What makes you Love a Foretravel Coach? (New Member looking for answers)

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What makes you Love a Foretravel Coach? (New Member looking for answers)

December 01, 2013, 08:20:41 pm

New Member here. Decided to come to the owners forum because who else would know the brand as well.

I am currently owner of another Well known brand that I am not unhappy about, however, I have been enamored with Foretravel for a bit now.

Our current Diesel Pusher is a 2010 43ft model and we are not unhappy with it. I did say that didn't I?

But during Christmas vacation on the 14th we are going to the Factory for a tour on Monday with Tyle, and see in person how they are built make visual comparisons and see in person the build quality that I view in all the photo's of units I see online.

So, I know that owners are usually proud of their coaches, but also are very honest about their ownership experiences.

I am not naïve enough to think that like other brands they don't have their "issues", but I would love to hear from any one what makes them your Choice of coach and generally how have your experiences been. I am particularly interested in the support the manufacturer provides after the sale!

PS. can you tell me about the chassis's in the 08 and later coaches? How many different ones do they use (on the Tags or singles)

I appreciate your commentary and look forward to any discussions you would like to share.

"A Foretravel Admirer"

Re: What makes you Love a Foretravel Coach? (New Member looking for answers)

Reply #1 – December 01, 2013, 09:48:48 pm

Welcome, Sal. Yes, even Foretravels have their issues. We own a coach that is quite a bit older than what it sounds like you are interested in, so I can't help you with that part of it. We did as you are going to do and visited the factory. That was the fourth factory we had toured, so we had some idea of what we were looking at, although it was the first MH factory we had seen. We were impressed enough to keep Foretravel on our list, as we hadn't completely decided that a MH was the route we wanted to go at that point. We enjoyed the tour and meeting several people who were either there for work or lived in the area.

Warning: there are LOTS of places with tasty food in the area. You can easily gain several pounds there! We didn't try anywhere close to all of them, but I did gain some weight while walking around there - and it was in the 90's when we were there!

Re: What makes you Love a Foretravel Coach? (New Member looking for answers)

Reply #2 – December 01, 2013, 10:03:30 pm

Quote from: Bigdogsolo – December 01, 2013, 08:20:41 pm

I am not naïve enough to think that like other brands they don't have their "issues", but I would love to hear from any one what makes them your Choice of coach and generally how have your experiences been. I am particularly interested in the support the manufacturer provides after the sale!

I appreciate your commentary and look forward to any discussions you would like to share.

No chassis. Body is part of the frame. Has to be built on site. No credit from the chassis builder to help the body builders cash flow.

Laminated fiberglass side walls versus loose hung skins. Steel framing.

Insulated floor. Insulated floor in the dividers and compartment floors.

Proven reliability. Same factory. Club....

No flange seal on slide outs. Flush finish. Better power to weight ratio. Retarder.

Air disk brakes. Trailing beam suspension.

Loyal customers for a reason. Hardly anyone trades to a prettier sob if you notice.

Brain washed?

Look close. No sawdust in the cabinets when you pull a drawer.

Bob

Re: What makes you Love a Foretravel Coach? (New Member looking for answers)

Reply #3 – December 01, 2013, 10:17:31 pm

The retarder is the single most appreciated item on my coach, were I to have to limit it to one thing. I'd add the great air disk brakes, but they don't get a lot of use...due to the efficient retarder.

Re: What makes you Love a Foretravel Coach? (New Member looking for answers)

Reply #4 – December 02, 2013, 01:04:54 am

Sal,

There's a certain pride of ownership that comes when you finally have a Foretravel of your own. It doesn't matter if it is new or an ageless classic like I have. The more you examine the workmanship and comfort built into one the more you can appreciate why everyone here gets so excited and can't stop talking about the quality. Just spent 4 days at Big Biloxi campground in Desoto National forest. Every time I drove up to it I had a big smile on my face! Here's a pic of my 93 U300 looking good.

Jerry aka Murph

Re: What makes you Love a Foretravel Coach? (New Member looking for answers)

Reply #5 – December 02, 2013, 03:00:34 am

Brakes and suspension are at the top of my list, and my experience a couple of weeks ago brings it home.

I was traveling in the right of two lanes doing 65 and using the cruise control when suddenly all the cars in front of me decided to take tha same gridlocked exit. Faster than I could imagine, I was heading for disaster. I hit the brake pedal, and my foot myst have been too low to get good pressure, so I repositioned my foot and stomped hard. My first reaction was that we were going to hit. My second was that full retarder, all wheel disk brakes, and full proportional braking from the toad via Air Force one really kicked in. It felt like the anchor dug into solid bedrock. As it became clear that we we not going to hit, the left lane opened up and I made a slalom lanechange.

