We Have A Coach !

Topic: We Have A Coach ! (Read 1068 times) previous topic - next topic

We Have A Coach !

May 31, 2015, 10:42:28 am

On April 2, 2014 we first heard of Foretravel, when we happened to meet the owners of one on a lunch break in New Mexico. We shared a meal, then visited their coach. Pure serendipity, we had been thinking about switching from truck & travel trailer to a motorhome. After that visit, we looked around but never looked back. Joined Foreforums on April 22nd, 2014. Checked out other brands, but Foretravel really seemed to be "the one." We got lots of help along the way from members of this site.

This past week, my partner Nancy & I traveled to our neighbouring province to help with the delivery of our new to us coach, to our home base in Manitoba. It took just over a year, but we are VERY pleased to have our 36' 1997 Foretravel U320. For us, it has the size & features we wanted, and it appears to be in beautiful condition.

Thanks for the help Foreforums members. The adventure begins!

Re: We Have A Coach !

Reply #1 – May 31, 2015, 10:51:41 am

Congratulations and welcome. Hope to see to while traveling our great continent.

Re: We Have A Coach !

Reply #2 – May 31, 2015, 11:04:11 am

Congratulations on your new to you FT, another Foretravel in Canada is always great news as everyone knows our coaches are not well known in Canada.
Now, when you have the time everyone would like some pictures and info on your new addition.
Geoffh

Re: We Have A Coach !

Reply #3 – May 31, 2015, 11:42:28 am

Jack and Nancy, Weclome to our community of owners. I am pretty sure I can see those smiles from here. We are just a wee bit south of you in MN. Roger

Re: We Have A Coach !

Reply #4 – May 31, 2015, 11:52:05 am

Congrats and welcome.

Re: We Have A Coach !

Reply #5 – May 31, 2015, 02:29:32 pm

Jack & Nancy,
Welcome to the world of Foretravels. I may be biased, but you just got yourself the best year coach that Foretravel ever made. And a U320 at that. You will love these older coaches. They may need additional attention at this age, but they are rock solid.

Congratulations!

Re: We Have A Coach !

Reply #6 – May 31, 2015, 06:06:23 pm

That is great news. Congratulations.

Re: We Have A Coach !

Reply #7 – June 02, 2015, 07:27:49 pm

Quote from: Peter & Beth – May 31, 2015, 02:29:32 pm

Jack & Nancy,
Welcome to the world of Foretravels. I may be biased, but you just got yourself the best year coach that Foretravel ever made. And a U320 at that. You will love these older coaches. They may need additional attention at this age, but they are rock solid.

Congratulations!

Thanks Peter,
I share your bias, as far as what we wanted in a coach goes. Different strokes for different folks. I hadn't run across a 34 footer like you have, guess 40 and up are the vast majority though. We wanted the smaller version.

Re: We Have A Coach !

Reply #8 – June 02, 2015, 08:17:49 pm

36' models are desirable. 34' are not easy to find, we looked for a couple years for one. We are very happy with our 36'. You will be too. Roger

Re: We Have A Coach !

Reply #9 – June 02, 2015, 09:21:07 pm

Congratulations! You have a great combination of features and maneuverability. M11 Cummins and HD Allison trans are arguably the best RV powertrain money can buy!

Re: We Have A Coach !

Reply #10 – June 02, 2015, 11:09:26 pm

Pictures, please! And when you get a chance, update your signature so that when you have questions people will be able to focus their answers to match your coach.

Re: We Have A Coach !

Reply #11 – June 03, 2015, 02:04:28 pm

Congratulations on your purchase of a classic Foretravel! We have been extremely pleased with our 1995 U320, and we agree with those who say that that the M11 and the 6-speed Allison provide an outstanding power train.

Re: We Have A Coach !

Reply #12 – June 03, 2015, 04:39:12 pm

If that is the 97 320 I think it is, I know one of the prior owners. Did this have a factory repaint and other custom work done in Nac in '09? If so, it was done by our friends with whom we toured that year. We know the coach well, and it had excellent care before being sold.

Re: We Have A Coach !

Reply #13 – June 03, 2015, 11:05:44 pm

Quote from: Bob Thomas – June 03, 2015, 04:39:12 pm

If that is the 97 320 I think it is, I know one of the prior owners. Did this have a factory repaint and other custom work done in Nac in '09? If so, it was done by our friends with whom we toured that year. We know the coach well, and it had excellent care before being sold.

Yes Bob, I'm almost certain you know the coach if I remember a prior post of yours correctly. Our seller was the buyer in California from your friend. Pictures soon!

Re: We Have A Coach !

