Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 10, 2025 ...

First off, where is the coach located?  If there is a knowledgeable Foretravel owner close by, they could come over and look over the coach and pretty much tell you what it needs, etc.  Just a thought on that.  If close to Nac in TX, I would have Keith Reich look at it, since he is a qualified inspector and a all around great guy to help you out at fair prices.  He also flies out for inspections, just not sure what his fee is on that, but worth a call.  Once we find out the coach location, we could advise from there!  You won't go wrong with a Foretravel for sure.  You also did not mention what she is selling this coach for?  Best of luck in your new to you adventure!

If the thought of putting six new tires on is too rich for your blood I would not recommend buying a unicoach that has been sitting for a decade. This  always comes off as snarky and I don't mean it to you, it's just the truth. They can be really really expensive if you don't know what you're getting.

I would budget $3000 for the air system in a worst-case scenario. It will likely be far less than that, but that gives you some slush in case you have to replace one of the two 6 packs on it. Typically, you can just rebuild them for a couple hundred bucks though.

My original question is, if I can get safely get it home with replacing just the steer tires at this time. Again, once I get it home, I will be able to replace the rear tires at my pace and budget.

My original question is, if I can get safely get it home with replacing just the steer tires at this time. Again, once I get it home, I will be able to replace the rear tires at my pace and budget.

Hello everyone, thanks for the add.

I am seeking some info about a few issues with a coach that I am looking to buy. The coach is a 1998 U270 3600wtfe. This coach belonged to my uncle who was extremely meticulous in the care and maintenance. Sadly, He passed in 2019 and now my aunt has it and has agreed to sell it to me. The coach has been sitting for approx. 10 years now on concrete inside an enclosed shop.

1st question:
The air ride will raise it up, but it will not stay even while running. Eventually it bleeds back down and must wait for it to air up again. I talked to a local (to me) ForeTravel repairman about this, he said without looking at it, he suspects this could be a "six-pack" O-ring issue. I have been an auto mechanic my entire life, but I know nothing about this. So, I am asking for any of you to please share your thoughts, ideas, advice on how best to diagnose this air ride issue based on the limited info I have provided. Ultimately, I will have to hire a coach mechanic in the area where it is located to look at this so it will be a long-distance thing for me. Obviously, I cannot drive it back the 300 miles to my home in this condition, so it is imperative that I get this diagnosed and repaired. Any speculation as to the cost of repair for something like this provided it is something like an air valve(s) or O-ring issue? Yes, the entire coach drops equally, not just one side, corner, front or rear.

Suspect you are aware that none of us have a Ouija board that can tell you whether the current rear tires "will make it" or blow out and destroy  other suspension components.

BTW, HOW OLD (FROM DOT NUMBER) are the tires you are considering driving on?  How long sitting? Their "history" (have they been run under-inflated)?

I don't know why guessing a 6 pack issue when air bags having sit could have leaks. You need to actually have someone listen for leaks before going after the six packs. My coach is only a year newer and the six packs are not having issues.

You mentioned it was primarily sitting.  Do you know when the air dryer was last serviced?  The desiccant filter in it can go bad, and desiccant powder getting into the leveling system can present itself as a leak.  Moisture in the air system as well can cause issues.


Not including labor, rebuilding a six-pack completely is about $100-120 per axle.  The o-rings themselves (if you don't want to do a full-up rebuild with new plungers) are well under $1 apiece and there are 12 per six pack.  They are readily available at many hardware stores.  You could potentially do it yourself.

Working On My Six Pack

Brand New Replica HWH Plungers

Our leveling system problem



Can you add some details about the air-up and leak-down behavior?  How long it takes to air up, how quickly it loses air, and if the air loss is coincident with some other action (stepping on the brake pedal/treadle valve)?  Equal leak-down on all 4 corners is highly unusual.  The only think I can think would cause that is the HWH control issuing a "dump all" signal to both six pack solenoids, but it would be a pretty rapid air release.

BTW, you've got a very experienced FT owner in Longview who I hope will chime in.

I will talk to my cousin tonight and see if I can get some more detailed info on the characteristics of what it is actually doing.

I would like to speak to this person you referenced who live here in Longview. Could you ask him to contact me maybe?

I messaged him with a link to this topic. 

Just had a great conversation with Zack about this coach, his ability, camping experience, and his expectations. All I am going to say is we are working on a plan. If he wants to expand on this plan as it materializes that is up to him. Come to find out he lives basically 3 blocks from us so back yard gathering won't be hard.

Mike

I hope it goes well and turns into a smoking deal for you. I suggest bringing a new D2 governor and just installing it before taking off. Cheap and easy to do on the spot and may resolve some of the air issues. If it doesn't, it'll at the very least take one very important unknown out of the equation as you troubleshoot the rest of the system.

Fuel tank level? gauge reads zero, little to no Diesel in tank. He only adds a couple gallons or so only when he starts it