So I am looking to upgrade from a fifth wheel to a diesel pusher. I used to drive tour busses for bands, and know how nice it is to travel like that. I am still a young guy (early 40's) so this is not a retirment purchase. But we do travel quite a bit. Looking in the under $80k range, would like closer to $50k. I have seen a bunch of coaches like Sports Coach and the like that are in that range that 2004-2007. If you step back a couple of years there are some nicer coaches out there in the same price range. My thinking is 2000-2003 range with a nicer (real wood cabinets, solid sufface counters) coach. And upgrade the flooring, TV's, what not. So my question is what should I be looking for in a older coach. What should I stay away from? I am pretty handy and have been around diesels my whole life. I have found a 2002 American Tradtion with 29,000 miles on it for $55K. It seems to be a real nice coach.. I just can't bring myself to pull the trigger on a 13 yr old coach. Some words of encouragement please..lol..

I hear ya. I just purchased this oldie a few months ago.

We passed on some new 40' Sport Coaches before we went full time in '05. Those we looked at were equipped 5.9 Cummins @ $119,995 at the INDY Boat Sport and Travel Show. There is no comparison at all in quality level to the American Coach you have listed in your post.

Solidly built quality rigs I would suggest:Country CoachAmerican CoachTravel SupremeBeaverUpper end Monaco'sNewmar EssexForetravel

I'm at 10 years on this MH and see no reason why it will go another 10-15 years without major expense. I do not keep up with American prices but that sounds like a pretty good deal on a good MH. Jump in the pool, the water's fine and you'll enjoy it.

I'm still a big Country Coach fan even after selling mine a few years ago. If we still covered a lot of miles as opposed to staying in one spot, I'd buy another one.If you've driven tour buses, everything else will come up short from a comfort standpoint.

Looking at older coaches | Good Sam Community

bigred1cav
Explorer
Jan 26, 2015
You found one, I;m old and coached football, baseball and softball.
FormerBoater
Explorer
Jan 25, 2015
Our 98 American Eagle will be 17 in March.

Engine, transmission, chassis=no issues at 84K miles.

House woodwork, tile and appliances except the water heater operate perfectly.

Inverter, slide toppers, step cover have failed, but nothing in the house that is mission critical except the hot water heater have failed.

American Coach and Spartan will treat you like you just purchased a $500K unit when you need support.

Old flagships don't seem to know their age!
Joatha
Explorer
Jan 25, 2015
mike brez wrote:
mpierce wrote:
You can get a mid 90's Blue Bird Wanderlodge in the 60k range. Solid wood cabinets. Steel Construction. Price was over 500k when new. Very Well Built. Excellent forum for help.

In that price range your looking at a non slide and a 6V or 8V92 not a series 60.

Not true. For a Series 60, you can easily find one of those in the $50-80K range.

http://www.buybyebluebird.com has many listed in that range - and those are asking prices.

For that matter, my 2001 was BARELY over the $80K price range. Will you get a coach with a slide for $80K? Not right now. But, you will get a dang good coach for the money.

Also, I know of a 95 (a series 60 model) for sale on http://www.vintagebirds.com/bill-bd.htm - asking price $60K.
TechWriter
Explorer
Jan 25, 2015
Skid Row Joe wrote:
If the Foretravel company website has this problem listed, I haven't seen it, and I've never heard of it. I didn't say it didn't exist.

As JohnS. from Virginia states, there's a fix on this, so, I have to wonder why all the panic, and what the motivation would be to make much ado about nothing here?

Foretravel is at the top of the heap in fiberglass, and the Unibody monocoque construction. If anything, far, far superior to the frame 'n rails framing the cheaper units employ.

Mmmmm . . . so you admit knowing nothing about a known Foretravel chassis problem, but then say that the Foretravel has a superior chassis. :h

That might well be, but how do you know this?
Skid_Row_Joe
Explorer
Jan 25, 2015
John S. wrote:
The bulkhead issue is a known issue and many coaches have had the fix done already. As to slides, I would build a new coach right now, I would not get more then two. They intrude too much and all they do is give you a dance floor in the living room. To each their own though, but I have put on 370K miles now in FT and the only other coach I would have is a prevost bus conversion. I would also look at older CCs and Monocos. I also will say that there is no problem getting service anywhere in the country. In fact we have many cummins locations that work with FT as well as Spartan.
Excellent points, John.

