Hello Everyone,
I'm looking for information from some of you that might have experienced cracking of the rear cap after an accident involving being hit in the rear of the coach.
I had an Incident where the coach rolled back and struck a guard rail, smashing the lower ladder and bending the side supports inside the engine compartment and cracking the sides of coach and the rear cap corners on both sides. Both cap cracks are approximately 6 inch in length at the seams.
Has anyone else experienced rear cap cracking after an accident? Or is the fleet experiencing cracks in the end caps as life of service time increases?
My Insurance unfortunately is trying to deny the repair as a problem with Monoscope built chassis, the coach was purchased in April of 2019 and positively did not have the cracks in the end caps.
Thanks everyone for the information.
2003 - U295
Purchased with 83K on the odometer, Currently 109K
Pictures would help here.
"Has anyone else experienced rear cap cracking after an accident? Or is the fleet experiencing cracks in the end caps as life of service time increases"
Concerns regarding 2002-3 fiberglass cracking (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=15331.0)
Tell your insurance company that you coach is only a Monocoque body in the middle and both ends are conventional construction. Old GM buses were full monocoque but not Foretravels. In other words, everything behind the rear bulkhead is conventional construction like any vehicle with a frame and the same goes for everything forward of the front bulkhead.
The conventional construction front and back is the reason Foretravels twist and crack or loosen windshields.
Our Foretravels do not have a chassis that is integral with the body. Just the middle section.
Here is the difference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1T_Vizjido
Pierce
If you can get with Xtreme Paint & Graphics in Nac. James Stallings can probably get the ins folks straightened out. Plus the fix will be top drawer.
End cap cracking was an early life issue, not an EOL one. Coaches that were going to have it appear did so in the first few years and virtually all have been long-repaired by now.
The insurance company is misguided regarding the construction of the coach. It is not "monocoque", it is "semi-monocoque" - it relies on the inner framework for structure. Plus the end caps are a separate piece and are adhered on using conventional construction. An impact to the rear one is going to stress the joint where they are adhered to the sidewall.
Xtreme is the most likely shop to be able to explain this to the adjuster. And, depending on your location, may be the best option for repair.
I have to think that the cracks are related to the contact with the barrier, as to what kind of chassis built in-house is in the Foretravel it's a bridge truss.
Here's a 2003 295 with 47k miles on the clock with possible front & rear cap separation issues that's been listed on CL last couple of weeks near me. Poor advertisement, consignment coach, they no nothing about Foretravels. Hopefully potential buyer has a good pre-purchase inspection. Buyer beware....
@ 47k
https://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/rvd/d/sumner-foretravel/7244961349.html
With the low miles, I would hazard a guess it's never been taken for proper repair...
To maybe help understand conversations, took photos of new 2018 Foretravel and Newell coach builds.
EDIT Photos take August 2017
Is the "May 02" on ID tag when the frame was built or ?
Typically, RV's are built earlier than model year. Foretravel, Newell, Newmar are all building model year 2022 coaches right now.
I didn't think the lead time would be so great, ours was late 87 build, titled in early 88, the fresh water pump had a September 87 manufacture date. I thought that's what it was it's just the lead time seemed so large.
My 2014 was built in 2013 I think around March of 2021 will be when new 2022 will be started. So another 4 months or so.
They are building the 2022's now for release late Feb or early March. Remember parts are older than finish date of coach.
I stand corrected.
I figured they would at least wait until the year before. I guess this way they work on beating depression by gaining a year at the start.