Hi everyone, My wife and I are newbies. We never owned a RV or camped before last May. We purchased a 25 ft Siesta ( Sprinter Van ) and we love it. I would like to move up to a 36 ft FT. Anyone interested in downsizing? After researching FT I think it would be better to purchase a 2002-2004 U295/320 Instead of a 2013 SOB. My wife is not so convinced. She says , that's so old. I told her if we could find a well maintained and updated coach we would be better off. My problem is I am in Michigan and there never seems to be any for sale here. Anyone have one in Michigan they want to show my wife to convince her? All my talk about chassis, air bags, transmission, engines, really doesn't impress her. Thanks for reading and any help is much appreciated
I'm thinking one slide , maybe none
Probably be more for sale in the spring
If no one can help, take your RV to Nacogdoches and look around. Lots to look at and a possibility to trade your RV.
Assume you are looking at Motorhomes of Texas and Foretravel web sites?
Shelby,
I am the one who talked my husband into a foretravel. We have had ours since 2016. We love it. The older ones are much easier to maintain as the folks on this forum will tell you. They are very well built in the age group you are looking at. The storage is great. SOB that you are looking at can have a gizillon problems. Try and get one before DEF was added. We went through 2 other SOB before getting our FT.
Hello! I saw your post abt this on another site. I sent you my info in messenger. Hope to hear from you.
In our life, I found the coach and Carol approved.
In other words I am responsible to keep her running while my DW is comfortable.
A trip to Nac would be most helpful, if you can get there. Lot's to look at and consider.
Have y'all seen this? Foretravel Specifications, Floor Plans, Photos & Brochures by Year (https://wiki.foreforums.com/doku.php?id=through_the_years:specs)
Sounds to me like you first need to convince your Wife on the purchase of a older RV.
Finding a Foretravel to show her might be a challenge. You could start by showing her older quality RV's that rival or exceed the quality of the Foretravel and stay in your area.
Maybe take a drive to Holland MI and take a look at what Panterra has.
Buy Prevost Coach | Buy Newell Coach | Sell Used RV (https://www.panterracoach.com/)
If you can show her what a quality coach, even a older model has to offer, then start to look at Foretravels.
Many here I believe have owned newer coaches but once you walk in a Foretravel it is an immediate difference. Doesn't look like a typical rv!
Listen to the sound inside the RV... most you can hear the foot traffic close to the rv.. in a foretravel its pretty quiet
inside..
Thats what I notice right off the bat... cabinets are next.. feel of the doors and so on..
Shelby, we had a SOB coach that was our first of any kind--camper or MH it was 32' gas. when I located the FT with floor plan we wanted DW was not able to go so I went and looked it over drove it made the deal and bought coach. when DW ask how it was my response was like getting out of Volkswagen Beetle and getting into a Mercedes. I seen the skeptical look in her eye!! 2 weeks later we went to pick it up and drive to gulf coast. After an hour or so I ask what do you think? her response was your comparison was pretty accurate. I have looked at a lot of FANCY coaches old and new but the only one in my opinion that I would even consider changing to is a Prevost and that will never be an issue because it is way above my pay grade.
If you can get DW in one I would think she will be sold!
Just my 2c worth
Chris
I agree with Chris. Jo Ann was rather reluctant to even go look at ours. On the way home she said she was unhappy. When I asked her why, she said that she didn't want to like the coach - and she loved it. A few days later we had an agreement with the sellers. Now that our coach is for sale, she understands the reasons, but still doesn't like it. She would really like to keep this coach. I actually agree.
My 2 cents _
Our coach is a comfortable machine to get us from point A to point B to see things that we want to see. Equally as important are the Folks here on the Fofum that help us keep her running to get there.
