I doubt youll find anyone willing to trust anyone with their house, especially the large number of fulltimers in here.
I started looking at rental class A's before buying mine, and found the cost of renting far exceeded what I would lose buying, using, and selling a short time later. Ive owned several RV's and have always bought smart, used for a short time and sold at a break even or small enough loss that my brain just considered it a fun tax and not worth worrying about. At this point I have owned my Foretravel longer than any of the others, and even if Its worthless and I lose my entire investment, I have gotten far more use out of it than $30,000 worth of rentals.
I would strongly consider buying something less than perfect now, using it for awhile to REALLY get a good idea of exactly what you want and then search for the exact right RV for your needs. It would probably cost less than a rental and it will be yours. Lots of good deals out there, one that comes to mind is this: 95 U320 for sale by the end of the month (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=31537.0)
good luck on your hunt!
As a prospective buyer... I would not buy a rented rv. It takes 2 hours to overheat something.. lifetime of consequences.
Thank you for your reply! Your advice is basically what I plan to do. Really got now, while we are only able to weekend and summer travel with our 4 year old, and waiting for the days we decide to hang up our work hats, we are going to buy a 1993-2003 Foretravel. I'm just hoping someone might have one they would consider renting.
I can't say I've ever seen a FT for rent, and I wouldn't even be able to release mine to professionals for service work unless it was a last resort. But there are plenty of private RV's for rent, so you never know!
El Monte RV
Cruise America
You might try a service, such as Outdoorsy, that allows individual owners to put their RVs up for rent. But I seriously doubt anyone with a Foretravel Coach would do so, not unless it was already for sale. Your best bet might be to rent something in the same ballpark, such as a Monaco (similar chassis) or Country Coach (similar build quality). Then test drive the Foretravel of your dreams to see the differences.
That is basically what we did. Bought a SOB (Some Other Brand) ran it for a few years. Then drove a Foretravel and there was no looking back.
Here's 1. Minimum of $10,500 for 7 nights.
2003 Foretravel U320, RV Rental in Arlington TX | RVshare.com (https://rvshare.com/rvs/details/1008675)
Thanks for finding that bdale!
I appreciate everyone's advise about El Monte, Cruise America, etc; however, I've been a camper most all of my life. I know I enjoy it. Tent camping for 25 years, pop up, and tag alongs. My research has led me to Foretravel. I've known for years, I wanted a motor coach. I knew it was a far fetched possibility of finding a Foretravel to rent, but as bdale proved it's possible, but not logical for me. At an annual cost at that rate of $547k, I wouldn't even consider it. I'm sure in some ways you too would see that rate as usury, unless you, yourself were making the consideration of renting your own Foretravel. I am willing to pay a luxury rental rate, but not the $1,500/night.
I'll be buying a used Foretravel from either a retiring owner on the forum or MOT. My plan is to buy an older used coach first before determining what we want in a newer used coach later. Right now with jobs and children we can only travel long weekends, few weeks at a time, and summers; an older Foretravel should be perfect for us if it's been cared for and maintained.
Ultimately, I'll be using it to take my dad to car shows as we spend his senior years together tinkering with cars and being together wandering, as I did as a kid with him camping with our YMCA Indian Guide Tribe. We just lost my mother (7.3.2017) after a 48 day battle with an awful disease called, Creutzfeldt-Jakob's Disease. I will implement my plan soon; waiting for the right time and coach only made that dream with my mother and dad, just that, a dream. I can't let the time with my dad and my own daughter be delayed. My mother loved the movie saying, "if ifs and buts were candies and nuts we'd all have a merry Christmas." I won't miss this chance with my dad! I simply thought with our upcoming annual pilgrimage to Fort Davis, Texas, I'd query the forum and take a chance and ask everyone/anyone about renting. I have some real estate to sell before I purchase a coach this winter.
If I can't find someone who might be willing it's not a problem. I will still buy. I just thought it might help with my learning curve and experience with a Foretravel over my experiences with SOB (I have rented before and used other friends other brands). I'm a Foretravel guy, even before I own one!
Best regards and please let me know if anyone might be interested!
