I'm curious to here from present owners of both issues and successes. I presently have a 2011 Damon Astoria and this would be a significant upgrade. Also, I would be interested on opinions about how the Nimbus might or might not maintain its value.
Thank you in advance.
As a past owner of a Foretravel 2007 Nimbus, there are several issues that you should be aware of with this model and year. While Foretravel does make a fine coach, there were issues with using dark color paint on the body. On my Nimbus, we had many issues with the body developing fine cracks under the dark colors which is called crazing. This issue became worse over time. If you look closely at the body of the coach, you will see many fine cracks, especially under the darker colors. Second, we had a serious issue with delamination. This is where the fibrerglass separates from the understructure. What Foretravel thought would work to seal where the front or rear cap met the side walls of the coach was a fine decorative strip over each joint. This apparently was not enough and allowed water to penetrate under the fiberglass and cause separation. In my coach, Foretravel felt since the warranty expired, they were not responsible. We had to really argue for the cost of repair to be done. We paid for all strips to be removed and fiberglass it closed. Third, the Nimbus comes with an ISL engine or an ISX engine. If this coach you are looking at is an ISL engine, there was a very serious recall on the engine. Be sure that recall was done other wise you could face an engine failure. While on the subject of engines, the fourth item is the coolant issue. Many of the coaches had their fans blades for the coolant mounted backwards like mine and the computer controlling the fan motors not programed. We had a year of overheating until Freightliner identified the problem and with many conversations with Foretravel, repaired be the company. Five, is the dashboard air conditioner for the driver. If this is not working, it may need recharging. However, be aware that the coolant unit itself found under the dashboard is no longer available from the manufacture and many of these units were bad as in my case. As Foretravel upper level management said: "if the dashboard air goes out, then there is nothing you can do because the newer coaches use a different system. So, buy a fan." Six, be ready to buy many starting batteries. These batteries are located right behind the tag axle, unprotected. Many rocks will be flung up and destroy the batteries. We had to go to a welder and weld plates to protect the batteries. Six, check the muffler system. We had an issue where the entire muffler fell off the coach. What happen was two problems. The muffler was using a pipe along with a rubber mount that allowed the muffler to sway. The flex pipe was too short and during production, they simply used the clamps to make up the difference. We had to change the flex pipe and weld a support bracket to the muffler to stabilize it. Seven, check the television in the front room of the coach. If the TV is in a wood cabinet, then it needs to be changed. The wood cabinet does not provide enough air to the TV and destroys the television. Eight, the drivers seat is mounted off center of the steering wheel by at least three inches. They did this so you can turn around the drivers seat when parked. If you like driving with the steering wheel to your left instead of in front of you, then you are alright. We had the seat moved to the correct position and not be able to turn around the seat when parked. My list can go on and you might see why I no longer own the coach. While this was a good attempt by the new owners of Foretravel, when they built this unit, they certainly have learned from their mistakes. If I was to do it over, I would look for a Phoenix in that year since those units were built after the first series of Nimbus were built. Many of the mistakes except for the issues with the dark colors were fixed.
Not a fan of Damon products but nice write up of the issues of the new owners of Foretravel in 07. They had to face an up hill battle to get back to the quality that Foretravel has had all these years.
I own an 07 Phenix and I will second what bobnkathy said. I have had many issues with my coach that, in my opinion, indicate lack of quality control. I was expecting a lot better quality when I moved to the Foretravel brand than I have seen thus far. If it was not for FOT being in Nac and the service department there, I would have sold this coach by now too.
The above is disheartening to read since a Phenix around this year, give or take, is one of the coaches on our list for consideration.
Thank you for your response. I too felt the same way that since we were living at the time in Texas and close to Nacogdoches, we kept the coach and the problems. However, when we decided enough was enough and gave (yes) the coach away to my daughter for a dollar, we were very skeptical of buying another Foretravel. Having been the owner of a charter bus corporation for thirty years and driving coach buses as long, our choice was to return to Prevost for our new RV choice. We are very happy and without issues on our 2014 Prevost and have 30,000 miles plus on the coach. I still monitor and watch this site for my daughter since she owns the old coach. She understands the problems and was grateful her family has the ability to travel with a Foretravel. I also must say I have two good friends with a 2003 and a 1999 Foretravel and love them. Those two coaches never, besides minor issues, gave them a lick of problems. I wish Foretravel Corp the very best for their future and will have to for sure one day return to the plant with my daughters coach for repairs.
I own an 01 and have loads of miles on it and had the delam issue only on the slide room. I am white gell coat and paint but have not had the issues listed. The ISL shoukd have been taken care of. It was a wrist pin and blowing out very early. The seat position is not a big thing. I do not turn my drivers seat anyway and mine is an air ride seat. I would look at 08 or 09 versions as it seems not to be the case on some of there. The 07 was one of the first years they made the nimbus. The company changed hands at the end of 05 an the 06 were still the U models with later in that year the new Phenix and Nimbus coming out.
