If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Topic: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel (Read 1943 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #25 – July 28, 2015, 02:32:02 pm

We went from a 26' Jayco to our 40' U320. Loved the trailer, love the U320 even more. I have stuffed the coach is some tight spaces and find it a delight to drive. Just so long as you think "bus" and not "car" it's fine.

As a salesman told me once "Tailer's are for people who stop for a while, Class A is for those who keep moving"

Horses for courses I suppose. neither is right nor wrong just fit for it's purpose.

Keith

Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #26 – July 28, 2015, 03:26:20 pm

Glad to know we aren't the only ones who kept our prior trailer! I just couldn't turn loose of ours, as it has been so reliable and we've made so many good memories in it. Plus, it really wasn't worth a lot of money, so we figured we'd keep it for when the kids are old enough to tow. Turns out, that time is now. Here's our campsite photo at Garner State Park back in June - FT in the "fore"ground, our old trailer (KZ Sportsman 2405) in the background. Worked out great - we all had our own places. I've threatened to tow it with the FT as a "guest house" - but haven't worked up the courage yet.

And BTW - that's the shortest length site at Garner (I think the site was about 30')- the 36' coach fit, with the rear hanging over the parking stop.

Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #27 – July 28, 2015, 04:19:29 pm

The last camper we had before we bought our FT was a Coleman Popup. We have fond memories of traveling with our kids and knew we'd come back to this lifestyle at some point.

My wife wanted an Airstream. We (I 😄) bought a 40 foot FT. She is getting use to the idea. I am already in love with the coach and appreciate the size. 36 feet would have been ideal but I wanted the best value I could find and felt this one was it.

We are 57ish and are just getting started but I can definitely see the advantages of downsizing to a 36 foot FT in 10 years or so. Like others have mentioned my 'must have item's' include a permanent queen sized bedroom and a recliner.

Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #28 – July 28, 2015, 06:01:20 pm

OK, less than 2 years with my 36 footer, ~almost~ wanting to upgrade in size, (lusting after a stackable W/D & a tad more closet space!) ...anyway, being fairly new, and relatively (ahem) young, ready to roll into my 80's and beyond if at all possible! Maybe way down the road, will consider that Leisure Travel sprinter van I was comparison shopping on, but for now, love the quality, space, luxury, all the amenities, everything about this gorgeous critter! Always did love flying first class....

Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #29 – July 28, 2015, 06:26:54 pm

Good question.
During the past 18 years, among others, we've had a Country Coach 38', Pleasureway Sprinter 21', Born Free 27' and now a 40' Nimbus with four slides. The Nimbus is perfect for us. Not too big. Not too small. We just wish we'd had the $ back then for a Foretravel. Love it for all the reasons you do.

However, if we had to downsize for some reason, like the Nimbus and our bank both got hit by a meteor, we'd have another Born Free in a flash. Amazing comfort and quality. Never had a single problem. Factory support? Who needs it? It was perfect.

So. What are the odds of a meteor strike? That's really the question.

Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #30 – July 28, 2015, 07:06:55 pm

I too have had really zero issue with the Born Free. I love it and have taken it on a couple trips to see how much we like it. It is simple to drive and to park and to pack and unpack...

Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #31 – July 29, 2015, 07:26:31 pm

I consider my FT my mobile cabin, I just move it to where ever I want to go. I can see where a smaller on might be useful for some locations and some narrow roads but I am not ready to give up the comforts of my mobile cabin!

Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #32 – July 29, 2015, 07:51:34 pm

This topic seems to be generating the same responses over and over.

I feel everyone here has a Foretravel because they don't want any other rig instead, maybe as a second rig, but not instead. If they wanted something smaller by choice, they wouldn't be here on this forum. If circumstances forced downsizing, they would prefer to have different circumstances and keep the Foretravel.

That said, I am probably not alone in hoping to keep Foretraveling as long as possible. If the time comes when my choices are to downsize or to hang up my motorhome keys, i will reluctantly downsize. A Born Free class C or a Sprinter based class B+ might do the job, but I would miss EVERYTHING about my Foretravel coach.

About 20 years ago my father in law downsized from a 31' high-end coach (Revcon) to a small, cheap POS SOB motorhome. He was happy to be still RVing for a short time, but he should have quit sooner. The smaller rig only bought him a few more months of RVing, and he left a lot of that RV attached to guardrails along Highway 1 in California.

Before I reach that point, I plan to move to the passenger seat and let my much younger wife take over the driving.

Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #33 – July 29, 2015, 08:32:34 pm

OK, got it, keep FT and trade for younger wife? Economics might not be as favorable though...

Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #34 – July 29, 2015, 08:50:03 pm

Very unfavorable Tim. I have been thinking about this as I have seen a number of FT friends hang up the keys over the past few years. It maybe that I have been around for a while too.

Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #35 – July 29, 2015, 08:58:12 pm

I don't have any problem getting the 40' anywhere I need to go, but we full time so staying in the boondocks for very long don't cut it. As far as traveling and doing the motel thing not fer me. We left our coach in NH, and are heading to Colorado in the towed for 3 weeks. Only been 3 days, I'll take the coach next time!!

Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #36 – July 29, 2015, 09:35:45 pm

This subject gives me pause since this weekend I'll be swapping my trouble free but not as comfortable born free for a 99 270. What attracted me is the homelike comfort of the Foretravel as opposed to the jackknife soda I vowed never to be stuck with again.We're looking forward to having a place for everything and a separate bedroom.Maybe someday soon we'll be able take extended trips If someday we want to continue down the road in something smaller and simpler one of these looks intriguing.

Models

Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #37 – July 30, 2015, 12:27:40 pm

I have to admit my 99 270 was probably my favorite coach.

Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #38 – August 03, 2015, 12:01:06 am

I drove a couple hundred miles along the blue ridge parkway this past week and camped in my 34'. No tow, just dirtbike on a carrier. It's tight in many places. A 36' may fit in some of the campgrounds, but a 40 would be pretty impossible to get around the trees and tight turns with the longer wheel base.

But, this mission isn't really that great for a FT. However, the campgrounds have no hookups, and A/C was not needed. The FT tankage and systems worked great. After 4 days I still had plenty of battery power left with no generator running (I don't watch TV).

Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #39 – August 03, 2015, 01:07:08 am

krush, if you get anywhere near us (at the mini-rally in Hendersonville Thurs. & Fri. Aug.6-7) give us a holler, PM me or someone else on the thread about it. Or just park over at Cracker Barrel (exit 53 off I-26) & come on by!

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Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #40 – August 03, 2015, 08:08:46 am

Quote from: goldbehen – July 29, 2015, 09:35:45 pm

We're looking forward to having...a separate bedroom.

Don't underestimate the importance of this feature! If you and your partner don't have exactly the same sleeping patterns, having the separate bedroom is invaluable. My wife and I couldn't be any more different in the sleep department - I'm "early to bed, early to rise" and she is totally opposite. When traveling in the coach, I (and the dog) get up early and we shut the bedroom and bathroom doors, allowing her to snooze in peace. Try doing this in a class B or any RV where the couch is also the bed.

Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #41 – August 03, 2015, 08:17:01 am

The Born Free has the over the cab bed that you can curtin off but I understand what you are saying.

Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #42 – August 03, 2015, 08:49:07 am

Well, we had a Lazy Daze mid bath Class C.
So your wife could sleep over the cab and you and the dog sleep in the super king bed in the rear.

The super king was made by pulling to couches together.

best, paul

Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #43 – August 03, 2015, 09:22:44 pm

Well, I stopped in at Born Free and saw the 29 foot coach on the F550 four wheel drive chassis. I was very impressed with the livability and the how they put it together and the setup. They have a 2000 watt Pure sign wave outback inverter and they have decent tanks too. I can get it in 50 amp and with 2 ac units. It is a definite possibility some time in the future. Sadly, FT is not making a coach I will want to buy as my next coach. They have very little storage and are heavy tall and glitzy and not like my current one. I also think it is time to try a different approach and go different places. I have covered the entire country now other then Alaska in my coach and now I want to go a bit more off the beaten path. So, one day or other I will put my coach up for sale and make the move to a smaller coach. I know the build quality will be the same and it will be simpler to run and the repairs will be minor and it will bet 12 to 13 mpg too.

The question is when should i do it? I do not think it will be this year but probably next year.

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Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #25 – July 28, 2015, 02:32:02 pm

Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #26 – July 28, 2015, 03:26:20 pm

Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #27 – July 28, 2015, 04:19:29 pm

Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #28 – July 28, 2015, 06:01:20 pm

Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #29 – July 28, 2015, 06:26:54 pm

Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #30 – July 28, 2015, 07:06:55 pm

Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #31 – July 29, 2015, 07:26:31 pm

Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #32 – July 29, 2015, 07:51:34 pm

Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #33 – July 29, 2015, 08:32:34 pm

Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #34 – July 29, 2015, 08:50:03 pm

Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #35 – July 29, 2015, 08:58:12 pm

Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #36 – July 29, 2015, 09:35:45 pm

Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #37 – July 30, 2015, 12:27:40 pm

Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #38 – August 03, 2015, 12:01:06 am

Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #39 – August 03, 2015, 01:07:08 am

Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #40 – August 03, 2015, 08:08:46 am

Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #41 – August 03, 2015, 08:17:01 am

Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #42 – August 03, 2015, 08:49:07 am

Re: If You Have Downsized Do You Miss Your Foretravel

Reply #43 – August 03, 2015, 09:22:44 pm

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