FT or Some Other Brand (was Re: Bellville, Tx)

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FT or Some Other Brand (was Re: Bellville, Tx)

September 15, 2011, 09:00:29 pm

J.D. - I have read your remarks on the forum for quite a long time - My wife (Mary Burleson) is also from Bellville. She still has the old place out on on Hwy. 159. We currently live in Jersey Village (Houston) We are planning to invest in a nice 42' diesel pusher - not sure what we will buy - I like the FT and we took a tour of the plant but they are out of their mind on prices. I have done more research on different coaches and convinced that their are a lot of very fine coaches for less money. It appears that FT has brainwashed the owners. Newell is a fine coach as well as Monoco, Newmar, etc. Hope to meet up with you when we hit the road. Clarence Lacy

Re: FT or Some Other Brand (was Re: Bellville, Tx)

Reply #1 – September 15, 2011, 09:28:38 pm

Clarence, Clarence, Calrence,

Pardner, you just don't know what you don't know.

While Monaco and Newmar are better than average coaches, a new one of those is not going to be what a few years old Foretravel of the same price is. To learn of the inside, out of sight differences, I encourage you to go to Nac and take James Stallings to lunch and let him tell you of the things he finds different as he performs crash repair on them.

Recently I was there while a Signature, top of the line, was getting a repair to the rear cap done. James said the thickness of the fiberglass in the Sigs cap was nothing compared to the thickness in mine.

There are many other things which is why I suggest lunch.

Now if you go Newell or a Prevost conversion they are another step up and no way Newmar and Monaco are competitors.

James has owned a Foretravel and now has a Prevost. He set up the original Foretravel paint shop for the factory some years ago. So you will be talking to a real authority that truly knows the ins and outs.

Watch out for lots of bling and shallow substance.

Hope this helps you all.

Re: FT or Some Other Brand (was Re: Bellville, Tx)

Reply #2 – September 15, 2011, 09:35:05 pm

Clarence,

Let me add to what Rudy said. This spring we were at a former Monaco dealership in Leesburg, FL. The facility survived as a service facility for big rigs.
We had two techs in 2.5 days. Both of these guys could not get over how solid and well planned was our Foretravel. They made repeated comments about how much easier it was to service our coach.

As far as "brainwashing" goes. I think it is the other way around. The Foretravel quality does not come cheap.

Also, there is no magic in owning a current year model coach with so many outstanding used ones available.

Re: FT or Some Other Brand (was Re: Bellville, Tx)

Reply #3 – September 15, 2011, 10:16:40 pm

I love these comments, and always go back to the comment made by a gentleman,
"He would rather have a 10 year old Foretravel than a brand new anything else"
I figure he is either well educated or a total fool, I am betting he knows something.
And as the old saying you pay your money and take your chance.
Heck , Buy what ever makes you happy, It might last a while.
Cheers

Re: FT or Some Other Brand (was Re: Bellville, Tx)

Reply #4 – September 15, 2011, 10:24:14 pm

Buy used! Nearly all of us do!

Re: FT or Some Other Brand (was Re: Bellville, Tx)

Reply #5 – September 15, 2011, 10:39:07 pm

Quote from: Dave M – September 15, 2011, 10:16:40 pm

I love these comments, and always go back to the comment made by a gentleman,
"He would rather have a 10 year old Foretravel than a brand new anything else"
I figure he is either well educated or a total fool, I am betting he knows something.
And as the old saying you pay your money and take your chance.
Heck , Buy what ever makes you happy, It might last a while.
Cheers

Dave, you're absolutely right on. "You can lead a horse to water, but ya can't make 'em drink." "Quality is quality" and "you get what you pay for" also come to mind.

I say that Foretravel did not do everything right all the time, but has come closer to it than most other custom coach makers.

Clarence, if you have experience with fulltiming and coach ownership, you gotta go with your gut. Otherwise, listen to what some folks here on this forum have to say. Most of us have owned other SOB coaches at one time or another, and do have a bechmark from which to measure quality and performance.

It all depends on how often you intend to replace coaches once you begin the fulltime adventure.

Re: FT or Some Other Brand (was Re: Bellville, Tx)

Reply #6 – September 15, 2011, 11:40:57 pm

To chime in, I can't tell you how many former Foretravel owners have come up to us and said they wish they had never sold their Foretravels. Most have said as soon as they can sell their SOB motorhome, they will go back to an older Foretravel.

