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Topic: coach designs  (Read 659 times) previous topic - next topic

coach designs

Looking at the Grand Villas,the way they are styled with the sloped nose etc, and then looking at the American Coach,Eagles,Dreams etc there are similarities in the style. In that time period was that intentional or just coincidence? It's a cool looking style too me.
91 GV U300 Unihome 40' Build 3811
6V92TA Detroit

Re: coach designs

Reply #1 –
?. Dont forget the Areo Designed 2000 Newmar London Aire, 4083. Nice coach..

 but not a Foretravel!
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: coach designs

Reply #2 –
Dave, I can't tell you how many people stop and look at our refurbed Grand Villa. They usually think it is a new coach and were not familiar with the Old Grand Villas. It's not uncommon to have people knock on our door inquiring into what it is and where they can get one. If Foretravel still has the molds, which we are told they do, then it might be a good idea to reintroduce the style and design into the Foretravel line. It would make a good mid-price range model.
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: coach designs

Reply #3 –
...a "mid priced" Foretravel would be a million dollars!  :))
Scott Cook
1991 U300 36' 6V92TA
Old Town Penobscot 16
1984 Honda VF1100C (V65 Magna)

Re: coach designs

Reply #4 –
Perhaps FT should market a GV version as a "Euro style" and focus on aerodynamics and efficiency. But as far as I'm concerned, the GV styling - and mid entry - is the way to go; just on looks alone.

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: coach designs

Reply #5 –
I don't know, why is it that Foretravel has to be a million dollars?

 lots of other manufacturers out there that are not even close to that. Granted they're not a Foretravel maybe they need to look at production methods.

My 94 cost $300K in 94.. so how much is that now?  A little over 500K?  So if they were making money in 94 why is it they wouldn't make money in 2015, they must be smarter now and more efficient.
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: coach designs

Reply #6 –
Quote from: fouroureye –
My 94 cost $300K in 94.. so how much is that now?  A little over 500K?  So if they were making money in 94 why is it they wouldn't make money in 2015, they must be smarter now and more efficient.
Prices for the wood that FT used when they built your (and my) coach have appreciated um..... appreciably. But it seems to me that they could offset that somewhat with newer techniques. Of course, newer techniques might not be as good as the older ones. But FT managed to build stronger coaches lighter than the other guys back then. So... I dunno.

When I learned how to make my own tambour doors I understood why FT quit doing that. There is probably a lot more that I don't understand...

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: coach designs

Reply #7 –
Quote from: fouroureye –
I don't know, why is it that Foretravel has to be a million dollars?

 lots of other manufacturers out there that are not even close to that. Granted they're not a Foretravel maybe they need to look at production methods.

My 94 cost $300K in 94.. so how much is that now?  A little over 500K?  So if they were making money in 94 why is it they wouldn't make money in 2015, they must be smarter now and more efficient.
I have somewhat of an answer as to why foretravel has chosen to not compete in the upper mid-range coach market ..... They no the upper middle class cease to exist, as in gone :( only thing left are the have and the haven't  >:(
1992 U300 Anniversary Edition wrong color DDC6v92T Big step up from my 1983 35' fc Blue Bird .

Re: coach designs

Reply #8 –
The 20 year old technology is better than today's anyway, so just enjoy what you have and all the extra money you have to pay for diesel and staying in beautiful campgrounds all across the country. People with new million dollar coaches aren't gonna risk getting a scratch in their dark colored full body paint job.
Scott Cook
1991 U300 36' 6V92TA
Old Town Penobscot 16
1984 Honda VF1100C (V65 Magna)

Re: coach designs

Reply #9 –
Here is the link to the 2002 grand Villa.

2002 Foretravel Grand Villa 40' Priced at $ 149500

Keith
Keith, Joyce & Smokey the Australian Cattle Dog
1995 U320 SE Extreme 40' WTBI Build # 4780, with a Honda CR-V hopefully still following behind.
Motorcade # 17030
FMCA # F422159

Re: coach designs

Reply #10 –
Wow, that's a beautiful coach and it's very interesting to see what changes another ten plus years brought after my coach was built. The lack of a two cycle Detroit, presence of hydraulic radiator fans, and lack of a gas stove would be deal breakers for me, as would the high price of course, but it's really beautiful.
Scott Cook
1991 U300 36' 6V92TA
Old Town Penobscot 16
1984 Honda VF1100C (V65 Magna)

Re: coach designs

Reply #11 –
Don't believe that Foretravel gave up the lovely tambour cabinet doors because of price. I heard that the fellow, in Florida, I think, who made them, died. Hard to understand but back then there were owners who complained about the space lost because of the roll-up column.
No RV! Have hung up the keys.
In the past: 2016 Winnebago Era, 1994 Foretravel U240, 1995 Foretravel U240 (wide body), 1999 Foretravel 320, 36 Foot, 2003 Foretravel U320 38 foot,

Re: coach designs

Reply #12 –
"Hard to understand but back then there were owners who complained about the space lost because of the roll-up column." We've run into trying to put something in the overhead cabinets that we thought ought to fit, only to find that the column is in the way. The other side of that, though, is that we've never had a door come open more than an inch or two. Hinged doors do give more room in the cabinet, but unless there is a really good latch, they will come open. On the other side, a tambour door will stay open as long as you want it open. A door hinged at the top either needs a hinge that will lock it open or some sort of external latch to keep it open. We had hinged doors on the mpg and tambour doors on our Foretravel. I prefer the tambour doors.

Re: coach designs

Reply #13 –
That GV is fantastic.  What a great style.  I have to believe it would sell today.
Jerry & Nanci
1999 U270 34'WTFI
2011 Malibu
A smart man knows what to say, a wise man knows when to say it.