That's our coach parked in front of the home where we purchased it !!! This is either a scam or perhaps the PO tried to rent it before it sold. I'll give him a call and find out. Either way it's not for rent at this time.
PO says he did not place the ad.
Mark,
Looking at the link, was Richard the previous owner? Is the picture on the ad of he and his wife?
No that is not the PO's name or photo. However the ad does say, "The photo above is a representation of our actual RV. New photos coming soon!". Does it seem a little off that someone who owns a coach wouldn't have photos?
I appreciate everyone's advise about El Monte, Cruise America, etc; however, I've been a camper most all of my life. I know I enjoy it. Tent camping for 25 years, pop up, and tag alongs. My research has led me to Foretravel. I've known for years, I wanted a motor coach. I knew it was a far fetched possibility of finding a Foretravel to rent, but as bdale proved it's possible, but not logical for me. At an annual cost at that rate of $547k, I wouldn't even consider it. I'm sure in some ways you too would see that rate as usury, unless you, yourself were making the consideration of renting your own Foretravel. I am willing to pay a luxury rental rate, but not the $1,500/night.
I'll be buying a used Foretravel from either a retiring owner on the forum or MOT. My plan is to buy an older used coach first before determining what we want in a newer used coach later. Right now with jobs and children we can only travel long weekends, few weeks at a time, and summers; an older Foretravel should be perfect for us if it's been cared for and maintained.
Ultimately, I'll be using it to take my dad to car shows as we spend his senior years together tinkering with cars and being together wandering, as I did as a kid with him camping with our YMCA Indian Guide Tribe. We just lost my mother (7.3.2017) after a 48 day battle with an awful disease called, Creutzfeldt-Jakob's Disease. I will implement my plan soon; waiting for the right time and coach only made that dream with my mother and dad, just that, a dream. I can't let the time with my dad and my own daughter be delayed. My mother loved the movie saying, "if ifs and buts were candies and nuts we'd all have a merry Christmas." I won't miss this chance with my dad! I simply thought with our upcoming annual pilgrimage to Fort Davis, Texas, I'd query the forum and take a chance and ask everyone/anyone about renting. I have some real estate to sell before I purchase a coach this winter.
If I can't find someone who might be willing it's not a problem. I will still buy. I just thought it might help with my learning curve and experience with a Foretravel over my experiences with SOB (I have rented before and used other friends other brands). I'm a Foretravel guy, even before I own one!
Best regards and please let me know if anyone might be interested!
moved all discussion posts out of the classified ads
Most foretravel will require a class B license in Texas, and many other states
I used to rent a Busch North car . Just bring the 20K cash deposit and you can rent mine.
Bingo, we have a winner, class C license to drive.
For the price of a rental... you can buy this one. The guy just dropped the price a lot!
1989 Foretravel GRAND VILLA 4000 GV320, Kerrville TX - - RVtrader.com (https://www.rvtrader.com/listing/1989-Foretravel-GRAND-VILLA-4000-GV320-122301842)
Called about this one, could not get any straight (or coherent) answers out him, was $18,000 u-240 I think
re: ad above submitted by Paully......small red flag (OK a question)....when he said they were selling 'cause they needed to stay in place then later on said they were going to go the 5th wheel route...OK...which is it? 8) ....just wondering....it does look/sound to be almost too good to be true at that reduced price...
Nope, certainly not a U240. 240's were not even made for a couple years after that.
And, certainly not a GV320 as the ad says.
Knowing what engine it has, side vs rear radiator and chassis would tell us a lot.
This could be a bargain, or it (very likely) could be a MONEY PIT.
In fact, in a conversation this morning with a new buyer (not about this coach) I shared with him that I have looked at some that if you got them for free, you would have too much money in them fixed up. Initial price is just ONE FACTOR. As an example on this 1989, if it just needs tires and batteries in addition to the items he said were not working, the cost would be close to the asking price!
My first question... is he stater he bought it from an rv mechanic. You know the mechanic got a good deal. So, why did the mechanic sell it??? And trading a foretravel for a 5th wheel... really? What's wrong with the engine in that rv??
This coach has the 8.2 Detroit diesel which does not make it a bad coach, but that is what it has.