What is the worst/best design feature of your Foretravel?

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What is the worst/best design feature of your Foretravel?

February 07, 2012, 08:58:56 am

I thought that maybe I could learn something from other owners about their rigs. I'll start...

Worst - Hidden dump valves for the grey/black tanks. Hard to get to if they break.
Best - HWH air leveling system with no jacks, transmission retarder. ( had to list 2!)

Re: What is the worst/best design feature of your Foretravel?

Reply #1 – February 07, 2012, 09:37:30 am

Worst...front entry step. Accident waiting to happen...But, on the way to Stallings for modification/

Best....everything else (does that count as one?)

Re: What is the worst/best design feature of your Foretravel?

Reply #2 – February 07, 2012, 09:44:56 am

Best: Accordion pleat cabinet doors (I love them!)

Worst: Tail light assembly that has to be re-glued after changing a light.

Craig

Re: What is the worst/best design feature of your Foretravel?

Reply #3 – February 07, 2012, 10:03:44 am

Best: Dashboard layout & accessibility. Worst: fresh water tank overflow.

Peter

Re: What is the worst/best design feature of your Foretravel?

Reply #4 – February 07, 2012, 10:05:14 am

Worst ... front entry step, for sure. VERY close second?? Gotta be the designs that have a big, honking mirror just opposite the commode. (Are you KIDDING???) Serious lack of thought, there.

LOVED the tambour doors on our '93 and '95 coaches.

Re: What is the worst/best design feature of your Foretravel?

Reply #5 – February 07, 2012, 10:37:10 am

I can't believe that there is no light switch accessible from the recliner for the PS overhead light in our coach?!?!? We have light switches everywhere else... Hard to believe that no designer ever sat there for a moment and said gee... would be nice to control that light right over my head from this comfy seat without having to get up. I know it is a little thing but when I want to snooze I like a little darkness!

Re: What is the worst/best design feature of your Foretravel?

Reply #6 – February 07, 2012, 12:17:26 pm

best - retarder

worst - "J" lounge for table, close follower - slide design/bladder in early model slide units

Re: What is the worst/best design feature of your Foretravel?

Reply #7 – February 07, 2012, 12:33:05 pm

Worst: Propane and fuel tank next to exit door. Wasted space under nose of U300. Terrible owner's manual and no detailed parts manual. Learning curve where all switches are.

Best: Interior design, feeling, quality woodwork. Love the intimate big jet cockpit feel up front.

Re: What is the worst/best design feature of your Foretravel?

Reply #8 – February 07, 2012, 01:12:24 pm

Worst: No Retarder

Best: Suspension/handling; automatic leveling system (no jacks); cabinetry/tambour doors; U-line Ice Maker (yes, we use LOTS of ice!)

Re: What is the worst/best design feature of your Foretravel?

Reply #9 – February 07, 2012, 02:40:41 pm

Best of the best: Our 60 inches of kitchen counter on our 40 ft CAI
Best: a desk, Retarder and chassis (why we bought a Foretravel)

Worst: HVAC 1) Dash AC vents cool only the driver's knees 2) House AC not extended to front of motorhome

Bob
2000 U270

Re: What is the worst/best design feature of your Foretravel?

Reply #10 – February 07, 2012, 03:11:30 pm

This is an easy one.

Worst: J Lounge Dining table
Best: Aqua Hot, Retrader, Leveling, Dash heat & AC, 500 HP, Wood work, Body, Xtreme Paint

Hell, Everything is very fine, what is not to like ?

Dave M

Re: What is the worst/best design feature of your Foretravel?

Reply #11 – February 07, 2012, 04:01:05 pm

Quote from: Jeff Savournin – February 07, 2012, 09:37:30 am

Worst...front entry step. Accident waiting to happen...But, on the way to Stallings for modification/

Best....everything else (does that count as one?)

Step mod? What? How? What's getting done?

Re: What is the worst/best design feature of your Foretravel?

Reply #12 – February 07, 2012, 04:06:10 pm

Quote from: Carol Savournin – February 07, 2012, 10:05:14 am

Worst ... front entry step, for sure. VERY close second?? Gotta be the designs that have a big, honking mirror just opposite the commode. (Are you KIDDING???) Serious lack of thought, there.

LOVED the tambour doors on our '93 and '95 coaches.

HA HA! Agree with you on the mirror location. Even worse... in mine there's a mirror BEHIND the commode AND in front of the commode so it doesn't matter which direction I face. Scary!

I will eventually remove the mirror behind the toilet, but then will probably have to get something to cover up where it's been for 12 years - because I'll probably rip the wall some how trying to get it off. Project for another time I guess. Hmmm, press on fake tile sheets come to mind...

Re: What is the worst/best design feature of your Foretravel?

Reply #13 – February 07, 2012, 05:28:55 pm

Worst,Dash lights inverter.

Re: What is the worst/best design feature of your Foretravel?

