Newbie takes delivery at MOT--FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY!! With Thanks

Topic: Newbie takes delivery at MOT--FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY!! With Thanks (Read 2174 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Newbie takes delivery at MOT--FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY!! With Thanks

Reply #25 – May 16, 2014, 05:20:15 pm

FWIW,
I try to never back up. Yes, I will if I just have too but I try to park such that I just drive right out. Especially if you have a toad. The turns are WIDE too.

Re: Newbie takes delivery at MOT--FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY!! With Thanks

Reply #26 – May 16, 2014, 06:01:00 pm

As others have written: Congratulations!

We are sure you will really enjoy your new coach, and we're sure you won't regret getting a Foretravel as your first coach!

Hope to see you somewhere down the road!

Re: Newbie takes delivery at MOT--FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY!! With Thanks

Reply #27 – May 16, 2014, 06:37:50 pm

Congrats!!!! A 40' Foretravel was our first RV too, excellent choice!!!

A couple of hundred miles and you will be feeling much better.

You've gotten some very very good advice here so far but for me the most important thing in getting comfortable was getting my mirrors set correctly. Once I had them set correctly, it made driving and KNOWING where I was in my lane much much easier. Hopefully this is part of MOTs walk thru, but if not, I would make it part of it. For me, I wasn't able to get the mirrors set correctly until I got out the Allen wrenches and really started moving and tilting.

If you haven't watched these videos, part 1 will teach you what you should be seeing in each mirror. Once you have them set it's really pretty easy. Just be mindful of your pivot point. RV Driver Confidence Course 1: Adjusting Your RV Mirrors - betterRVing!

Good luck, and Congrats!

Re: Newbie takes delivery at MOT--FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY!! With Thanks

Reply #28 – May 16, 2014, 06:53:45 pm

I remember my 1990 U280 when I first got it. I was scared and vary thankful for the fact that it was a "narrow body" when I came to construction zones that were *only* 12 feet wide. I was the very, very slow guy. Then last year, I was caught in a 10 foot wide construction zone (about 200 ft) in Nebraska and my 8-1/2 ft 2002 coach made it through fine...of course, this was about 80,000 miles of coach driving later. Just take your time, it will become easier.

Re: Newbie takes delivery at MOT--FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY!! With Thanks

Reply #29 – May 16, 2014, 09:25:10 pm

Don,

It seemed to us that we were looking not very far ahead when we first started driving our coach. I think it was focusing on where we were in the lane. I think we wandered back and forth in the lane more as well. With experience you look out further, pay more attention to what is out in front, several stopping distances in front, a quarter mile or so. It gives you more reaction time and where you are in the lane stabilizes.

Leave (if you can) about 5 seconds of space between you and whatever is in front of you.

Stop every couple of hours, get out, walk around the coach, feel the tires and the rims (are they hot?) look for anything leaking. And then walk around for a while. Especially if you are by yourself, the breaks are important to stay fresh.

Be safe, enjoy the ride, get home safely. I have a big smile every time we go anywhere in our coach. I hope your's doesn't get any less.

Your adventures are just beginning.

Roger

Re: Newbie takes delivery at MOT--FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY!! With Thanks

Reply #30 – May 16, 2014, 09:54:26 pm

Thanks for the suggestions, Roger. All great must do's (stopping distance and coach inspections) and recommendations (taking plenty of breaks).

Will do.

Take care,

Don

Re: Newbie takes delivery at MOT--FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY!! With Thanks

Reply #31 – May 16, 2014, 10:37:33 pm

A lot of similarities when learning to ride a motorcycle. Looking out ahead, rather than down in front of you is imperative, and makes it much, much easier to drive either a huge vehicle or a small one.

Re: Newbie takes delivery at MOT--FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY!! With Thanks

Reply #32 – May 17, 2014, 10:06:29 am

Benefit of a high profile vehicle is the ability to see a long way in front of you. Know I have avoided many "panic" stops by the long "sight distance".

Roland

Re: Newbie takes delivery at MOT--FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY!! With Thanks

Reply #33 – May 17, 2014, 10:45:02 am

Annnnd, The best high profile vehicle is the GRAND VILLA with its higher than average seating height.

