Hello all
Thought that I would take a few minuets of your time and introduce myself.
My name is Brian.
I am a Heavy Duty Mechanic with over 40 years of experience so that is why the Rusty Socket handle.
(I work on the heavy stuff, not so much bus and truck, but I do work on trucks as needed)
My wife and I live on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.
I like to call it the Wet coast.
So why am I here.
Well, that is a simple answer.
I am retiring in 3 years.
My plan for retirement has always had a fulltime RV component in it.
We own a 22 foot travel trailer that we use for "camping" and I also use it for work when I am sometimes called away from home.
If I am living in it while working I will be in an RV park, all hooked up.
So while not as experienced as most people here, we are not noob's to the RV life style.
Being a mechanic, of course I am drawn to diesel pushers. For units this big, it only makes sense to go big diesel power and air brakes.
I have looked around at some of the local RV lots at used DP's and so far what I have seen has almost put me off the idea. I can't afford to buy new so it will have to be used and most of the units I have seen have left just a little to be desired.
Here is a good example.
I saw one on the lot the other day. Looked nice from a distance.
When I opened the door, the smell of the 1/2 dozen air fresheners was just about enough to gag a maggot.
I'm pretty sure that it was full of mold, there was a weird smell that was not covered up and everything felt "damp" not sure if that is the right word.
Went back outside and sighted down the length of the coach, all kinds of ripples in the Filon, major delam. Not good,
Run away, don't walk.
So I have spent lots of time online looking for a decent coach.
I have never even heard of Foretravel until the other week. I guess that they are not that popular in Canada.
I like what I have been reading. It appears that these are a very well built coach. There are lots of older ones around, and lots look to be in excellent shape.
So I am starting to lean towards a FT.
I have 3 plus years to do my research. It should be fun.
So I hope that the rest of you don't mind me going along for the ride and asking questions. I find that there can be some excellent information gained from using forums. And I have LOTS of questions.
So that's my story in a nutshell, looking forward to some good conversation.
Brian, the Rusty Socket :))
There are a number of owners in Canada and the older coaches have loads of life in the still. I would suggest getting your coach prior to retirement and if needed, you will have the time to get her in top shape before you head out. Welcome to the forum, you will like it here I am sure.
Welcome aboard! You'll find Foreforums to be very helpful and eventually you'll find the "perfect" Foretravel for you.
Welcome Brian, you've come to the right place to learn about the Foretravel line. We'll tell you all about them - good and bad. We've had other new members show up who have said "We're going to be ready to buy in ___ years...", and 6 months later they own a coach because they found a deal too good to pass up. Like John S says, buying "early" gives you time to get acquainted before you hit the road. Good luck in your search - always take the opportunity to look at ANY Foretravel you encounter - the more you see of them, the more you will want one!
Welcome Brian! You have found your home. You probably should connect with John Haygarth on this forum. He too is from Canada.
Suggest you take your spare time and read/skip every post on this forum. Also get very comfortable with the search and PM (personal message) functions. Welcome to our group!!
Welcom to the FoFum. Wonderful group of helpful folks here. :D
Rusty,
You are "in my opinion" in the right place. We sent two year looking for the same reason. I decided to buy a U280.
Mechanical C8.3 does have a computer on the six speed Allison. Foretravel Grand Villa front end, we love the styling, asked many times it must be new. The 1994 & 1995 six speed with retarder is the one to look for. ^.^d
Howdy Brian, Welcome! You're definitely on the right track looking at FTs.
If you haven't found it yet, here's a couple of links to our great website for all things Foretravel.
Foreforums Foretravel Wiki (https://wiki.foreforums.com/doku.php?id=start)
Foretravel Specifications, Floor Plans, Photos & Brochures by Year (https://wiki.foreforums.com/doku.php?id=through_the_years:specs)
Good Luck, Dave A
Welcome to the Forum. Lots of knowledgeable folks here.
Brian, Tim mentioned me in an early posting but as there are about 5 owners of FT living around Victoria this is a good reason to contact them to have a look at what they have to offer.
Go to the "community" link on the top line and hit the "member map" and you will pull up their names. With this info then go to their personnal profiles and look at the map and emails to contact.
I live in the S Okanagan (Kaleden).
