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Topic: Buy low and upgrade, or buy upgraded? (Read 745 times) previous topic - next topic

Buy low and upgrade, or buy upgraded?

My advice on if to buy a Foretravel at a low price, or buy an rv someone has already done most of the work, buy the higher priced one and go have fun.  This may be one of my final posts, due to a change in plans of where to live.  See my listing today of our rv for sale now in our Forum Classified section or check it out on Ebay.  Thank you to all that have helped me since the begining of joining this priceless, valuable forum.  Please let any friends looking for a Foretravel of my listing on here and eBay.
97 U295 40, Build #5040, 6C8.3 325 HP
Oregon Continuous Traveler
Samsung Residential #RF20HFENBSR,
Xantrex SW2012, (3)AGM8D Hse, (2)AGM Grp24 Eng, Victron BMV-712, 1800w Solar 4 LG & 2 Sunpower
Extreme Full Body Pt w/hdlmps, new furn/floor, 4 down Lexus 2004 GX470 AWD curb weight 4,740 lbs
Prev: 1990 Barth, 10L 300 2 yrs; 91&92 Monaco Signature, 10 yrs, 10L C 300 &  6C8.3 300; 1997 ForeT 6C8.3 325 since May 2017.  Employed by Guaranty RV 14+ yrs.  Former VW New Car Dlr/Service Dlr, Sales Mgr, Rv Sales, and Service Adviser from 1968-2017
"Don't criticize what you can't understand" Bob Dylan

Re: Buy low and upgrade, or buy upgraded?

Reply #1 –
Hi Jack,
Wishing you the best on your new journeys.
Frank & Daisy
NO LONGER  "looking for the perfect Foretravel
36' or less non slide preferred."  She has been found and is ours.
2003 U320 36' non slide  Unit 6103
Cummins ISM 450
Allison 4000MH

Re: Buy low and upgrade, or buy upgraded?

Reply #2 –
Jack,
Great looking coach, good luck on your move, keep us updated and please stay involved on the forum. We hate to lose active members and valuable knowledge.
Justin
Justin & Cathy Byrd
1995 U280 "Old Faithful"
36' Build #4673
C8.3 Cummins
Allison MD3060R 6 speed - retarder
Powertech 10KW  4cyl Kubota

Re: Buy low and upgrade, or buy upgraded?

Reply #3 –
Buy the higher priced unit that has been refurbished and updated, it would be less expensive: we bought low and are now high, we would have had more coach for the same money, possibly not the interior color of choice but more bang for the buck and way less sweat equity!
David & Emma Roche
Dino (Golden Doodle)
1999 U270 WTFE 36' Build # 5534
Xtreme "Lights, Stripes & Roof"
Motorcade# 18321
Dayton, Ohio
Towd: Jeep Grand Cherokee
Two Townie Electra Bikes

Life is made to enjoy, the Foretravel helps!

Re: Buy low and upgrade, or buy upgraded?

Reply #4 –
One of the few Fotetravels of that vintage without window awnings. Makes for a clean look.  I wonder if Extreme removed them when they did the full body paint or from factory without.
Doug W.
96 36' U270 CSGI #4946
04 Toyota Tacoma 4x4
PNW

Re: Buy low and upgrade, or buy upgraded?

Reply #5 –
Always enjoyed your posts. Best of luck in your new direction!

Buy cheap only if you have the talent to fix and have a realistic view of the costs. Updated coach may not cost that much more. Coach that has spent it's life garaged and not driven on treated roads is worth quite a bit more. Coach with corrosion/rust is going to give lots of trouble down the road and be harder to replace rusted in place components.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Buy low and upgrade, or buy upgraded?

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart –
Always enjoyed your posts. Best of luck in your new direction!

Buy cheap only if you have the talent to fix and have a realistic view of the costs. Updated coach may not cost that much more. Coach that has spent it's life garaged and not driven on treated roads is worth quite a bit more. Coach with corrosion/rust is going to give lots of trouble down the road and be harder to replace rusted in place components.

Pierce
2nd the rust and corrosion thing. We watch the Bus Grease Monkey you tube channel and some of the complete RUST buckets that he works on is shocking.  A little scary that those things are driving down the same roads as me. 
Robert and Susan
 1995 36' 280 WTBI 8.3 3060r
 1200 watts on the roof, 720 Ah of lithium's
 Build # 4637. Motorcade # 17599
        FMCA  # 451505
        18  Wrangler JLUR

Re: Buy low and upgrade, or buy upgraded?

Reply #7 –
Your coach stands out Jack. Best wishes for what comes next for you.
Dub McBride 1996 270

Re: Buy low and upgrade, or buy upgraded?

Reply #8 –
Happy trails Jack. Nice coach!
1993 U225 Build #: 4285
500 Watts Solar
Honda CRV AWD
Former 1981 Foretravel Travco
Retired, Full Time Off Grid Snowbird

Re: Buy low and upgrade, or buy upgraded?

Reply #9 –
Wishing you the best Jack and please keep in touch!  Your coach looks great and you should have no problem selling it!
Joe & Dottie Allen
Sold!  December 2023.      2000 U320; build # 5645
Our coach " Maxine"
Motorcade #  15922;  Escapee 150950; FMCA F330833; Boondockers Welcome;  Harvest Hosts;  Thousand Trails
'98 U320 from 2000-'06
USAF '62-'66

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." ―Epicurus

Re: Buy low and upgrade, or buy upgraded?

Reply #10 –
IMO, the key to "buy low" is if you have the skill set and inclination to do the work yourself, you can put one of those "neglected" coaches on the list.

If you are going to pay retail for work to be performed, absolutely, go with a "ready to go" coach.

Only exception would be if you absolutely hate some important/costly aspects of the coach (have to replace all interior fabrics because they are paisley velvet, the side of the coach has a 7' picture of their horse on it, etc).
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