By the way, I learned to position my foot on the brake pedal earlier and refrain from using the cruise whenever traffic is likely.

Re: What makes you Love a Foretravel Coach? (New Member looking for answers)

Reply #6 – December 02, 2013, 06:58:11 am

To answer a question, they make a 38 foot nimbus with no tag and only 2 slides. The rest have tags if they have the ISX or more then two slides. That is the difference. The build is the same for all coaches. You will understand when you see it. Two H members attached to the middle section and then the house attached as it is built.

Re: What makes you Love a Foretravel Coach? (New Member looking for answers)

Reply #7 – December 02, 2013, 08:16:07 am

I am only 6 months into my FT ownership and could not be happier. We had always bought new TT for years and our last new one was a 2008 Denali. Nice trailer but the fit and finish compared to my 1989 FT is night and day. The quality of workmanship on all the materials and systems are amazing. As an example my parents have a 2011 NEWMAR that they are selling after riding my FT.

This site is a huge plus! Honest people giving honest answers....just looking to help others with any problems that come up (as they do with every coach). At my first service at the local big rig shop mechanics were coming over and looking under the coach and were amazed that it was a MH. They do service on a lot of DP and they said they had never seen a MH like that built to a professional truck standard. Since mine is older its on an Oshkosh frame with a 300hp CAT.

Happy hunting....if you buy a 2003 GV320 take good care of her because that will be our next FT 8 years down the road!!

Re: What makes you Love a Foretravel Coach? (New Member looking for answers)

Reply #8 – December 02, 2013, 11:24:44 am

How many 20+ year old SOB's are still on the road today? Our coach is 20 years old and we are full timers. The coach is solid, the ride is great, and I can't say enough about the way the it handles and that on 20 year old technology. The build quality is reflected in the graceful aging of coach. Foretravels are made for "the long run".

Roland

Re: What makes you Love a Foretravel Coach? (New Member looking for answers)

Reply #9 – December 02, 2013, 12:04:53 pm

Welcome to the fofum (Foretravel Forum).

Thought I would add Barry B's link: 50 reasons to love your foretravel motorhome His web site also has so much information it is hard to digest. He has done a wonderful/astounding job accumulating information and organizing it on his site: beamalarm.com. I have it book marked and refer to it often.

It all doesn't apply to our 2002 but most do. Since you are looking for a 2008 or later many more of the items will apply to your coach.

I am sure Tyle will fill you in better than I. Your factory tour should be very enlightening. It was for us.

I have found that I could ask any FT related question on this forum and within minutes of posting there were at least a couple of answers. The search function also works well and Michelle is absolutely astounding in finding stuff on this site.

We have also met many wonderful and helpful folks here - many on this web site and some along the road.

Other than the build quality this forum was another reason we decided on a FT.

Happy hunting.

Re: What makes you Love a Foretravel Coach? (New Member looking for answers)

Reply #10 – December 02, 2013, 01:15:53 pm

Welcome to the Forum.

Things I like are:

Incredibly well built. This thing is fixable/rebuildable forever.

Good power to weight ratio.

Proper stopping power provided by the all wheel disk brakes.

The hydraulic retarder.

Factory support no matter how old.

This forum, which will always help you.

When at the factory ask to see the remodeling shop. The fact that owners will spend serious money remodeling their existing coaches rather than trading "up" to an newer SOB says a lot about these coaches.

Take a ride just up the road to Motorhomes of Texas and talk to them about Foretravels.

When at the factory and at MoT talk to owners parked in the lot and look at their coaches. You will learn a lot.

Drive one and you will see why people love them.

Happy Hunting.

Keith

Re: What makes you Love a Foretravel Coach? (New Member looking for answers)

Reply #11 – December 02, 2013, 06:15:35 pm

Sal,

I have only been a member of the Forum for a few months. But, from my reading the posts almost everyday, it appears that there are very few members with 2008 or newer Foretravel Motorcoaches. Hopefully some members with newer coaches will answer your questions and add their experiences. I personally think that the newer coaches are beautiful and appear to be well equipped and built.

Re: What makes you Love a Foretravel Coach? (New Member looking for answers)

Reply #12 – December 02, 2013, 06:24:43 pm

All of the above. One day ours will be as old as these folks' and still be the best on the road.
We've owned several "high-line" (too many) coaches over 15 years and wish we had bought a Foretravel 15 years ago. We'd likely still have it. We bought our 2012 Nimbus 16 months and 22,000 miles ago.
Foretravel service and "family" concern about your coach is second to none. Some minor warranty stuff.
No pressure, low key, straight shooting sales guys.
But, go ahead and buy something else if you like. You might save a few bucks. But you'll be back.
Good luck.

