I found your forum a little while ago. Really enjoyed reading all the comments and learning a whole lot about Foretravels. Astounded by how great the knowledge basis is on this forum and the different links. I plan on going to Nacaogdoches,TX this spring to give a long hard look at getting a Foretravel. That being said the down side to reading this forum is reading about the bulkhead problems and a few other issues. I guess my question is knowing some of the issues that have come to light would you still purchase a 2000 - 2005 Foretravel. Especiallly as I am not a real handy person . Thanks in advance for any of your comments. This is a great site and with very interesting people. I hope to meet you someday in my travels.
I just bought my second Foretravel...In my humble opinion, bulkhead issues have been greatly exaggerated. Even if a problem, not an expensive fix. On this site you can find a list of things to check when buying a used motorhome. (any brand). Extremely through and a great learning tool.. One recommendation I have is to have a competent mechanic do an inspection of any unit you thing you would be interested in purchasing. If you do the inspection with him you will learn what problems to be aware of...that way you will know what to check on other MH...FWIT
Hi Newbie,
Thanks for signing up and asking the above quoted question. I am a lot like you. Not a real handy guy, although I've successfully done a few small repairs and upgrades.
To answer your question I would buy a 1995 to 2000 Foretravel without a slide. While Foretravel really does it's best to build the very best. However, the 1999 and 2000 models with slides (the first two year they offered slides) are problematic. I speak from experience. In 16 months of full-time use, we have spent $5200 on slide out repairs. We have a 2000 U320 ( the U320 was top of the line for that year) with a single slide. In addition, with a slide out, the upgrade of going from carpet to tile is much more expensive and the slide must be adjusted to operate with the new floor covering -- so that will cost you more money. Coaches without slides are lighter and have slightly more storage space.
Aside from the slide problem I honestly do not think there is a better motorhome available for the money.
As the years go by and a motorhome or RV ages, stuff will wear out. But from what I read, from what I hear owners talk about and what I experience myself there are far, far fewer things that go wrong with Foretravel motorhomes -- especially because Foretravel did not always look for the cheapest component that was just good enough. Instead they usually bought the best components that were superior to what other manufacturers installed. No matter what brand you buy you will spend money for repairs and upgrades after you buy it, but you will spend more money on the repairs and upgrades on some other brand than you will on a Foretravel. I speak from experience.
I have also heard mechanics say that many other brands are a nightmare to work on. I have been told on a couple of occasions how easy it was to work on our coach.
We have not had bulkhead rust because the previous owner took precautions and so did we.
As to your trip to Nacogdoches, you won't find a more honest dealer than Motorhomes of Texas. They are a class act.
Yep. No regrets. We purchased our second (older) Foretravel almost a year ago - a 1999 U320The 1997 U295 we had was a great coach, as is our 1999 U320
best, paul
"Thriving not surviving" <(
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Registered antique Foretravel driver...not all who wander are lost
Steve and I have owned our '03 for almost 7 years now. We'd absolutely buy it again. The bulkhead issues shouldn't be a serious concern - now that it's a known issue, it's easily inspected for before purchase, easily remedied if found (especially if you or your mechanic does periodic inspections). Having someone knowledgeable do an inspection is a great idea. There are members here on the forum who have done inspections and there are also technicians who can be hired to do one.
Same goes for some of the other issues. There's good documentation and lots of folks here to answer questions.
And welcome! We're glad you found the group!
Michelle
I've also owned our Foretravel since 2003. We did extensive research on coaches and decided Foretravel drove and handled the best of all the Class A motorhomes we tested such as Monaco, Tiffins, Country Coach and Newmar. The quality & craftsmanship of the chassis and interior are excllent and are made to last.
Truth is any year Foreravel is going to provide years of enjoyment. I advice you buy the best floor plan you can find and allow a sum for repairs & upgrades, slides or no slides. And yes, models with slides are a bit more expensive to own than non-slide coaches. But, I wouldn't let a slide be a deal breaker if you find the coach you really like.
Your main question to answer is "what style camping are we going to do with the coach, where do we like to stay and for how long". The answer to these questions should tell you if a coach like a Forertavel is for you.
Good luck & welcome aboard.
When we left MOT with our 2002 U270, 36' w/ single slide a little over 3 years ago, everything was in working order. We have since then been out with it around 150 nights per year, and have added around 30K miles to the speedometer, now near 75K miles. This coach has been remarkably trouble free, which has been a great comfort to someone whose mechanical skills are limited. Learned a few things as a kid, but didn't learn much about mechanics in Vietnam, and learned even less as an academic since then. We have routine inspections and service performed regularly, and everything else is pretty much get in it and go.
Regarding having a slide - our personal preference leaned strongly to having one - and it suits us perfectly. Simple for the road, with a bit of extra comfort for longer stays in the campground. With cautioning that you probably don't want to generalize too much from a sample of one, let me just say that during our ownership, the only expense we have encountered due to the slide was the replacement of one sensor for one of the locks, for under $100.
Would we do it again? In a heartbeat - although we bought this with the expectation that it had plently of potential to be as good, and as good for us, 10-15 years out as it was the day we bought it. Cost more to get into the FT brand initially, but we thought it to be a good bet that the same differential would work in our favor at selling time, and in the meantime we could enjoy about as fine a production motorhome as one could buy. And if doing it again meant another purchase from Motorhomes of Texas in Nacogdoches, that would be perfectly OK with us. We found the service there before/during/after the sale to be extraordinarily stellar, and the priceing remarkable competative. Let me say further that my good friend who recently purchased a coach from Foretravel of Texas tells exactly the same story.
If you would grant me two recommendations, the first would be that you spend as much time as you can between now and your trip to Nacogdoches to look at as many different rigs/brands as you can within the parameters of age/mileage/whatever you have set for yourself. You will likely find some good coaches, and the research with train your perspectives. And when you get serious about looking at Foretravel, you will understand why most (all?) of us believe that we could not have made a better choice. The second would be to keep reading this forum as you look.
I have loved the whole experience of being a wannabe, a newbie, and now an owner. Hope this migration does the same for you.
Good Luck and Jump in the water!
On the subject of slides, I have the same coach and year as George Stolz, and put over 35,000 miles on that coach in the last two years. I the slide bladder was replaced by MOT at the time of my purchase and I had MOT tilt the coach ever so slightly so any water that got on the slide would flow away from the coach when the HWH system said the coach was "level". My total repairs on my slide in the 2+ years I have owned my coach are less than $100.
There is something to be said for clean living,....... Just kidding George!!!!!!
If you are not handy, the Foretravel is the best coach to buy. All these coaches require care and maintenance, Foretravels less so because of the quality of the design, build and the components.
I have owned three foretravels, a 99 a 2000 and my current 2001. I knew about the bulkhead issue with all but the first one. It is not a big issue and very easy to fix if you come across it. It is something that we all wanted to know about but inspection will show if it is an issue. As to slides, I have a first generation slide and had the delamination that George spoke about. It cost money to fix yes and is an issue on the older slide coaches but when it is fixed right it is fixed for good. If I had to do it over I would buy a Foretravel yes. In fact I am thinking about number 4 now.
We went to the Western NYS RV dealers show today. Looked at everything there, not just motorhomes. After viewing everything, when we left I asked my wife what she thought of it. She said that the interior (fit and finish) of our 1994 U225 was better than any of the new, other brand, coaches and trailers. Nothing came close. And chassis, well mine is still in excellent shape. Have no intention of trading for some time. Planning on putting another hundred thousand miles on it.
We meet people in campgrounds who want to talk to us about our Foretravel (our first 1993 and our "new" 1995) and we always like to give them the "nickel tour". I have had people who jump up and down squeal,"Oooohh! It doesn't move!!" We just toured a brand new Damon when we had some service in a Camping World last week. Not a bad coach ... but just not anything I could live with after having a Foretravel. Look, look, look. Read this Forum and have fun!
If you value quality workmanship then once you have seen a Foretravel all else will seem cheap - my personal experience. I searched for at least two years before I found mine.
We too are on our second Foretravel. Believe it or not, we have now bought two 1993 Foretravels, one 36' and now a 40'. Why would anyone do that? Because the age of a Foretravel doesn't matter very much. Even an 18 year old Foretravel is more reliable and a better "motor home" than most other brand's new coaches. You might be able to buy another brand coach 10 years newer for the same price, but you won't get one as reliable as an older well cared for Foretravel.
I agree with George about the slides but that is more personal opinion than fact. I wanted a coach as simple as I could get it. That's why I picked an old Grand Villa rather than a bus. Mine has gas furnaces, a gas water heater and inexpensive roof air conditioners but it is still elegant living compared to most motorhomes. My Bulkhead repair, which I probably didn't really need, was under $300. Don't let the Bulkhead issue scare you off. You must realize that many of the Forum members perfectionists, are engineers and/or world class tinkerers. Owning a Foretravel is not really that complicated and a whole lot less trouble than other brands.
As suggested, look at other brands but don't buy one until you have thoroughly investigated Foretravels. Dollar for dollar they are the best buy on the used market.
My brother-in-law bought a new motor home and sold it at a big loss in less than a year. He then did a lot of research before he bought a new Foretravel. The difference was great.
We could not afford new and started looking for used. His advise was to decide how much we could spend and find a used Foretravel that fit our budget. We bought a 12 year old GV 280 with 75,000 miles. 8 years and 55,000 miles later, we are still happy. We expect to travel and camp in our Foretravel as long as we are able to camp and travel.
Brett Wolfe looked at our bulkhead and explained how to check it's condition. No problems. We have had some expenses, but nothing major.
We get favorable comments everywhere we go. When I am asked my opinion about motor homes, I give the same advise my brother-in-law gave me.
I guess I could ring in on this one too. I have owned my Foretravel for 17yrs and its a 1983. I has been almost completely trouble free. I currently have 190K miles on it and it is still and reliable and beautiful as ever. These are truly remarkable coaches. Good luck with your quest.