One thing I would not do and that is bother looking at coach's in Canada if you want a FT or any high end one. Check out the members here who have one for sale (safe bet) and also check the websites in US. Motorhomes of Texas has many at a time and of course RVT.com putting in this make. Prices in US are way cheaper than here even with the $ exchange right now. Importing is simple to do and all FTs meet Canada admissability by CBSA.
If you need any info just e mail me.
JohnH
brian
where are you located on Vancouver island? I live just south of parksville.
there are 3 foretravels within a few blocks of me. I know of 13 foretravels
owners on Vancouver island. I might have a lead for you on one that is
coming up for sale. If you want to come over sometime and talk foretravels,
shoot mean email. my email address is on my profile page.
Thanks everybody for the warm welcome and replies.
I am looking forward to learning all the good and the "bad". Possibly the bad more than the good.
Being a mechanic repairs are not a scary thing to me. At one time in my life I was thinking of changing trades to RV repair but up in my part of the world it is more of a seasonal thing and the money was just not there. So to pick up and older coach that would need some TLC is not out of the question. If I want to do that or not is the question.
John, thanks for the information. I have done a bit of research into what it would take to import a RV into canada so I have a bit of an idea of what it will take. I might just take you up on your offer. Would you perfer email or PM.
Tim, hahaha, I have pretty much immersed myself in the forum, going through threads. Great stuff
Hammer2100. The 8.3 is one of my favorite engines. They were a very popular engine to have in lots of the equipment I worked on. If they can survive loggers, they can survive anything. Tough engine, easy to work on. I could do a head gasket easy in a night.
I have not had any experience with the ISM 450 that FT runs, but I have had a bit to do with the ISX, we ran them in our logging trucks.
Wayne, I'm in Campbell River. I'll send a message along in a bit. Thanks for the offer.
Anyways, thanks to all. I will be back to pick your brains. Now believe it or not, I have to go and start getting ready to head off to work. I know its Sunday but that is the shift. Rust never sleeps and neither do mechanics. I work the evening shift, anywhere from 12 to 14 hours a day. I will get to bed somewhere around 4 in the morning. As I tell people, I work at night so that the wheels of industry can turn the next day.
Brian
Me again.
Many thanks to Wayne Macauley for allowing me to come see his rig. A most gracious host.
So here is what I think of Foretravel now that I have seen one.
WOW...
If Wayne shows up on here again I'm sure he will tell you what the reaction was when he opened up the engine compartment.
What a well built coach. You can see the engine. Raise the bed and there it is
As a mechanic I think I fell in love with foretravel just for that.
Oh, and the rest of the coach was pretty nice too LOL.
Just for fun, after I left Wayne, I stopped at the local RV dealer and went inside some of the class A's on the lot.
Yeah, hmmmm, ah noooo. I'll pass.
So now the questions are really going to start coming from me.
Wayne explained and showed me the "Bulkhead" issue.
Looks to me like if dealt with properly, it really isn't an issue.
I see lots of goods
What are the bad's.
I have a few years before I will be ready to buy, so lots of time to continue to learn.
My next quest will be to see a GV
Thanks all
Brian
PS, I will try to pay it forward buy putting forth as much technical babble as people would like.
While in real life I am an introvert, I can ramble on pretty good online.
For instance, I could put together a post on cooling. The parts of a radiator, the proper names, what to look for, and things that you can do to help keep your unit cooling properly.
Let me know if there is any interest.
B
Rusty's hooked ^.^d
UUUUHHHHHHHHHH
YUP
Is this a bad thing? ;D
Not at all, welcome to the group Rusty
As the "chief communications officer" for Foreforums (aka she who suckered Steve into creating the current forum) I say heck yes!
Okay, it's on.
I will take my camera down to the rad shop and get a few pics happening. Hopefully I can coordinate my arrival with a rebuild going on.
Then I will need to figure out how to post the pics. ( Visit to the how to page coming up)
I should be able to come up with something by next weekend ( That darn work thing getting in the way again )
Have also been working through a computer issue so will see what happens
Brian,
Your offer for technical "how-Tos" is cheerfully anticipated. Everyone here really appreciates posts that have lots of photos. You will find adding them to your entries is very easy. If you have any problem, just ask...
