allison Transmission.

Dave, where are you? FT Owners love to show off their coaches.

Re: Looking to purchase FT

Reply #7 – June 09, 2020, 05:42:06 pm

Quote from: DaveL – June 09, 2020, 04:30:20 pm

Thanks Roger

I will be a smart shopper. I currently own a 5th wheel so I have to sell that first. Gives me time to research and look. So a 36 is actually 36 feet long. I'll download the specs for a U320 and look at those. I was eliminating that model thinking it was a tag model.

Do you happen to know the height?

I have also found I am 11'5" tall to hard parts. I folded my radio and cb antennas down for my warehouse 11'11" door.
U320's can have tags, but all 320's don't have tags.

Re: Looking to purchase FT

Reply #8 – June 09, 2020, 05:51:29 pm

36 ft U320s were built through 2002 then they went to 38' with tags. U295 and U270 36 ft continued after 2002.

Re: Looking to purchase FT

Reply #9 – June 09, 2020, 05:54:25 pm

Quote from: Roger & Susan in Home2 – June 09, 2020, 05:51:29 pm

36 ft U320s were built through 2002 then they went to 38' with tags. U295 and U270 36 ft continued after 2002.

OH the insanity of it all. Time for a cocktail.

Re: Looking to purchase FT

Reply #10 – June 09, 2020, 06:16:16 pm

Sometimes, the significantly higher hp and torque of the U320 would be delightful. Never the less, my U295 has ABUNDANT power compare to the 5.9L 190hp diesel I had before. As for Aqua Hot, several residents of my park in FL have been plagued with AH problems. I mean in various brands of coaches, not just FT. It seems to me, the 320 has a lot more to go wrong.

Re: Looking to purchase FT

Reply #11 – June 09, 2020, 06:34:35 pm

As Roger posted Aqua Hot is a love it or hate it item. It does do away with 2 furnaces and a water heater. It is a personal option I love having.

Re: Looking to purchase FT

Reply #12 – June 09, 2020, 06:46:23 pm

I agree with all that has been said. We have had our share of Aquahot problems over the years but I would personally rather give up the slide than give up the Aquahot. We rarely are out in super cold weather but when we have been it is as comfortable and quiet and it is at home.

As Roger said, we all love showing people our coaches. What state are you in?

Also it is important to have everything lined up when you are serious. The solid coaches that are priced right often go very quickly.

Re: Looking to purchase FT

Reply #13 – June 09, 2020, 07:15:38 pm

Temp swings when the furnace cycles are around 5 degrees. 2-3 degrees with aqua hot.

Aqua hot has a separate bathroom thermostat from the bedroom and living room. If the bathroom has its power switch on it allows the separate thermostat mounted in the tank bay to work whenever it's setting says "heat"

With some wind and glass temp prep I read a post about a full winter live in in Montana with a aqua hot. 1/2 tank of fuel consumed.

It's moist heat like a hot water radiator. Very quiet for light sleepers also

Re: Looking to purchase FT

Reply #14 – June 09, 2020, 08:52:23 pm

Maybe that is how the basement heat works in Bob's older coach. The OP is looking for a newer coach. In our 2001 the basement AH heat exchangers come on when the basement thermostat calls for heat. The bathroom thermostat has nothing to do with the basement heat. They are on the same AH pump zone but either thermostat will turn on the zone pump and the heat exchanger in its respective area. Things change over time.

Re: Looking to purchase FT

Reply #15 – June 09, 2020, 08:56:21 pm

Our '97 basement thermostat don't care whether the bathroom thermostat is on or off either.

Mike

Re: Looking to purchase FT

Reply #16 – June 09, 2020, 09:47:05 pm

So you are telling me the basement thermostat is on if the wall mounted main thermostat is on? No way to turn it off unlike the front or rear units? I thought I understood the bathroom thermostat controls the third zones recirc pump. If it's power switch is on system hot antifreeze is being circulated through all that loops systems heat exchangers. The one in the bath and the two in the bay. All hot. No fan until that area calls for it.

