iC-37

Topic: iC-37 (Read 8135 times) previous topic - next topic

iC-37

June 02, 2018, 01:46:48 am

Currently in Nac. setting up work and schedule for our return thru Nac to NE in Sept.

iC-37 scuttlebutt (anonymous source):

The iC-37 will debut at the Tampa RV Supershow in Jan. 2019
$550K MSRP
No shortcuts on Quality, Minimized Profit Margin, Focused on Musts, Minimized Fancy/Frills
37 feet, 6 inches
Spartan K2 chassis
Cummins L9, 450 HP
Aqua Hot 400D
8 KW generator
(2) Slide
Wood cabinetry befitting FOT Talent, (2 choices: Dark Walnut and Brazilian ?something?)
Disappointing (for me), "Pole to Pole" coach (100% electrical coach, no propane option)
"iC" originated from an in-house "naming contest" of sorts, and no one seems to know the meaning yet.

Exceptional interest and inquiries, ongoing
All I could find for now,
Neal

Re: iC-37

Reply #1 – June 02, 2018, 10:09:18 am

"Pole to Pole coach (100% electrical coach, no propane option)"

Hopefully nice large house battery system and as minimum prewired from roof to battery compartment with wiring run sized for big solar system.

Re: iC-37

Reply #2 – June 02, 2018, 10:29:41 am

Two things that are non starters for me: 1- all electric, makes it difficult to run your fridge; we found out how inconvenient the ice maker was when dry camping. 2- two slides; we won't give up the cross ventilation in the bedroom.

Re: iC-37

Reply #3 – June 02, 2018, 10:51:37 am

Unless both slides are in the living room/galley?

Re: iC-37

Reply #4 – June 02, 2018, 12:45:44 pm

Inaddition to not being on an 8 outboard air bag chassis, the 400D heater is the baby Aqua Hot with 2 zone pumps, not three, and NO engine preheat. Must be only block heater.

Baby heater will heat water or interior, not both at same time. Hot water faucet on, no interior heat till faucet turned off.

Re: iC-37

Reply #5 – June 02, 2018, 02:15:53 pm

Quote from: Neal Pillsbury – June 02, 2018, 01:46:48 am

"iC" originated from an in-house "naming contest" of sorts, and no one seems to know the meaning yet.

It's an iCoach at 37'!

Next up, an iCoach Mini at 30'...

Re: iC-37

Reply #6 – June 02, 2018, 03:28:57 pm

Quote from: Bill & Kim – June 02, 2018, 02:15:53 pm

It's an iCoach at 37'!

Next up, an iCoach Mini at 30'...

Clever!!!!

I am here at Foretravel and will see what information I will be able to pass on to answer some of your questions and concerns.

Anybody else from the forum going to be here over the weekend and into next week?

Re: iC-37

Reply #7 – June 02, 2018, 05:29:31 pm

Quote from: Caflashbob – June 02, 2018, 10:51:37 am

Unless both slides are in the living room/galley?

I have not found a need to have a second slide out in the living room and the extra headaches (especially with galley on a slide out) would not be worth it.

Re: iC-37

Reply #8 – June 02, 2018, 10:14:12 pm

Quote from: Sven and Kristi – June 02, 2018, 10:29:41 am

Two things that are non starters for me: 1- all electric, makes it difficult to run your fridge; we found out how inconvenient the ice maker was when dry camping. 2- two slides; we won't give up the cross ventilation in the bedroom.

We have a 2 slide. One living room, one bedroom. Cross ventilation is no problem. We still have north south bed, desk is in the slide. Windows both sides front and back.

Re: iC-37

Reply #9 – June 02, 2018, 10:46:22 pm

Quote from: AC7880 – June 02, 2018, 10:09:18 am

Hopefully nice large house battery system and as minimum prewired from roof to battery compartment with wiring run sized for big solar system.

Dan,
I think that is counterintuitive to the design concept - i.e. - no frills or extras, but don't know. Custom order probably doable.

Quote from: Caflashbob – June 02, 2018, 10:51:37 am

Unless both slides are in the living room/galley?

I asked but no comment on locations. I would guess LR and BR slides.

