In our 3rd day. There are only around 65 coachs here. Yesterday Firefly was here. The newer coach's have Firefly switches, lights and shade controls.
David Roberson also spoke about start of MOT and RV industry along with Derek DiVerdi talking about MOT service.
Today is Foretravel day, James Triana, Lyle Reed, and Keith Adams are going to talk.
Also James Stallings, from Xtreme Paint is going to talk. He is planning on recording his presentation. I had never meet him until a week ago at the Mid-South rally in Gonzales, Texas. He has a lot of great stories.
James Stallings is a great guy! Met him in 2000 with my '98 U320. Found out that was the first coach he said he painted coming out of the FOT factory! Please tell Derek I said hello. He stepped up at MOT on our coach!
On another note, wish they would put James Triana back on the phone for help on the road! He was special for sure!
I had heard a rumor he was back on Tech support. Will find out this morning.
Enjoying our first GrandVention. Nice sunset over Foretravels last night.
:o Wow! Sounds like FT/Lyle Reed has finally buried the hatchet after all these years (roughly 17-18, if I recall the history correctly)!
I never would have expected that!
And on a forum note:
And how many Foreforums dash signs are there?
I don't think that there are any, but I was not looking for them.
I one I had made I had put in my Tahoe that I tow. Towed the truck this trip.
Is the recording from James going to be available somewhere ?
I am assuming you are talking about James Stallings.
Yes, when and where is not known now
As of July, James T is back at tech support.
No question, James is a TREMENDOUS ASSET.
Our first Grandvention was in Mineola! Twas a grand time we all had! I believe there were over 90 coaches there.
Lyle Reed's takeaways
*Stopped making 37' coach so could move crews to making 45' coaches, was working on getting to build 60+ coaches per until bubble burst.
*Going to build around 40 coaches this year.
*Still going to use HWH for slides
*Will NOT build any new IH45's
*No plans to put FOT up for sale at this moment. He did say he is getting older.
*Has Supper C that will be shown at the Tampa show. Response from there will determine if will be built.
*Has tried to get space at Hershey show for last 3 years but has no luck.
Comments made by others. FOT owed vendors around 13 million when Lyle bought FOT
Right now service is still around 1-2 months out but they will take on emergencies such as AC, Heat, Slides and ?
Not doing any full body paints.
Working on improving remodel department.
Since July of this year have received around 1300 tech calls.
MOT has 24 hr tech support, FOT does not.
Isn't the "Realm Presidential" basically the IH45 rebranded?
2005 (when the Dane Miller-funded group bought FT) is to 2023 (now) as 2005 is to 1987... ;)
Somewhat. The chassis is a K4, which is no where as good for ride and handling as the travelrideIII, such as outbond mounted air bags on the drive axle.
There are only 3 AC's vs 4, and other differences like that.
Now a super c might interest me. They still are not back to the heyday of 300 coaches a year.
how did i not meet you at the mid south rally in Gonzales??
to much engine noise from a super C..... i'll pass
We had meet. I was the one that you talked about your coach's paint job. I had thought yours was the only one painted like that and you told me that there were 4(?) others with the same . I think that was the only time that I was around you the whole time at the rally.
Turning radius isn't anything to write home about, either. Most of the wheelbases on 37' super C's are greater than on 42' Foretravels.
I get the impression that RV1 or Blue Compass or whoever owns MHSRV is the major influence on what FT builds. Since the are the retail arm of FT these days they have a huge influence on what FT builds.
As Jack said Triana is back in Tech Support and I think Braxton Spain is running the service department. Not sure who is in charge of the remod shop now that David is gone.
And as a side note MOT's Craig Dorsett and his wife Christy are by far the best dancers at our GV's.
Steve
For those if you who are interested Russ Wink is our 2024 Internatioal President and Jerry Moon is the 2025 Internationsl President elect.
Paul Ogle is the new Motorcade Club CEO replacing Russ Miller.
Bonnie Cone was awarded Motorcade Member of The Year for all of the behind the scenes work she has done to support the club.
Our new club manager, Christy Carrington, is off to a good start with her first GV.
Next years GV will be at the Kansas state fairgrounds in Hutchinson.
Blue Compass is the present company name. They were RV Retailer LLC and rebranded to Blue Compass. As RV Retailer LLC, their first dealership purchase was MHSRV (from the O'Banion family). They followed that up with the purchase of 2 RV One dealerships. Now as Blue Compass they are buying up independent dealerships around the country.
Back in 2015/2016, we used to go "lot trolling" around the Metroplex as a day's outing. We happened to be at MHSRV when the senior O'Banion (Donnie's father) stopped by to chat as we were looking at used Foretravel they had. He point-blank stated "Foretravel builds
our Realm
for us". That was back when the Realm was new and sold exclusively at MHSRV. We interpreted that to mean MHSRV/the O'Banions directed the design and specs of the coach, almost as if FT was a contract manufacturer. Based on the newer Realm Presidential, Realm FS605, and Realm FS450, I would agree with you that they are quite likely to be the ones driving the coach designs at Foretravel these days.
Did David Flanagan retire?
I think about about year and a half ago. They said they were working on marketing to get more remodeling work
Yes David retired and it does look like the sales set up is driving FOT production. I too think that the 45 foot FT is to long and tall and sadly not what our old ones looked like or lived like inside. As to engine noise on a C my has no real noise and it is not any more than my pickup has and that small difference is huge for service and ease of service
If I understood James Stallings correctly that was his plan. But, I think he said later, that he had technical difficulties with his camera and didn't get a decent recording. Bummer: it was a great talk with lots of slides.