Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Future Foretravel Buyer (Read 1158 times) previous topic - next topic

Future Foretravel Buyer

To knowledgeable Foretravel owners:  :)

I am a relatively new member to this forum. I have been researching rv's for the last 6-months and concluded that Foretravel is the direction I should take in buying my first rv. We have been living on a boat for the last few years and wish to make a transition to a rv while traveling the U.S.

I would like to keep my purchase price under $50,000 which would allow me $10,000 in reserve to make updates/repairs to my "new" Foretravel. In doing my research, it appears that my budget would allow us to purchase a Foretravel built in the mid to late 90's. I can do much of the repairs/improvements myself. But in saying, this I do not want a "fixer upper."

It appears that our budget most likely would not leave any room for slide-outs. We do want enough power to flat tow our 4 x4 Jeep Cherokee while traveling through the mountain out west. The gross weight of the Cherokee is 5,900 pounds. We would also like to have cargo capacity of up to 5,000 pounds which would include the weight of full tanks of fuel, water, propane, and the weight of our passengers and batteries.

We would not rule out a U320, but all the "extra stuff" that can go wrong found with the U320 is not a high priority for us. I prefer to keep things as simple as possible concerning maintenance and upkeep while at the same time have a solid sturdy foundation under us as we do our tour of the country.

While searching for a Foretravel, we would like to find something that would meet our needs within the next few months as far as timing. Location is not a problem in our search other than the distance involved in verifying the condition of the rv from where we are currently located in North Carolina.



1. One of my main concerns is assuring ourselves that we obtain a Foretravel which is powerful enough to tow our jeep through the mountains while having a cargo carrying capacity of 5,000 pounds. What is the minimum size engine should we be considering? Does this eliminate either the Grand Villa models, U270's, U295's or U320's from our consideration in meeting these requirements?
   
2. As far as age, should we eliminate the older Grand Villa's and concentrate our efforts on the U270's, U295's and U320's while still trying to stay within our $50,000 budget?

3. What are the main differences of the Grand Villa's, U270's, U295's and U320's that we should be aware of in making our buying decision?

Thanks for any input you can give us with buying our first Foretravel rv. Any knowledge or experience the members of this forum can passed on to us will be greatly appreciated in our hunt for our "prefect" rv. First-hand knowledge from experience is usually the best knowledge available.

Future rv owners,  :)

Lonnie & Bona

Re: Future Foretravel Buyer

Reply #1 –
Well first off welcome to the best Forum on the web. The folks on here are super helpful and unlimited resource of knowledge.

I also want to say how impressed I am in the research you have obviously done. I think you are right on with your budget in mind. I actually own what I would say is the perfect solution to your needs but I am not selling it. I own a 95 U295. It would meet all your needs and I think one could be found in your range. I highly recommend finding one from one of the users on here that has had most of the maintenance and work done. I stumbled upon mine and it needed a lot of work and still needs more. That said it is the nicest piece of equipment I have ever owned and LOVE it.

I would prefer the larger M11 cummins motor and Aqua Hot but that is really the biggest upgrade you will find with the 320's. Yes, I am skipping many other differences and details but those are the big ones to me. I also prefer no slide. I know there are MANY happy GV owners on here but for me that is getting just a little too old. (they look way cooler though!)

Stay patient, the right rig will present itself at the perfect time! Good luck and please keep us posted and ask many questions :)

Re: Future Foretravel Buyer

Reply #2 –
1999 U-270 36'

Plentiful, enough power, near your budget Call Mel at MOT and let him know your parameters so he can keep an eye out for you.
Get an inspection.
Enjoy...