Quote from: valento – June 02, 2018, 03:28:57 pm

Clever!!!!
I am here at Foretravel and will see what information I will be able to pass on to answer some of your questions and concerns.
Anybody else from the forum going to be here over the weekend and into next week?

We met Oscar and Janet briefly this evening, in the 100 degree, "cool of the evening" twilight. They have a beautiful '07 Newell but intend to investigate the iC-37 throughly. The K2 chassis is here at FOT and FOT is actively progressing. Maybe Oscar will be able to see more. Maybe he will get much more info than I was able to, but this is big step for FOT (in the right direction, IMO) so one can
not blame them for slow-feeding the "teasers".

We are here Sunday. Finishing up with David Flanagan and then leaving Monday. Looking forward to meeting up with Rudy for an Aqua Hot radiator neck repair, control unit intermittent headache and annual service. Then it's points West and higher elevations.

I know that we are minority enthusiasts of a coach with no slides. We respect others desire for slides, but we like that we have had ZERO slide maintenance problems, expenses or frustrations in over 20 years of FT ownership and have never felt the need for a slide. No cross ventilation would also be a disappointment for us, as would a lesser, 400D Aqua Hot. Contrary to the masses that praise the Aqua Hot, we are not Aqua Hot enthusiasts, either, and have the bills to prove it. Our maintenance and repair costs have been well over 25 times the cost (of sixteen years of 1998 U270 propane heat and hot water) in just the last three years of 2002 U320 Aqua Hot ownership, and that is about to get much worse with Rudy. But, the 400D is a lesser design (which could most likely be upgraded to the 600 Aqua Hot -- just $$$$).

HTH,
Neal

Re: iC-37

Reply #10 – June 03, 2018, 01:05:00 am

Wanna bet the ic is "internet coach?"

Any aqua hot is great.

All the older coaches had two zone heating did they not?

Re: iC-37

Reply #11 – June 03, 2018, 04:18:26 am

All the older Foretravels with Aqua Hot have the large heater (16 gallon coolant tank) with three heating loop pumps, engine preheat pump and four heating zones, living room, bathroom, bedroom and basement. Plus the heater can heat the engine, heat the water and heat the interior all at the same time.

AHE 400D (5 gallon coolant tank) has two heating loop pumps, no stir pump and no engine preheat pump. Four heating zones can be had by sharing a loop pump but only turning on the fan for the zone needing heat. The 400D can heat water OR heat the interior, not both at the same time.

Not a bad system, just a real step down from a 1997 to 2005 system. The difference in cost at retail purchased from me, not OEM, is about $2000. What is the difference in $550K and $552K or less.

Re: iC-37

Reply #12 – June 03, 2018, 06:47:04 am

Could it be size requirement for 37 ft length that they are choosing the AH 400D?

Re: iC-37

Reply #13 – June 03, 2018, 10:31:31 am

If 8kw generator I wonder if big enough for all electric coach. Mine with gas refrigerator and cooking has 10kw

Re: iC-37

Reply #14 – June 03, 2018, 10:49:55 am

Spartan Class A RV Chassis - The Difference You Can Feel.
Single rear axle or with tag?

Re: iC-37

Reply #15 – June 03, 2018, 11:26:07 am

Quote from: jcus – June 03, 2018, 10:49:55 am

Spartan Class A RV Chassis - The Difference You Can Feel.

Wow... the difference between Foretravels Spartan chassis vs. Newmar & Entegra is substantial!

Re: iC-37

Reply #16 – June 03, 2018, 01:44:05 pm

Most owners are not winter users. The additional,parts and labor costs for four zones may be substantial. A front double slide could allow the galley to go back on the street side like all the pre slide coaches. Early slides flopped the galley. Going all electric allowed the galley to be on the street side.

My guru buddy fixes the galley slide plumbing on country coaches regularly. They had a clean panel under the plumbing area so you can see any leaking.

I hope they offer a mid entry.

If they need to save build money skip the paint? Or minimal painted stripes?

Re: iC-37

Reply #17 – June 11, 2018, 01:59:37 am

Quote from: Sven and Kristi – June 02, 2018, 10:29:41 am

Two things that are non starters for me: 1- all electric, makes it difficult to run your fridge; we found out how inconvenient the ice maker was when dry camping. 2- two slides; we won't give up the cross ventilation in the bedroom.

