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Topic: San Diego to Cumberland Plateau in newly acquired 26' Foretravel (Read 1091 times) previous topic - next topic

San Diego to Cumberland Plateau in newly acquired 26' Foretravel

Would  appreciate any advice from experienced owners on upcoming trip from San Diego to middle TN in recently acquired 26 foot Foretravel.
(Yes...it's a true 26' custom made for Hughes Aircraft as a mobile computer office.  It was built on a P30 chassis, 454 Chevy engine and came with only a Foretravel supplied bathroom.  It has recently been loving converted to a motor home with a yacht-like interior.) (pictures available)

Our tentative plan call for I 15 to Hoover Dam...then to Grand Canyon
NP...I 70 over the Continental Divide (Aspen...Grand Junction)...following I70 to KC & St. Louis...heading south on I24 to Nashville and then home to Monteagle.

I'm traveling with my 21 yo grandson...as for my experience, I'm a former Vogue MH owner and did some camping (I guess that's what it's called) as U.S. Marine Officer.

What I would appreciate is any experiences, thoughts, suggestions on camp grounds, route alternatives, must-see sights, etc.

Thanks in advance...
Don O'Connor

Re: San Diego to Cumberland Plateau in newly acquired 26' Foretravel

Reply #1 –
Bob (Catflashbob),
Yes, I initially thought it had to be a 29 footer, as well.
But, I checked with Foretravel headquarters (Brad ?) and was told my V,I.N. identified the coach as a "one of a kind", especially made for Hughes Aircraft and the USAF at 26 feet.  The coach originally only had a bathroom and was subsequently furnished with desks, etc. allowing it to be a computer coach.

Re: San Diego to Cumberland Plateau in newly acquired 26' Foretravel

Reply #2 –
Quote from: sailonoc –
Bob (Catflashbob),
Yes, I initially thought it had to be a 29 footer, as well.
But, I checked with Foretravel headquarters (Brad ?) and was told my V,I.N. identified the coach as a "one of a kind", especially made for Hughes Aircraft and the USAF at 26 feet.  The coach originally only had a bathroom and was subsequently furnished with desks, etc. allowing it to be a computer coach.

Actually I saw this coach when new now that you brought it to mind.  I was the California sales manager for foretravel in the late 80's.  The coach had equipment racks inside and internal antennas on top of the racks. 

The coach drove around various hi tech manufacturing faciliities in southern california looking for electronic emissions from the plants that were unauthorized.  I put it out of mind as I was asked to not mention I had seen it or more or less been inside.

True story.  I was curious . 

20 plus years later I assume this is not critical info anymore.  Rear bath wasn't it? 

Weird to show up again.....

Bob
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: San Diego to Cumberland Plateau in newly acquired 26' Foretravel

Reply #3 –
Bob,
As the new owner, I find the info you supplied about the coach's original design & use to be very interesting.  I did not know those details as the previous owner (who purchased it for the either Hughes or the USAF) refurbished it as a land yacht, sold it to the fellow I purchased it from and moved to FL for an opportunity to rehab a large ocean-going yacht.
If your memory jogs further, I'd love to hear any more details.
I've enclosed some recent photos.  A box of Foretravel decals should help it not look like an icecream vending wagon.
Thank you very much for this info...it's appreciated.
Don

Re: San Diego to Cumberland Plateau in newly acquired 26' Foretravel

Reply #4 –
Bob,
The one pic I did not intend to send was sent...sorry!
I'll try again...I'm not familiar with the Forum's site.
Don

Re: San Diego to Cumberland Plateau in newly acquired 26' Foretravel

Reply #5 –
That's the puppy
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: San Diego to Cumberland Plateau in newly acquired 26' Foretravel

Reply #6 –
Would suggest you go to AAA and get the map "Indian Country". It covers a lot of the area you will be driving through. Then you can check out different routes online for fishing, hiking, etc. and use RV Park Reviews :: Home, Campground Reviews and RV Park Reviews or others to find a good spot for the night. A lot of BLM land here in the west so you have alternatives to the campgrounds listed. On the way, you can check with Gas Prices - Find The Lowest Gas Prices Near You at Mapquest! Including to see the fuel prices at your next destination.

I like Benchmark road atlases for the individual states. Dirt roads marked and land ownership shown (BLM, National Forest, etc.)

