I am looking for opinions and or facts to which is considered to be the better foretravel....say 1998-2005 foretravel or the newer Realm/FS450 models. Maybe I should throw the Phoenix etc models in for comparison as well.
I realize all the Technology electronic advances in the newer one make the steering/glass dashes and safety features far beyond the older models, but talking generally which are better.
The old ones were built like tanks and beside the bulkhead issues are fairly solid coaches. Also are the new coaches water AH systems better or worse than the older 431 models.
Just reaching out to those folks that have opinions or facts about each.
Peter,
Part of the answer will depend on whether you are KISS theory or "I need all the latest electronic gadgets".
No right or wrong answers, but very different.
I do not believe there is a better bang for your buck out there than the Unicoaches. Great reliability, quality, and features for the price.
No coach or trailer is going to be hassle free and I hate them all for that reason. If you're going to hate one, you might as well hate the one that you like the most.
We set a budget of $200k. After looking at new (Super C) and some previously enjoyed models we decided on a 2005 U270. The quality speaks volumes compared to the crap other manufacturers have been turning out the last 4 years. We have enough money left in our coach account to take care of things that come up.
The newer the coach is, the more complex it is. So, complex means more systems and more systems will fail more than older simple coaches. Mechanical engines are more trouble free with the latest coaches with lots of emission stuff giving the most trouble. Some early electronic engines had quite a bit more problems with the injection pump, injector wiring, etc.
Our 1993 U300 with the exception of a couple of air bags, a couple of relays, has cost almost zero since we purchased it in 2008. Quite a few extras like solar, big TVs but outside of that, insurance, diesel and a set of tires has been it.
If you have a big budget, what does it matter other than having to wait for repairs to be done? Otherwise, you should be able to work on your coach. Labor is really high now with over $175/hr in the SF Bay Area.
Pierce
Ease of driving between my old 1997 U295 36' & my IH45 is no comparison. I owned both for about 2 years. The 36 felt like a hot rod, it was shorter and lower to the ground. It just was not as easy to drive compared to the IH. The IH ride and ease of driving on highway is better. They are just different animals.
I don't mind 1 of each :-)
Also I did not throw in what the difference in the insulation and heating systems etc is. My life revolves around living in Canada in winter conditions so that is important
I'm in the simpler is better camp and that being said wish to address "The Bulkhead Issue."
The pre-Spartan chassis Foretravel UniCoaches and UniHomes bring unparalleled efficiency in their use of space, lightness and rigidity compared to the industry standard high rail designs. "The Bulkhead Problem" is a rust problem than is a once in a lifetime repair with multiple options ranging from DIY in your driveway to using the services of the craftsmen in Nacogdoches.
We went from super complicated- Wanderlodges to Super expensive Prevost to take a deep breath and relax, 2000 U-320.
No regrets with our coach
To answer the question,it depends on your check book,brand new is the best if you have the bucks older is better if you don't.
If you work on them yourself the older the better.
I'd say the older coaches are far more user friendly when it comes to servicing most malfunctions. Which makes having it fixed by a shop or yourself easier. As me and the wife didn't have land to build a shop and fill it with tools. We are actually miles ahead financially having a shop do our maint compared to the cost of buying land and planting a coach house to work on our coach.
New RV's are the same as new cars. The oily bits are mostly trouble free. It's the electronics that account for the vast majority of problems. But as we humans think it wise to have electronics in toilets and washing machines and other essential items with wifi links to our phones and a remote control for the most mundane of tasks. The electronic bugs will only get worse as the newest coaches age.
I guess it depends on what you mean by "new or older". My 1993 U225 is better than my 1981 Foretravel Travco but both were great coaches. They have basically the same high quality interior but the U225's brakes and steering are far superior. I wish the U225's 5.9 Cummins had as much torque as the Travco's 3208 Cat. I never had to use the brakes when descending grades in the Travco. I just used the transmission to hold a safe speed.
The U225 has a bigger and better basement as well as better electronics like the radio & TV's, plus nicer awnings. The room for solar panels up top is the same but the U225 has more room for house batteries. Working dash air is priceless!
Slim,
If you want more out of your 5.9 then go see One Way diesel on the north side of Nac, a fella there has 2,700 hp out of his 5.9 and it's a daily driver.
Yes that's 2,700 hp.
Sounds the same as "which weighs more a ton of feathers or a ton of lead".
I'm nearing the end of my Studebaker project, said project being finding and correcting too many years of "inexpensive" repairs. But all through that process this 60 year old automobile has delivered reliable transportation on highway and on local roads. I could gain another 15 horsepower by replacing the 2-barrel Stromberg carburetor with the intake manifold and 4-barrel carburetor but I'm well past that stage of life.
The same philosophy goes for my 230HP 12V5.9L Cummins. We have the injector rack that can be "turned up" but the whole assembly, as is, rolls along at 60-62 mph on the highways and the rate at which we achieve that velocity has nothing to to with the ETA. Unless of course you can tell me a way to cancel inertia for "rest stops."
After owning my foretravel for over 5 years and full timing almost three, I would say that it depends on your personality. And your check book. Since I like doing a lot of the work myself I prefer older. Since I don't have a big checkbook, I prefer older. I noticed the same thing in others coaches. Those that are similar to my thoughts have older coaches and those that have larger pocketbooks have newer and bigger.
Right now here in Puerto penasco Mexico there are a wide range of choices from fairly new Newell's to old as dirt and being held together by bailing wire and duct tape travel trailers. The guy that came in next to me yesterday from Canada lost his brakes somewhere in the US. I never heard of magnetic brakes before but evidently his trailer has them. To fix it he just removed the whole breaking system. No I can't see doing that in my coach LOL but I like the whole kiss method personally. Oh maybe not as simple as some but not as complex as others. As Goldilocks says I like it just right.
I think with a newer bigger more expensive coach I'd be spending a lot more time in repair facilities.
No choice for me . Older works .
But Ihave changed about 90% of this one .
Solar- batts-fans.
AC to minisplit
Added front shocks
airbags
Resi fridge.
Much more . I dont want to see how much cash has gone into it .
That's part of the reason we chose a vintage (95) version of Foretravel. Still built like a brick s house but reasonable price.
For the price we paid we could afford upgrading to 1200 watts of solar, 700 amp of lithium, hose reels, cord reels , hardwood flooring And several other usb plugs and stuff.
Now it's a well built coach with some upgrades that new ones don't have. And we've yet to have the"10 year old rule" effect us...
One or more of the messages of this topic have been moved to Around the Fire Ring (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?board=1.0) - https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=45928.0 (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=45928.0) since they were about state registration costs for RVs, not old vs. newer Foretravels
I found a very rough GV , in Brooksville , FL
ORED on springs with hydraulic brakes , 6 bolt wheels.
V8 diesel of some sort . Door was locked .
Asking $10000. 2000 Should buy it. Paul Clark ent . RT 50 .
If the front track is narrower than the rear that may be the Chevy P30 1-ton van chassis. IF more information turns up, for purely academic interest, I'd like to know what the "weights" are after the Fore families careful ministrations.
It's a DP. 36 ft
That is on the Oskosh chassis