Wanted dead or alive

Topic: Wanted dead or alive (Read 3903 times) previous topic - next topic

Wanted dead or alive

June 18, 2020, 10:15:43 pm

So as many I have been lurking for a Foretravel, I didn't want to buy someone's real nice coach, need nothing just to end up rebuilding everything anyway. I didn't start out looking for a Foretravel, however by disqualification of SOB this is were I ended up. In doing so I have been indirectly responsible for two other Foretravel coaches being purchased by friends because of the build quality. Back in February Mr Lynn Sickel's son found what I was looking for or so I think. "Barn Find". Hasn't ran since 2012. Probably will need everything. Probably has rotten fuel in it. Nothing works! Nothing. 2001 U320 36' single slide. Still extended. Current owner knows nothing about it. Mileage unknow. Again nothing works. The price is right for me with the cost of parts. Labor is on me. I personally would not recommend this much project to anyone, but once fixed most will be new. I've got more in my repair estimate than the coach. Yes I'm confident it has frozen. I'm figuring but not limited to tires, batteries, fuel lines, aqua hot, refrigerator, air conditioner x 2, rotten fuel, all filters on primary systems, dryer, airbags leveling valve/s. It's been under cover and out of direct sunlight. It looks in photos to have limited corrosion. If it's rusted out I'll be gone in under a hour of first seeing it. Oh yes I forgot it 1200 miles from home in the middle of a cotton field, in the middle of July. Of the 100 things to check before you buy a Foretravel I'm concerned about the basics. Corrosion. Having 400k miles? the rest can be fixed. If someone has a similar coach U320 99-03 36' speak up and let me know before I'm ALL IN. With all the negatives it still is a really nice coach that I would be proud to own. Before the first 100 miles it will be in safe roadworthy condition. I'm figuring ten days to prep to move.
Scott

Re: Wanted dead or alive

Reply #1 – June 18, 2020, 10:33:00 pm

You might be pleasantly surprised....or not. Where is the coach? Someone may go look it over with you.

Re: Wanted dead or alive

Reply #2 – June 18, 2020, 10:42:02 pm

Buying these is like putting a valuable body part on a railroad track and hoping a train does not come by.

We rolled the dice 8 years ago, doubled our initial investment.

Well worth it to us. Three days at the beach thru today. A pleasure.

Go for it.

Re: Wanted dead or alive

Reply #3 – June 18, 2020, 11:10:23 pm

I've inspected about a half dozen
Yes there are several members that said they too will meet us the first day. Very exciting or terrifying . Plan for the worst hope for the best.
Scott

Re: Wanted dead or alive

Reply #4 – June 18, 2020, 11:14:21 pm

Quote from: Johnstons – June 18, 2020, 10:33:00 pm

Where is the coach?

See older discussion for details:

Barn find???

Re: Wanted dead or alive

Reply #5 – June 19, 2020, 07:27:29 am

More pictures

Re: Wanted dead or alive

Reply #6 – June 19, 2020, 08:45:52 am

Quote from: Caflashbob – June 18, 2020, 10:42:02 pm

We rolled the dice 8 years ago, doubled our initial investment. Go for it.

I agree with Caflashbob, I knew the FT I have now, would be sold before I could have an outside inspection, or I had a chance to buy. Along with Bob, I too had years of experience placing a value on an rv, usually without seeing the unit, only looking at a piece of paper with the owners description, and posibly talking to the owner, usually not. I rolled the dice 3 years ago, no regrets.

I drove it 15 miles, looked for rust underneath or delamination on sidewalls or roof, did not find any, looked for water stains & odors inside, none. I assumed it needed rolocks replaced and posible basement structure repair, it did not. I assumed it needed brakes front and rear, it did not, only new wheel seals and brake pins & spring maintenance. I assumed it needed all services, for the air system, fuel, oil, etc, front end and brake inspections, needed modified sine wave inverter replaced with pure sine wave. I did all right after purchase including new tires and safety inspection.

In the next two years replaced all furniture, flooring, batteries, tv, new fuel lines, residential refrigerator, tank monitors, EMS, and solar.

So yes, I rolled the dice too, no regrets, none. So $14,000 later, after purchase, I'm content. I did all the upgrade work myself, except for residential refrigerator, front end, and brake work.

If the floorplan is what you want, the rv drives, it appears to you to be clean inside, and in exceptionally good condition, go for it. An inspection is nice, if not available, not a deal breaker. Do have an inspection before driving home.

Re: Wanted dead or alive

Reply #7 – June 19, 2020, 09:03:00 am

The picture showing the front if that is 3M Diamondshield with mold under it then you'll have to remove the film. That can be a very time consuming job. Just an FYI.

Re: Wanted dead or alive

Reply #8 – June 19, 2020, 09:13:59 am

We (make that ME) removed the 3M coating on the front of our '02 shortly after we took ownership. I did not have to use any sort of heat gun to soften it. Just plastic razor blades, some kind of lethal solvent (recommended by James Stallings and the guys at Xtreme) and the Nacogdoches blazing sun in July. Holy cow ... I was unable to hold a utensil to eat my supper at the end of the day after scritch scritch scritching that stuff off for hours on end.

