Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Foretravel vs. SOB Decision Analysis (Read 2150 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Foretravel vs. SOB Decision Analysis

Reply #25 –
 Tough one to figure out except to say check out the # of mid 80s to mid 90 coaches that people have on this Forum and how they love them, then go to your local RV showrooms and see what a comparable year SOB is like and cost and that should give you a good idea of the build and quality FT has. You may not even find any early 90 SOBs around that are worth stepping into, but step into a 93 GV and you will feel at home! (just used 93 as an example).
 The factory still has parts etc for these year coaches so that must mean something, and of course this Forum is worth it's weight in gold too.
Engine/Transmission are all same whichever make except in many FTs the Allison has a Retarder on it and most of the SOB do not put this on (even their new ones). many  FT coaches have outboard air bag suspension= smooth ride.
Others will chime in here no doubt, and even one of the members used to sell these so would maybe know other reasons.
I have owned 3 FT and they are nice to work on and update if wanted. Only other coach I will consider is Newell and Prevost.
JohnH
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Foretravel vs. SOB Decision Analysis

Reply #26 –
Look at the number of "hand crafted" motorhomes Foretravel vs SOB. At any given year. Find a 88 SOB there are many 88s here still used regularly.

Ask yourself, do I want what everyone else has or a classic? What experience in rving do you have? Maintenance are you doing it?

what are you going to use it for, 2000 miles a year, vacations, retirement,  fulltiming? These are important questions that will factor into your selection.

further considerations are floorplan, costs and budget, exterior looks, interior looks. Realizr unless you purchase 2000 or newer the interior may be dated.

you will make a good decision ^.^d

most important,  is this Forum, the experience,  care and assistance.
The selected media item is not currently available.
My advice and experiences are Free, you decide if they are worth anything .

John - driving Old Faithful
1994 U280 GV
C8.3, Banks, Pacbrake, 900 watts, Resonator, XLHD tow dolly
Retired Army Warrant Officer

Life is what you make of it - if it is lemons, make lemonade!
Former Coaches:
1988 GV 40' ORED 300HP CAT - 9 years
1990 Winnebago LeSharo - 3 years
2000 Newmar London Aire - 3 years (#18 of 23 produced)

Re: Foretravel vs. SOB Decision Analysis

Reply #27 –
Quote from: John Haygarth –
Tough one to figure out except to say check out the # of mid 80s to mid 90 coaches that people have on this Forum and how they love them, then go to your local RV showrooms and see what a comparable year SOB is like and cost and that should give you a good idea of the build and quality FT has. You may not even find any early 90 SOBs around that are worth stepping into, but step into a 93 GV and you will feel at home! (just used 93 as an example).
 The factory still has parts etc for these year coaches so that must mean something, and of course this Forum is worth it's weight in gold too.
Engine/Transmission are all same whichever make except in many FTs the Allison has a Retarder on it and most of the SOB do not put this on (even their new ones). many  FT coaches have outboard air bag suspension= smooth ride.
Others will chime in here no doubt, and even one of the members used to sell these so would maybe know other reasons.
I have owned 3 FT and they are nice to work on and update if wanted. Only other coach I will consider is Newell and Prevost.
JohnH

My 30 year electrical guru was working on my u320 today around 2 o'clock ca time.

He called a buddy that runs a owned Rv spot camp ground.  Told him to turn on the breaker for his borrowed from his old customer 1991 Angola prevost le mirage 40'.

Bill said it would take four hours with all three airs on to get the coach to be useable.

And two a/c's at 95 degrees external to maintain the internal temp barely

Foretravel was comfortable at upper 80's with everything closed up and no air on at all.

Fiberglass versus painted aluminum.

My other similar choices are country coach or a marquis.

Laminated fiberglass sidewalls and roofs like all the Foretravel products.

Unless you do not mind either plugging in the coach or three dollars an hour to run the  gen like most new owners find out they have to do.
"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: Foretravel vs. SOB Decision Analysis

Reply #28 –
I've shared this before, but perhaps a brief review of our process will help others.

