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

Topic: What is the worst/best design feature of your Foretravel? (Read 2373 times) previous topic - next topic

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

Reply #25 – February 08, 2012, 01:49:25 pm

My rig has folding plastic cup holders for driver and passenger that look vintage so I assumed they were stock. Best is the overall quality, fit and finishes. Worst is propane generator when the motor is diesel tied with the shower/tub combo two feet off the floor with a half-a$$ed step for getting in and out, which, since most of these coaches were (and continue to be) for the octagenarian set, is a broken hip waiting to happen. Understand why the mid walk-through bath became more prominent shortly thereafter.

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

Reply #26 – February 08, 2012, 02:51:46 pm

I would like to modify my "worst" vote to at least include the rear radiator... which makes replacement of rear lights (brakes, etc.) even more difficult than it would otherwise be. Nice work!

And the ladder isn't so hot, either.

Craig

PS: I'd whine about the tiny little mini-dinette for "two" except that I think at one time it would have been fine for the DW and I; just not any more.

cj

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

Reply #27 – February 08, 2012, 03:56:13 pm

Seems the only answer for having the coach of all your wants & likes is to do like the rich folks and order a new Phenix or IH-45 to your liking or get real educated, buy a Prevost converson.

For me, the 2001, 36' U320 with the ISM 500 is the complete package, have had a few mods at Xtreme done. For my style, nothing can beat it in the hills or at the camp site.
Of course I am cheap & tachy.
Dave M

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

Reply #28 – February 08, 2012, 04:30:29 pm

(Best)

After owning 3 motor homes. I have found the road manners of the Foretravel outstanding. ie. retarder, disk brakes, and outside mounted air bags to mention a few.

(Worst)

The bulkhead issue.
The lack of structural enginering on the slide opening. The bottom of the slide opening sages about a 1/2" along with the storage bays under the slide opening. I have notice the problem with a number of FT with slides.

Lack of convenient wall receptacles, Uncomfortable J lounge.

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

Reply #29 – February 08, 2012, 06:49:03 pm

Worst - Ours has washer hook-ups but they neglected to install an outlet!

Best - pretty much everything else.

I imagine as time goes by and we are in ours a little longer we'l find other little things that we wish were different - but overall we just can't get over the quality and thought that went into the design.

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

Reply #30 – February 08, 2012, 07:11:39 pm

Quote from: Christis Dream – February 08, 2012, 06:49:03 pm

... but overall we just can't get over the quality and thought that went into the design.

I agree

. The handling, the fit and quality of everything is just outstanding in our Foretravel!

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

Reply #31 – February 08, 2012, 11:57:23 pm

Quote from: Dwayne – February 08, 2012, 01:49:25 pm

My rig has folding plastic cup holders for driver and passenger that look vintage so I assumed they were stock.

Dwayne - pictures please!!!

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

Reply #32 – February 09, 2012, 06:18:18 am

Agree with some of the comments.

Worst - working on the engine. A couple of hours being a contortionist in the engine bay wears me out. Second to that is access to the fresh water tank. I'd really like to be able see what's going on in there without having to tear the coach apart.

Best - build quality and support. I can still get parts for it, and my questions are always answered. This forum and Barry's web site are really key for me in buying a Foretravel. Try getting detailed info on any other brand of older coach - I did - spent many hours and days going nowhere.

Steve

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

Reply #33 – February 09, 2012, 01:29:49 pm

Pick your cup holder insert here!
cup holder insert | eBay

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

Reply #34 – February 09, 2012, 04:32:09 pm

Toyota tab 4 works perfect for my coach

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

Reply #35 – February 10, 2012, 07:21:14 pm

Worst: Where that heck are my house batteries? I wish I could get to them easily so I could check them.

Best:
This is the first coach I have owned, all I know is the build quality is outstanding compared to the other brands that I had looked at before coming to Foretravel. My parents had a 98 Monaco and when I called my mom a couple of years ago while they were driving down the highway, mom ask me if she could call me later due to it being so noisy while they were under way that she couldn't hear. I don't have that problem at all. Smooth and quite is the way the 04 U320 rolls alone.
It has a flat screen tv's, most SOB's didn't start doing that until 07/08.
I have full/mostly full tile. No cracks anywhere.

I could go on.

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

Reply #36 – February 10, 2012, 07:25:58 pm

Quote from: surfndav – February 10, 2012, 07:21:14 pm

Worst: Where that heck are my house batteries? I wish I could get to them easily so I could check them.