Re: Wanted dead or alive

Reply #9 – June 19, 2020, 10:08:57 am

I will perform the pre- purchase inspection in great detail, I'll also be responsible for repairs myself. Yes the 3M Diamondshield will have to go, after in goes back to southern Nevada. Ive put together every thing I can imagine needing to cut down on trips to order parts. Will take a fuel polishing system equipped to 2 micron. Seven polishing filter, more available at Napa. Six primary filter, two secondary. Wiper blades, three gen filters. Oil filter for both. Air filter both. Three group 31 batteries. Coolant filter, and many many more. Tires on site. Chassis grease needs. Hub and diff oil. Dryer assembly, level valve. D2 regulators 2, Four spare airbags and a couple of weeks blocked out so as not to rush it. Corrosion would be the kiss of death for the deal. It's within my skill set but I lack basement rebuild motivation. If this site didn't exist I would never take this project on. There are hundreds of hours of reading prior posts. So much combined knowledge and skills at every level. So many People with there prior posts provided the inspiration without even being aware. Thank you or curse you. I'll have a clear understanding in a month from now. Betting on Thank You.
Scott

Re: Wanted dead or alive

Reply #10 – June 19, 2020, 10:12:48 am

12*** club member. Can anyone share any information? Got PM and Have information. Thank you

Re: Wanted dead or alive

Reply #11 – June 19, 2020, 11:44:43 am

The picture of the engine bay looks really clean. Corrosion may not be an issue, I have seen much worse.

Re: Wanted dead or alive

Reply #12 – June 19, 2020, 12:05:25 pm

Quote from: Roger & Susan in Home2 – June 19, 2020, 11:44:43 am

The picture of the engine bay looks really clean.

Same with the generator - really clean.

However, the generator compartment insulation is badly decomposed and falling down. To avoid potential problems, need to remove loose stuff before operating the genny,

Re: Wanted dead or alive

Reply #13 – June 19, 2020, 12:58:58 pm

Did I read it right,it has 400K miles?

Re: Wanted dead or alive

Reply #14 – June 19, 2020, 01:11:36 pm

Guessing typo, probably 40k

Re: Wanted dead or alive

Reply #15 – June 19, 2020, 01:55:57 pm

Nothing works. Mileage is a compleat unknown. No power. No batteries.

Re: Wanted dead or alive

Reply #16 – June 19, 2020, 02:06:43 pm

If anyone has any suggestions for a 12+ year non operated coach please feel free to give me your input. There is a lot of other stuff I'm taking, but it's always easier to learn from others
Thanks Scott

Re: Wanted dead or alive

Reply #17 – June 19, 2020, 02:30:09 pm

Show up with a new set of both batteries banks

Re: Wanted dead or alive

Reply #18 – June 19, 2020, 02:35:57 pm

He posted he is taking 3 new group 31 start batteries, carrying 450 lbs of house batteries might be overkill. Local pick up of one wet cell to get home with might be better.

Re: Wanted dead or alive

Reply #19 – June 19, 2020, 02:39:29 pm

Not going to mess with coach batteries. All I need to do is get generator started. I'll never shut it off. Hopefully one of the three ac units will work. My dw sanity may depend on it. Taking 134 to charge front coach air. Too
Scott

Re: Wanted dead or alive

Reply #20 – June 19, 2020, 02:41:20 pm

Will tow truck back. It's set up. So I am load limited what I can take also

Re: Wanted dead or alive

Reply #21 – June 19, 2020, 05:09:40 pm

"Go for it" easy for us to say, but go for it! If it all works out you will smile so big your heart will gain back few years :-)
My personal opinion, how ever much you are paying for it add $10K to it.
Good luck, enjoy.

Re: Wanted dead or alive

Reply #22 – June 19, 2020, 06:11:50 pm

Rats, field mice, or squirrels would be the kiss of death for me.

Other wise, looks like the summer of love.

Have fun, keep us posted

Chris

Re: Wanted dead or alive

Reply #23 – June 19, 2020, 06:25:58 pm

Since I saw it last February, I've thought it was a keeper. It's a fixer upper, but it's doable. As far as corrosion, I think it's minimal. As far as varmints, hopefully there was enough cats running around that farm to keep them run off. Good luck Scott. I'm at your service if you need help. I think it will fire up and run. I'm just glad to see it getting moved off that cotton plantation and loved again.

Re: Wanted dead or alive

Reply #24 – June 19, 2020, 07:49:46 pm

I just had the craziest thought. May be he put fuel stabilizer in it? Nah my luck couldn't be that good. Very excited to get back there. Yes the little varmints can do a lot of damage. We rarely have problems with small varmints. Usually just rabbits. But I've had to relocate three mice a day for the last 3 weeks. No cat here would eat all the lizards. Also been averaging one Antelope chipmunk a day. It will probably need a slide bladder also. Aluminum tape and foam tubing to get home 10K in repairs I WISH. I'll dream thou
Think that year slide has to be removed. Yes what a exciting summer. Thank you Mr Sickel and Mr Lang! It takes a Community to raise a child or move a nearly abandoned foretravel. Thank you everyone

Affiliate Notice