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Topic: Realm and IH (Read 1377 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Realm and IH

Reply #25 –
Was fishing in KY in June - forgot which lake or town, was with a friend - his cottage, boat etc (Striped Bass, a salt water fish they stock in these waters - they feed on "Shad" which looked like an Alewife to me - caught two each day apiece - was easy except we got up at 1 AM each day to go out and net the shad in the dark so we could have live bait to fish with at sunrise)

I Digress.

Anyway there is a guy in this town buying "gliders" - new trucks w/o engines and transmissions - must have seen 250 brand new gliders at his facility - he is buying engines/transmissions that are pre DEF, rebuilding them and making a "new" truck. Â Selling 60 a week! Â Someone said these trucks are not allowed to enter CA, but are much better on fuel than current technology and more reliable.

Interesting way to make a buck, sure can't go on forever, but he is doing real well for now.

I will ask my buddy what town I saw this in
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Realm and IH

Reply #26 –
In case anyone wants to know why I am happy to have an older Foretravel, pre-DEF, read this:

Diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), commonly referred to as AdBlue in Europe and standardised as ISO 22241[1] is an aqueous urea solution made with 32.5% high-purity urea (AUS 32) and 67.5% deionized water. DEF is used as a consumable in selective catalytic reduction (SCR) in order to lower NOx concentration in the diesel exhaust emissions from diesel engines.[2]

The average person excretes about 30 grams of urea a day, mostly through urine.

I am fortunate, not needing to buy and store urine for my engine to run.
Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer

Re: Realm and IH

Reply #27 –
I still wonder how they can sell the Realm at a price that is so much lower than the IH.
David and Carolyn Osborn
1995 U320C SE 40' Build 4726 Feb 1995
FMCA 147762
Motorcade 17186

Re: Realm and IH

Reply #28 –
Quote from: D.J. Osborn –
I still wonder how they can sell the Realm at a price that is so much lower than the IH.

I believe that the main reason for the price difference is that FOT can purchase a Spartan Chassis for less than they can build a Foretravel chassis. We recently took the Foretravel factory tour and the guide said that the Foretravel chassis is a lot more robust and heavier than the Spartan chassis. We viewed a Spartan chassis complete with engine but we did not view a completed Foretravel chassis. We did see the front and rear framing for the Foretravel chassis.
Larry and Terry
Ex 2004 U270 36'

Re: Realm and IH

Reply #29 –
Lyle Reed said exactly that at the last Grandvention

Cost delta was robots at Spartan and other vendors,(automation ) vs none at FT, volume of raw materials driving unit costs down for high volume manufacturers vs "retail" pricing for Foretravel. Plus less overhead "burden" imbedded in each chassis due to much higher number of units to those costs over
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Realm and IH

Reply #30 –
Spartan is a chassis manufacturer for multiple lines in the 10's of thousands at least.

Foretravel has made what 8000 coaches over the years? How many chassis?  With Oshkosh, Gligge etc?

It seems to me Foretravel, is getting smarter shifting warranty and risk to Spartan AND aligning its "hand crafted" brand to a more mainstream consumer opportunity., specifically with this dealer.

Perhaps Foretravel has a plan to marry the chassis to the "hand crafted" body that they didn't disclose. Putting them as a forerunner with this "new breed" of Foretravel.

 I for one wish them SUCCESS and Warp Speed Ahead!  ^.^d
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My advice and experiences are Free, you decide if they are worth anything .

John - driving Old Faithful
1994 U280 GV
C8.3, Banks, Pacbrake, 900 watts, Resonator, XLHD tow dolly
Retired Army Warrant Officer

Life is what you make of it - if it is lemons, make lemonade!
Former Coaches:
1988 GV 40' ORED 300HP CAT - 9 years
1990 Winnebago LeSharo - 3 years
2000 Newmar London Aire - 3 years (#18 of 23 produced)
 

Re: Realm and IH

Reply #31 –
Love my old CAT pure mechanical. :P
1992 U240 36'