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Topic: The PPL Foretravel is home! (Read 1073 times) previous topic - next topic

The PPL Foretravel is home!

We bought the 2001 Foretravel at PPL a couple weeks ago. It could not have happened without the kind assistance of several forum members. Brett Wolfe did the inspection, a full day job with me taking 5 pages of notes. Dianne Wolfe brought us lunch because the inspection went so long. There were so many small problems and a few big ones that I decided to cancel the deal. The owners offered a significant price adjustment so we decided to take the chance.

While I was waiting for the owners to show up with the title, a stranger stopped by to chat and introduced himself. Rudy Legett was there to pick up another coach with an Aquahot problem. My good fortune as my Aquahot wouldn't work on diesel (one of the major problems). Rudy volunteered to return for me after getting the other coach from Houston to Baytown. He came back, drove the coach from Houston to Baytown with me following in his car. This started a three day tutorial on things Foretravel, including repair of my Aquahot and teaching me the Aquahot annual maintenance. He then arranged with MOT to take me in without a wait. I managed to get lost in Nacogdoches, but Rudy bailed me out by contacting Mike and Jackie Harbordt. They found me, led me in to MOT (Sunday, MOT closed) and got me parked and hooked up.

Guess this is too long, will continue in another post.
Mike & Molly Patronick
2001 U320 40'
2011 Forester

Re: The PPL Foretravel is home- continued

Reply #1 –
Part II
MOT took me in Monday morning and started on a 4 1/2 page work order. Luckily, Keith Reisch was the lead tech assigned. Mike checked in repeatedly, offering every possible assistance. Jackie sent cookies. I had been feeling pretty fatigued, attributed it to the Texas heat. By Tuesday was feeling bad, setting in the MOT waiting room. Looked up and Dianne Wolfe was standing there. She and Brett had come up for inspection on another coach. She saw I was looking a little pale, ended up taking me to an urgent care doc. Had pneumonia at that point. Got drugs and back to MOT.

Later, Rudy Legett stepped in again. Contacted Dave Metzger who stopped by and took me over to Xtreme to meet James and Jennifer. They were too backed up to take me anytime soon (rear bulkhead bolts need replacing), but we will try to go back this Winter, get them replaced. Jennifer did send me a summary invoice of work they have done - More than I expected. The headlights were done in June of 2007, The rear door conversion was done in March of 2009. The full Paint, step, mud flap, taillight and roof paint were done in April of 2009.

Back to MOT, they finished the list Wednesday after 2 1/2 full days of multiple techs. Pretty much wiped out the price adjustment we got, still some to go, but we now have a new Magnum inverter and 3 new 8d gel cells.

Trip home went well, coach drives beautifully. Foretravel owners are incredibly helpful and hospitable.
Mike & Molly Patronick
2001 U320 40'
2011 Forester

Re: The PPL Foretravel is home!

Reply #2 –
Have you joined the Foretravel Motorcade Club and gotten your numbers yet?  I highly recommend it.  You get some nice discounts for Chapter Rallies and for a Grandvention, discount on parts at various places AND nights in the parking lot at the Factory!!  MOT parking lot is VERY tight, but there is a lot of room at the Factory ... PLUS we have "Pourtravel Happy Hour" at the end of the day and you get to meet all sorts of wonderful folks.  Contact Beverly Koontz at FOT and she will fix you right up!
Carol & Jeff Savournin
Usta have a '93 U225 36', Usta have a '95 U320 40', Usta have a '02 U320 40'
Usta have a 2006 Born Free, Usta have a 2011 Phoenix Cruiser
Usta have a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4dr
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."  Steve Jobs

Re: The PPL Foretravel is home!

Reply #3 –
Beautiful coach Mike! Love the paint. No matter what you paid it was worth it! You've joined a great family. Welcome brother... :)

see ya
ken
The selected media item is not currently available.ken & dori hathaway & Big Agnes
🍺1992 U300 GrandVilla WTBI #4150 FOT FBP 2011
✨6V-92TA DDEC Parlor Coach 350HP Series 92
🏁2011 Nissan XTerra Pro-4X

Re: The PPL Foretravel is home!

Reply #4 –
That is a beautiful motor home!!!

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."

Re: The PPL Foretravel is home!

Reply #5 –
Paint envy!  Looks awesome!
Benjie, Ashley, Zoey, Fallon, and Lake
Round Rock, TX
In search of our next monster...

Re: The PPL Foretravel is home!

Reply #6 –
A beauty...Someone needs a bigger garage... :P
We are only strangers until we meet; however, some of us are stranger than others

Re: The PPL Foretravel is home!