Tim Fiedler
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Future Foretravel Buyer

Reply #3 –
Pre 1999 has a reduced tow capacity. Unless you are flat towing it wont legally work. Look into tow capacity before you make a purchase.  U320 dont have fuel injection issues or transmission, retarder issues.
Scott

Re: Future Foretravel Buyer

Reply #4 –
Quote from: dsd –
Pre 1999 has a reduced tow capacity. Unless you are flat towing it wont legally work. Look into tow capacity before you make a purchase.  U320 dont have fuel injection issues or transmission, retarder issues.
Scott

They did mention they were flat towing their Jeep. I think it would be just fine on pre 99'.  I sure do like the idea of getting a U320 someday...  8)

Re: Future Foretravel Buyer

Reply #5 –
You gain a few mechanical advantages with the U320.
You will  usually get a M11 Cummings or equally powerful engines ( DD series 60, Cat?). You also get the beefier Allison 4000 series transmissions.
The U320 offered, based on year, heating options. Aqua Hot, Primus, forced air with propane powered furnace.
You will also find choices as far as Jake Brake or a joy stick controlled Transmission retarder.
Other than power-train options there is very little difference between all the models.
1995 U320C SE 40'
Jeep 4x4 Commander - Limited - Hemi
"The Pack"  Yogi and Diesel our Airedales -  Charlie our Boxer/Akita mix. Gone but NEVER forgotten Jake our yellow Lab.
NRA Law Enforcement Firearms instructor - Handgun/shotgun
Regional Firearms instructor for national Armored Transp. Co.

Re: Future Foretravel Buyer

Reply #6 –
I'm tempted to offer a "housing swap"  :))

Partial-joking aside, you sound like a great candidate for a late 90s U270. Finding one from a member here in good shape will probably mean paying a bit of a premium, but allow you to get on the road quicker with a known quantity.
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

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

Re: Future Foretravel Buyer

Reply #7 –
??? My 1998 U320 has a 10000 lb tow capacity. Did they change it half way through the production year?
Peter    Alberta Canada
'98 U320 40'  Build 5359 M11 450 HP, Aqua hot, Blu Ox

Re: Future Foretravel Buyer

Reply #8 –
Before 98/99, I believe the earlier u300/u320s, had a higher tow cap, 6k IIRC roughly. Realistically, any of the 90s should be able to tow it, but it won't be legal unless you get the higher model or year. If that is a concern, which it was for me when I was looking, I'd focus on the models/years that have a higher tow cap.

IMO, you don't need a M11 to tow, although more power isn't a bad thing. I tow 6500 lbs with my ISC350 and it's performs fine. I'm not winning any races but I'm happily cruising along at 60-70. It's enough power for me.

Here is a good reference
Foretravel Vehicle Weight - All Things Foretravel

Then go deeper with the actual specs to confirm.
Model Specs and Floorplans - All Things Foretravel
Jason
2000 U295 36' Non-slide  ISC350

Re: Future Foretravel Buyer

Reply #10 –
In a nutshell
1997 were all 6k tow capacity.
1998 270 and 295 5K tow capacity                u320 10k tow capacity
1999-2004 were all 10k tow capacity
2005 were all 18k tow capacity.        Easily adds 20k cash value IMO
2006 Nimbus 15k tow capacity Phoenix 18k tow capacity
2007 16.2k single axle, 15.2k or 13,2k nimbus with tag .  Phoenix 18k
Scott

Re: Future Foretravel Buyer

Reply #11 –
96 U270 Having a  36,000 GCWR  weight rating and coach axles weighing a total of 26,000 lbs. (10k steer & 16k driver) what weight can I legally tow?
Doug W.
96 36' U270 CSGI #4946
04 Toyota Tacoma 4x4
PNW

Re: Future Foretravel Buyer

Reply #12 –
Quote from: Doug W. –
96 U270 Having a  36,000 GCWR  weight rating and coach axles weighing a total of 26,000 lbs. (10k steer & 16k driver) what weight can I legally tow?
30k rated GVWR 36K GCWR = 6K

Re: Future Foretravel Buyer

Reply #13 –
I believe it is the hitch that is what is rated not the vehicle. I worked for a company and the
hitches weren't rated high enough weight so we changed the hitches. The hitches on our coaches
might be able to be reengineered to handle more. 
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: Future Foretravel Buyer