When we made the preliminary decision to be full-timers we were open to Class A motorhomes, fifth-wheels, and travel trailers. We had eliminated pop-ups, class C motor homes and pickup campers as just too small for us. We were constantly advised to consider only high quality coaches, no matter what class we picked. As we researched we learned that, as a general rule, people who move more often are better served with a MH, while those who stay in one place for months at a time are better served with towables. Our discussions led us to decide that we would probably be moving at least monthly, and probably more like 2-3 times per month, so we started leaning toward a Class A.

Several brands were mentioned quite often, Foretravel among them. One requirement that I had was an active owners forum that showed the owners were involved in the daily maintenance of their coaches. Another was that the forum would accept a member who didn't yet own a coach. That requirement eliminated one brand. Another brand was eliminated because of on-going legal wrangling.

As we took a realistic look at the age of the coach we could afford we decided that whether or not the brand was still in production was a secondary consideration. The fact that a brand was still in production was somewhat of a plus, but since things like refrigerators, air conditioners, etc. are pretty much interchangeable from brand to brand meant that if there was a problem with one of them it was likely that I would be able to get it worked on or replaced easily.

Eventually we narrowed our search down to three brands that fit our needs and wants. Two of the three are still in production, and the owners forum of the third has several people who know as much as must factory support people, so I was comfortable in considering them. I was resigned to having to travel quite a distance to get our coach, since this isn't a hot RV area. As luck would have it, though, the closest coach to us, only six hours away, was a Foretravel. Jo Ann loved it, and within a month of first seeing it we had it sitting in our yard.

Re: Foretravel vs. SOB Decision Analysis

Reply #29 –
 Bob, we DO NOT use A/c in coach, cars or home and it does get in the low 100s here. Just had about 1 month of high 90s. Hate AC just need fans to move the air. Any coach I have would be fitted with the max solar I can fit on roof as it powers all we need. Maybe you missed my posts that we also do not use Genset. This topic is about FT vs the rest.
JohnH
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Foretravel vs. SOB Decision Analysis

Reply #30 –
Quote from: John Haygarth –
Bob, we DO NOT use A/c in coach, cars or home and it does get in the low 100s here. Just had about 1 month of high 90s. Hate AC just need fans to move the air. Any coach I have would be fitted with the max solar I can fit on roof as it powers all we need. Maybe you missed my posts that we also do not use Genset. This topic is about FT vs the rest.
JohnH

We agree.  99% of rv'ers run the a/c.  Most new coaches have poor windows to open. Flush mount.  Busses especially
"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: Foretravel vs. SOB Decision Analysis

Reply #31 –
17 years old and still going. We wanted a FT but had a hard time finding one in our price range with a slide. Next time we up grade to our final coach we will look at FT again.
"When I die, I want to die like my grandfather who died peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming like all the passengers in his car."

Re: Foretravel vs. SOB Decision Analysis

Reply #32 –
Quote from: Mike Brez –
17 years old and still going. We wanted a FT but had a hard time finding one in our price range with a slide. Next time we up grade to our final coach we will look at FT again.

My other favorite coach. A magna.  Nice quality product.  Prettier inside in those days versus a Foretravel.  I have an electric true genius here in so cal that can repair and modernize your country coach.  And a separate mechanical guy also here.

They even used tinned wires in the loom.  Last forever.  Sikkens paint.  Steel framed bonded sidewalls.  Lazer aligned at every station during assembly.  No sawdust behind the cabinets.
"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: Foretravel vs. SOB Decision Analysis

Reply #33 –
Quote from: Caflashbob –
My other favorite coach. A magna.  Nice quality product.  Prettier inside in those days versus a Foretravel.  I have an electric true genius here in so cal that can repair and modernize your country coach.  And a separate mechanical guy also here.

They even used tinned wires in the loom.  Last forever.  Sikkens paint.  Steel framed bonded sidewalls.  Lazer aligned at every station during assembly.  No sawdust behind the cabinets.