Gary B

Re: Newbie takes delivery at MOT--FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY!! With Thanks

Reply #34 – May 17, 2014, 11:09:39 am

Quote from: Gary Bouland – May 17, 2014, 10:45:02 am

Annnnd, The best high profile vehicle is the GRAND VILLA with its higher than average seating height.
Gary B

Agree!

Has anyone actually measured how far above the ground one sits in a GV compared to other coaches? I'm wondering if some of the newer Foretravels might actually come close since they have taller basements. I know they are taller overall.

Re: Newbie takes delivery at MOT--FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY!! With Thanks

Reply #35 – May 17, 2014, 04:06:18 pm

Congratulations on your Foretravel purchase, they are great coaches.

Re: Newbie takes delivery at MOT--FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY!! With Thanks

Reply #36 – May 17, 2014, 10:29:10 pm

Awesome. We would never buy another coach that was not a Foretravel.

I think that I ascribe almost equal value to the build quality that I do to this forum. Invaluable resource.

Welcome to the club!

Re: Newbie takes delivery at MOT--FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY!! With Thanks

Reply #37 – May 18, 2014, 02:28:54 am

With no disrespect to anyone's beliefs but my joking comment has always been that we are a weird religion worshiping fiberglass totems and having Mobil meetin's around the electronic campfire.

Bob

Re: Newbie takes delivery at MOT--FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY!! With Thanks

Reply #38 – May 18, 2014, 09:55:36 am

Amen.

What a mental image, a horizontal fiberglass totem.

Best part of all of this may be actually meeting one another in person and having a real chat around a real campfire.

Someday S'mores with each of of you, all friends indeed.

Roger

Re: Newbie takes delivery at MOT--FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY!! With Thanks

Reply #39 – May 18, 2014, 11:04:42 am

I sometimes wonder, when FTers find ourselves in the same location we show off the neat things about our coaches and upgrades we've done or had done. When SOB owners end up at the same campground, it seems they compare "what's broken/what doesn't work" notes (at least our friends with a Tiffin Phaeton do).

Re: Newbie takes delivery at MOT--FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY!! With Thanks

Reply #40 – May 18, 2014, 12:25:03 pm

Quote from: Michelle – May 18, 2014, 11:04:42 am

I sometimes wonder, when FTers find ourselves in the same location we show off the neat things about our coaches and upgrades we've done or had done. When SOB owners end up at the same campground, it seems they compare "what's broken/what doesn't work" notes (at least our friends with a Tiffin Phaeton do).

Most Rv sales to new or second buyers are floor plans, fabrics, paint colors and such. The experienced buyers always ask about the quality of the build and ease of service. Power to weight also for the users who drive the Rockies or are impatient types.

I used to ask the customers that of they were driving their cars up to a light and there was an open lane would they change lanes into it? Or sit behind another car at the light and not notice the open lane.....

If they changed lanes they needed the bigger engine coach.

Bob

Re: Newbie takes delivery at MOT--FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY!! With Thanks

Reply #41 – May 18, 2014, 03:11:36 pm

Quote from: Caflashbob – May 18, 2014, 12:25:03 pm

Most Rv sales to new or second buyers are floor plans, fabrics, paint colors and such.

So true. When I worked at Country Coach in 2008, the management was always pushing to get the newest floor plan out. They were in search of the "holy grail" floor plan that would cause a flood of sales. Reality was the best selling floor plans were the old standbys that had been around for years. "Crain Prairie" was a new one with limited success - it swapped location of kitchen/dinette with couches/recliner. I think the idea was to bring kitchen closer to door so you didn't track dirt through the living room. Always looked odd to me when walking into it - don't think I would buy one. I think a mid door does a better job of accomplishing the same thing.

Re: Newbie takes delivery at MOT--FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY!! With Thanks

Reply #42 – May 18, 2014, 04:34:03 pm

Monster horsepower, with unheard of mileage is what I'd spec out...

Re: Newbie takes delivery at MOT--FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY!! With Thanks

Reply #43 – May 18, 2014, 05:34:23 pm

"I think a mid door does a better job of accomplishing the same thing." That's one of the reasons that we like the GV.

