Looking at their site tonight, it shows three IHs and four Realms. They show two Prevost conversions by Outlaw sold too. The 14 IH is discounted 42percent as an advertised figure. I had hoped to see a few realms sold though. I may not be looking in the right spot on their site to see if they sold any yet.
John,
If you go to the web page that list the units for sale, then scroll down, you will see a list of some of the Foretravels sold.
Larry
I went to the site this morning and counted 8 Realms for sale 1 sold. I believe they built 10. One is being used for shows I think.
This past week I was in the neighborhood and swung by FOT. I don't know their business, their financials, or their intelligence. But, my GUT feeling is that they won't be around in 5 years at this rate. This is purely an OUTSIDER GUT opinion from a quick 30min visit.
When you produce expensive units and have 10 to 12 unsold// you had better have a good floor plan to finance these or really deep pockets. This is what got Foretravel in trouble before. They produced a lot of coaches at the downturn. It must be pride at the top when you have no entry priced coach to sell. Customers of Foretravel have been asking for a lower priced coach for years but no one listens to their customers it seems. They have the ability to build a great priced coach of excellent quality. They must not see the price point of profit, but a lot of these could be built and sold so at the end of the year it will all add up. Why have a factory at half capacity? Got to be a market here. DAN
Coincidentally, just last night a friend let me know he was just at MHS and bought an Entegra 45'. Interestingly, he said that the only coach he liked better was the Foretravel, but it would have been almost double the price he paid for the Entegra (which was heavily discounted - I think 34% off list). He really liked the Spartan K3 chassis. He says of course it's no Foretravel, but with the price difference he was satisfied. I think it was an interesting commentary on current new coach buyers' decision-making.
Man I hate to hear all this, none of it is encouraging especially the decline in customer service. If they built 10 Realms and they still have them that is bad news. I realize that MHS is on the hook for them but if they cant sell them FOT can't build them
Gary B
I posted a bit ago of a FT owner who traded in his 01 FT for an Entegra too. Not a FT but half the price and it is good enough. I think that FT needs to figure out that the price point is hurting. This guy is not super price sensitive either. He had his coach painted a few years ago as well but wanted to move up from 36 foot to 45 foot. They are leaving sales on the table and they need to figure it out fast.
Motorhome Specialist lists each Foretravel for sale on their web pages twice. Does anyone know why?
My crystal ball shows MHS picking up FOT for a bargain price.
To use for what purpose? To use as a builder of MHS-designed coaches nobody wants to buy?
If the price gets low enough, sell FT to the forum members. Now would't that be cool. No more complaints about management not listening to us if we become them.
Just a follow-up. I just returned from visiting our friend who just bought the Entegra Cornerstone and I must say - that's a very, very nice coach. To me, it seemed to be very well thought out and built well. I spent time examining the interior - cabinetry, etc and was impressed with what seemed, to me, to be good quality woodwork. Now, I've never been in an IH or a Realm, so have no frame of reference there. But I'll just say that, in my opinion, the Entegra is a great value proposition to many buyers.
One thing I found interesting: the air drier was accessible through a dedicated compartment on the side of the coach. Just open the door and there it is. The Spartan K3 seems like a fine chassis, and maybe Foretravel can capitalize upon it. In my friend's estimation, however, the Realm was just not that much better to justify the price difference. Who knows: maybe he will change his mind in a few years.
Watching the RV shows on cable I am simply amazed at the price and popularity of multiple different Prevost based coaches. The IH doesn't appear to lack anything they have and lists for somewhere around $700,000.00 less? Why on earth aren't more wealthy folks giving the little company in Texas a look???
Because buying a Prevost conversion says something about your economic status that no other motor home can say. At those prices I'm not sure how many Prevost owners can actually afford to stop bouncing the ball long enough to actually use them. I've always been surprised at how many expensive RVs are just used to go to Nascar races.
Craig
I have my own opinions about that stuff too ;) But then again I think we probably all think alike. I would buy a BMW M3 because it gives 911 performance for half the price. Foretravel is the BMW of RV's.