I know this is random but the other day I was poking around and someone at some point posted a list of how many coaches that FT had produced each year. Does anyone know where that list was? I can't find it.
Probably not the one you are looking for, but...
Link below to a post (Reply #50) 8 years ago by Jim McNeece wherein he presented a chart depicting build numbers for a number of model years. From these you can (roughly) deduce coaches per year. Read through the whole thread if you want to see from whence he gleaned the data.
Need build numbers/build dates for 2003 and later (split from FT production) (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=23217.msg179882#msg179882)
Thanks Chuck ... I did see that thread. Yeah, the one I saw had them listed by years, models, and quantity per year. I know I'm losing my mind, but I couldn't possibly have imagined that...It was a list that showed that in 2007 there were 3 coaches like mine built. 40th anniversary editions. Anyway, thanks again and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year...
In 2001 we made a visit to Foretravel and their tour of the factory. It was stated to us at the time, FOT was building right at 55 coaches a year. This was from the production manager. Not sure if that was every year or an approximate number of the uni coaches at the time!
The more the better.
Back in 2000 or so they produced 300 a year.
Wow..... didn't know they ever made that many a year. That's an average of one a day for a six day workweek. Impressive for a small family owned motorhome business building custom coaches with one factory.
John, where did you get those numbers? They told me there were at 1 coach a week on average. That was back when we purchased our '98 and the year was 2001. We watched the assembly line in progress as they finished each stage. I was impressed at the time since Monaco and others were producing 10 times as many back then.
My 2000 U320 coach was built in February 2000 and has a build number that is 95 units beyond yours, so I don't doubt that they pumped out 300 that year.
My build number is 5400 built in way late 98. 99 model year with ISC.
#5188 May 1997
Where is the build date information located?
build 5563 1999 U320
Mine is a 99 build 5436
Mine was built in Oct. of 1993, titled as a 1994 - Build Number 4466 Detroit 6V92 4 speed Allison U300 40' ^.^d
On the tag, left side of driver.
Ours was built Oct. 1990 titled as a 1991. Build 3819
Our U320 is build number 4726 built in February 1995.
Compare that with number 5740 built in February 2000 and you get an average of just over 200 coaches per year during that five-year period. Pretty impressive!
As of Doug's post I went out and checked my date of build which is Sept 98 so I have an
early 99 5436. Chuck I'm 127 builds before you.
Anyone curious about build volumes can glean a great deal of info from JimMcNeece's post linked above. It covers through 2003 and even into 2010 quite well.
There is much less known about build volumes since MHSRV/RVOne took over sales a couple of years ago. Their listings are misleading since they will show the same unit in multiple listings, plus I seem to recall they changed the numbering scheme.
Does anyone with a 5 year old-to-newer Realm/FS/IH have a build number?
2014 IH45 # 6583 Chassis was built in March 2013
I believe that FT numbered the IC-37 different. When they first came out I was noticing that the numbering was different.
My 1998 U320 coach 5359 was built in late 1997 according the the sheets
My 1995 U-320 is build number 4614. It was one of the first "newly designed bus style" coaches made.
Its featured on the 1995 Foretravel brochure.
Thanks Doug never realized it was right beside me.
April '99 build 5563
What month does the data plate say it was built?
I saw mine on the plate near the drivers seat
Back in the 90's and early 2000's they built coaches Monday thru Thursday which increases the number built per day. Friday production stopped and the work areas were cleaned and restocked in preparation for the start of the next week according to our tour guide
Way too miserable outside to go look right now.
On my notes I show 7-94 but I'm not sure if that is the coach build date or the M11 Diesel build date.
I will go out later and look.
Confirmed: July, 1994
November 1985... coach number 2658 sold as an 86 Grand Villa... the first year of Grand Villas...