Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 14, 2025 ...

A question from a new FT owner to the veteran owners.....

July 18, 2015, 11:23:46 pm

We now have a wonderful coach, truly a lifetime goal and dream attained. With some coach bucks spent, everything works and is as we want it. I have never been happier or more excited about a purchase of any size.....zero second thoughts, only appreciation for what I have an all those that have helped me.

The question.....how the heck are you able to stay at home between adventures knowing that you an amazing motorhome, parked, fueled up, dark and ready but not going anywhere. 

It's driving me nuts! I want to get on the road! I had a trip planned for next weekend to Virginia Beach to visit friends but my wife has to work. I can't in good conscience leave her behind to take care of the business and everything at home while I indulge my new Foretravel habit. I did think about however.

This is the price we are paying for buying a coach before we had planned. The deal was 8 or 9 months too soon but I couldn't let this one get away.  Hopefully  this fall we will be able to begin stepping back from our business so we can travel.

At least we have much to look forward to.

How do you do it?!

Jeff

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Re: A question from a new FT owner to the veteran owners.....

Reply #1 – July 18, 2015, 11:41:03 pm

Well, if you can't go, then clean & pamper. Make sure that it gets exercised once a month for at least 30 miles. Run everything during exercise. This way it's always going to be ready for when you need to go go go.

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Re: A question from a new FT owner to the veteran owners.....

Reply #2 – July 18, 2015, 11:50:54 pm

Great advice. I need to share that  exercise info with my wife, was that 300 miles, right?    I'm actually spending most of the morning tomorrow puttering and cleaning. I need to install my new flagpole and re organize the basement.

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Re: A question from a new FT owner to the veteran owners.....

Reply #3 – July 18, 2015, 11:59:24 pm

My advice Jeff is open up all the bays and electrical panels and get out the schematics and LEARN the systems (most do not) so that when a little hiccup happens on the road you may know were to look first!!
It is good to know everything you can on these things. Take apart a few valves etc and see how they work. No big deal just take pictures of what you are doing in case you forget how to put it back together again.
JohnH

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Re: A question from a new FT owner to the veteran owners.....

Reply #4 – July 19, 2015, 12:11:51 am

Great idea John, thank you.

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Re: A question from a new FT owner to the veteran owners.....

Reply #5 – July 19, 2015, 12:15:14 am

Yep, almost every day I am doing something to improve or fix an issue that I do not feel comfortable with (or see a better way to have it)
 Learning upholstery right now, and you know what it looks just as good as the original- Ruths words.
JohnH

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Re: A question from a new FT owner to the veteran owners.....

Reply #6 – July 19, 2015, 06:42:50 am

Just wait, you will have preventative stuff to do. Until then, John H is right about learning the systems.  Also look and see what is s where underneath.

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Re: A question from a new FT owner to the veteran owners.....

Reply #7 – July 19, 2015, 08:48:16 am

Jeff, I have been asked how I keep our coach so shiny. Now you know--it is because I find it just as difficult as you to stay home so I spend a LOT of time cleaning and polishing the coach, both inside & out. Even after my rotator cuff surgery June 16, I still putter around the coach, doing "stuff" to make it nicer and prettier, and more comfortable for the three of us. (Although Rocket doesn't complain--he just wants to go)
Friday I changed the 8D battery orientation so I could check the water levels in the cells. Then proceeded to clean EVERY terminal in the battery compartment. Had to lift the battery using two ratchet straps and a 2x4 across the steps opening.
Yesterday I replaced the black tank 3" Valterra valve because the old valve leaked. Found a piece of white bone or plastic down in the groove that apparently kept the valve from closing.
Both jobs a "bit" difficult seeing as I could only use my left hand.
But you get the idea. Start on one end of your coach and work your way to the rear checking EVERYTHING and cleaning EVERYTHING and lubing it if it needs lubing or give EVERY nut, bolt, & screw a test torque--just enough to verify tight.
Check & clean the floor registers and the refrig & ice maker for pet hair.
Check your ACs for the holddown bolts being snug--3/8-16 thds means if you turn the bolt one whole turn you drew the AC down 1/16" so be cautious as to how many turns. Check the shrouds up on the roof. You might want to add fender washers to the shroud bolts. Verify all the caulking is in great shape.
I clean our roof (painted, by the way) on my hands & knees, and then use Mop & Glo floor cleaner.

Just a "couple" things to keep you busy until the two of you can take off. When you do--try to drive at around 56-58 MPH. You will be amazed at how much you can see and enjoy longer at that speed.

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Re: A question from a new FT owner to the veteran owners.....

Reply #8 – July 19, 2015, 08:48:57 am

Do you have any campgrounds close to home you can go to on weekends/days off?  Maybe up to an hour away?  We once spent a rainy week at a park no more than 10 miles from home and it was just as enjoyable as a longer trip.  It would let you get back easily if the business called and would let you put all the systems through their paces and figure out your packing needs, etc., when you take longer trips.

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Re: A question from a new FT owner to the veteran owners.....

Reply #9 – July 19, 2015, 09:09:06 am

We camp at doheny beach 1.5 miles from our house a lot when our favorite size spaces are available.

A secondary  choice is 75 miles away in San Diego. Even overnight feels like you got away to us.

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Re: A question from a new FT owner to the veteran owners.....

Reply #10 – July 19, 2015, 09:44:48 am

Jeff
Lots of great ideas here.

One important one in regard to seeing how everything works under the coach- remember to use safety stands.
Safety is very important, easy to overlook this one time.......etc.
Now that you have your dream coach, play with it safely so we can see you down the road.

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Re: A question from a new FT owner to the veteran owners.....

Reply #11 – July 19, 2015, 10:16:51 am

After I quit working full time I would take the coach to a CG or attraction nearby or a FMCA Chapter Rally ( 150 Miles +- ) DW would follow after work in the toad, then head back sunday nite. Worked that way for several years til she retired.  In fact while I was still working there were times I took the Coach and worked out of it in a remote location, she and the kids ( later G'Kids ) would meet up over the weekend and then they would head home while I stayed and worked.  It helped that I was self employed and could make my own schedule. One memorable month long stretch I was parked behind the old Tennessee RV location in Kodak while I worked the local area.
Gary B

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Re: A question from a new FT owner to the veteran owners.....

Reply #12 – July 19, 2015, 03:15:01 pm

I used to to take the coach every weekend to a place about 60 miles a way in the mountains but then I moved copse to there and see the mountains every day.  I do not go that way any longer but still try to get out once a month for at least a week if I can.

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