Reply #7 –
Mike, Congrats, Glad you are feeling better. Welcome to the bunch.
Gary B

Re: The PPL Foretravel is home!

Reply #8 –
Hi Mike & Molly,
  Welcome to the Foretravel world. I hope you are doing well. You guys sure have a great looking coach. I hope to see you posting here often. Best of luck, and many safe miles.
Raymond & Babette
Raymond & Babette Jordan
1997 U 320
1998 Ford Explorer XLT

Re: The PPL Foretravel is home!

Reply #9 –
Welcome aboard the Foretravel express, enjoy the ride. Glad you made it home and hope you are feeling better.

Regards, Mark and Tanya Z
The selected media item is not currently available.
Mark and Tanya
Milton , Florida
US Navy Veteran (DV)
1999 U270 Special 40' CAI , 2015 Jeep Wrangler Sahara

Re: The PPL Foretravel is home!

Reply #10 –
Great looking coach. I think you're smart going back to NAC this fall. I trust you will take advantage of wintering in the Great State of Texas. Boy that's hard to say for an Okie, but S. Texas really is a great place to spend the winter.

Welcome aboard!!!
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: The PPL Foretravel is home!

Reply #12 –
Quote from: Steve & Kathy B –
  Shoot, I just wish I could park mine next to my house :) 

Congrats on your new "coach!"
Actually, the shop is 48' long. Will take a few days of reorganizing, then she moves into her new home.
Mike & Molly Patronick
2001 U320 40'
2011 Forester

Re: The PPL Foretravel is home!

Reply #13 –
Welcome home! This group feels as much like home as any place I have lived... she is a beauty!
The selected media item is not currently available.
Don & Tys
1999 U270 3602 WTFE #5402
Xtreme Stage 1 w/Headlight, Step Conversion, etc.
2009 Honda Fit Sport with Navi
Freedom is NOT "just another word for nothing left to lose"... with apologies to Kris Kristofferson

Re: The PPL Foretravel is home!

Reply #14 –
Mike,
Sorry that I missed you.  I arrived in Nac. last Sunday.  And congratulations on a great coach.  The 2001's are very good units.  Soon you'll be wanting to do some updates inside (if it hasn't already been done?).
Peter
Peter & Beth Martin
No Forrest? What have you done?
MC# 15890 until Dec 2016; FMCA #F329677
Cincinnati, OH

Re: The PPL Foretravel is home!

Reply #15 –
congratulations, I like the paint job too!  Nice coach, I am certain that you will love it!  Great job!
Best of Travels

Re: The PPL Foretravel is home!

Reply #16 –
               Wow, very nice coach. Looks like you made an excellent purchase and were fortunate to have some very helpful FT owners assistance. Happy trails!
Dean & Deirdre

2012 Arctic Fox 22GQ
Was 2003 U270

Re: The PPL Foretravel is home!

Reply #17 –
Congratulations on a beautiful coach.  My wife and I looked at that coach at PPL over a month ago.  Both of us agreed that out of all the coaches on the lot including a couple at almost twice the price, your Foretravel was the best of the bunch, and the one we both would love to own.  However, we were just kicking tires.

Beautiful coach, and may you enjoy it to the max.

Glen
Glen Kenney
Colmesneil, Tx
Former owner of
1997 40' U320
Build # 5099

Re: The PPL Foretravel is home!

Reply #18 –
Quote from: morninghill –
Actually, the shop is 48' long. Will take a few days of reorganizing, then she moves into her new home.
  Nice.  I keep telling my wife that I'm going to buy a piece of property and build myself a BIG garage for the RV, 3 cars and a work shop . :)    For family obligations, we have to be in the area we live in now, but one day I'm going to get my garage... may even have an attached house. HA!

Re: The PPL Foretravel is home!

Reply #20 –
Mike:  Congratulations on your purchase and welcome back to green Washington.  I am sure you will enjoy your coach, particularly with the support of the wonderful folks here on the forum.  We also purchased our 36' 2002 U320 at PPL last year and I hope have worked through most of the issues.  We live up in Snohomish.  Good luck and hope you are able to enjoy your coach.
Gordon Cole
Gordon Cole
2002 U320 36'

Re: The PPL Foretravel is home!

Reply #21 –
LOL.  If I could afford it, I wouldn't have envy!

Quote from: gmgeoff –
REALLY!! Had to have cost more than I paid for my old coach LOL
Benjie, Ashley, Zoey, Fallon, and Lake
Round Rock, TX
In search of our next monster...