We spotted this 2016 MB Sprinter 3500 170 at Foretravel yesterday. Four vehicles, when completed, will ship to MB dealer(s). Bath is curbside, midship, just aft side entry door. Galley has dorm-sized fridge and drawer type microwave scheduled. Pretty interesting project!
That is interesting but they are entering a very crowded market I fear.
I'm in agreement with John S on this one.
Winnebago & Airstream have the name recognition. Foretravel? What's that? will be the over riding question from customers wandering into an MB dealer and seeing the name on the door.
Foretravel will have to hit a grand slam with a very unique & well done B class Mercedes just to not sink to the bottom of the apple barrel.
Better late than never?!?
Love seeing this and wish them all the best with their Sprinter projects!
Maybe Foretravel just entered into an agreement with a dealer to do some conversions on spec only. This is not unsusal.
This program has been ongoing since 2016 and has ben discussed at the Motorcade Grandvention. I believe it is planned to be a production unit - not sure how they plan to go to market with it.
Tim Fiedler
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Gen-Pro
Born Free is still not up and running. Maybe Foreteavel ought to try and buy them out and pick up their class C business.
John M.
That's been a standard layout for a MB Sprinter based B for many years regardless of the name on the outside.
Chris
Hmm 1 inefficient business x 2 may not work but good fit
That would be great but I fear FT does not have the funds bit it might be cheap enough.
Agree on very crowded, and in a true B very challenging to differentiate yourself. There just aren't many ways to do the floorplan.
Airstream certainly has the name recognition/marketing out there, and a number of MB dealers are already selling them.
While picking up our LTV yesterday we overheard a customer conversation about the different B offerings with our dealer - in this case they were definitely comparing price and not "seeing" enough difference between low and high end to justify the higher cost.
Congratulations and happy travels! Cheers!
Chris
I saw this project when they were just starting the substructure for the interior. There was one overhead cabinet installed. My first impression was that it was a typical Foretravel built like a tank, but that it was going to be really heavy. I will be curious to see how it turns out.
Designing for small spaces is fascinating. If you Google the Düsseldorf RV show, every inch goes "Transformers" quickly and smoothly on many Euro models. Is anyone importing some of these gizmos to the States?
I'd buy the optional rear-slide screen room, with the folding deck and the little rear awning. Some of you will remember the VW Westphalia free-standing tents, I'll bet! It "felt big."
As an old MB fan, I liked what I saw. P
P.S. Kathleen won't let me spy on the Prevost job just around the corner. Humph.
Just around which corner???
JohnH
Foretravel in NAC, third building down. On yer left. You can't miss it. >:D (My first emoji.)
Fitting out a small space like the Sprinter has takes a huge amount of experience. Not only does it have to be super space efficient but lightweight and durable on top of that. I'm amazed how sliding panels, floors that open to hot tubs, etc., have been engineered to fit into a small living space in places like Hong Kong. It's no wonder designers from that background have been able to shift gears into building a very livable but compact recreational vehicle. Where fuel costs almost twice as much and it's pedal to the metal on the highway, people don't want to carry around any more weight than necessary.
On top of all this, when you open the door, it's got to have good feng shui or it won't sell.
Pierce