Hi,
I've been lurking on the yahoo group and the new foreforums site for a couple of months now and you folks are getting to me. I'm beginning to think that when I retire next year the wife and I will want one of these as opposed to a SOB.
We RV'd in a 30' trailer for 8 years and decided that we want a motorhome to continue our journey in retirement.
Enough of an intro. Now, since you've given me the Foretravel itch I've been watching the MOT & FOT websites and they currently have a nice selection of 2001-2004's that are 38' or less – just what we are looking for. Up here in the Chicagoland area there are very few motorhomes of any kind and we have yet to find any FTs – I'm sure George Stoltz can chime in about the slim pickin's.
So, I decided to burn some air miles and come down to Nacogdoches and have a look. Actually talked my sweetie into it! Since this is our first visit we have some questions and hope that you good folks can provide your usual insightfulness.
1 – We will spend a full day between MOT and FOT looking at the coaches that interest us. The goal is to determine if we really want to pursue finding the "right" FT – this is not the trip to buy one. We can only get so much from pics on the web. We need to see and touch these things in person to know if a FT is what we want. I know you all will say FT's are the greatest – I've read so many accolades, but I have to see for myself – I'm sure you understand! So, will someone recommend a good, patient sales person at each location to spend time with? I want to contact them ahead of our visit and let them know what coaches we are interested in and verify availability. I want someone who is willing to invest time with us knowing that this is not the trip when we will make a purchase.
2 – This will really show my motorhome newbie status but, will one of these businesses give us a test ride? We have walked thru hundreds of stationary motorhomes at rallies and shows but have never ridden in any type of motorhome let alone driven one.
3 – What is a decent hotel with a pool to spend 2 nites at in Nacogdoches? We will fly into Houston's Bush airport or Shreveport on a Thursday afternoon and then spend all day Friday at MOT & FOT and then fly out Saturday. I was disappointed that MOT is not open on Saturdays – that's probably the big city boy in me.
4 – I also read about Encore RV. Is their inventory just down the road from MOT? If so we would check them out as well.
5 – Not a question but thanks to everyone for your input in this thread http://foreforums.com/index.php?topic=9161.msg40540#msg40540 (http://foreforums.com/index.php?topic=9161.msg40540#msg40540). We will certainly talk to each dealer about coaches that may not yet be on their websites and discuss any "virtual" consignments. They will all get our requirements so they can contact us about future possibilities.
Thanks in advance,
ucirv2 - Mark Benko
Good questions... I sent you a PM.
Mark,
I have a 40' U-320 2000 single slide parked in Lake Geneva, WI - I would be happy to show you my coach before you go down to NAC, answer whatever comes up and also discuss some of the other questions you have.
Please email me directly and I will be happy to respond with my phone number so we can connect.
tfielder at cisco dot com
MOT and FOT both great, I have not had any experience with Encore. Having bought from MOT twice in the past, I suggest you give Mr. David Robertson (owner) a call and ask him to steer you to a sales person, he is a great guy and a good place to start. I will let someone else suggest a sales person at FOT, but I am aware they a few very experienced sales people, many who have worked both at FOT and MOT.
Shreve port is closer, but if you are renting a care, go with what is cheaper.
No recommendations on hotels, have only stayed in my coach in NAC, or dropped it off.
While in NAC, make sure you stop by and see James at Xtreme Paint and Graphics, a couple of miles from MOT and FOT. A wizard with paint and fiberglass, knows Foretravels inside out....
You will be happy you bought a Foretravel, just be sure to budget 10 - 15% of the purchase price (more as a % of purchase price if pre 2000 model year) for first year maintenance and goodies/upgrades. Then when the unexpected happens (or like George Stolz you get the urge to try to make it the best and most upgrades 2000 model year Foretravel in existence), you won't be surprised at the expense.
George, that was a compliment....:-)
Tim Fiedler
Mark:
I don't think you'll be disappointed in your visit, but I would almost bet good money that you'll come away from the trip with the certainty of a Foretravel in your future.
I think there's a relatively new Holiday Inn Express just a couple of miles south of MOT and FOT on Hwy 59. We've not stayed there, but we took a different route home after out last trip to Nacogdoches and that was the first time we had noticed it.
MOT sales staff has changed since we bought our coach, as well as the times they are opened. They used to be open on Saturday's, but as MH sales slumped they cut back on their hours. To the best of my knowlege, however, they can and will have someone there on Saturday by advance appointment. At least I know they were doing that for a while, so before you go, you'll want to at least inquire about that.
Keep us posted, and let me be the first to welcome you to the Foretravel Family. Because once you make the trip, there's little doubt about the outcome.
Mark,
A bit more of a drive for you I think, but Steve and I are in Ludington, Michigan until August 19 and would be happy to show your our '03 U320 40 footer as well. Feel free to e-mail or PM us.
Michelle
Mark. The hotel downtown, believe it or not is very nice, The Fredonia. As far as salesmen go check with Lance Hayes at Foretravel or as suggested Dave Robinson at MOT. Check out the web sites for both FOT and MOT.
