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Topic: Looking at Availability of Service on the East Coast (Read 656 times) previous topic - next topic

Looking at Availability of Service on the East Coast

I am new to looking at Foretravels.  Long term (4 or 5 years) we want to travel around the country for a few years after we retire. 

I won't feel comfortable doing that unless I have a coach for a few years and have a lot of shorter trips under my belt.  My plan is to buy one in the near future and we will do some short trips at first then as I get comfortable with it the trips will get longer.

I am fairly handy as I raced motorcycles for about 20 years and did all my own maintenance.  We have remodeled a house or two as well.  We had a small Class A gas motorhome for about 10 years and I was able to work on it.  I did a lot of dry camping in it and would expect to do a lot of dry camping in the Foretravel. 

I think my wife and I want to end up in a late 90's early 2000's 36' with a single slide.

We are going to look at one that is listed in the classifieds next week.  All indications are it's in really good shape but I am always sceptical when I buy things.    I found a list on this forum on what to check out and it is extensive so I feel that I should know a lot about the coach when I am done with that list. 

I just don't want to have to drive to TX to get specialised things worked on.  Like the airbags on the chassis, or fixing the slide or ???.  I am looking for suggestions a little closer to home.  We live just outside Asheville, NC and I was wondering if anyone has someone they trust to work on a Foretravel within 5 - 7 hours drive from here.  That gets us as far north as DC, west out to Nashville, and south almost to Florida.

Thanks
Matt
1999 U320 3600
CAI floorplan
Build #5466
M11 - HD4060R
Name ?..  working on that

Re: Looking at Availability of Service on the East Coast

Reply #1 –
If you can do all of those things you will not have any trouble doing 90% of the work/maintenance on a foretravel.I personally
do not like slides for my traveling style,I would also look at older models,figure out if you want a bigger engine to pull a toad or
not.
96 U270 BUILD 4810
85 380SL
Drummonds TN.

Re: Looking at Availability of Service on the East Coast

Reply #2 –
Matt, no big problem. Just over the mountain in Knoxville, there is a Foretravel dealer. Of course there are no new coaches on the lot, Foretravel doesn't do that anymore but there are still a few experienced Foretravel mechanics in the shop and out at their huge body shop as well. About a year ago when I was last there, the service manager owned a Foretravel and encouraged owners to,come there . They still gave  Motorcader discount, too. I have had lots of work done there and have been very happy with results and price.
After Foretravel quit using dealers for display, they tried several SOB's before settling on Tiffin which is their premium brand, now.
No RV! Have hung up the keys.
In the past: 2016 Winnebago Era, 1994 Foretravel U240, 1995 Foretravel U240 (wide body), 1999 Foretravel 320, 36 Foot, 2003 Foretravel U320 38 foot,

Re: Looking at Availability of Service on the East Coast

Reply #3 –
Tennessee RV in Knoxville is who Horrace is referring you too.
91 GV U300 Unihome 40' Build 3811
6V92TA Detroit

Re: Looking at Availability of Service on the East Coast

Reply #4 –
Apalachee RV in Auburn, GA, NE of Atlanta takes care of mine. Has done some very specialized stuff on ours including air bags. I have seen another FT U320 there as well. Gives you an option to the South.
Alan & Gerri Ortiz
1996 U295 36 ft.
"Rocinante"
Hartwell, Georgia
1999 Subaru Forester
Build No. 4957 Motorcader 17399

Re: Looking at Availability of Service on the East Coast

Reply #5 –
Quote from: John44 –
I would also look at older models,figure out if you want a bigger engine to pull a toad or
not.
I am trying to learn what is out there but it's like trying to take a drink from a fire hose.

I looked at the history page and tried to make sense of it.  Without having seen, and driven a few, I don't have a clue how they drive, how much power I need etc.  I get the "more is better " thing when it comes to power.  The issue for me is power tends to have multiple costs.



 
1999 U320 3600
CAI floorplan
Build #5466
M11 - HD4060R
Name ?..  working on that
 

Re: Looking at Availability of Service on the East Coast

Reply #6 –
Greetings from Boone! James Holder is the service manager at Tn RV and he is a FT expert. He has one. I've always received great service there.

The owner has 2 FT's. This use to be a FT dealership when they had them.
1993 U300 40ft GV SE
Build # 4344