Bought a "New to Me" 1999 Foretravel U320 36'

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Bought a "New to Me" 1999 Foretravel U320 36'

July 14, 2021, 11:03:43 am

So, I had been looking for a good used motorhome for a few months. Initially I had focused on Beaver, Monaco, Newmar and Tiffin's. I was having a hard time finding what I really wanted, which was a shorter coach with a high torque and towing capacity. Somewhere along in this search process I came across a Foretravel and that is when everything changed.
I never really new or heard about Foretravel's, but as I started doing a little research I found that Foretravel had what I was really after, a 36' coach with the Cummins M11 (450hp) and 1450 Ft Lbs of torque - perfect. See, I vintage roadrace an old vintage mustang (Shelby) and needed a coach that could pull my race trailer. My wife and I also were at the point that, It would sure be nice to stay at the race track for the race weekend especially with our small "Schnoodle" puppy Emma. After racing is done for the day, it gets quite peaceful, quiet and social and we always missed out on this.
Anyway, I flew into Phoenix on a Friday morning at the end of June (one way ticket) and the owner picked me up at he airport bright and early. We proceeded Northwest about 2 hours into the desert where I finally laid eyes on "the" coach. After spending a few hours inspecting and conversing with the owner I purchased it and started my journey back to Illinois. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little concerned about whether or not I would make it all the way back without any problems, but I was commited !
My plan was, I had to be back to work Monday morning at 8am, so I'd better hustle. I figured I would spend the Friday and Saturday night at the Love's truck stops.
This was my first Motorhome, never driven a motorhome before but I've driven a bunch of different things and I was, am, a race car driver ? Well, I drove about 4 hours that Friday night and ended up near the petrified forest in Eastern Arizona at my first Love's truck stop. I have to say the interstate road surface from Kingman through Flagstaff to the New Mexico border really sucks ! Anything that could rattle in the coach sure did let me know it. I found a spot to park overnight, took a hot shower (awesome) and slept like a baby !! Up at 5am Saturday morning and hit the road. Due to the two hour time zone difference and a 1 hour traffic jam I made it to Oklahoma City, OK around 8-8:30 pm Saturday night. A hot shower, a subway sandwhich for dinner and I slept like a baby until the massive thunder storm rolled in early, early am Sunday. Fell back asleep but got up at 4:30am to hit the road. After I took out a small mortgage to fill the fuel tank, I was on the road again. Due to the time setbacks on Saturday I knew I had to cover some distance because, come hell or high water, I was going to be home tonight !!
I've never seen more vehicles off in the ditch as I did from Oklahoma City to Joplin, MO. I guess that major storm had something to do with it, driving too fast and poor tires ? Arizona hadn't had any significant rain since February I was told. Every ditch, pond, creek, river and farm field from Oklahoma to Illinois was flooded ? I got caught up in a storm just as I was entering St. Louis. The rain was coming down so heavy cars were stopped on the interstate. I found the flasher knob. All I could think about was I have absolutely no leaks and don't use the retarder !
Made it home to Naperville, IL at 7:30pm all safe and sound, I thanked God for this !! I was greeted by my wife and puppy as I drove up towards the house. My wife was videoing my arrival. I don't think she knew how big it was and where I was going to park it.
Fast forward a few weeks, we are taking it up to Road America this weekend for our first outage in the motorhome at our biggest vintage race weekend of the year.

Tom

Re: Bought a "New to Me" 1999 Foretravel U320 36'

Reply #1 – July 14, 2021, 11:26:47 am

Yay! Welcome!

Re: Bought a "New to Me" 1999 Foretravel U320 36'

Reply #2 – July 14, 2021, 11:49:08 am

Yes, welcome. Post photos of the coach and Road America. Save your brakes for Canada Corner!

Pierce

Re: Bought a "New to Me" 1999 Foretravel U320 36'

Reply #3 – July 14, 2021, 03:48:03 pm

And, if it is still in Naperville, eat a Seafood Burrito at Casa Lupita for me.

Re: Bought a "New to Me" 1999 Foretravel U320 36'

Reply #4 – July 14, 2021, 03:59:16 pm

Good story. You got a good one.

Re: Bought a "New to Me" 1999 Foretravel U320 36'

Reply #5 – July 14, 2021, 04:17:28 pm

Wow only added fuel to get home. I'm very impressed.
Congratulations and welcome.
Scott

Re: Bought a "New to Me" 1999 Foretravel U320 36'

Reply #6 – July 14, 2021, 04:22:00 pm

Welcome . There are quite a few racers that tow with our buses. Take a peek at the hitch fasteners and related bits before you hook up as well as the bulkheads and all that.
I tow around 7500# behind my 88 GV with Cat power . Tows great . I also have a Vintage B Sedan Toyota and an SCCA VW. Good luck at the races. MY good friend is race steward for the F 4 races.

