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Wannabie looking for information

I am thinking about purchasing a Foretravel maybe 1988-1990.  I would like newer, but not in the budget right now.  Not decided yet on dp or gas.  The use of the coach will be a little different than most I have read about on this forum.  I would like to use it more as a working motorhome.  We attend trade shows across the country.  We now travel in a Chevy Express van towing a 6' x 12' dual axle enclosed trailer with all our show merchandise.  We stay in hotels, many hotels.  We would be on the road three or four days and then back to our home base.  Maybe three times a year out for two to three weeks.  Last year we stayed in hotels for 100 plus nights.  The cost of hotels has gone up around 20% over the last couple of years and continues to increase.  We also eat out most of the time right now.

I am looking to cut my travel expenses some, but also cut back on eating out all the time and then there is always the bed bug worry in hotels.  At the shows sometimes we could park at the show for little or no cost.  I know I would be giving up a little on mileage.  My van towing the trailer gets around 12 mpg.  I know it would be happy days if a large motorhome got 12 mph, so I would have some give backs on mileage.  I know there are repair cost involved in owning a motorhome.  I am just looking for some thoughts on this idea from experienced Foretravel owners.  So, should they ship me off to the crazy farm or do you think this idea makes sense?
Joe

Re: Wannabie looking for information

Reply #1 –
NOTHING like having your own space, free of bedbugs and other peoples' stains and drippings.  My quick answer is if you can get a free place to park at the trade shows, you will probably save some money.  Travel might be a little bit slower than you are used to - not quite as mobile, stops for propane fill and waste tank empty, grocery shopping, etc.

I have not checked the mileage on our 1994, but nine MPG seems possible based on the experience of others.

You will become friends with Walmart.

oldMattB
Matt B
1998 u-320

Re: Wannabie looking for information

Reply #2 –
Be aware that the "machinery" changed quite a bit in 1993 with the move from 4 speed to 6 speed Allison and the move in the smaller coaches from Caterpillar 3208 V8 to the modern in-line 6 cylinder.

What budget are you working with?

Brett
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Wannabie looking for information

Reply #3 –
Sent you a Private Message, Ink. We are selling our 93. Email me at oiga at comcast dot net if you are interested.
jor
93 225
95 300
97 270
99 320

Re: Wannabie looking for information

Reply #4 –
Your take on travel makes perfect sense to me.  If you discount the initial investment you can travel in a MH for the same or less than the hotel restaurant route.  Then the convenience, safety , cleanliness etc more than makes up for any added costs.  We have relatives in CO, annual trip costs 15 to 16 hundred for a month or so, probably could stay on hotels etc for the same amounts but lots more fun in a comfortable MH especially if its a FT.
Gary B

Re: Wannabie looking for information

Reply #5 –
Quote from: oldmattb –
NOTHING like having your own space, free of bedbugs and other peoples' stains and drippings.  My quick answer is if you can get a free place to park at the trade shows, you will probably save some money.  Travel might be a little bit slower than you are used to - not quite as mobile, stops for propane fill and waste tank empty, grocery shopping, etc.

I have not checked the mileage on our 1994, but nine MPG seems possible based on the experience of others.

You will become friends with Walmart.

oldMattB

Old MattB's first sentence is enough to sour anyone on traveling (especially the last part)! :-)  If your conventions are midwest or east coast on the flat, 9 mpg is a good figure for diesels. Gas will get about half of that. Would you be able to park on site at the conventions or remote parking? I don't like the idea of leaving a motorhome a distance away in a public parking lot. How far do you have to drive to go back to "home base"?

Eating out all the time gets old. They seem to use half a salt shaker in every meal.

A couple of years ago while we were shopping for a Foretravel, we looked at a nice 89' U280 for $12K. Had a couple of cracks in the roof (stored outside) but very nice inside and no damage anywhere.

If you don't mind, how much discount off of rack rates do you get while working at conventions?
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Wannabie looking for information

Reply #6 –
I traveled extensively for about half of my working career, got to know many, many motels intimately. I wish I had known about traveling in a motorhome then. Just having your stuff in your place would have made a world of difference. I don't think you can go wrong based on the criteria you have given.