Reply #14 –
Quote from: dsd –
30k rated GVWR 36K GCWR = 6K

I interpret that I cannot exceed GAWR of 12k Steer, 19k Drivers but no more than GVWR of 30k coach (solo) but I can have a combined gross weight of 36,000 lbs. while towing not exceeding axle limits. Coach goes down the road at 26k leaves 10k to reach max GCWR, meaning coach was designed to safely handle 36k in total combined weight. Could very well be the receiver hitch rating, if so easily remedied with a few gussets on each end. Never have seen a publicized hitch rating for this coach. Sure a lot beefier than the one on my pickup truck rated @ 10k. Not that I need or want to tow 10k.
Doug W.
96 36' U270 CSGI #4946
04 Toyota Tacoma 4x4
PNW

Re: Future Foretravel Buyer

Reply #15 –
Quote from: oldguy –
I worked for a company and the
hitches weren't rated high enough weight so we changed the hitches. The hitches on our coaches
might be able to be reengineered to handle more. 
Yep

Re: Future Foretravel Buyer

Reply #16 –
Quote from: oldguy –
I believe it is the hitch that is what is rated not the vehicle. I worked for a company and the
hitches weren't rated high enough weight so we changed the hitches. The hitches on our coaches
might be able to be reengineered to handle more.

Yes maybe able to re-engineer the hitch rating but what about the downward pressure plus the added force on a rough road at speed. With the extra weight of the M11 suspended towards the rear here's where a problem may arise.
  This is a high mileage 320, owner said he never towed a trailer with tongue weight only pulled four down.
Doug W.
96 36' U270 CSGI #4946
04 Toyota Tacoma 4x4
PNW

Re: Future Foretravel Buyer

Reply #17 –
The only hitch failure on a Foretravels that I found was on Brads coach (twice). I was concerned about it and reached out to him about it. IMO his was damaged by side loading loads pulling a 4x4 truck which was loaded with a X3. Zero tongue weight other than half the tow bar weight.  He said it pulled straight without any issues. After further review I noticed on my own coach the coupler tube to the hitch was welded all the way around (localized stress) and not gusseted. I also realized that my hitch reciever when inserted stopped exactly lining up with that weld. More localized stress. I extended my receiver 4 more inches past the weld ( note: by doing this it adds 12" of weld and 1/4 plate in shear to the original 8" of weld and 1/4 plate in tension) inside the tube and added the external gusset to address the side loading issue. The actual design other than those two faults appears to be quite robust. The latest hitches to help offset these same problem have also upsized to 2.5" on receiver size. That would be a good upgrade IMO. Trailers can have much higher tongue weights but much lower side loading forces due to there length.  Toads have almost zero tongue weight and outrageous side loading numbers. Think of putting a four foot extension on your hitch with 10k intermittent side loading?
Shocker hitch
2010 Phenix 45' Failed hitch inspiration

Re: Future Foretravel Buyer

Reply #18 –
Quote from: oldguy –
I believe it is the hitch that is what is rated not the vehicle. I worked for a company and the
hitches weren't rated high enough weight so we changed the hitches. The hitches on our coaches
might be able to be reengineered to handle more. 

It's not just the hitch.  You have to look at GCWR (gross combined weight rating).  If the drivetrain and brakes are only rated for a certain amount, there is no degree to which you can upgrade a hitch that will allow you to exceed that.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Future Foretravel Buyer

Reply #19 –
Right. The max total mass is limited by the weakest link.  Could be trans cooling, could be transmission parts, could be brake rating, frame ratings.  ETC. 
  I kinda ignore my ratings as I know the  Oshkosh /3208 package is good for mid 30s total weight . Hence I look closely at the hitch engineering.

Re: Future Foretravel Buyer

Reply #20 –
Delayed response..............but I appreciate all the replies and insights from fellow Foretravel owners. Presently still in search for my first Foretravel purchase.

Merry Christmas and a pleasant coming New Year!  :)