Re: Bought a "New to Me" 1999 Foretravel U320 36'

Reply #7 – July 14, 2021, 04:23:19 pm

Scott

I was waiting for the "oh, no" to drop, too. Who makes a maiden voyage with no boo-boos??

Re: Bought a "New to Me" 1999 Foretravel U320 36'

Reply #8 – July 14, 2021, 04:30:58 pm

Howdy neighbor, I live on the far NW side of Chicago ( Old Norwood Park).
If you ever need anything let me know.

Re: Bought a "New to Me" 1999 Foretravel U320 36'

Reply #9 – July 14, 2021, 05:16:03 pm

Got a minute to respond now.

Congrats on the NU2U coach. We bought our 1998 U320 in October of last year, and drove it from East Texas to Tucson with no issues. I had several hundred pounds of tools with me, so maybe that was the magic talisman. We moved from a 1998 Monaco 34-foot. Why does the new 36-foot feel 1/2 larger than a 34-foot? Foretravel magic.

You made a wise choice. These are great coaches and the M-11 is a monster. While we were deciding, I found a trucker's tread talking about injector failures in the M-11. I got all nervous until I read down and learned that it usually shows up around 600,000 miles!

This forum will have all the answers you need. Also, I invite you to message me if you wish to compare notes.

Re: Bought a "New to Me" 1999 Foretravel U320 36'

Reply #10 – July 14, 2021, 05:35:31 pm

Congratulations I have the same coach as you and I love it.

Re: Bought a "New to Me" 1999 Foretravel U320 36'

Reply #11 – July 14, 2021, 07:56:31 pm

Okay, I have to ask, why not use the retarder?

Re: Bought a "New to Me" 1999 Foretravel U320 36'

Reply #12 – July 14, 2021, 08:19:42 pm

Welcome, 99 36' U320 here as well, was our first RV of any type. First year was like drinking from a fire hose, second year much better. Thank goodness for this forum, it will be your best friend.

Re: Bought a "New to Me" 1999 Foretravel U320 36'

Reply #13 – July 14, 2021, 08:40:02 pm

Very nice coach. Congratulations

When we bought out coach more than 10 years ago in California fuel was $4.60 ish. The seller suggested we had enough to get to AZ which we did after RV Driving school. Fuel in AZ was $3.53. Almost 2,600 miles to Minnesota with no problems.

Re: Bought a "New to Me" 1999 Foretravel U320 36'

Reply #14 – July 14, 2021, 08:48:43 pm

Quote from: TomandJulie – July 14, 2021, 07:56:31 pm

Okay, I have to ask, why not use the retarder?

It's not wise to use the retarder when it's raining or wet pavement. It can make the coach squirm around a little when braking...... Personal experience.

Re: Bought a "New to Me" 1999 Foretravel U320 36'

Reply #15 – July 14, 2021, 10:16:31 pm

Welcome aboard! Another race car enthusiast is Joe Gibbs, who had a red 42 foot Foretravel. Saw this coach while we were in Serverville, TN.

Re: Bought a "New to Me" 1999 Foretravel U320 36'

Reply #16 – July 15, 2021, 02:28:11 am

Quote from: Forewheelers – July 14, 2021, 04:23:19 pm

Scott

I was waiting for the "oh, no" to drop, too. Who makes a maiden voyage with no boo-boos??

Time for me to be quiet. I did real well all things considered, I'm just amazed. I guessing there was a difference in care given to his coach. I was most impressed by the talk of a hot shower, I still haven done that yet, could now but haven't. That being said kinda a boring story, just drove home.👍👍
Scott

Re: Bought a "New to Me" 1999 Foretravel U320 36'

Reply #17 – July 15, 2021, 04:34:24 am

We pick ours up just outside of Portland, OR in Fed 13. Drove straight home by the southern route to avoid a BIG snow storm.

Only problem. Got stopped near Flagstaff for a bad headlight. Didn't even know the coach had driving lights. I think the trooper just wanted an excuse to check us out. Crawled under the front in a Walmart parking lot in NM that night (30 degrees and very windy) as the sun was setting and replaced the bulb.