I was in and around the fiberglass business for several decades and I have never seen fiberglass of the thickness and quality that is used in a Foretravel. They may not be the flashiest coach but every item is first class quality.

I literally would not trade my 1993/2009 U300 for a brand new other brand. I know that may sound ridiculous but that's how much I like my coach. At this stage of my life reliability is everything.

Re: FT or Some Other Brand (was Re: Bellville, Tx)

Reply #7 – September 16, 2011, 12:35:31 am

Gemütlichkeit !!! No other word describes it better. Such a feeling each time you step into a Foretravel. The wood, the bath, the incredible floor plan, the little things like the roller cabinet doors, the neat wiring throughout. The feeling of ownership is nothing short of magical. Fore was a lot more than a guy looking to make money off of retirees. He had a vision and what a great vision he had.

Like Kent above, I would not trade mine for the world. It is the Beechcraft of the RV world. A Foretravel that has miles on it is not used. It just has a beautiful patina that a lot of lucky owners have fallen in love with.

Re: FT or Some Other Brand (was Re: Bellville, Tx)

Reply #8 – September 16, 2011, 09:05:39 am

Clarence,
You've inspired us. We have a 93 and just bought a 99. We're going to dump them both and get a Bounder. (love the kangaroo).
jor

Re: FT or Some Other Brand (was Re: Bellville, Tx)

Reply #9 – September 16, 2011, 11:34:58 am

Figure out your price and then match it to a year that sells for that amount. I too would rather wn a used coach than a new other brand. Newell is more as are buses. I have been looking long and hard are Prevost conversions and the Newer FT are starting to stack up agaist them very well. Surprised me too. Bus owners will not always agree but if they look carefully there are only a couple converters who put the level of care into their conversion that akes it worthwhie.

Re: FT or Some Other Brand (was Re: Bellville, Tx)

Reply #10 – September 16, 2011, 12:13:24 pm

After a recent experience with a tree limb hitting the back of my coach, I can tell you without a doubt that any SOB would have had the whole back cap demolished. The only damage I had was a ladder bent and lost a step. Would not go to any other brand for anything.

We fulltime in ours and love it.

Re: FT or Some Other Brand (was Re: Bellville, Tx)

Reply #11 – September 16, 2011, 01:08:01 pm

Jeff and I have owned a '93, a '95 and are now full timing in an '02 with 1 slide. Each previous coach has things that are unique to that year and that I miss today ... but we have found a great combination of the things on our "wish list" in this one. Just as we did when we lived in a "stick house", we have fun looking at SOBs and if there is an RV show next door, we wander around and look at the new ones. I am sorry to say that even the "top sellers" appear to us to be pretty shaky in terms of quality and construction. The interiors are invariably plastic, the entrance steps wobble and wiggle. Interior walls are hollow and flimsy and the finishes and construction are just not first rate. NONE of them have a trans retarder. I would be crazy to buy a new anything ... even a Foretravel (sorry!) ... when I can get such quality in a used unit for so much less money. Sorry, Clarence ... I just can't agree with your evaluation. We have visited a few fine coaches ... namely a 2000 Country Coach (but they had repeated issues with their slides), and a '90s era Beaver (that was at the Foretravel factory for a complete interior update!), but only a few. The brand new Foretravels are very impressive. But ... for my own taste ... if I had an unlimited budget and could buy one, I would completely change their interior finishes and radically calm things down. I am NOT a fan of whoever is decorating those new coaches. The tiny tiles in back splashes and showers have me wondering just who is going to clean all that grout! I much prefer the "older" interiors that are simpler and lighter in feel and highlight the richness of the woodwork.

Re: FT or Some Other Brand (was Re: Bellville, Tx)

Reply #12 – September 16, 2011, 02:52:02 pm

No brainwashing here. I'm on my third motorhome, and had a travel trailer before the motorhomes. Had a 24' Class C 1987 Sunrader, a 28' Class A 1994 Tiffin Allegro, and my current 36' Class A DP 1994 Foretravel U225. After visiting several RV shows recently, I'll match my '94 Foretravel, interior fit and finish wise, to any of the new run of the mill RVs out there, including the Monaco Vesta and Holiday Rambler Trip. And the '94 Allegro I came out of could not hold a candle to the same year Foretravel! And the Foretravel had twice the miles on the odometer!