Suzanne & I will be back at the NTC Gt. Lakes campground in North Chicago on August 24th. Send us a PM; and, we would be glad to show the "old girl" off. She's 14 years old; but, a testament to how well Foretravels are built to last!
;D :)) :P
You folks are great!
With the replies above and quite a few PMs and even a 35 minute phone conversation I received answers to all my questions plus many, many questions that I should have thought of and didn't and even a few ideas that I would never have thought of. ;D
Thanks for taking the time and energy to enlighten me. With all your input this trip will be much more productive. If we end up with a FT down the road, which many of you are certain we will then I am looking forward to participating and sharing in this great forum.
Mark,
I'm glad to see that the input is well received. I saw that you would be a first time coach owner. You may be tempted to purchase another brand down the road due to price or even internal amenities and layout, etc. I would ask that you do yourself a favor and drive a few SOB's so you have something to compare to.
As well, something many 1st time coach buyers fail to research and learn is the way the coach is layed out from an electrical and mechanical stand point. The Foretravel is a custom chassis which some may tell you is a disadvantage from a repair and parts standpoint. Fact is, Foretravel uses the best in class components for its chassis and all parts are readily available. As well, the accessibility of the components for repairs is the best I've ever seen.
That said, best in class components also means not cheap to repair. If you are mechanically inclined, you may be able to perform some of the repairs yourself and save money. And my final input is that Foretravel has a weapon none other coach buider has...technical support for all owners of any year Foretravel. Mr. James Triana is Foretravel's technical encyclopedia. I'm not sure how he does it, but you can ask him any question about any coach Foretravel ever built and if he doesn't know the answer right off the bat, he can get it to you in short notice.
When you are in Nac. make it a point t meet James and his boss Mark Harvey.
I am on my second Foretravel - a 93 U280 36 footer first and now a 95 U320 40. There are very few other coaches I would consider - especially now that prices are low for used models. Nearly everything I would consider would be more expensive - 00 up Newell, a Prevost conversion (Liberty or Marathon), 00-01 Vogue 5000 or an 00 or up Wanderlodge. Possibly a Monaco Signature, an Essex, and the like. Once you drive an 8 outboard airbag suspended coach and get braked by a trans retarder and all wheel disk brakes you will have a tough time considering much else.
Keep a close eye on the 01 to 03 models and note the differences between years. They can be significant! Full body paint for example can make your coach far easier to care for. The newer dashes really improve the look of the coach and provide more options for stereo and displays. If you not need or want a slide, you can get some phenomenal deals if you are a cash or nearly all cash buyer. Anything older than 7-8 model years is nearly impossible to finance.
I would counsel a tile or wood floor upgrade - far easier to care for. Since you are buying in Nac, you can get it done by experts - there's no shortage of them...
Dave Head
Hi Mark,
You have all the hallmarks of an organized and serious buyer. I agree with you, it was very hard to see much of anything in the way of good quality used coaches in the Chicago area. That is why we bought our coach sight-unseen at MOT. We did see on poorly taken care of 1998 Foretravel near Rockford and that was enough to make my wife decide a new Tiffin was not the way we would go.
I can't add anything to what you have already read here except to say that we will all wait to hear from you after your trip to Nac.
Have fun. Take notes.
You will be happy you bought a Foretravel, just be sure to budget 10 - 15% of the purchase price (more as a % of purchase price if pre 2000 model year) for first year maintenance and goodies/upgrades. Then when the unexpected happens (or like George Stolz you get the urge to try to make it the best and most upgrades 2000 model year Foretravel in existence), you won't be surprised at the expense.
Tim,
I think we are done for a while.
Bought ours at MOT from Stewart Canty............great guy and great buying experience. Our first coach as well, one year into ownership and other than operator misunderstanding and very very minor issues we have been very pleased and have not had any major issues at all. The folks at MOT were very helful up front and have provided excellent support post purchase.
Folks at Encore did our pre purchase inspection, Keith Risch, he is fantastic as well.
Good luck.
Think it would be fun staying at the Fredonia an old but appears up-to-date classic
You won't be disappointed in their food. The buffet is great.
Great Point Peter..... COMPONENTS are a big factor, I can tell you from experience (30 years Peterbilt dealer management) one of the main profit goals of any manufacture is captive parts and service. Large RV manufactures get suppliers to make one-off parts with a odd fit and a odd part number so you are forced to return to the dealership. I am continuing to read horror stories about finding parts for Country Coach. That is not the case with Foretravel, you will find most parts are readily available off the shelf. You may have to look outside of the Camping World type market place but the item is out there.
Cheers
Ted
SOB Boat
Peter & Ted,
Both of your points are well taken and something I have not considered. For about a year I was looking at Country Coach before they folded and was thinking that we would want one of those since many have air leveling and a couple of decent floor plans under 40'. I had read mostly good things about CC but that was when there was factory support. Now that I know a little more I'm sure I would not consider any orphaned coach.
Mark