Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 14, 2025 ...

Just get her in every FT you can find, all lengths. They are all big, but you will make a better long term decision if keep an open mind until you have been in a number of coaches of all lengths

We stumbled upon and bought one of the few 38' Foretravels with one slide and no tag axle, a U295.  The interior feels like a 40' Foretravel, same living room, same pantry across from the refrigerator, same gigantic bathroom. Only thing missing I can see is the second pantry next to the refrigerator. Not having a bedroom slide, we have windows on both sides of the bed. Not having a tag axle, the bay storage is about the same as a 40' with tag. And the 2003's are especially nice looking with no visible seams on the end caps.

Walt,

Before you buy anything, especially a SOB, try to get to Nacogdoches ("Meccadoches") TX and visit MOT to see there inventory as well as FT' inventory of used coaches (MOT will have SOB's too now). Â Spend a couple of days there and make sure you take a factory tour. (BTW - you could probably trade your 5'ver in at MOT and maybe FT, not sure).

If you go through Houston and rent a car, the drive isn't to bad from the airport. Â Either leaving or coming back to Houston, you can also stop by PPL motorhomes - they do strictly consignment - all brands, often a few FT's there as well.

Good luck in the hunt!

...I can see the steel framing outlines easily on my side walls.  The vacuum table presses hard enough to squish the luan layer the others do not have and probably the foam itself a bit.

...Most brands used to have a sample sidewall and roof piece to show customers.  Almost anything looks ok.

You may have to invest some time and $$$ to bag a FT. Think of it as part of the adventure and embrace it. FT quality of product and owners means most all of the used stuff out there is sound and had good maintenance. Develop a phone relationship with a sales professional at both MOT an FT. Discuss the coaches you like from there listings and you can develop a relationship. Almost all coaches are sold at a distance, with a fully refundable deposit based on inspection and test drive. I live in Chicago and bought two from MOT while sitting in Chicago.

Walt when I was looking at Foretravels, my wife was not yet on board. I took her on a long weekend to Galveston for a getaway. While we were there I convinced her to take a drive north to see a few Foretravels. She agreed BUT we were only looking! Well we went to MOT and FOT and found Our coach. Now we had seen enough of SOB so we knew. If you have been looking you will know when you first step in. We were not ready to buy yet but bought it( actually I said not yet she said yes,yes,yes.) and have not regretted it. It is our perfect for us coach.

Walt when I was looking at Foretravels, my wife was not yet on board. I took her on a long weekend to Galveston for a getaway. While we were there I convinced her to take a drive north to see a few Foretravels. She agreed BUT we were only looking! Well we went to MOT and FOT and found Our coach. Now we had seen enough of SOB so we knew. If you have been looking you will know when you first step in. We were not ready to buy yet but bought it( actually I said not yet she said yes,yes,yes.) and have not regretted it. It is our perfect for us coach.

Same here.

My short list was very short, I wanted semi-monocoque construction, outboard airbags, disk brakes, and retarder. My wife and I just went to kook, not buy. We needed to sell our old sob first.

The best laid plans...

We fell in love and owned two motorcoaches until the old one could be sold.

So far, we have mostly been looking at floor plans to see what works and what doesn't and what we can make work with some minor modification. Not being all that mechanically inclined (to date, at least) I know enough to know what I don't know. That's why I've been reading forums here, there, and everywhere to learn what I can about the brands we have been considering. That's how I learned about the so-called "big three" issues with Tiffin motorhomes in the model year range we would be considering. It's also how I learned about the quality control concerns some Winnebago owners are expressing these days.

I've learned quite a bit (I think) reading through the various posts here, especially about the apparent special relationships owners have with their Foretravel coaches. I appreciate all of the comments, suggestions, and advice I have so far received.

I cannot say enough to convince  future rv'ers to disregard the normal choices you would think are necessary and concentrate on the coaches actual construction. 

Almost ever member here has had multiple rv's. 

Most here would agree that a lot of SOB's have prettier fabrics, trick floor plans, even prettier cabinets.  That's what sells the newby's

The idea I bought a 17 year old coach with known needed work(by me, not the previous owners btw)was based on 20 years Rv sales management experience.

Yes all the other brands structure tend to long term ownership issues.

Ever customer driving the SOB's versus a Foretravel noticed the no squeeks and rattles.

Old Country coach and beavers were very tight also.

Foretravels have insulated floors and in a unihome or unicoach the bottom of the compartments and the dividers themselves are foam insulated vacuum bonded assemblies.

That's why the bolts are visible under the coach.  The sub assemblies are bolted not screwed together.

... having said that, though, neither of us is big into frills or fancy designs.

Along that line, I saw a Prevost in the park the other day...could have been a mobile bordello with all the glitsy lights Marathon added and they had lit up.

Walt, too bad I did not see you were in ID. I was just in ID and went down to Yellowstone.  There were a number of FTs there in fact.  I know of at least five coaches. There are coaches up in the PNW too.  I would take the side trip if you can.