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Monocoque Construction

I've been following a thread over on the Escapees Forum that brought up the subject of safety in a motorhome and the likelihood of surviving a crash in a motorhome with Monocoque Construction.  Nice things said about Foretravel.  While I have been aware of this type of construction, I did not realize how valuable it is to our safety. I don't think I've ever seen a used Foretravel ad that mentioned this important feature.  I often see the term "unibody" and this is considered synonymous with monocoque.  Probably not as sexy as a retarder or full body paint, but quite a selling point in my book.
George Stoltz.  Retired from full-time living in a great Foretravel and now are back to living in a traditional sticks and bricks in Florida.

Re: Monocoque Construction

Reply #1 –
Quote from: George Stoltz –
I've been following a thread over on the Escapees Forum that brought up the subject of safety in a motorhome and the likelihood of surviving a crash in a motorhome with Monocoque Construction.  Nice things said about Foretravel.  While I have been aware of this type of construction, I did not realize how valuable it is to our safety. I don't think I've ever seen a used Foretravel ad that mentioned this important feature.  I often see the term "unibody" and this is considered synonymous with monocoque.  Probably not as sexy as a retarder or full body paint, but quite a selling point in my book.

We live in the twin cities of Nevada City/Grass Valley, CA. Nevada City is at the bottom of a long 5 mile grade on highway 20. Overweight truckers use this highway to avoid scales and RVs use it as a scenic bypass off of I-80. Very common to see large trucks with brakes smoking, barely avoid accidents at the bottom. Several years ago, a SOB lost it's brakes, tried to make the town turn off and crashed badly killing the driver. The drive train was the largest piece left. It looked very much like Joplin, MO after the tornado. Nice to know there is more to our Foretravels than just nice cabinet work, especially with your whole family with you.
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Monocoque Construction

Reply #2 –
While at Nac we were told by one of the sales guys that there no record of a fatality accident in a Foretravel. One of the reasons I bought my U225 was an article on the net by a RV Accident investigator, I don't recall exactly who or the details, but he said he considered the Foretravel one of the top three brands for safety. The other two were Newell and Prevost bus chassis. He said he was aware of one occasion where a Foretravel had rolled three times and was able to be driven away from the accident scene.

I have no idea of the validity of this report but it appeared credible and impressed the heck out of me. I hadn't even heard of Foretravel before. This was one of the primary considerations, safety and resale that sealed the deal. 
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: Monocoque Construction

Reply #3 –
CLASS A MOTORHOME CHASSIS  We have all heard of Unihome (U225, U240, U280, and U300) and Unicoach (U-270/U-295/U-320) and the linage thru today.  Monocoque is basically unibody construction, and probably where the Unihome and Unicoach comes from.  I think of it as more related to boat and airplane framing. 
1994 U225
build #4514

Re: Monocoque Construction

Reply #4 –
The Bob Gummersall article that PatC references lead me to Foretravel in 2004. I drove many NEW 40ft  SOBs that had more rattles than the 2000 U270 we bought. When Foretravel added multiple slides, they had to add additional frame rails and now do not have a true semi monocoque chassis. 

Bob
2000 U270
Winter: Texas Rio Grande Valley or Foley, AL
Summer: The Gardens RV Community of Crossville, TN
2000 40 FT U270, Xtreme FBP
2017 C-Max Towed

Re: Monocoque Construction

Reply #5 –
As I recall, all the 90's era Foretravel's listed the coaches as Monocoque Constructed.  And if I understand correctly, the coaches built with slide-outs, were not classified as Monocoque.  The first Foretravel slides were in '99.

Russell
'99 U320 CAI 40ft w/Xtreme Full Body Paint
Baton Rouge

The selected media item is not currently available."Tetons"

Re: Monocoque Construction

Reply #6 –
"1994-2000 Unicoach (U-270/U-295/U-320)
Lengths: 34',36',40',42'
Chassis: Foretravel monocoque
"U" refers to Unicoach with Unibody construction. "
1994 U225
build #4514

Re: Monocoque Construction

Reply #7 –
As a young boy, many moons ago, I read about race car construction; Formula 1 cars were built with lightweight tubular frames with a stressed skin attached. They were very light, yet very strong, which is what usually allowed drivers to walk away from a wreck. When I first looked down the side of my 1991 U225 I could see the outline of the triangulated tubular framework in the skin, and I immediately thought of those Formula 1 cars. That sold me on this coach. It's essentially one big roll cage.

I looked into importing a Foretravel into Canada - one of the very few makes for which all models are allowed with absolutely no saftey issues.

Steve
1991 U225 Grand Villa

Re: Monocoque Construction

Reply #8 –
George,
The reason I think manufactures don't talk about safety as a feature is because it's too much of a Pandora's box - kinda of like the saying about people with glass houses throwing rocks - all the manufactures have plenty of glass surrounding them.  No one does any crash or rollover testing.  RVIA only covers house systems like 120VAC and plumbing.  There are no standards for handling quality.  There are no standards at all for the house structure and I think most manufactures like it that way.  Couple that with the attitude of many people: "well they wouldn't be able to sell it if it wasn't safe" - as if safety were a black and white issue.  Ignorance is bliss.  The RV Consumers group (RV.org) is an independent advocate of RV safety and consumer education but they are still a small organization with little growth.  Being independent and talking about safety issues no one else brings up I would have thought they would have grown more.  I though they were great and was the single biggest reason I bought a Foretravel - but I'm an engineer and like to see data. 

The biggest reason might be more emotional.  Safety is kind of a downer topic and when people buy something they want to feel good.  I don't watch TV anymore but does Volvo still try to sell cars on safety?  I'm not sure it easy to do - it's much easier to sell glamor and excitement.

And here's another point:  When I worked a Country Coach I learned of all the law suits they were constantly contending with.  I don't think CC was unusual - Monaco had multiples more.  Most law suits at CC were frivolous with reluctant buyers and the effects of dishonest dealers but some were due to an accident that happened.  When you  make claims of safety it can be used against you in a law suit.
John Fitzgerald
1991 U300 (SAI) Side Aisle Island Bed 40'
Detroit 6V92 with Allison Retarder
Meridian (Boise), Idaho
 

Re: Monocoque Construction

Reply #9 –
John,

Thank you for a well-written and well-thought out response.  Everything you said makes a lot of sense -- especially in this era of lawsuits that should never see a courtroom.
George Stoltz.  Retired from full-time living in a great Foretravel and now are back to living in a traditional sticks and bricks in Florida.