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Topic: Will buy a Foretravel--- slides or no slides (Read 1411 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Will buy a Foretravel--- slides or no slides

Reply #25 –
We couldn't afford a FT with slides, and I only wanted a FT (or Bluebird) coach. I thought I wanted a slide, until recently. I drove a friend's Fleetwood Discovery with 3 slides and I've never been so claustrophobic going down the road.

And by the way...if you ever need validation for buying a Foretravel - go drive someone's brand new $200k Fleetwood!  What a miserable driving experience.
1996 U295 36' WTBI

Re: Will buy a Foretravel--- slides or no slides

Reply #26 –
Quote from: bogeygolfer –
We couldn't afford a FT with slides, and I only wanted a FT (or Bluebird) coach. I thought I wanted a slide, until recently. I drove a friend's Fleetwood Discovery with 3 slides and I've never been so claustrophobic going down the road.

And by the way...if you ever need validation for buying a Foretravel - go drive someone's brand new $200k Fleetwood!  What a miserable driving experience.

Two things are being sold. The floor plan and fabrics and interior to the ladies and the boy parts.  The problem is the boy parts turn out to be the most important.  Second time buyers learn that from the first one.

Bob
"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: Will buy a Foretravel--- slides or no slides

Reply #27 –
Quote from: kb0zke –
Mark, any issues with the sink being in the slide? Our mpg had the sink in the slide, which meant that the drain had to be a flexible hose. While we were visiting Nac last year the connection from the hose to the gray water tank broke.

David - That occurred to me as well, but it must be well engineered.  66k miles and no repairs for anything in the slide.  And now it is the norm in the newer models with dual front slides.
The selected media item is not currently available.

Mark & Mary Benko
Former coach: 2005 U295 3823
Jeep Cherokee, Honda Fit

Re: Will buy a Foretravel--- slides or no slides

Reply #28 –
Quote from: Mark Benko –
And now it is the norm in the newer models with dual front slides.

Which drives us nuts - curbside front slides take away patio space, lessen the "under awning" area, make common basement storage areas harder to get to, and the interior of the coach feels way too wide and "impersonal" to us.  One of those "more isn't necessarily better" things.
-M
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: Will buy a Foretravel--- slides or no slides

Reply #29 –
I agree with Michelle.  We have double slide with single in front.  Gives us great room in traveling and lots of room when parked.  Looked at 4 slides Tiffin Bus and no room inside forget getting to the bathroom with slides in and on the road.  DAN
Dan & Shirley Stansel
2002 U295 4020 AGDS Build#6054
Towing Buick Enclave & M &  G Braking
Emerald Bay, Lake Palestine, Texas
MC# 16650

Re: Will buy a Foretravel--- slides or no slides

Reply #30 –
We have friends that we met at FOT who traded their four slide 40' Nimbus for a three slide 42' Nimbus. The coaches had the same colors and interior decoration scheme. Both of the friends thought that two slides in the salon provided room to dance, but was not comfortable for conversation or general use. I think they prefer conversation to dancing. The main reason they switched was that Roy hit his head on the header at the top of the slide every time he went to the kitchen. We people who with heads closer to the ground would not have that problem.

We are part timers. The biggest proportion of our time inside the coach is spent in driving or sleeping. Having no slides works well for us and fits our budget.
J D Stevens
1997 U295 CAI 36' Build #5085
2002 Subaru Outback
Motorcade 16869
Bellville, TX

Re: Will buy a Foretravel--- slides or no slides

Reply #31 –
We have a non slide coach.  P.O. purchased a coach with slide, their third Foretravel.  I think all the dis/advantages have been laid out for you.  We are happy with our arrangement.  Over the holiday there were six adults for dinner twice and we all fit perfectly well, so long as people are happy with trays on laps.

The one thing I like is to stop and be ready to use the coach to the fullest, be it at a rest stop for lunch or when we get to a site.

Go and look at a few and see what your personal preference is. FoT and the factory always have coaches available for inspection.  Well worth a visit as you can see many options and get a Factory tour and will be able to meet other owners in person.

Keith
Keith, Joyce & Smokey the Australian Cattle Dog
1995 U320 SE Extreme 40' WTBI Build # 4780, with a Honda CR-V hopefully still following behind.
Motorcade # 17030
FMCA # F422159

Re: Will buy a Foretravel--- slides or no slides

Reply #32 –
There are only a few floor plans that all manufacturers use, because there are really only so many ways that one can put the same things into a box. A few hours spent looking at different floor plans will quickly tell you what will and won't work for you. Then you can go on to shop for the right Foretravel.

Factory tours are very educational. The brand that was our first choice (we thought) was completely dropped from further consideration because of the factory tour. The newer the coaches on your list are the better the factory tour will match what you will eventually buy. Since we were primarily interested in the GV style, what is currently being built didn't apply in many areas. What you will see, though, it the quality that goes into the finished product. Are defects noted and taken care of as the coach is going down the line, or are they (maybe) dealt with after assembly is complete? Does the line keep moving when an issue is discovered, or do things stop until the problem is fixed? A few tours will really open your eyes.

Re: Will buy a Foretravel--- slides or no slides

Reply #33 –
We also have a no-slide coach, and for us it is perfect. Our 1995 still has the full-walnut interior walls and the tambour doors, and lots of storage space. Since it is a U320 SE it has the 400 HP Cummins M11 and the Aqua-Hot. I would not want to be without any of the features I just mentioned.

It would be nice to have the extra interior room slides provide, but for us the trade-offs of increased maintenance and reduced storage space outweigh the extra room. In addition, we tend to be "travelers" rather than "campers" and so it is very convenient to stop for the night without needing to extend slides.

As the saying goes, "to each his own"!
David and Carolyn Osborn
1995 U320C SE 40' Build 4726 Feb 1995
FMCA 147762
Motorcade 17186

Re: Will buy a Foretravel--- slides or no slides

Reply #34 –
We wouldn't trade our 93, U300 for anything but part of that is our budget. We don't need or want the cost r aggravation of a slide/s, the cost of maintenance of an Aquahot and all of the other "Bells and Whistles" of the newer coaches. By the way, we have had two offers for an even trade for much newer Foretravels with those accountants and turned them down flat.

My recommendation for an easy life, buy a 93 and have it updated at the Foretravel factory. Cost should be less than $60K including he cost of the coach. The more miles, the better. A frequently used coach has far fewer problems than a coach that sits for months or years at a time.
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: Will buy a Foretravel--- slides or no slides

Reply #35 –
Had a very interesting 45' Zephyr, parked ext to me, it looked new, very fancy paintig, looked sharpe indeed, howsoever, problems were  the 50 amp would not power but 1a/c, one of the four slides failed to fully extend and one of the hydraulic jack pads would not extend far enough to touch the ground.  All this while parked at th Blue On camp groud, very nice place in Pender, Nb,  some ties you just laugh and enjoy the Foretravel.
 

Re: Will buy a Foretravel--- slides or no slides

Reply #36 –
Quote from: Dave M –
Had a very interesting 45' Zephyr, parked ext to me, it looked new, very fancy paintig, looked sharpe indeed, howsoever, problems were ....
Beta testers...that seems to be what a whole lot of initial owners are, especially for SOB purchases.
The selected media item is not currently available.Brad & Christine Slaughter
Was:  1990 U280 36'
Was:  2002 U270 36' (With a bathroom door) Build #5981
Is:  2021 Leisure Travel Van Wonder 24RL
2015 Jeep JKU, 2003 S10 QC 4x4 or 2017 C-Max
Lake Havasu City, AZ (or Gillette, WY)