Foretravel Realm or IH45 posts

Topic: Foretravel Realm or IH45 posts (Read 3544 times) previous topic - next topic

Foretravel Realm or IH45 posts

July 30, 2018, 11:59:26 am

I see very few threads on the Realm or IH45's. Are these coaches built so good that no one is having any problems with the new ones? Are they going to a different forum to discuss their problems?

I have a friend that has an 17 Entregra Anthem and he is computer challenged. I do the searching for him when he has a problem. I go to Irv2 Entregra section and there is always action about the new coaches and the good or problems they are having with them. I have looked at the Foretravel section over there and very little action on anything over there.

Re: Foretravel Realm or IH45 posts

Reply #1 – July 30, 2018, 12:21:10 pm

How many have been built.

I see 2 most every day, sitting on the dealer lot in Alvarado, TEXAS

Re: Foretravel Realm or IH45 posts

Reply #2 – July 30, 2018, 01:57:02 pm

I see IH 45s for sale from 2013 at build number 6561 to 2019 at build number 6651. If that is correct then that is 90 built. That is why many owners are not on the Forum. And many of those are used in much different ways than most coaches owned by Forum members. In almost 8 years I have seen three or four outside of Nacogdoches.

Re: Foretravel Realm or IH45 posts

Reply #3 – July 30, 2018, 02:44:21 pm

There is a Realm that only has a few miles here at the service center in McKinney where I just took mine for work on the dash AC. Service guy was telling me about the coach. They service quite a few pushers, but this one really caught his eye. Industrial Power in McKinney. They are certified for Hino trucks, and Isuzu, Allison, Cummins, Detroit diesel, and Spartan chassis. Trying them for first time.

Re: Foretravel Realm or IH45 posts

Reply #4 – July 30, 2018, 04:10:21 pm

Quote from: turbojack – July 30, 2018, 11:59:26 am

I see very few threads on the Realm or IH45's. Are these coaches built so good that no one is having any problems with the new ones? Are they going to a different forum to discuss their problems?.......................

I know several iH owners and have even wrenched on a few.
The iH's are hardly problem free, as you must suspect. They are much more gadget laden, are under much greater market (Complexity) pressure, are built in a different era and most owners have extensive unresolved problems lists.

But every one of the owners that I know personally, avoid wrenching themselves. They are not DIY's. Their toolboxes seem to consist of credit cards, right down to the changing of lighting fixture bulbs/LED's. Most also seem to hold their problem lists and concerns VERY closely, even trading to SOB's before they are willing to openly speak out about a problem or lists of unresolved issues. Most profess to be on wonderful terms with FOT management and they don't want to risk skewing anything they have going on. A couple owners are sour on anything Foretravel, after years of disappointment, and they are very vocal, just (thankfully), not on the Forum.

Several are longterm, multiple Foretravel owners that can not find a single good thing to say about the ForeForum, which I have always found to be really strange. But several have lots of bad things to say about the Forum and I've not been able to change a single one of their minds. They ALL really purchased, use and enjoy their coaches in very different manners than most of the active Forum members, so they don't have either social or equipment commonality.
Long term, that's going to be a membership attrition issue for the Forum, as we lose current members that are highly active.

Just my experience, but I have spent a lot of time talking with perhaps a dozen or so of the 90 iH owners. YMMV. It is how I decided to buy our first (1998 U270) FT. It's how we did a large part of our research before buying our first one new.
Neal

Re: Foretravel Realm or IH45 posts

Reply #5 – July 31, 2018, 10:34:27 am

Turbo,
I believe that the production units for these two models is relatively small. It is my understanding that there are a couple of IH 45 owners on this board.
We purchased a previously owned 2012 IH 45 from Foretravel in February 2015 and placed it on consignment at MOT in November 2015. MOT sold it in July 2016. Before the IH 45 we owned a 2004 U 320 from 12/2007 to 6/2010. After it was towed 3 times we decided it was time to get rid of it.
The IH 45 was average at best. The customer service, support, and communications with me were completely unacceptable. I have put previous posts on this board regarding our experiences with the IH 45.
We currently own an SOB and are pleased with both the coach & the customer service. I will never purchase another Foretravel but I still look at this forum to follow the adventures of Brad Metzger & Barney!

Reese

Re: Foretravel Realm or IH45 posts

Reply #6 – August 01, 2018, 07:12:26 pm

Quote from: rcantrell51 – July 31, 2018, 10:34:27 am

We currently own an SOB and are pleased with both the coach & the customer service.
Reese

What SOB do you have, Reese?
.

Re: Foretravel Realm or IH45 posts

Reply #7 – August 01, 2018, 09:42:18 pm

Bill,
We have an 2008 Newell Coach.

Reese

Re: Foretravel Realm or IH45 posts

Reply #8 – August 01, 2018, 09:52:06 pm

Quote from: rcantrell51 – August 01, 2018, 09:42:18 pm

Bill,
We have an 2008 Newell Coach.
Reese

Thanks, Reese.

Sweet "ride" you got there!

Re: Foretravel Realm or IH45 posts

Reply #9 – August 02, 2018, 12:30:32 am

My local in so cal guru was the Newell factory warranty guy in this area for a long time. Best system guy I have seen.

Re: Foretravel Realm or IH45 posts

Reply #10 – August 02, 2018, 10:49:50 am

Bill,
Thank you for the compliment. Good customer service, 24 hour emergency call, service writers are very helpful. We have used the emergency line several times. Called on 9 AM Sunday morning, 11 PM Friday night, and other times. Always have been able to speak with a technician or service writer. If they are on a call they return my call within a reasonable amount of time. No long waits on a return phone call.
So far so good.

Reese

Re: Foretravel Realm or IH45 posts

Reply #11 – August 02, 2018, 11:31:00 am

Quote from: rcantrell51 – August 02, 2018, 10:49:50 am

Bill,
Thank you for the compliment. Good customer service, 24 hour emergency call, service writers are very helpful. We have used the emergency line several times. Called on 9 AM Sunday morning, 11 PM Friday night, and other times. Always have been able to speak with a technician or service writer. If they are on a call they return my call within a reasonable amount of time. No long waits on a return phone call.
So far so good.

Reese

Agree, got a call back from Newell [on a Sunday] within 10 min. Nice think about Newells, A lot of the techs that call back have worked at Newell for years, and because they only make 25 or so a year, can sometimes actually remember your particular coach.
That said, if you belong to the Foretravel Motorcade Club, you are also can also get 24 hr help. Actually had James T. [resident Foretravel expert] call me back the same day, and helped me with a problem.

Re: Foretravel Realm or IH45 posts

Reply #12 – August 02, 2018, 01:00:17 pm

Quote from: jcus – August 02, 2018, 11:31:00 am

A lot of the techs that call back have worked at Newell for years, and because they only make 25 or so a year, can sometimes actually remember your particular coach.

That's a cool thing. We were at the Airstream factory and the kid that was working on the coach said, "My Dad built your coach!"

Re: Foretravel Realm or IH45 posts

Reply #13 – August 04, 2018, 07:33:44 am

Jim,
A nice feature from Newell Coach Corp. you do not need to join a club or pay additional fees to talk with someone when you need technical support. The difference in business philosophy or customer support between the two organizations.

Reese

Re: Foretravel Realm or IH45 posts

Reply #14 – August 04, 2018, 10:40:10 am

Quote from: rcantrell51 – August 04, 2018, 07:33:44 am

Jim,
A nice feature from Newell Coach Corp. you do not need to join a club or pay additional fees to talk with someone when you need technical support. The difference in business philosophy or customer support between the two organizations.

Reese

Have been reading the Newell forum again, and noticed that a couple of senior members pointed out to Newell a problem with the skin rivets on some older coaches. Newell posted a letter that states that they will inspect and repair, at no charge, all coaches built between 1998 and 2013 with this problem.

Re: Foretravel Realm or IH45 posts

Reply #15 – August 04, 2018, 11:12:11 am

Jim,
We were at Newell in June for service and repairs & the rivets on our coach were inspected and all of them had to be replaced. The issue is on the driver's side between the two slides & the repairs were performed at no cost.
After the repairs were completed, the service writer reviewed the issue and the repair that was needed to correct the problem. The service writer and I went to the coach and he showed me the area that was repaired. We were pleased with EVERYTHING.

Reese

Re: Foretravel Realm or IH45 posts

Reply #16 – August 04, 2018, 02:40:29 pm

a loose hung skin and dark paint can expand and pop rivets. Painted skins expand.

A 91 beaver marquis 40' floated side wall assembly lengthened 1/2 inch from cool morning to warm afternoon when measured

Re: Foretravel Realm or IH45 posts

Reply #17 – August 10, 2018, 07:25:51 am

I wonder if it is a lack of knowledge about this board and the information it can provide or maybe these owners do not participate in boards. Just a thought. The "lack of knowledge about this board" is not meant to be taken offensively.
In the early 2000's I found the Foreforum in the Group sections of Yahoo after somebody posted a comment on RV.net. It still took some searching on the Yahoo Groups before this forum could be located.

Reese

Re: Foretravel Realm or IH45 posts

Reply #18 – August 10, 2018, 04:44:41 pm

Quote from: jcus – August 04, 2018, 10:40:10 am

Have been reading the Newell forum again, and noticed that a couple of senior members pointed out to Newell a problem with the skin rivets on some older coaches. Newell posted a letter that states that they will inspect and repair, at no charge, all coaches built between 1998 and 2013 with this problem.

Wow, that's great customer service.

Chris

Re: Foretravel Realm or IH45 posts

Reply #19 – August 10, 2018, 11:27:35 pm

Quote from: bogeygolfer – August 10, 2018, 04:44:41 pm

Wow, that's great customer service.

Chris

Or just damage control on a presouly known problem. Either way they have manned up, and are addressing the issue. My guess it's not voluntary.

Re: Foretravel Realm or IH45 posts

Reply #20 – August 11, 2018, 12:33:45 am

Quote from: Old phart phred – August 10, 2018, 11:27:35 pm

Or just damage control on a presouly known problem. Either way they have manned up, and are addressing the issue. My guess it's not voluntary.

A lot of Foretravels and many other brands have had problems over the years and have not manned up.
Do not think you have any recourse on a 20 year old motorhome voluntary or not. Some companies still believe in doing the right thing. Will agree not very common in today's society. 50 year ago, a handshake was a binding agreement, now requires 10 pages of legal papers and a lawyer. The world is a-changing. Kinda sad.

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