Sounds like a great trip. Love the looks of your rig.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: San Diego to Cumberland Plateau in newly acquired 26' Foretravel

Reply #7 –
Don,
  Love to see some more photos of your 26 footer!
jor
93 225
95 300
97 270
99 320

Re: San Diego to Cumberland Plateau in newly acquired 26' Foretravel

Reply #8 –
Pierce, Jor and Caflashbob,

Thought I'd post a few pictures that have me excited about my coach.
I mentioned earlier that I had owned a Vogue MH...which I sold and bought a Tartan 34 sloop rigged sailboat in Annaplolis.  I sailed "INFINITY"
solo from MD to the FL Keys and back over 2 years.  This 26 footed out-
fitted as shown affords a lot more liveable space than my boat. (Although a LOT more expensive to travel in.
Pierce...thank you for the terrific trip suggestions.  I'm going to call AAA
tomorrow and also check out the suggested links.
Thanks, gentlemen for you comments

Re: San Diego to Cumberland Plateau in newly acquired 26' Foretravel

Reply #9 –
Quote from: sailonoc –
Pierce, Jor and Caflashbob,

Thought I'd post a few pictures that have me excited about my coach.
I mentioned earlier that I had owned a Vogue MH...which I sold and bought a Tartan 34 sloop rigged sailboat in Annaplolis.  I sailed "INFINITY"
solo from MD to the FL Keys and back over 2 years.  This 26 footed out-
fitted as shown affords a lot more liveable space than my boat. (Although a LOT more expensive to travel in.
Pierce...thank you for the terrific trip suggestions.  I'm going to call AAA
tomorrow and also check out the suggested links.
Thanks, gentlemen for you comments

So it's a side bath....does it have a square shower stall?  I only saw this once.
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: San Diego to Cumberland Plateau in newly acquired 26' Foretravel

Reply #10 –
Bob,
At the moment, the coach does not have a shower.  In the 2010 construction a basic stall was constructed.  (Please see attached that shows stall w/o plumbing today.)
Again, thanks for remembering this coach back in the late '80's.
Don O'Connor

Re: San Diego to Cumberland Plateau in newly acquired 26' Foretravel

Reply #11 –
Pretty cool "little" Foretravel!  Don't know what you're taking pics with, but something is scaling them quite a bit.  Any chance you can start posting higher res pics?  My eye sight is not as good as it used to be and I want to see everything in detail! ;-)

Benjie, Ashley, Zoey, Fallon, and Lake
Round Rock, TX
In search of our next monster...

Re: San Diego to Cumberland Plateau in newly acquired 26' Foretravel

Reply #12 –
Don, I see a new market for FT.  Make a 26 footer and sell it as a week end machine.  Those like John S can then sell their Class B's and tow a mini FT with their 40+ footers.  Now if FT would produce an Electric 26 footer you could tow it to a Central location and then use it to sight see and think of the fuel savings.  :)  Might need a Longggggg extension cord. :)
Welcome aboard, jump in and have fun and get as silly as some of us are.
Gary B
BTW Take a look at the photo area and  http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?action=media;sa=album;in=113 to see some other unique FT's thru the years.
Gary B

Re: San Diego to Cumberland Plateau in newly acquired 26' Foretravel

Reply #13 –
                     Gee wizz that is neet ! I can see many uses as a second coach etc . It caught me off guard as i didn't knoiw " FT " built anything like that . Nice ----------------Brad Metzger
Brad Metzger
2010 Phenix 45'

Re: San Diego to Cumberland Plateau in newly acquired 26' Foretravel

Reply #14 –
Great pictures, at least from what I can see. I tried to click on them to get the larger picture and found out I was better just looking at the picture in the post and increasing the size of web browser from 100% to 200%
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: San Diego to Cumberland Plateau in newly acquired 26' Foretravel

Reply #15 –
Benjie Zeller, turbojack, et al,
Thank you all for the compliments on the 26' FT that I'm about to take possession of on April 30.
I apologize for the size of the prints but these are the seller's pictures from a PhotoBucket Album.  If anyone show's further interest I'll post
my own pictures of it from  our cross-country trip after we arrive home next month.
Don O'Connor

Re: San Diego to Cumberland Plateau in newly acquired 26' Foretravel

Reply #16 –
I use my Born Free now for day trips and weekend trips into DC and NYC and just for fun down the Skyline Drive.  I would love for a 26 -30 foot FT.  I saw a Monaco Vesta the other day. It was 30 foot and was very livable as a weekender and you could get by with 28 foot too.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: San Diego to Cumberland Plateau in newly acquired 26' Foretravel

Reply #17 –
The idea of making a high-quality small coach seems like a good idea to me, too. I generally watch bicycle races from Europe on the Versus network (now part of NBC but, happily, unchanged - so far) and notice that there are a LOT of smaller class A and class C coaches parked along the route. More of these than "caravans" (trailers). Then, every now and then, a gigantic Eurobus (often parked where I would have never tried to get my Rv into).

That small motor home is very cool! Thanks for the photos and please keep us updated on your trip. Good luck!!

Craig
1993 U225 36' Unihome GV with PACBRAKE exhaust retarder, Banks Stinger and Solar Panels.
Toad: 1999 Jeep Wrangler 2-door soft-top.

"No one has ever had to evacuate a city because the solar panels broke."