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Topic: Older FT's (Read 555 times) previous topic - next topic

Older FT's

After being a member of this forum for over 3 years, I gotta say, my 96 is just fine. Nothing complicated. the two furnaces work. the hot water  heater works, Simple seems to be better for this old guy. Not to take away from the newer coaches, but for me, I'm happy with less. No slides to malfunction. No aqua hot to stop working, just sayin!
1996 U295-36, Cummins 300hp, 8.3. Build number 4864. Vin number 1F97D536XTNO54271. Purchased October 31, 2019.

Re: Older FT's

Reply #1 –
Yup! Know the feeling. Let it set all summer and then get in it and take off--after checking tire pressures and oil, of course.
Just like an old faithful reliable John Deere tractor. :))  :))
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: Older FT's

Reply #2 –
I hear what you're saying Dan, but I have to say, at this point I don't think I could give up our slide. 
We just returned from an 8 week trip, staying in some place 7 to 10 days.  The extra space that the slide gives, is for us, well worth the extra work to maintain it in full operational mode.
I realize that the slide has many more moving parts, but I accept the trade off.
I get it that everyone has their own limits, just gotta do what makes you (and the DW) happy!
Mark & Bev
2001 U295 36' Slide
Cummins ISC 8.3 350HP
Build #5802
Jeep Wrangler Toad

Re: Older FT's

Reply #3 –
Each to his own. The wife and I love our kiss bus and the simplicity of it. Yes there are always something's that a person might like but realize that what they have is just fine.

Ken
Ken & Peggy
91 GV  U300 40'
DD 6v92
Build #3819
2023 Canyon Denali 4x4 crew cab

Re: Older FT's

Reply #4 –
Our aqua hot that Roger Berke installed is the bomb.
No slides, other than the Joey bed- greater bomb.

Re: Older FT's

Reply #5 –
The beauty of the unicoaches is that you can find one that has the right amount of complexity for you. Love my slide and AH
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

Re: Older FT's

Reply #6 –
Our U300 gets a B-. Wish it had the manual leveling, no HWH, a Roadmaster trans and as good as the DDEC is, a mechanical 92. Lots of minor stuff I could write a book on but it's been really good to us. Sort of like an old Jaguar, it's always love/hate or at least I feel that way about the factory guys. Love the guys that designed the outside, interior, hate the guys that went cheap on the fittings, flammability of the insulation, undercarriage paint and used FG mat. Now, if Toyota had only built it.

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

Re: Older FT's

Reply #7 –
These are machines with complicated parts, and keeping it simple is always a good thing, especially when you have to maintain them for 20+ years. That is how the 1996-1997 U270 & U295 have some advantages over U320 and computerized engines. Simple engine, hot water, heat, weight and if 34 or 36 foot shorter is better.

The only electrical part of those engines are fuel shutoff and intake manifold heater. Both of which are easy to bypass if malfunctioning. These engines never have to see a shop.

Re: Older FT's

Reply #8 –
I liked my 81 Foretravel. Full timed in it for 10 years and sold it for more than I paid. I love my 93 U225. 
I can see why people like slides but I'm very comfortable without any.
1993 U225 Build #: 4285
500 Watts Solar
Honda CRV AWD
Former 1981 Foretravel Travco
Retired, Full Time Off Grid Snowbird

Re: Older FT's

Reply #9 –
When I was looking for my coach I wanted a U320 with no slide.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: Older FT's

Reply #10 –
We prefer no slides, but are resigned to the fact that the next coach will probably have a slide. You don't get to specify what you want when you buy used. You have to take the one that checks the most boxes and deal with the rest.

Re: Older FT's

Reply #11 –
I find buying new you don't get what you want but when I was shopping, U320, 36 ft. and no slide
was only coach that I would look at. I was lucky with this coach as it had that and other things, like floors
retiled, new blinds, new front seats and the rest of the appolstry redone except the dinning room
chairs which I threw out as I built a dinette. The Silver Leaf, and the solar panels, control and the
inverter which I installed, both which I don't know if I would have gotten them I wouldn't want to be
without. I have done a lot of other up grades and now have it the way I want if.

















Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport