Some may remember I had bought Kent and Peggy Speer's U225 in April of 2011. We were the third owners, and enjoyed 2 years, 7,000 miles in Texas with the coach. We found our next Foretravel, the 98, 36' U295 and bought it a day after it was offered to us for sale, last April.
That left us with two 36's. But timing worked out, and I was able to sell the U225 a week later, to the first couple and before taking delivery of the U295. The couple that bought the coach had sold their home, and had been looking for a full time coach. They hoped to travel for as long as possible before the husband could no longer travel. They had almost a year, first in the coach, and then with kids till his passing. The widow contacted me with her sad news about 6 weeks ago.
We met a couple that had come to the Pam and Mike's Ft. Worth Lake Benbrook weekend to see Foretravels last March. The couple happen to stop by the warehouse where we park and caught us as we were just leaving Tuesday, two weeks ago. They had been near by looking at a U295 36 Foretravel for sale. I happen to mention my old coach being for sale. So Dolly put the old ad back up on the net, and I shared the link. The seller and the buyers met, and they made a deal that next Sunday. Money and paperwork has been completed. Yesterday the new owners of the U225 spent the afternoon at Bill Chaplin's warehouse where I park, and we all did a major "show and tell, and what and where". Lots of info, laughs, chat and more. So the 93 U225, will go down the road some more, with now the fifth owner. The new owners have their 2012 Mini View double slide for sale. They are more than thrilled with the new space, features and more of the old classic. I gave the new owner a hard time yesterday about not jumping on the forum with his news. He said he has been busy and he would tell us more when he can.
We also had a drop in visit from Al the Propman, with his U225, out for a test drive before he heads for the PNW at the end of the month. So we had 2 U225's, a U300, and U295 together for a mini rally. I felt the odd man out with my pug nose flat front, parked with those new cutting fuel savings designed coaches from the early 90's.
Dave,
Glad to read that your time spent with the "Serious Lookers" at the Benbrook Lake Gathering was so productive. Shows how valuable these events can be, both for prospective owners, and for new owners like Jeannie and I. I know I have benefitted greatly from talking to you in person, and from reading your posts. You are a excellent ambassador for Foretravel and our Forum. I hope the newest owners of the "Well Seasoned" U225 will soon join our happy group.
Great story Dave. I can't wait to meet up or at least see another FT around. DW and I are shooting for the GV in 2015. Thsi forum is great bu tto have a little "mini raly" like that is nice. I hope I'll be ready for my next one when your current FT comes up for re-sale. Not only do we love having a mid-enrty, I plan on having my BMW RT on the back. You have great set up with the lift for your GS ^.^d . Love it!
Jeff
Great story Dave. Thanks for sharing.
Mark
Yes, great story. I'd like to be part of a mini rally.
I only carried the GS on the U225, one trip, and had zero issues with the lift or the set up. Driving home on a Tue. we talked about how our U225, lift, bike and Saturn wagon were great for the next few years. That all fell apart on Friday's call that the U295 was for sale, that day. We have sold the bike, and the lift is listed on the forum, and locally for sale. Plan a trip down and pick it up. Blue Ox has stopped production of this style of lift and gone much simpler with a wheel rail only "upgraded" unit.
Great story. I can't think of anything better than to spend the last year in a U225 and then with the kids. When JohnS was in for his treatment and had his RV parked conveniently that opened a whole new aspect of RVing to us.
Now new owners again and (hopefully) new forum members as well.
Craig
Dave,
Thanks for posting, that coach still has lots of miles left in it. Hopefully if we can have a gathering in the fall they can show up for all the fun.
Pamela & Mike
Joanne and I are the proud new owners of the U225 that was Dave and Dolly's (and Kent Speers prior to that). It's been a little over a week since we took delivery, and I've been very busy getting to know the new-to-us coach. Sorry it's taken me this long to get on the forum and introduce myself, but we also have family visiting from New Hampshire, so it's been quite a busy week.
I want to thank Dave Cobb for his taking an entire day last Saturday to go through the coach, explaining all the systems and features. Many thanks to him, to Bill Chapin, and to Al / Propman for welcoming us to the local "Foretravel center" here in the DFW area – at Bill's warehouse/shop/RV storage facility. It was great to see you all again.
I would not have bought this coach had it not been for the warm welcome Joanne and I received back in April at the Lake Benbrook mini-rally. That was our first in-person view of Foretravels. Since that time, we've been to Nacogdoches where we test drove a couple of U320's at MOT and FOT, spent a few days in the factory camping area (in our now-for-sale Winnebago View), and met several other happy Foretravel owners.
Then we decided to go to Cleburne, south of Ft Worth, to look at a U295, and stopped by Bill Chapin's shop on our way home to Dallas. We happened to run into Dave and Dolly – just returning from a trip to Lake Whitney. That chance meeting led to our learning of their old coach coming on the market. We bought it a few days later.
We are very excited to have found this coach and delighted to become members of this great owner's group. Looking forward to the next rally!
Mike and Joanne
Welcome to the Forum and congratulations !
Welcome to the forum and enjoy your new coach.
Jeannie and I enjoyed meeting you guys at Benbrook Lake. Happy to hear you have found your Foretravel - that coach certainly has a distinguished list of past owners. If you find something wrong with it, at least you know who to call! We are also looking forward to the Fall mini-rally at Benbrook - just waiting for Pam and Mike to post the date!
Mike & Joanne,
You know It's all down hill & up from here on out enjoy the ride.
You guys are great addition to FT owners group.
AL
Congratulations and a big welcome to the forum. You have a great coach, enjoy it every chance you get.
So nice to see new U225 owners on the forum. We are a distinct minority here and even though many parts of a U225 and U240 are similar to the bits on the U280s and up, there are also differences and it can be very handy to have another owner around for questions.
Welcome to the forum. :)
Craig
Craig, how close to the late 80's GV. ::)
I'm not sure, actually. No air bags in either the U225 or U240 and HWH leveling "jacks". Interiors look about the same even among U280 and U300 models until '94 or '95. Shares 96" overall width but has lower height (and shorter basement storage?).
Thanks, our 88 had 4 air bags and flip down hydraulic jacks
Unihome had pass thur bay. ^.^d