Inside is sorta basic. We are getting rid of the rocker and try and fit a couch.
"When I die, I want to die like my grandfather who died peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming like all the passengers in his car."

Re: Foretravel vs. SOB Decision Analysis

Reply #34 –
 Nice coaches CC. Friend has a 2006 Magna c/w 3 slides he got for $180k. I have worked on it a fair bit for him and they are put together well I must agree, but heavy.
JohnH
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Foretravel vs. SOB Decision Analysis

Reply #35 –
Quote from: Mike Brez –
Inside is sorta basic. We are getting rid of the rocker and try and fit a couch.

Ah.  A galley slide. Watched my buddy correct the mis engineered drain on the sink on a similar country coach.

Worth the plumbing issues to put the galley on the drivers side and the dinette under the awning side facing your campsite. 

I noticed the late Foretravels went to a street side galley slide also.

Cat in yours?

"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: Foretravel vs. SOB Decision Analysis

Reply #36 –
Quote from: Caflashbob –
Ah.  A galley slide. Watched my buddy correct the mis engineered drain on the sink on a similar country coach.

Worth the plumbing issues to put the galley on the drivers side and the dinette under the awning side facing your campsite. 

I noticed the late Foretravels went to a street side galley slide also.

Cat in yours


I don't know why so many floor plans have the dinette on the drivers side. Our last coach was like that looking at your neighbors and the sewer line while sitting and eating. This coach has a DT466 in it.
"When I die, I want to die like my grandfather who died peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming like all the passengers in his car."

Re: Foretravel vs. SOB Decision Analysis

Reply #37 –
Quote from: Mike Brez –

I don't know why so many floor plans have the dinette on the drivers side. Our last coach was like that looking at your neighbors and the sewer line while sitting and eating. This coach has a DT466 in it.

I recall first seeing the driver side dinette appear with the first living room slides.  With only one slide,  better to have it on the driver side,  opposite the door.  And early slide manufacturers were reluctant to have the kitchen plumbing in the slide.
Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer

Re: Foretravel vs. SOB Decision Analysis

Reply #38 –
Quote from: Tom Lang –
I recall first seeing the driver side dinette appear with the first living room slides.  With only one slide,  better to have it on the driver side,  opposite the door.  And early slide manufacturers were reluctant to have the kitchen plumbing in the slide.

Yes flexing the connections adds to the fun
"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: Foretravel vs. SOB Decision Analysis

Reply #39 –
Quote from: Caflashbob –
Yes flexing the connections adds to the fun

The fact remains, Foretravel is a very conservative company.  They were very late in offering slides, in offering quad slides, and still not there with full wall slides.  Did they ever put kitchens in the slides?  I remember when Motorhome magazine reviewed the first motorhome with a slide, they noted that empty and dry, it was already overweight.
Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer

Re: Foretravel vs. SOB Decision Analysis

Reply #40 –
Quote from: Tom Lang –
The fact remains, Foretravel is a very conservative company.  They were very late in offering slides, in offering quad slides, and still not there with full wall slides.  Did they ever put kitchens in the slides?  I remember when Motorhome magazine reviewed the first motorhome with a slide, they noted that empty and dry, it was already overweight.

In many ways what cm and ray fore told me was true.  They really did know what was better mechanically.  Beauty and salesmanship they lacked.

Super luxura and ftx and early grand villa coaches used to be stripped.  Cm told me he was not a very good salesman and the customers would ask him to throw accessories "in" that he did not make.  So he did not put them on the coaches.

Mike grimes loved me as I loaded my coaches up after they arrived in ca.  $10-$15k a month in awnings, mirrors, power seat bases(used to put two on at 90 degrees to each other), Intec backup cameras(Foretravel was the first manufacturer to install cameras in the 1981's) and on.

My shop mechanics got paid more also that way.  Helped them out.

Foretravel finally let me do what I wanted as we went from 25 coaches a year to 59.  Embarrassed them on profits also. Not greedy but needed to not have the store lose $500k a year.  Then cm told me they then had the money to invest in the R&D that resulted in the unihome.  Did not know that until later.

"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