Since you seem drawn to the Foretravel brand, I recommend learning all you can before you do any serious shopping. One of the best ways to educate yourself is reading Barry's "Technical Help" page. You should (seriously) read every entry on this page - "A" to "W", top to bottom. By the time you finish, you will probably know more about Foretravel coaches than half the current owners out there. Remember, a educated shopper is a successful shopper!
Foretravel Motorhome technical help and information links (http://beamalarm.com/foretravel-links/foretravel-technical-help.html)
Brian,
A word of caution, if you do as Chuck suggests, the "Gotta get a Foretravel Itch" becomes unstoppable. It's not a bad thing in any way, just beware that Cortisone 10 will not relieve the itch. :dance:
(It took me a couple of years to get my itch solved.)
Larry
Rusty
We bought our coach 7.5 years ago- live in it full time and will continue to do so for many years from now ( until health or $$$ run out.....lol). This forum is a great base of knowledge and your experience will be a very big plus in your search for a coach to fit your needs. That is the key- find the coach that fits YOUR Needs, buy it, learn about it, fix and upgrade, travel and enjoy it.
Sounds simple doesn't it?
Have fun with your search and welcome.
Brian,
Welcome to the forum. The reason Foretravels are not seen in numbers in Canada reflects the small number of coaches manufactured relative to other brands. To you, this means you will probably have to travel further to find a good coach than for other coaches. Yes, good to pinpoint the minuses so you will know better what to look for in your search. I feel Foretravels have more pluses than most others and a great support group to go with it.
PIerce
Oh, I have been going through Barry's stuff. Great site. I have gnawed my way through a pretty good chunk already
To tell you the truth, I read the one of when he had to have his radiator changed with great interest. Having looked at a few of the other coaches and wondered how a poor mechanic like myself would ever get it out of its hiding place, then seeing how easy it is on a FT (and trust me, that doesn't look to bad), I was totally impressed.
I use my camera LOTS at work. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. Since I am one of the "Senior" mechanics, in more ways than one ::) I spend lots of my time teaching the next generation of mechanics, so anything that I write up here I can also use for work. I should be able to get a few good post together.
As far as educating myself before the purchase, that is something that my wife and I have done for years. It is funny when you go to make a purchase and you know more than the sales person.
So to find a model that I like and suits our needs could take a bit. To get into a few and have a look around, see how the lay out works, the different floor plans, that sort of thing. There are a few on Vancouver Island where I live, but not that many. But as mentioned before, I have a few years to work it out.
But for today, It is the start of a new work week for me, must find some breakfast and get ready. I don't start till 2 but it is amazing how fast the hours fly past.
Brian
Quick update.
Have not forgotten my promise.
But
So far I have had to recover computer once.
Update system twice (failed first time)
When I had to recover I lost everything
And this is all just since last week.
It all started when I updated to windows 10, but that is another sad story for another day >:(
Several PM's to Michelle to get some professional help on how to get pictures posted and such.
I have a bunch of photos and working on a write up.
I am going back on Monday or Tuesday to get a few more.
Now I just need some time to get it all done and uploaded.
This darn job that I have to keep going to is holding me back LOL
Thanks for the intro. You will be an asset here. There is another "Barry" of the Barry and Cindy show that I have found to always be helpful. I read any of his contributions here. There are other "stars" also, such as Brent Wolfe. I suggest you quit work as soon as you can--you never get that time back.... andy1
Another welcome, Rusty. You said, "It is funny when you go to make a purchase and you know more than the sales person." Many years ago I looked at a brand-new calculator. It was about the size of a hymnal, 110VAC only, no memory, and could handle 8 digits. It cost $150. Before I bought it I had to teach the salesman (and a couple of other customers) how to operate it.
As you ponder which Foretravel is for you, spend some time talking about how you will use the coach (full-time, long-time, vacations, etc.), how many people/pets and their sizes, boondocking or FHU, etc. Even though you are focused on a Foretravel, you can still look at other brands for the floorplans. That will let you know what will and won't work for you.
When you can, schedule a visit to the factory. I know that's a long way for you, but it will be worth it.
Another welcome Brian. My dream machine is located in Crofton (Osborne Bay Resort) if you're down this way.
Hi Brian,
Welcome (belatedly) to the Forum and the FT Wannabee Itch.