Re: FT or Some Other Brand (was Re: Bellville, Tx)

Reply #13 – September 16, 2011, 04:06:05 pm

I have to second everyone's opinion. Before we settled on a Foretravel we looked at a lot of other brands. With the Foretravel it is not just skin deep looks but quality all the way through. Even if one discounts the custom chassis design on the later models and the frame and solid body it is also the various other things from hinges to appliances that matter. If a unit is built down to a price to compete with a host of other ones on the lots something has to suffer. Going for a few short trips a year? Pretty much anything will do. Live in it or do high mileages the only the best units will hold up.

Keith

Re: FT or Some Other Brand (was Re: Bellville, Tx)

Reply #14 – September 16, 2011, 05:52:03 pm

My Dad once told me; "A fool and his money are soon parted" and I have tried to apply that scenario each and every time I make a significant purchase. I have learned to buy slightly used high end products, the out the door depreciation has been taken by someone with a lot more funds than I have and I get to enjoy a premium product. When it comes to vehicles as long as the technology is not out dated, a well built structure that has been well maintained, may be a much better vehicle than those that are being built today. Our 1994 Foretravel had only 30,000 verified, miles on it when we purchased it in 2008, and had always been stored in a climate controlled building. It was as new inside and out, even the frame was waxed. I consider these coaches to be high end; Foretravel, Bluebird, Newell, Liberty/Prevost, Marathon/Prevost. Of course all of the above is just my opinion for what it's worth...

Re: FT or Some Other Brand (was Re: Bellville, Tx)

Reply #15 – September 16, 2011, 11:23:48 pm

Quote from: PatC – September 16, 2011, 02:52:02 pm

No brainwashing here.

Or here, either. We're both engineers and research and inspect the heck out of everything. Structure, substance, safety, quality - that's what gets our vote. Reliability, accessibility, serviceability. We purchased our coach in 2004, when the future of the company was in question, but felt that the design and quality of the coach and the components it was outfitted with were there even if the company should go away (fortunately, it hasn't).

We have looked over a few other brands since buying ours in 2004 and always walk away appreciating our Foretravel even more. The newer ones are a little fancy for our taste, but that's just decorating and we hope should we ever need a next coach, someone out there had our "practical" decor/materials/systems sensibilities and the coach they designed new happens to be for sale as a pre-owned unit.

Michelle

Re: FT or Some Other Brand (was Re: Bellville, Tx)

Reply #16 – September 17, 2011, 01:40:53 pm

Clarence, I have owned a Monaco and it can not compare to my Foretravel. Sure the new ones are pricey. That is why I bought used. If you shop you will find a good deal on one. I bought my 2006 Phenix in 2009 with 9000 miles on it for less than 50% of what it stickered for brand new. I am convinced that its quality is what helped me from flipping when I had a front end blowout recently. Put a price on that my friend.

Re: FT or Some Other Brand (was Re: Bellville, Tx)

Reply #17 – September 18, 2011, 10:32:28 am

I should have known better to get into this discussion but since I am in I must continue. I log into several RV discussion groups - it is interesting that each one says they have the best and knocks all the others. I probably fit into an unusual group as I am an engineer, former drag racer, past owner of two company's which had hauler trucks - I have taken tours of the 5 most popular RV mfg. and have attended 2 sessions at the Escapees in Livingston, TX. - I make a point of getting the experts off to the side and get as much info as possible on their opinion on different coach's. What I find out is their are several good trouble free coach's - all have some problems but it appears that the way the coach's are maintained is so very important - other things are the Amish cabnets seem to be per ferred - at the moment I am leaning toward the Thur coach and plan to go to their plant in Indina for a final tour before I make up my mind. What disappoints me about FT is they are going after the high end market and will not be building coach's for the average people. Yes it looks like if someone has to have a FT that an older coach is the only alternative - don't take this wrong - FT is a great coach but not the only one on the market. Thanks Clarence

Re: FT or Some Other Brand (was Re: Bellville, Tx)