The dance floor you speak of is also a mystery as to why some people want it? :)

A Prevost conversion new enough, would be an excellent choice as well.
Skid_Row_Joe
Explorer
Jan 25, 2015
mike brez wrote:
TechWriter wrote:
Skid Row Joe wrote:
TechWriter wrote:
Skid Row Joe wrote:
I'm not aware of any "bulkhead separation." In fact, I've never heard of this in 30+ years. Can you provide some evidence here to back up your assertions?

Bulkhead Separation

Is that a Foretravel document? It looks like a private owner's blog.

Yes, this is Barry Brideau's blog. The site is a resource for Foretravel owners.

If you had taken the time you investigate more, you would have found this link to a Mark Harvey letter about inspecting for bulkhead separation. Mark Harvey is the Service Director of Foretravel of Texas.

It is a well documented problem in those years. For someone pushing buying a foretravel I'm surprised you have never heard of it. Do a search on the foretravel forum if you don't think it's true. I believe the 2002s had a real bad zipper cracking on the rear caps running from the roof all the way down the side. We looked at a few of them and they have problems like any other coach.
If the Foretravel company website has this problem listed, I haven't seen it, and I've never heard of it. I didn't say it didn't exist.

As JohnS. from Virginia states, there's a fix on this, so, I have to wonder why all the panic, and what the motivation would be to make much ado about nothing here?

Foretravel is at the top of the heap in fiberglass, and the Unibody monocoque construction. If anything, far, far superior to the frame 'n rails framing the cheaper units employ.
mpierce
Explorer
Jan 19, 2015
mike brez wrote:
mpierce wrote:
You can get a mid 90's Blue Bird Wanderlodge in the 60k range. Solid wood cabinets. Steel Construction. Price was over 500k when new. Very Well Built. Excellent forum for help.

In that price range your looking at a non slide and a 6V or 8V92 not a series 60.

Non slide , yes.

8v92, mine goes really well, nice engine.

However, the series 60 starting by 1995 are in the 60-70k range.
John_S_
Explorer II
Jan 18, 2015
The bulkhead issue is a known issue and many coaches have had the fix done already. As to slides, I would build a new coach right now, I would not get more then two. They intrude too much and all they do is give you a dance floor in the living room. To each their own though, but I have put on 370K miles now in FT and the only other coach I would have is a prevost bus conversion. I would also look at older CCs and Monocos. I also will say that there is no problem getting service anywhere in the country. In fact we have many cummins locations that work with FT as well as Spartan.
Deano56
Explorer
Jan 18, 2015
mike brez wrote:
TechWriter wrote:
Skid Row Joe wrote:
TechWriter wrote:
Skid Row Joe wrote:
I'm not aware of any "bulkhead separation." In fact, I've never heard of this in 30+ years. Can you provide some evidence here to back up your assertions?

Bulkhead Separation

Is that a Foretravel document? It looks like a private owner's blog.

Yes, this is Barry Brideau's blog. The site is a resource for Foretravel owners.

If you had taken the time you investigate more, you would have found this link to a Mark Harvey letter about inspecting for bulkhead separation. Mark Harvey is the Service Director of Foretravel of Texas.

It is a well documented problem in those years. For someone pushing buying a foretravel I'm surprised you have never heard of it. Do a search on the foretravel forum if you don't think it's true. I believe the 2002s had a real bad zipper cracking on the rear caps running from the roof all the way down the side. We looked at a few of them and they have problems like any other coach.
I would say that backs up any assertions
TechWriter
Explorer
Jan 18, 2015
bigred1cav wrote:
2000 Pace-Arrow

Pace Arrow Vision Series M-35R (Ford)

Research another motorhome
ValuesSpecificationsFloor PlanSpecial Notes
Values
Values Facebook
Suggested
List Price Low
Retail Average
Retail
Base Price $115,360 $26,100 $31,450
Options: (change)

$$$ in options added . . .

TOTAL PRICE (w/options added): $115,360 $33,495 $40,365

And now back to the real world . . .

PPL Motorhomes sold a similar model (Vision 34N) for $24,000 last October.

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