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Topic: Foretravel/Travco (Read 1670 times) previous topic - next topic

Foretravel/Travco

I recall hearing that some Travco motorhomes were made by Foretravel in the 70's or 80's. Does anyone know the real story and how to identify those units?
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: Foretravel/Travco

Reply #1 –
Kent, I owned one of the last of the FT built Travco's.  It was an 82 on a Dodge M500 Chassis.  Look on the opening page of the forum and you will see a photo.  I believe that none were built after 83,  some were still Travco looking but badged as FT's.  Typical Dodge chassis and the 440-3 was a %$$%$^% to maintain.  A lot of the interior design of FT's was taken from the Travco's.  I'll see if I can find a good photo of mine.


Foretravel Anthology

Here is some history from Scott Abshire, one of the founders of this forum on Yahoo.

And here is some old info from the forum.

Gary B's previous coaches (split from Adjusting Side Mirrors on 1997 u320)
Gary B

Re: Foretravel/Travco

Reply #2 –
Gary! Glad to see your post ^.^d
The selected media item is not currently available.
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: Foretravel/Travco

Reply #3 –
Hey, Kent, 

I don't have the answer to your question directly, but I thought it would be interesting to post a few pictures of the beautiful Travco we walked through at the RV Hall of Fame in Elkhart, Indiana.  If you ever find yourself up in that neck of the woods, I would venture by and see if they still have it on display.  It is remarkable the similarities between this Travco and the Foretravel floorplans and design.  We found it most interesting that this Travco is labeled "Travco Three-Twenty."  And we own a U320.  Don't you think the similarities are striking?  ^.^d

Quote from: Gary Bouland –
A lot of the interior design of FT's was taken from the Travco's.  I'll see if I can find a good photo of mine.
I'd love to see your photos, Gary, if you can find some.  I'm sure the one you owned was a beauty!  In the meantime, these are the photos we took of the Travco at the RV Hall of Fame.  And it's GREAT to see you posting again.  :D

The selected media item is not currently available.Amanda and Douglas
Lily *meow* (RIP 7/19/23) and B.T. *meow* (RIP 9/12/18)
1997 U320 40' - "Brawley"
Motorcade #17266
Escapee #113692

Re: Foretravel/Travco

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Siren –
In the meantime, these are the photos we took of the Travco at the RV Hall of Fame. 
Here are the rest...
The selected media item is not currently available.Amanda and Douglas
Lily *meow* (RIP 7/19/23) and B.T. *meow* (RIP 9/12/18)
1997 U320 40' - "Brawley"
Motorcade #17266
Escapee #113692

Re: Foretravel/Travco

Reply #5 –
The reason for my question is that I have located a 1976 Dodge Travco and may buy it for weekends and short trips and because it is just plain cool. Does anyone know if Foretravel was making the Travco in 1976?
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: Foretravel/Travco

Reply #6 –
Kent,

Would this from dodgetravcos.com lead one to believe Foretravel started making Travco in 1979?

"In 1979, the manufacturing rights for the Travco were sold to Foretravel.  Foretravel bought truckloads of Travco parts at the public auction. Remaining items went to the high bidder. Beneath it all, Foretravel was really after ownership of the Travco Motorcade Club. It was the largest of its kind. Control of this large band of motor home owners meant steering membership towards newer products - developed by Foretravel. As expected, a number of Travco owners became Foretravel owners."

Very interesting history.

2019 Pleasure Way Lexor

Re: Foretravel/Travco

Reply #7 –
Thanks for your thoughts but I still can't tell whether Foretravel actually made any Travco's or not. If there were Travcos made after 1979 it would appear that Foretravel made them so that gives me a date range but I'm not sure that Foretravel manufactured any Travcos. 
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: Foretravel/Travco

Reply #8 –
Kent,

I would call Mike Grimes at Foretravel (parts manager).  He has been there a LONG time and probably remembers them.  I know he bought/inventoried a bunch of Dodge/Chrysler 440's when Chrysler Corp discontinued them. Suspect the Travcos were on either the 413 or 440 Chrysler engine.

Be aware that your 1993 U300 will get better MPG!
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: Foretravel/Travco

Reply #9 –
Quote from: Kent Speers –
Thanks for your thoughts but I still can't tell whether Foretravel actually made any Travco's or not. If there were Travcos made after 1979 it would appear that Foretravel made them so that gives me a date range but I'm not sure that Foretravel manufactured any Travcos. 

I sold a lot of Foretravel made Travco's as the California sales manager.  Last one I remember was an ordered by Dick Williams 1985 35' 250hp 3208 ORED SBT

Lots of Travco owners had mixed feelings about Foretravel purchasing the company.  They liked the round body mostly

Very early  Travco's had 318 dodge chassis with narrow drum brakes. 
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Foretravel/Travco

Reply #11 –
The 76 would not have been made by Foretravel but they were made by Foretravel after 79 and some were on Dodge chassis with 440-3  some with Dodge chassis with International V8 after Dodge quit the 440 and some were on the Roadmaster chassis with 454 Chev and as Bob said on the Oshkosh with 3208 I also saw one that had an 8,2 Detroit front engine so many variables
previous 1984 35 ft ORED 250 HP 3208 Cat       
previous 1998 40 ft U295 CAI 325 hp Cummins
previous 2003 40 Ft u320 build #6140 450 Cummins M11.                                                         
1999 Mazda Miata
Ron, Nancy, Tipper the cat, Max The dog
1997 U 270 36 ft build number 5174 8.3 Cummins

Re: Foretravel/Travco

Reply #12 –
Quote from: wolfe10 –
Suspect the Travcos were on either the 413 or 440 Chrysler engine.

Be aware that your 1993 U300 will get better MPG!

We had a 1973 Superior (all-steel galvanized body--built by the same "Superior Corporation" that built school buses) was built on a Dodge chassis and it was the first year for the 440-3 engine and front disc brakes. My brother had an earlier Superior (1971 perhaps) and it had the 413 engine and front drum brakes. I'm sure the Travcos of the same era used the same chassis.

Our 440-3 with a 4.56:1 rear axle was extremely strong and felt as if it could pull stumps out of the ground. Brett is correct, however: Our 1995 U-320 with the Cummins M-11 engine gets significantly better fuel mileage.
David and Carolyn Osborn
1995 U320C SE 40' Build 4726 Feb 1995
FMCA 147762
Motorcade 17186
 

Re: Foretravel/Travco

Reply #13 –
Foretravel bought several hundred dodge chassis's for their 208" WB and increased GVW and were used through 02 on 35's primarily. 

Foretravel sold some to other builders occasionally. 
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4