We relieved our problem in May, with a '97 U320 36' Foretravel, which we purchased in Saskatchewan, the province next door. Usually, I would never disagree with John H, as he is very knowledgeable, but I think it IS worthwhile for a Canadian to shop in Canada for a Foretravel. John said, in part:
"One thing I would not do and that is bother looking at coach's in Canada if you want a FT or any high end one. Check out the members here who have one for sale (safe bet) and also check the websites in US. Motorhomes of Texas has many at a time and of course RVT.com putting in this make. Prices in US are way cheaper than here even with the $ exchange right now. Importing is simple to do and all FTs meet Canada admissability by CBSA.
If you need any info just e mail me.
JohnH"
Finding our Foretravel took over a year, and I shopped always using the current rate of exchange, so I knew what I would pay in Canadian dollars for US coach, or what the price was in Canada for a coach compared to a similar model in the US. I would NOT pay much of a premium to buy it in Canada, but would pay some extra for several reasons.
I understand that it is a relatively simple matter to import a Foretravel into Canada, but there are other considerations.
Many provinces will recognize the safety certificates of other provinces (check for your local list) instead of requiring a safety certificate from your province of residence. I got a Saskatchewan safety certificate from my seller, which I used to register in Manitoba, so that I knew that I would not be facing any surprise repair requirements.
I was initially able to see the coach after a drive of only a few hours. I have an FT owner friend who made several trips over long distances in the USA to see a coach, and then walked away after a short inspection. Looking close to home MAY avoid some of those trips.
I actually flew to Arizona where the coach was for the winter of 2014- 2015 to have a complete inspection done on it after the seller and I had reached a conditional deal, but then he was the one that had to bear the expense of bringing it North. The cost of getting your new to you coach home really has to be added to the price.
When buying any coach, whether situated in Canada or the United States, I would always consider the current market value using the recent sales of similar coaches, and if necessary converting that to Canadian dollars. There is some value for a Canadian buyer if they can avoid the import process and cost, convenience and elimination of risk on what a provincial safety certificate might require in repairs if a "clear" certificate was not obtained in advance, and there is value in you bringing the coach home from the sellers location if it is close by in Canada (instead of say Texas. In most jurisdictions, your have to bring your coach "home" pretty quickly on a temp. permit & insurance once you buy it, so no holiday involved).
Basically, I would suggest looking at ANY coach of interest, and then comparing "apples to apples" when looking at the price and other similar sales. Beware of BC climate potential issues (like bulkhead bolt issues), but for about the same price and the same condition, why not buy near to home in Canada?
Enjoy the search, I hope to run across you down the road in your Foretravel, and perhaps before then here on Foreforums.
-Jack
Once again, thank for the welcome.
Sorry it took so long to get a reply back.
I have a back issue that I am dealing with. It had me off work for 4 months and I have only been back to work for 1 month.
I was reaching into the trunk of the car to pick up a till receipt that had fallen out of a bag of groceries and BANG.
Feeling much better today, able to move again, and am able to sit in a chair so I can get back onto the old internet.
I'm hoping a few more days and I'll be ready to roll again.
Crosscountry.
I know that spot, I was set up there for 3 weeks a few years ago. I was doing some relief work at the Chemanius sawmill. Nice spot.
Thanks for the invite. Are you going to be there long?
Jack,
Great information. When I get around to making a purchase, if there was one in Canada I would definitely have a good look at it first. There is one for sale just south of me but I am not ready yet.
Until then, I will just lurk in the shadows and try to gather as much knowledge as I can.
Somebody else suggested to look at other makes and get a feeling of the floor plan that you like.
I have a hard time driving past a RV lot without stopping now.
Our local dealer has a DutchStar on the lot. I love the layout, but the coach was not kept up at all. They want $40K CDN for it, I would offer 20 but I think that the repair bill would be huge, plus it has a CAT 3126 in it. Not my favourite engine.
Enough rambling for now
Brian
Welcome Rusty
Just a quick word of encouragement, don't forget Craigslist when searching. I wasn't looking, really I wasn't. :giggle:
When I found our "new" 2000 FT U270 , too good to pass up. So now we own 2 coaches, until I sell the Barth.
Cheers Ric