My understanding is the settings turn on the fans in that area only. Does the lower thermostat have an off position versus just a temp adjustment. I cannot remember an off. If so is it just the fan?

Like to learn how this really works from the guys here. I am all ears.

I reduced the bays thermostat to not have its heat loss from the system versus the front/ rear units.

I set the front lower temp wise on 110 volt use mostly.

Interesting things to learn all the time

So if either thermostat calls for heat the aqua hots zone pump turns on and only the area that is calling for heat fans come on?

If I turn off the bathrooms power switch is that zone pump call not answered?

No recirc until a call then all exchangers get heat but only the fans come on in the calling area?

And the bays and bath zones master turn off is the bathroom thermostat?

Or is there a off on the thermostat in the bay? Still circulates but no fan?

Re: Looking to purchase FT

Reply #17 – June 09, 2020, 09:55:20 pm

Basement thermostat don't care if the wall thermostat is on or off.

Mike

Re: Looking to purchase FT

Reply #18 – June 09, 2020, 10:07:17 pm

Cool. Thanks

Then there is an off on the basement. Fan only. Great. Hot Liquid is still going there by the bath pump demand but no fans.

Unless there is a separate loop running off the third zone pump that switches between the bay or bath and/or?

Glad I got it defined for me. Each can call for the heat. All the circuit gets hot water. Only the fans comes on in the calling area.

Stands to reason versus circulate hot stuff without a need. If the basements is off no circ pump other than the baths call

The basements radiators are getting hot liquid if the baths is on calling for heat

All one loop...

Re: Looking to purchase FT

Reply #19 – June 09, 2020, 10:07:27 pm

Bob, please take this discussion that has nothing to do with the original post somewhere else. You are likely to get another thread locked for veering off into irrelevancy.

Re: Looking to purchase FT

Reply #20 – June 09, 2020, 10:14:17 pm

Just trying to learn any maybe help him IF his needs might be addressed here.

I learned something. Good day

Re: Looking to purchase FT

Reply #21 – June 09, 2020, 10:19:13 pm

As far as the 2003 U320s go, if you have two slides, you'll have a tag axle. Might be true with the U295s also, otherwise will be just two axles.

Re: Looking to purchase FT

Reply #22 – June 10, 2020, 02:03:41 am

My 2003 is a 38' single slide U295. The only other 38' configuration in 2003 was a double slide U320.

Foretravel decided the extra weight of a second slide needed the beefier U320 chassis.

Re: Looking to purchase FT

Reply #23 – June 10, 2020, 04:36:37 am

Thank you all for the information, I greatly appreciate it! I live in Maryland 12 miles from Gettysburg pa.

I'm pretty well sold on the Aqua Hot system.

I don't really want to extend the length of my RV shed so a 40 foot would be too long. But, there is always a but. No tags axles.

From reading here and the specs I take it that all FT's are about 11' 6" in height?

I'm leaning toward a 2001 U320 I would like a slide but could live with a non slide.

So currently I need to sell my 5th wheel. My son in-law will purchase my truck. I'm looking for a older suv to pull behind. I will probably purchase a suv in the next 30-60 days. I have not looked at any FT's. Too far away.

Re: Looking to purchase FT

Reply #24 – June 10, 2020, 10:47:20 am

Quote from: DaveL – June 10, 2020, 04:36:37 am

Thank you all for the information, I greatly appreciate it! I live in Maryland 12 miles from Gettysburg pa.

I'm pretty well sold on the Aqua Hot system.

I don't really want to extend the length of my RV shed so a 40 foot would be too long. But, there is always a but. No tags axles.

From reading here and the specs I take it that all FT's are about 11' 6" in height?

I'm leaning toward a 2001 U320 I would like a slide but could live with a non slide.

So currently I need to sell my 5th wheel. My son in-law will purchase my truck. I'm looking for a older suv to pull behind. I will probably purchase a suv in the next 30-60 days. I have not looked at any FT's. Too far away.

Lots of opinions on toweds, but Grand Cherokee's are usually priced right for the year model. Cherokee's are good also just not as much room in them

Affiliate Notice