Re: What makes you Love a Foretravel Coach? (New Member looking for answers)

Reply #13 – December 02, 2013, 07:23:51 pm

This is the call of a lifetime in some respect . You will lay out a goodly chunk of cash no matter what name brand you buy , and you will live with it for a period of time even if you don't like it all that much . No matter how big the engine is , no matter how fast you can get up that hill or beat your buddy in a drag race with your new coach . But--you have got to be able to stop that thing . Drive what ever length you are thinking about buying and test drive every name brand diesel pusher there is that same size . Name another coach that has all wheel air disk brakes and a transmission retarder braking system on every one they make . ( You drew a blank) I know , been there done that . Nothing stops like a Foretravel period . This is one of the many things that is important to me . I have driven every name brand and will not ever own any other coach . Brad Metzger

Re: What makes you Love a Foretravel Coach? (New Member looking for answers)

Reply #14 – December 02, 2013, 07:37:08 pm

C'mon Brad, speak up, don't be bashful.....

Re: What makes you Love a Foretravel Coach? (New Member looking for answers)

Reply #15 – December 02, 2013, 08:08:24 pm

Quote from: Brad Metzger – December 02, 2013, 07:23:51 pm

This is the call of a lifetime in some respect . You will lay out a goodly chunk of cash no matter what name brand you buy , and you will live with it for a period of time even if you don't like it all that much . No matter how big the engine is , no matter how fast you can get up that hill or beat your buddy in a drag race with your new coach . But--you have got to be able to stop that thing . Drive what ever length you are thinking about buying and test drive every name brand diesel pusher there is that same size . Name another coach that has all wheel air disk brakes and a transmission retarder braking system . ( You drew a blank) I know , been there done that . Nothing stops like a Foretravel period . This is one of the many things that is important to me . I have driven every name brand and will not ever own any other coach . Brad Metzger

My tech buddy says Newell and prevost have retarders. No one else.

Bob

Re: What makes you Love a Foretravel Coach? (New Member looking for answers)

Reply #16 – December 02, 2013, 08:30:24 pm

Retarders on both Newell and Provost would be a recent happening, their used rigs seem to very rarely list any.

Re: What makes you Love a Foretravel Coach? (New Member looking for answers)

Reply #17 – December 02, 2013, 08:33:46 pm

Quote from: Dave M – December 02, 2013, 08:30:24 pm

Retarders on both Newell and Provost would be a recent happening, their used rigs seem to not list any.

My electronic and chassis expert buddy normally works on 45' stuff only. Maybe the late stuff only?

Bill was vogues electronic and systems guy in the 80's.

Custom makes complete dashes and fixes bluebirds that others have worked on.

Bob

Re: What makes you Love a Foretravel Coach? (New Member looking for answers)

Reply #18 – December 02, 2013, 08:43:27 pm

Bob, read the post again (every coach made ) with air disk brakes and retarders. Brad Metzger

Re: What makes you Love a Foretravel Coach? (New Member looking for answers)

Reply #19 – December 02, 2013, 08:55:49 pm

Quote from: Tim Fiedler – December 02, 2013, 07:37:08 pm

C'mon Brad, speak up, don't be bashful.....

He's not bashful Tim, just a little shy that's all.

Re: What makes you Love a Foretravel Coach? (New Member looking for answers)

Reply #20 – December 02, 2013, 09:03:14 pm

When we were shopping for a new rig five years ago, we started with a long list that quickly shortened to one brand when our requirements included diesel pusher with disk brakes on all wheels and transmission retarder.

Re: What makes you Love a Foretravel Coach? (New Member looking for answers)

Reply #21 – December 02, 2013, 09:12:11 pm

Allison retarders were optional on Featherlights until Amadas bought them out a few years back. Liberty's too. Newell - never! I had a discussion with the owner of the company several years back on rv.net (nice guy, too!). No one had ever wanted one - at the time they only offered the DD60 with the 3 speed jake - he said it did just fine. I imagine with that much weight and the tag it did - everything after 2001 was 60K pounds 'up'. They even sold some 47 footers.

Re: What makes you Love a Foretravel Coach? (New Member looking for answers)

Reply #22 – December 02, 2013, 09:13:41 pm

Me thinks Brad likes his FT.

Re: What makes you Love a Foretravel Coach? (New Member looking for answers)

Reply #23 – December 02, 2013, 09:16:10 pm

Quote from: Brad Metzger – December 02, 2013, 08:43:27 pm

Bob, read the post again (every coach made ) with air disk brakes and retarders. Brad Metzger

I see no reference to retarders either on either website. Maybe my expert buddy is confused?

Re: What makes you Love a Foretravel Coach? (New Member looking for answers)

Reply #24 – December 02, 2013, 09:20:56 pm

There are very few 2008 and newer coaches...

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