Reply #18 – September 18, 2011, 11:49:02 am

"What disappoints me about FT is they are going after the high end market and will not be building coach's for the average people. Yes it looks like if someone has to have a FT that an older coach is the only alternative - don't take this wrong - FT is a great coach but not the only one on the market. "
I really agree with this observation, Clarence. I don't pretend to understand the reasoning behind Foretravel's insistence on ONLY manufacturing the monster million $$ coaches. But I would NOT like to see them begin churning out mass numbers of low end units and cheapen the brand. I guess they have their strategy. What I think that most of us are saying is that, yes, indeed, there are some very decent, reasonably priced coaches on the market for someone who insists on a brand new unit, but that a used Foretravel (at an even more reasonable price) gives you the advantage of excellent quality, superior technology and the advantage of someone else taking the depreciation hit. Good luck with your search ... I am in contact with someone who has recently begun RVing in a Damon (Thor) '09 model and is very happy. He has a good bit of your same experience under his belt, and is able to address the issues they have experienced so far on his own. It's a pretty coach ... but no retarder, not as solid and they paid a lot more than we did for our '02 with all of the same and some better bells and whistles. If you need brand new ... go for it. Please keep in touch and let us know how you make out. All comparative knowledge is good.

Re: FT or Some Other Brand (was Re: Bellville, Tx)

Reply #19 – September 20, 2011, 09:38:31 am

Everyone has their story about SOB's. Last year got to help a friend with a Signature, the top of the line, maybe an 2008. We took the king bed apart to shorten the base cabinet work. The bedroom had a left and right side slide, he found the designers did not allow enough room to allow the two slides to fully retract. We shorten the base, reinstalled all the carpet and trim. 4 months later after trips from Ft. Worth to Moab, and a summer in Ouray, he had to spend $5000 having the side walls repaired around the slides on one side.

He traded off the coach and got into a 2001 Prevost, without slides, love the lack of slides, noise, and leaks. He helped point me towards Bluebird and Foretravels.

Our uncle spent a year and half trying to resolve electrical problems in a new Monaco Diplomat, dealer after dealer, then the factory. After problem after problem related to charging, inverters and controllers, switches and relays, he gave up. He took a huge loss, moved on to a Beaver Patriot Thunder.

Hope your search finds you the coach of your dreams.

Re: FT or Some Other Brand (was Re: Bellville, Tx)

Reply #20 – October 01, 2011, 02:24:27 pm

I will add my two cents. I seriously looked at other brands too. In fact I own two coaches. One is a FT and the other is a Bornfree. I think the Bornfree is better built than even the FT. THey are very simple and that is the reason but they work but it is not as comfortable or easy to drive or to live in for longer periods. I looked at Newell and they have great coaches but are overweight on the drive axle. They put a button to equalize the tag and the drive so you can get on some toll roads.

I think Prevosts have a better chassis than FT but there is no other manufacturer out there today that make chassis that is like FT. The insides can look fancy but it is how they wire and how they build it. I disagree with the IH 45 they seem to be putting out. They are too tall for the east coast. I just went under a 13 foot 3 inch bridge. The answer I got was that Tractor Trailers can be 13'6" but they do not go to campgrounds.

That they survived the down turn says a lot. Bluebird lost its way had issues with electronics on their M series. CC was a National after the purchase and had lots of issues. It will be interesting to see but I know that I have talked to many owners in campgrounds and the comment is many times, I wish I could afford a FT.

Re: FT or Some Other Brand (was Re: Bellville, Tx)

Reply #21 – October 01, 2011, 03:00:26 pm

I'll betcha if you ripped the marble out of a Newell and put a nice Karndean floor in it would be a 'tad' lighter...

Re: FT or Some Other Brand (was Re: Bellville, Tx)

Reply #22 – October 01, 2011, 08:43:39 pm

You are probably right there Dave. It is not only the marble I fear but they make wonderful coaches and I think they favorably compare to FT. In fact I think FT considers them their competition and prices the IH just below them.

Re: FT or Some Other Brand (was Re: Bellville, Tx)

Reply #23 – October 01, 2011, 09:44:21 pm

It might be heresy but I would love to take a 2000 double slide Newell back the the factory in OK for a diet makeover with wood floors and have the cabinets redone in the wood veneers like the later models. Make sure it was a rear closet model with the underbelly air conditioning option which would leave me room on the roof for about 4KW of solar panels. I noticed the new ones are coming with an ISX 650...

Re: FT or Some Other Brand (was Re: Bellville, Tx)

Reply #24 – October 01, 2011, 09:46:25 pm

Sorta like cheating on your spouse....plus how long would it take you to be the top poster on the Newell forum?

:-)

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