Reply #14 – June 03, 2015, 11:12:01 pm

My wife is trying to move to truck and trailer. Can you quantify how much better the Foretravel is so I can talk her off the ledge? She's tired of the constant little issues (which makes perfect sense because I'm the one who fixes them while she looks pretty and makes lunch

) Things I specifically don't know about is trailer quality and issues, the driving experience of towing a heavy trailer, how the pickups are, etc. We only have experiences with motorhomes but man I could not get rid of our gas class A Ford F53 based coach fast enough.

Re: We Have A Coach !

Reply #15 – June 03, 2015, 11:24:03 pm

Have her back one in o a spot, disconnect and then level the trailer and hook it up. And oh yeah, she has to drive the F350 100% of the time as her daily driver.

Biggest difference by my way of thinking is that the tires on the trailer just don't have the load rating to carry the weight it would take to allow a 5er to be built as solidly as a FT. THere are nice high end 5er's, but they just have to be lightly built due to the load carry limitations of the tires.

OK, you have a 1999 coach. Will you be adding $$$ to buy the tow unit and the 5er, or try to sell the FT and buyt your new tow unit and 5er for what the FT brings? Your coach is 15 years old. Seek out a 15 year old 5er and see how that has held up.

Lots of folks like the trailer lifestyle, but most of those have not had a FT. Good luck with your conversation.

Re: We Have A Coach !

Reply #16 – June 03, 2015, 11:35:55 pm

We already have a Lexus GX470 and she wants a 2008 Bigfoot 25'. Lexus tows 6700 pounds and the bigfoot is 4700 dry. Bigfoot has a 7500gvwr but obviously we would have to be very cognizant of weights. In my current coach I can bring anything I want including all the tools I need to keep things in order. In the bigfoot I will have to pare things down and I plan to have a basic tool kit and a laptop. For me the inconvenience is huge but the exchange is that she promises she will help drive. She is terrified to touch the Foretravel due to how expensive it is. We would sell the Foretravel (maybe) and the trailer is cheaper regardless.

Maybe I should start a new thread

Re: We Have A Coach !

Reply #17 – June 04, 2015, 12:09:09 am

Piku, you need to call & get your DW signed up immediately for FT ladies' driving school in November!!!! She will be driving the brand new (very expensive) IH 45's & your 42 footer will seem small in comparison! There were little bitty 5 ft. ladies in there who handled it beautifully! After driving, parking & backing that critter into tight spots, I felt my coach was like driving a sports car!!! Please call Beverly ASAP & sign her up, it is so well worth it! Get on the waiting list if the class is already full...& sign up for the 2016 class right away just in case. Best thing I ever did...(besides find this forum & then my wait for my "new" coach to drop into my lap!)

I've met a couple of women (mostly with husbands) who have no trouble whatsoever & in fact LOVE driving their 45 footers! You have to try to get your DW past the notion of selling the FT, life was meant to be lived in a Foretravel!!!

Re: We Have A Coach !

Reply #18 – June 04, 2015, 12:49:34 am

Just lost my first long post, then discovered the "save draft" button, oh well, next time.

Bottom line to my lost discussion is that Nancy & I have had our sticks & staples flimsy ultralite trailer for 5 years & many miles, including several trips Manitoba to AZ & return. It is literally falling apart. We have close friends in both the trailer & diesel pusher camps, we've talked it all out with both sides: costs, travel styles, quality, durability, total cost of ownership, and on & on.

Different strokes for different strokes, but for us the choice was a no brainer. Our Foretravel will outlive us, cost less, and in every way provide a superior RV experience to our truck & trailer combo, or its otherwise inevitable replacement.

Re: We Have A Coach !

Reply #19 – June 04, 2015, 06:05:15 am

It is rarely wise to spec out a new rig pushing max ratings. The results are never pleasant!

Re: We Have A Coach !

Reply #20 – June 04, 2015, 06:32:17 am

piku,

Mine was the opposite. We had the truck trailer combo for years and she HATED driving that so I did 99% of the driving. After buying the FT we split it about 50-50...and having the 50-50 time is so much more relaxing for both of us. As has been stated many times here if DW isn't happy....no one is happy lol so goof luck! For us going to the FT was a no brianer....being that she is a bus driver

. Our coach is shorter than her daily driver.

Re: We Have A Coach !

Reply #21 – June 04, 2015, 08:57:51 am

Quote from: SunRambler Jack – June 04, 2015, 12:49:34 am

Just lost my first long post, then discovered the "save draft" button, oh well, next time.

SJ R,

The forum autosaves into draft for you at some time interval while you're composing a post. If you go into your profile (the Summary view) you should see Show Posts, Show Drafts, etc. and you should be able to find most of a lost post-in-progress there.

Michelle

Re: We Have A Coach !

Reply #22 – June 04, 2015, 11:08:43 am

Thanks for the advice. I don't think I have much to worry about. Those bigfoot trailers are unicorns and never come up for sale at a reasonable price. I definitely love the FT. I think it's the right choice and I don't mind chasing the little issues generally.

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