Well, I just read this letter from Lyle on the FT website. Interesting that they are redoing the IH. I hope it is much shorter so it will be a viable coach for the east coast.
here is the link: Foretravel Motorcoach News - From the President (http://foretravel.com/news.php?id=4)
I'm not sure from reading the letter if they are changing the exterior of the IH - the verbage says "
blah blah, lower profile and gear driven radiator,
yadda yadda about this allowing more floorplan options, etc.". I interpret that to mean the radiator will be lower profile, not the coach.
Sounds to me FT might not be around next year, if you can't or won't build them, then you can't sell them.
I had a chance to talk with Lyle in March about the PTO and Hydraulic pump issue with a few coaches. At that time he mentioned that they were trying to source a different vendor for radiators and cooling systems in general. The low profile radiator is interpreted by me to be the potential of the elimination of the step in newer Foretravel's. This is apparent with East , West bed positions. on most of the newer units you have a large hatch for engine access, rather than under the bed. I suspect the direct gear driven fan is to eliminate any of the spline and pump issues with the existing system. I purchased my first Foretravel in 2003 when they were saying they were going out of business. The last in 2007, in each case the usual naysayers were preaching the doom of Foretravel. I suspect we all deep done want them to succeed, the future can only tell. I don't think there is much chance of them lowering the motor homes in height. The HWH flat floor system requires about 6" of under floor space to operate. As long as we have the radias on the slides and competition delivers flat floors, I think your stuck with very tall coaches.
I didn't get that from reading the letter. Am I missing something?
I do not think that their viability is in question in the letter either. I do think that their coach is too tall at 13 foot plus. I know that the motorcade running the east coast had to tell any IH to take a 200 mile detour as they would not make it. I know that the Skyline Drive, one of the most visited parks in america has a 12'8" overpass. You could shade that as it is a rock hanging down a bit but a curved archway in. I drive that road all the time. I have also seen many 13 foot 6 inch tunnels but that should be ok with the IH. I think they could cut three inches from the inside and get it down to 13 foot.
But interesting issue with the cooling of the units and Brad's issue seemed to be a common thing that will need a redesign.
Given the huge number of posts concerning factory operations, I would have thought their solicitation of suggestions would have drawn more than eighteen responses. Of course, not everyone with a FT is a Motorcader.
Companies evolve over time, look at some of the original fiberglass boatbuilders such as Willard which fell on hard times (though with the reputation for a superior product quality), reinvented theirselves and now can say that every Navy ship has a Willard on board as they produce specialized auxiliaries as fast as they can build them. One thing Foretravel has is a great amount of experience and workforce in composite construction. This is an industry with huge ongoing growth as lighter, faster, stronger are the keywords of the future. Think High Modulus from New Zealand, Scaled Composites, SpaceX. I don't understand why they don't get at least some rudimentary automated processes going, though, when touring the fglass shop commented I had something they needed, a large CNC router. They sure as shooting have some highly competent folks working there.
If they were located in Germany rather than the US, they'd probably be on top of the game. More appreciation and the willingness to pay for quality, less for fancy cheap.
The IH 45 is 13 feet 6 inches tall.
Reese
Seems to me FT has a problem with their market studies. There is no market for any Coach over 500k out here in the west, by the time oil crashes this year there will be no market in Texas either.
Don't feed the trolls....
Interesting, wonder why then the leading conversion companies for Prevost remain in the west coast area? I think there is and will be a market for high end coaches. There are plenty of low end manufacturers out there today to chose from if someone really want to spend money on a coach with features of ten years ago.
Interesting and not well thought out comment re "no coach's sold on west coast over $500k as here in Penticton there is a very successful Newmar Dealer that is one of the top sellers in that make and they are still selling the top models every day. I do know the owner and this was his comment recently. Business is down due to the oil Patch people being some of his clients. There must be 25 or so new units on his lot plus many used ones. This is also as small town but RVs are owned by about 1 in 4 people here and we have 5 RV Dealers to boot. Comments like this that are not researched on any topic do not help anyone IMHO
JohnH
I agree with Michelle. He is trolling.
Yes, I admit to trolling, but it's only done in the Pacific Ocean when I am fishing for Salmon.