Just in case you are asking - if they're like our '03, 2nd storage bay on the curb (passenger) side, look for the panel screwed into the rearward wall. Unscrew that panel and you will find your house batteries behind it.

The selected media item is not currently available.

Great location for weight distribution. Lousy for battery checking.

Michelle

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

Reply #37 – February 10, 2012, 08:53:58 pm

Did you add those gray pipes? Ours are in the same place. Just had our batteries replaced and it was a chore!

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

Reply #38 – February 10, 2012, 09:01:00 pm

Quote from: wds3135 – February 10, 2012, 08:53:58 pm

Did you add those gray pipes? Ours are in the same place. Just had our batteries replaced and it was a chore!

Those are just PVC we spray painted grey to make them less obvious. They are the support for an 18" deep wire shelf Steve added to the back of that bay. (sorry, I don't have a photo)

Michelle

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

Reply #39 – February 10, 2012, 10:55:06 pm

Quote from: Steve & Michelle – February 10, 2012, 07:25:58 pm

Just in case you are asking - if they're like our '03, 2nd storage bay on the curb (passenger) side, look for the panel screwed into the rearward wall. Unscrew that panel and you will find your house batteries behind it.

Great location for weight distribution. Lousy for battery checking.

Michelle

Yuck! Our three 8D batteries are accessible in the bay just behind the driver's side steer wheel. Two are on the bottom tray and one on the top tray. The trays are on rollers that can be pulled out. That's good placement and access!

Favorite feature is chassis construction, especially the ride and handling characteristics. It allows lots of other great features to be put in their proper places so they function well. We have an appreciation for those issues after owning SOB coach of same size and vintage.

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

Reply #40 – February 10, 2012, 11:28:23 pm

Quote from: Steve & Michelle – February 10, 2012, 07:25:58 pm

Just in case you are asking - if they're like our '03, 2nd storage bay on the curb (passenger) side, look for the panel screwed into the rearward wall. Unscrew that panel and you will find your house batteries behind it.

Great location for weight distribution. Lousy for battery checking.

Michelle

Thank you Michelle, I will dive in there tomorrow with my multi meter and see what I have.

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

Reply #41 – February 12, 2012, 08:03:06 pm

I have two reasons for commenting here:

1. This will give me a nice round 3500 comments.
2. I think the difficulty in accessing windshield wiper motors is a bad design. I know they don't often fail, but when they do, it is a real bear to access them.

Good topic, Steve.

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

Reply #42 – February 13, 2012, 05:54:42 am

Quote from: George Stoltz – February 12, 2012, 08:03:06 pm

I have two reasons for commenting here:

1. This will give me a nice round 3500 comments.
2. I think the difficulty in accessing windshield wiper motors is a bad design. I know they don't often fail, but when they do, it is a real bear to access them.

Good topic, Steve.

hehehee Nice idea George! Yeah, that's right... this topic was George's idea.

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

Reply #43 – February 13, 2012, 04:53:29 pm

good - flip-up dash

bad - light switches are not on the light fixtures where our old SOB trained me to look for them

oldMattB

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

Reply #44 – February 13, 2012, 10:02:40 pm

Pat C., Don Hay posted pictures of the same cupholder in another thread. Here is the link but it sounds as if they were aftermarket after all: CupHolder Solution

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

Reply #45 – February 14, 2012, 10:29:09 pm

Worst
1-The AC vents are under the steering wheel,Not a good spot at all unless you want to keep your legs cool..
2-Low head lights...I can see every pimple in the road 100 feet in front of the bus,After that it's dark.

Best
1-Non Computerized Cummins Diesel+Allison Tranny+Rockwell axles+A Solid Coach inside and out=One Bad Ass Machine!!!!This Thing never stops

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

Reply #46 – February 15, 2012, 09:12:09 am

I think Steve or Michelle should put these Best/Worst on some kind of pie chart, for a visual aid. All this mechanical talk is great ... but I am still going with the worst feature being the mirror opposite the commode. Hands down.

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

Reply #47 – February 15, 2012, 09:25:54 am

Quote

I am still going with the worst feature being the mirror opposite the commode. Hands down.

Jeeeze.... I never noticed that while I was in the Library.

Oooopppssss! I guess that means I'm reading not admiring myself in the mirror ;o)

best, paul

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