Re: Newbie takes delivery at MOT--FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY!! With Thanks

Reply #44 – May 18, 2014, 10:09:35 pm

Quote from: kb0zke – May 18, 2014, 05:34:23 pm

"I think a mid door does a better job of accomplishing the same thing." That's one of the reasons that we like the GV.

I agree except for the unicoach front view. God loves us as the phone rang on a mid entry unicoach.

The 40' is realiy too big for us. Might trade for a duplicate mid entry 36'. Only....

Re: Newbie takes delivery at MOT--FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY!! With Thanks

Reply #45 – May 19, 2014, 02:04:00 am

Congrates on your new Home, First thing, Get up on your roof and physically measure it,

Top of Coach to ground, All the little bits sticking up, Include the highest one of those to the ground,

And keep your eye on bridge heights, Dont exceed your roof height, and add a foot or so for safety,

A low bridge or tree limb, or even a Verandah over shops can take out the top of your Coach,

I got mine Regoed and on the road last November, Done quite a few miles in it now, 3000 miles or so,

It gets easy very quickly, Just like a luxury car to drive, ITS JUST BIG, and I do mean BIG, Especially when you want to

stop and shop, Where am I gonna park this thing, Hahahaha,

I have a Grand Villa with two Mid Doors, It creates a wind tunnel effect with the awnings out, Lovely and Cool, 38 + C

with no A/C working, and I can get in and out on both sides, is Magic,

Re: Newbie takes delivery at MOT--FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY!! With Thanks

Reply #46 – May 19, 2014, 11:30:57 am

I am very pleased to read this series of posts as we are planning to likely take the leap in late May of 2015. I have a Navy ship reunion(USS Bainbridge) at Albuquerque. If the country is still civil and investments haven't crashed we will be looking at whatever is available at FOT or MOT. I have no doubt that a well cared for preowned Foretravel is our RV of choice.

Re: Newbie takes delivery at MOT--FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY!! With Thanks

Reply #47 – May 23, 2014, 02:57:03 pm

Hi folks,

A final post to perhaps wrap up this thread.

Thanks to all the kind suggestions and advice (and some extra help from the folks at MOT), I made it home safe and sound to Virginia. Like some other posters have said, my biggest problem now is figuring out how to wipe that ridiculously large grin off my face.

I still can't believe it's true every time I look out and see that beauty in the driveway. It's killing me right now because we had a previous trip planned and ticketed to be out here in Iowa for a family wedding. Love the extended family, but can't wait to get back home to Virginia to continue learning and prepping for our first little outing. Every day with the coach is a new learning experience. We are just enjoying the heck out of that.

We are reading about folks that are getting together, rallys, and something called a Grandvention (if I have that right). We are trying to soak up knowledge like a sponge and it appears these events are primer territory for that. Trying to find out more regarding the calendar for these things.

I close with our sincerest thanks for the kind words and helpful suggestions we have noted in this forum. We look forward to meeting as many of you as possible in the years ahead.

Safe travels and good health,

Don and Nancy

Re: Newbie takes delivery at MOT--FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY!! With Thanks

Reply #48 – May 23, 2014, 06:25:52 pm

Happy to hear that you had a good purchase experience and arrived back home in Virginia.

Seems like Texas is the hotbed of Foretravel sales. It seems likely that when we find the right one it will be in Texas. Your experience gives me confidence to take a little trip to Texas and drive one back to West Virginia.

Wayne

Re: Newbie takes delivery at MOT--FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY!! With Thanks

Reply #49 – May 23, 2014, 07:35:30 pm

Yup, three primary places to check for Foretravels:

MOT
Foretravel Factory
PPL in Houston

BTW, enough buyers are requesting Fortravels at PPL that one rarely hits the "for sale" list without a coincident "SOLD" appearing.

Happened to one just today: Diesel Motorhomes for Sale - PPL Motor Homes

1993 model.

If you have identified what you want, contact a salesman at PPL in Houston and let him know what you are looking for. You will get a notification before it even hits their website.

Same for MOT and I suspect at Foretravel.

Brett

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