If you are looking in the age range given, look for a coach that has been updated in the last few years, you could easily spend $5000 or more on tires and batteries and other maintenance items just to get it on the road. Look for one with copious maintenance records. Look for one with miles commensurate with its age. An older diesel motorhome with low miles is a red flag to me. It indicates that it might have been setting for a very long time, which in my opinion is much worse than one used on a regular basis.

The Foretravel U225 and U240 in the early 90's will usually give you good service and reasonable mileage at a very good price. My 1993 U225 averaged around 9 mpg overall. One of our forum members, jor, has a 1993, U225 for sale that has had extensive upgrades and updates already done. It was previously owned by our best friends Jeff and Carol Savournin, also forum members. That coach should be ready to go without much up front expense. You might want to contact him via private message for a price.

I don't think you will have any regrets if you go with a good quality used Foretravel. Good Luck and welcome to the Forum.
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: Wannabie looking for information

Reply #7 –
inkaroo

I spent 30 years of my working life working at large association conventions and trade shows.  Stop whatever you are doing right now and get busy finding a Foretravel.  OMG all the noisy and crappy rooms I had to sleep in (or tried to get to sleep) all the crowded and late flights I took.  All the time wasted getting to and from the airport and Homeland Security lines.  If I had it to do over again I'd of done it in a motorhome.  Be sure to get one with enough storage space underneath or enough horsepower to pull your trailer.  Life is good in a Foretravel
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: Wannabie looking for information

Reply #8 –
Buy a diesel.
Dub McBride 1996 270

Re: Wannabie looking for information

Reply #10 –
Thank you all for the great information on my idea of going on the road with a Foretravel vs staying in a hotel.. To answer a few questions that came up.  Most of our trips are about a days drive from home base, 8 to 12 hours and we are out about four days.  Most the shows we attend are small shows and we could keep the motorhome very close by.  Some asked about hotels, well we would usually stay in a medium priced hotel, Hampton or something like a Holiday Inn Express.  Nothing real fancy.  Discounts off the rack rates are not much anymore.  Most times one can find a better price online.  Its difficult in parts of the country like east of Cleveland, to find a hotel for much less than $100.00 a night.  When you do, as most of you travelers know, add another at least 18 plus percent for hotel taxes.  So now that puts the price over $100.00 a night unless we go to a Motel 6 Red Roof type hotel. 

I have been in contact with John about his beautiful coach.. it is a beauty!  It's great to get real information from real owners. 

Thanks again,

Joe Lenhart

Re: Wannabie looking for information

Reply #11 –
 
So, $500-$700 RT in fuel with motels only slightly cheaper plus probably about 1/4 the food bill. Tax deduction for most insurance, storage, satellite, etc. costs. Plus, your own bed to sleep in without the ......... mentioned earlier. Sounds as if the scales tip in the motorhome's favor.




Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Wannabie looking for information

Reply #12 –
You might want to look up member Texman, aka Doug, an insurance adjuster who has a 1992 that he uses as his nationwide office/living quarters Adding Custom desk

I'll bet he has some good insight that might apply to your needs.

Michelle
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Wannabie looking for information

Reply #13 –
Consider the increased productivity from being in your own home vs. hotel rooms.  You can pull into a parking spot, draw the blinds, crank the genset,fire up the ac, raise the sat dish, kick back in your recliner.  Cooking your own food in a well equipped kitchen....install a wireless network with broadband router and you're connected. Also, and I may be showing my age a bit here but it needs to be said, the value of el bano personal is not to be overlooked.

Foretravels have great storage and tankage, you can comfortably boondock several days with no hookups at all.  When you consider it actually makes great financial sense in your case well, anytime you can actually justify such a great toy the decision is easy.  Just don't buy gas power, the rugged reliability and economy of diesel is what you need.

Plus it's fun.

Chuck
"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS
 

Re: Wannabie looking for information

Reply #14 –
You won't be alone in those parking lots reserved for tractor trailers.  I remember seeing an occasional travel trailer or motorhome in some of them near large convention centers.  And I would see them in street level parking lots near convention centers, especially in New Orleans and Denver.  You also won't be awoken at 1:30 in the morning when a bunch of drunks with lamp shades on their heads walk past your room singing songs or talking loudly.  Those groups just don't stroll through parking lots.
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.