When I first discovered the Foretravel brand and this forum, I spent hours reading Topics, Threads, and Stories that were FT related. The more I read the more I realized that the folks on this site are, for the most part, smart, capable, willing to share, and sometimes funny. After reading a thread I would sometimes share the story with my DW. I think that sharing started to form connections for her/us with the FT brand and also reassured us that we are not alone. It's scary making the decision to buy a MH, let alone buying one that you do not know much about. Lot's of systems and there is a learning curve.
We could not find a MH any where that we really wanted to own other than an older FT, Monaco, Prevost, Newell, and Newmar Dollar for dollar the FT won out. Of course I was bitten by the bug shortly after seeing her flush slides, beautiful woodwork and finding the folks here. Carol and I have been blessed to have met so many FT folks that have allowed us into their lives.
Sorry to babble on but I just wanted to share - I can not convince any one of any thing, certainly not my DW. Most times she will follow my craziness until we get burnt. :-D So far so good.
.
A motor-home is probably the most expensive way to travel in comfort. The challenge is to find one that will cost you the least in the long run. Take your time, Spend some time here. Ask questions. If you are lucky, you will find one one this forum that has been cared for and becomes available when you are ready.
I don't think you can get a better motor-home for the money spent. ^.^d
+2
I bought my coach a little over a year ago from this forum. I had looked in NAC a couple of times drove from Arkansas to east Tennessee to look at one. My coach came up on the forum and I contacted to owners and we had extensive emails, phone calls, pictures, videos, and lots of the repairs and maintenance records that they sent me. The coach was 1700 miles from me but after all of the communications I felt that it was worth the drive to check it out. I was pretty sure this was "my coach" to buy it after the inspection and if the coach was as represented. I feel that many of the coaches and the owners that are active on here will be more honest than going to some dealership that knows very little about Foretravels and just trying to sell a motorhome. My last comment is that all you will have to do is take your wife to look at other coaches and then show her a Foretravel they sell themselves.
This just my two cents and my opinion.
Quality of old coaches vs newer coaches. Have looked at many new coaches and they are junk compared to my Foretravel. My 02 is just what I need. Been all over US just satisfied.
Nitehawk has a 89 and near Green Bay Wisc.one look at his and yours will be on Craigslist as soon as you get home.
Thank you to everyone who has posted. I am now more convinced than ever that a FT is the way to go.
The community here is fantastic, I can see when a problem comes up ( and they will) the answers will be found on this forum.
I was reading the posts to my wife and I think see is already on board. There is a passion for these coaches that I don't think is out
there with to many brands.
Also thank you to all of you that took the time to send emails, your insights are much appreciated.
I agree the best way to find a great FT will be dealing with the current owners, I don't like dealing with dealers. I won't say never to dealers but I'd rather not. They just don't know the history of the coach they are selling. Or they might know but won't tell you!
I am looking for a 36' U320/295 early 2000's one or two slides with private bath. I am tempted by a 2003 38' U320 tag but I don't think I need that much coach and the extra cost. I think my biggest challenge will be finding one somewhat close, I am in Michigan. I will just have to travel! My other issue is since this may take awhile I will end up with 2 MH for awhile. I can't sell my current one and have no MH for a year or whatever it takes to find the right FT. I have to have something to travel in to find the right FT!
Keith
Coach is in storage near Gleason, WI until opening weekend of trout season, then home here in Weston, on the east side of Wausau. Midpoint between GB and Minn/StPaul.
Keith, whatever you do buy, consider first how you intend to use your purchase.
Our 1989 GV is absolutely perfect for how we use it. The price was right for us. The condition was almost perfect. I say almost because there are always things one wants "their way".
Our coach still gets raves wherever we go. People that have been inside cannot believe that the amenities and design, along with the condition, are 30 years old. Quality endures.
nitehawk- If i am ever up your way I would love to see your coach.
Here are a few pictures. Don't have many of the interior.
Do you get the idea that we love our coach?
I wouldn't take such loving care of it if it wasn't such a beautiful machine to start with.
30 years old, 84,500 miles and still looks like new.