Rich

Re: Bought a "New to Me" 1999 Foretravel U320 36'

Reply #18 – July 15, 2021, 08:23:05 am

Quote from: dsd – July 15, 2021, 02:28:11 am

Time for me to be quiet. I did real well all things considered, I'm just amazed. I guessing there was a difference in care given to his coach. I was most impressed by the talk of a hot shower, I still haven done that yet, could now but haven't. That being said kinda a boring story, just drove home.👍👍
Scott

My grandfather was never happy unless he had some kind of trouble on his trips he was in his joy if could be changing a thermostat on the side of the road an alternator voltage regulator a tire etc etc then he talk all about it to everyone at the end of the trip It was always a good trip to him . My grandmother would sit there and do her knitting

Re: Bought a "New to Me" 1999 Foretravel U320 36'

Reply #19 – July 15, 2021, 11:09:46 am

Congratulations Tom! We also made our first trip home after purchase without issue though we drove slowly on the 10yr old tires that were on it.

Today, we are still enjoying our 36ft 99 U320 and enjoy meeting all our Foretravel buddies along the way! We have not found a more comfortable, quality coach (for our budget) and with help from the forum have managed to keep it running well. Our family is getting ready to head up to So Fork, Co in it later this month, McDonald Observatory next month and Quartsite, Az in January. Enjoy the ride, we have!

Re: Bought a "New to Me" 1999 Foretravel U320 36'

Reply #20 – July 15, 2021, 11:40:40 am

Quote from: Cape Bretoner – July 15, 2021, 08:23:05 am

etc etc then he talk all about it to everyone at the end of the trip It was always a good trip to him .

Ive got a couple of purchase, trip home stories. At least it didn't turn into a horror story. I genuinely prefer the low drama trips. Again congratulations on your new coach.
Scott

Re: Bought a "New to Me" 1999 Foretravel U320 36'

Reply #21 – July 15, 2021, 01:42:27 pm

If a man can catch a break and have a uneventful trip then that first trip home is a good one to catch it. Otherwise some better halves are saying what the crap have I let you talk me into this time.

Re: Bought a "New to Me" 1999 Foretravel U320 36'

Reply #22 – July 15, 2021, 01:48:19 pm

Congratulations on the coach and trip! 1998 36' 320 here. You made a wise choice. Have fun learning all light switches 😁

Re: Bought a "New to Me" 1999 Foretravel U320 36'

Reply #23 – July 16, 2021, 09:20:59 am

Welcome and congratulations! Our 1st rv of any kind was a 40' u320, it's a huge learning curve! Foretravel is a great coach and you will love it!!!
Walmart's are a lot more peaceful for sleeping than a truck stop, found out the hard way...

To help with your diesel costs get a TSD fuel card.... For use at truck stops, it's free!
Join the motorcade club for opportunities to meet some great people and a 10% discount on parts and labor at Foretravel and MOT. Even if you don't live close to Foretravel they have a great parts department and you can deal with them over the phone and they will mail the part to you.
If your aquahot is running ok now be sure you run it once a month religiously thru one cycle or it will need to be serviced sooner than later.. one of the 1st lessons I learned.

Oh and pics, we love pics here!! Wouldn't mind seeing that race car too!

Keith

Re: Bought a "New to Me" 1999 Foretravel U320 36'

Reply #24 – July 20, 2021, 07:23:37 am

Thanks for all the kind support. I kind of figured that's how the Foretravel owners roll ! FYI - before I even flew out to Arizona to see the potential "new to me 1999 Foretravel U320", I had already received my TDS fuel card and had joined Good Sams - made me feel a little more at ease.
My wife and I just finished our first trip, a 4 day race weekend up at Road America. It's only a 2-1/2 hour drive from our house but no real problems.
I am making a list of items that need to be addressed:
1) Needs a new microwave.
2) There are a few obnoxious rattles, especially when engine is idling and over some bad bumpy roads.
3) Four of the window locks are broken, called the supplier - not available anymore so I will fabricate some.
4) Four of my windows have "window seal creep". I found the article on resealing the windows, so that is in my plans now.
5) I think I want to change out the original captains chairs and update to seats with a shoulder belt and head rest.
6) The previous owner installed the "Silver Leaf" program (nice) but has the computer is mounted in a way that uses the only cup holders on the dash. I want to remount it better.
7) I want to install a better back up camera and I dash monitor.

My wife might need internet service for work on occasion, what are some dependable lower cost options ?
9) I think it is time to remove the original VCR and update. I'm fine with a dvd/cd player.
10) At some point in the future I would like to have the coach painted or wrapped.

Thats the list - for now.

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