Reply #14 – February 07, 2012, 06:21:54 pm

Quote from: Steve & Kathy B – February 07, 2012, 04:01:05 pm

Step mod? What? How? What's getting done?

The "Moose" was painted by the Stallings.
Check out their website Custom RV and Motorhome Painting, Custom RV Paint Design, RV Paint Repair,
Neal

Re: What is the worst/best design feature of your Foretravel?

Reply #15 – February 07, 2012, 06:29:48 pm

Quote from: Steve & Kathy B – February 07, 2012, 04:01:05 pm

Step mod? What? How? What's getting done?

I believe J&C are going for the Kwikee series 42 like we did

Xtreme step conversion on our '03 U320

Since that thread was written, we replaced the magnet with a second switch to override the step and keep it retracted when parked (if ground clearance/curbs dictate). Not often needed except when parked in front of the house here.

Michelle

Re: What is the worst/best design feature of your Foretravel?

Reply #16 – February 07, 2012, 06:45:35 pm

Well, since we already modded our head/shoulder debilitating TV cabinet and had the step conversion, I would agree with the challenging access to the actual dump valves and the tank sensors as being the current worst design. One shouldn't have to cut sealant and have to remove a faucet, soap dispenser, outlets, etc. and entire bay wall to change out a couple of screw-in sensors and/or bolt-in valves (not to enamored of the tank calibration gymnastics, either). We're curious to see what Parliament may come up with for Moose since Steve is wanting to mod that bay as well.

Best design feature is the chassis - low overall height (at least the "older" years up through our generation), transmission with retarder, outboard-placed airbags that give the coach such excellent road manners.

Michelle

Re: What is the worst/best design feature of your Foretravel?

Reply #17 – February 07, 2012, 07:08:43 pm

Quote from: Steve & Michelle – February 07, 2012, 06:45:35 pm

We're curious to see what Parliament may come up with for Moose since Steve is wanting to mod that bay as well.Michelle

I will definitely post the results of the finished mod here. I'm getting the work done at Classic Coach Works ( Classic Coach Works - We Renovate RV's - We specialize in coach customization, ) in Lakeland, Fl.

Re: What is the worst/best design feature of your Foretravel?

Reply #18 – February 07, 2012, 08:26:17 pm

Worst:
1. Headlights
2. Lack of 110V outlets & poor accessibility to the ones that are there
3. Bulkhead design

Best:
1. Retarder
2. Ride / Handling

Re: What is the worst/best design feature of your Foretravel?

Reply #19 – February 07, 2012, 11:34:17 pm

Con: Lack of a decent coffee cup holder for the driver.
Air operated step. If electric it could be closed/opened when wanted.

Pro: Just about everything else that makes it a Foretravel.

Re: What is the worst/best design feature of your Foretravel?

Reply #20 – February 07, 2012, 11:44:14 pm

Quote from: sam7 – February 07, 2012, 11:34:17 pm

Con: Lack of a decent coffee cup holder for the driver

So they hadn't figured that out even in the U320s huh? I just thought it was my early model U225 (93) that was the reason. Can't even find a decent place to put one unless I "install" it. The co-pilot's side has a spot that works fine, though.

Craig

Re: What is the worst/best design feature of your Foretravel?

Reply #21 – February 07, 2012, 11:56:20 pm

Worst has to be the rear radiator. Open the huge rear grill access door, and look at the monster large radiator. Want to check things, change belts, alternator, pumps, or clean between the charged air and the radiator, you are out of luck. Everything must be done from above, hanging down or laying on top of the engine block. What were they thinking?

Best has to be the wood and tambour doors, and intelligent design of the interiors, storage and features.

Re: What is the worst/best design feature of your Foretravel?

Reply #22 – February 08, 2012, 12:27:43 am

Solved coffee cup holder, Toyota rav4 circa about 2007 has rubber removable Cup holders that fit in current cut out and hold cup perfectly. Sorry coach is in fl so no pictures or part number

Re: What is the worst/best design feature of your Foretravel?

Reply #23 – February 08, 2012, 05:50:31 am

Worst: steel mounting brackets glassed in the front and rear hatches over time they get rust jacking, wireing behind the TV for the bose sat etc, just wadded up and jamed in the corner.

Best: It's a Foretravel , who else makes a coach that is 10-15 years old and older still looks and performs great and still has factory support and parts.

Re: What is the worst/best design feature of your Foretravel?

Reply #24 – February 08, 2012, 11:01:00 am

LIKES: We particularly like the warmth and elegant feel of the fine woodwork in our Grand Villa. The ride and handling are of course THE BEST. It is one of the few coaches that doesn't rock when you walk around in it. The fact that we have a nearly 20 year old coach with everything working great and with few repairs ain't bad either.

Wishes: We would love to have ducted Air Conditioning, an extra commode and a quieter generator, all of which we can easily live without. Oh, and a real basement we could hide in when there are Tornadoes around.

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