I have even been asked if it was a "Retro" because it looks so good.
I mentally thank the previous owners (3) for taking such good care of our "Baby" almost every time I look at the coach.
The first FT that I set foot into when I was first looking was an 88 GV. It was in ok condition, but needed cleaned up from what I could see. Knew there would be things pop up. Since we were just looking, the DW wasn't onboard for a FT. So we drove the 90 miles to look at the coach. When we arrived, it was parked right off of I35 (lots of traffic noise) with 40 mph winds gusting to 55. While this wasn't the right coach for us, (wrong floorplan) the DW kept commenting on how quiet it was inside with all the traffic and how little it rocked in the winds. She never questioned getting a FT again.
Went to MOT to look at a couple, checked out 2 Country Coaches and a Newell while there. Way to glitzy for our tastes. Love the furniture feel of the Walnut cabinets with tambour doors. We searched for 3-4 years before we were able to get our Lola. Perfectly happy with her.
Larry
What part of Michigan are you in? I am 1.5 hour drive from Detroit in ontario. My 1994 is in storage until April or may but you can use it to show your wife that the quality stands up. Really you see the condition of even a 1999 it's 20 years old then look at any brand at half that and your wife should be sold on it.
The 2003 U320 with a tag is a "Jewell" if cared for. Only 7 or 8 made that year I think, and are sought after. ^.^d
(I apologize to the Older members here for rehashing the following and presume you will chime in and correct my commentary.)
Although I would generally agree with your statement re: not trusting dealers, your must include in your search resources MOT and FT. MOT sells more FTs than any other dealer in the country and have the largest available inventory in one place in the country. Many say that MOT sets the pricing for our FTs. Many here have purchased their coaches from MOT. They have an unofficial waiting list of buyers, and coaches are often sold before they formally come to market. When the coach becomes available, they will accept a down payment contingent upon inspection. There are resources available in Nac that can review/inspect coaches in that town that are not available in most cities in the US. You might have interest in a coach at MOT/FT and have it inspected by a Pro to determine the condition before you pay your money. Carol and I purchased our coach sight unseen. Lots of pics and telephone conversations were had before we decided to drive the 1200+/- miles, put our eyes on Ol Girl Too, and exchanged keys for cash. Our PO's did a wonderful job of maintaining and upgrading our coach. It has not been problem free as no piece of complicated equipment can be, but we are quite comfortable in our coach and do not regret the purchase.
I have no connection with FT or MOT other than being a current customer and hope that I have not misspoken,
Scott- I will definitely check out what MOT has to offer. They sound like a good company to deal with. I will probably get on their unofficial wait list.
It's Toby- we are in Brighton Mi, just west of Detroit. I'll give you a shout later this spring.
Thanks
I should explain my post about dealerships just trying to sell. I assumed that everyone here understood that I was not talking about MOT and FOT they are the exception (my opinion). While I was writing my post I was remembering some of the dealerships I had dealings with on other campers I have looked at in the past.
Sorry for the misunderstanding I may have caused.
My wife too did not think we needed a FT. She as I, loved our past rv. Also she said "You said our next RV would have slides". I said "Yes, our next rv will have at least one slide, after this FT."
Our first short trip for her in the co-pilots seat, she raved about how quiet the rv was, and she was impressed by what she called a "better ride". Also she noticed our little 4 legged friend (a Yorkie), was much calmer, she thought due to the lack of noise (both wind noise and chassis), compared to our last Monaco Signature.
Keith,
First take her to a local dealer or RV show. Look in the drawers and other hidden spots. Look for staples holding MDF board together. Look for how wires are supported. You get the idea. Then look at a Foretravel. Mine is just north of Chicago and when the cover comes off in April you can come and see it. Build quality does not age. No contest.
Keith
Floor plans, fabrics, paint and appliances is what the rv industry sells twice. Once to the dealer. The dealer sells it to the customer. Rare anyone sells build quality and long lined designs