, Yup I'm with you on this..
A single slide (living room) is nice for the extra space up front,
A non-slide bedroom is preferred ,,, don't plan on or feel the need for a BR slide.... and I really like the access to the top of the Cummins without having to disassemble the bedroom just to access the top half of the engine..(lift the bed and there you are..)
We have a residential fridge so far really like it (other than haven't gotten around to building the "horse shoe" for a door lock... And I have no problem putting hours on the genset...
Swapped out the 2 burner cooktop for a 3 burner with gas oven.... don't be a messing with my biskits!!!
and I love the Aqua Hot...(100-02s) it will heat the coach and give a continuous hot water shower..
The lack of the outboard suspension, single LR slide & propane options are deal breakers for us.

Re: iC-37

Reply #18 – June 11, 2018, 01:01:37 pm

These posts remind me that a mfg has to make something that will actually sell, not just be liked by a few and also that all mods have to pass marketing and engineering. I understand the strong demand for an all electric motor home. I believe Foretravel was the last mfg. to build with outside airbags. Most rvs sell at rv shows, very close to an impulse buy and many are by first time buyers. I too am a fan of the mid door, (both my Monaco Signatures), I too like the 8 air bags (is anyone building this anymore?), my budget and tastes are far from buying a new Foretravel as opposed to those on this forum that can and would actually buy a new one if it met their needs. I give thanks to the previous owners that took care of for 20+ years, my perfect and current rv. We will see what they build, additional money presented to Foretravel to create modifications might work for you, building on your custom chassis, probably not. I look forward to the the IC-37. Many in the market say they want a shorter high end diesel pusher, we will see if they show up with their pocket book. Definitely not a sure thing, as I see in these posts.

Re: iC-37

Reply #19 – June 11, 2018, 06:51:37 pm

It seems to me that these are going to be like most FT have always been, somewhat customizable per order. You might be able to order a gas cooktop. Maybe a bigger AH. Maybe only one slide. Why don't we just wait and see. I hope we are all excited about what it turns out to be. I hope someone orders one exactly like the one you want. Maybe in a few years after the initial round of depreciation they will become available on the secondary market. By then I may have downsized to a non motorized, one bedroom, seven foot coach for the long haul.

Re: iC-37

Reply #20 – June 11, 2018, 06:55:33 pm

I agree with Roger. Let's wsit and see how much customization is offered.

Re: iC-37

Reply #21 – June 11, 2018, 09:09:35 pm

Reading about bedroom slides:

Just a note. We have a bedroom slide, yet still have the north south bed with full access to top of the Cummins, and cross flow ventilation (windows on both sides). A desk with drawers is in the bedroom slide.

Re: iC-37

Reply #22 – June 11, 2018, 09:25:19 pm

We have the 38 ft U320 with bedroom slide and north south bed with full access to eng compartment.

Re: iC-37

Reply #23 – June 11, 2018, 09:30:20 pm

Dan, your BR desk is probably pretty rare, most of these have a closet and no window. I like the desk idea with a window. One thing you do not have is the side overhead cabinets in the bedroom and less room on the driver's side between the bed and the wall. The bed box is also shifted towards the driver's side which changes the engine access a bit on the passenger's side. We would miss the overhead cabinets in our 36'.

Every floor plan variation has benefits and drawbacks based on whose looking. We are lucky to have lots of variations that will likely fit everyone's needs. So much of this information is best gained by seeing as many coaches as possible. It is hard sometimes to see how space is used just looking at a floor plan. The more you see the better you can understand the differences and how they fit your expectations.

Re: iC-37

Reply #24 – June 11, 2018, 09:46:57 pm

Quote from: Roger & Susan in Home2 – June 11, 2018, 09:30:20 pm

Every floor plan variation has benefits and drawbacks based on whose looking. We are lucky to have lots of variations that will likely fit everyone's needs. So much of this information is best gained by seeing as many coaches as possible. It is hard sometimes to see how space is used just looking at a floor plan. The more you see the better you can understand the differences and how they fit your expectations.

Kinda difficult unless ordered new.. Used it kinda works with what you have.. ours works because it has to....I like our layout though

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