Are these problems with the 2007 models the result of the ownership transition and the transition to the new models, or are there similar problems with other years in this general time period?
Another issue with the first Nimbus units was that they equipped these units with a 8K Powertech generators. My coach had a Powertech 8K run by a caterpillar engine. While the 8K could run both airs, it could not run a microwave with the two airs running at the same time on the generator. Surely wish I had an air ride seat installed. That would have made the ride a bit smoother.
As a past owner of a 2007 Nimbus, I would say that the issues were on the Nimbus and Phoenix models for that year. I would attribute this to becoming aware of how to build a great coach. I did hear that during 2006, many of the old workers at production were let go. Again, this is what I heard and have no actual first hand knowledge. Since the first Nimbus like mine was built April 2006 - I would put two and two together with the change in workers and the problems. Again, speculation. The problems continued into 2007 builds of Nimbus as I have seen.
Interesting, I had an 8 k power tech and ran both AC units and my microwave when I owned that coach all the time.
Having owned 4 Foretravel's my current unit a 2008 is by far the best I have owned. No problems and use it 100 plus nights a year. Sitting next to two other Foretravel's and neither has had significant issues. Our neighbor just departed had a CC that is left out in the sun in AZ. Has problems with paint checking. this is an industry wide issue on dark painted coaches that sit in a hot sunny climate unprotected. I have no doubt about what others claim but there are positive stories for each negative one. Your best bet is check the unit out have it inspected and then make a decision.
Great to hear you have had good success. We lived in ours 365 days a year and travel between San Diego, Fairbanks AK, Maine, and Key West Florida. Our coach did this round trip four times and had 85,000 miles on it when we sold it. The coach did travel twice on the Dalton Highway (AK 11) to Deadhorse AK. We had attended two research studies over the late fall before the heavy snow. Still, even with the problems we faced, she did hold up well. The 2008 was by far a much better year than the 2007.
Thank you to all who have let hear your opinions. I will stay around until we make a decision. The coach won't be available for several months.
please stay around forever!
Newer certainly does not always mean better. Not only with respect to Foretravel. I will likely keep my 2002 until I have no use for a motorhome. And I believe it was made after Foretravel hit its "peak." Starting all over again, I'd probably aim for a 1999-2001 FT, and not even care that much if it was a U270, U295, or U320.
Brad, you are right.... those were the heyday of FT production.
Heck, if my old 1990 U280 had a 6-speed transmission, a retarder, and dual-pane windows, I'd have never moved up!
I'm extremely impressed by the quality of build on the little stuff on my 1998. The wiring, the labeling, how neat it is, the joinery, etc, etc. It's all the little stuff I notice that was done by people that had pride in their work. I haven't seen any leaks, nor any sign of repairs.
I've seen pictures on this forum of 2003+ wiring, and it just didn't look as neat. Now, it could've been from the repairmen or previous owners, but it didn't look the same.
The mechanical engine is fine by me. I actually prefer it!
A very knowledgeable person, very experienced, told me in selling my first DP to get 1999-2001. And they are a bit difficult to find, do not stay on lots very long.
Still, there are many great years! How can you not love earlier years? Very durable, remodel rate demos that. Gather differences are often related not to quality at all but features....some years no retarder, door size or screen door not available. Air leveling or not. Some like, others not, certain engines or mechanical vs electronic.
2003s seem great, just check end caps. As for bulkheads some overly worry, can be fixed. I just do not know about newer than that, outside my price range except for the 2005 we had before the 2001 we own now almost three years.
Cheers for Foretravels,
Mike
We are certainly happy with our 1995. I've read that some think it was the best year, and I would tend to agree with them. The interior walls are fully walnut paneled, and with the tambour upper cabinet doors it is beautiful. The 400 hp M-11 and 6-speed Allison perform quite well and the ride quality is magnificent.
Most of us are very opinionated, am told. The 2001 being the last of that series, was the best of them. Maybe just opinion. What ever year or model you purchased you need to know it is like a child that takes care & feeding. The saying about no free lunch is so correct. I feel for the buyers who buy more than they can comfy afford to properly maintain it.
Again, opinion.
The best year was 1993. Then it was 1999. Now it's 1995.
jor
Same thing with larger 20-30yr old boats that have come down in price hard the last few years due to the economy. Sure, one can get a nice 50 foot Hatteras (very similar to FT, except on water) for 100k +/-, but can you afford the true cost of ownership...including fuel and maintenance?
Actually, any one of several years can be the "best year," depending upon one's individual preferences.
Yup. To me the best ever year is 2003.
Seems to me the best year is whichever one we own! :P
You can't beat a 1990 U280 for reliability and simplicity, and you can't beat a 1996 U320 for comfort, ride quality and pride of ownership.
Of course, those are the 2 I own. Just saying. I love them both.