Thinking of selling my coach and downsizing --- Sold

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Thinking of selling my coach and downsizing --- Sold

December 19, 2016, 08:10:01 am

Well what do you do after you have crossed the country many times and put on well over 300k miles on three FORETRAVEL's. Then add in health issues and I think it is time to downsize and get a smaller unit for day trips and photo expeditions. Interestingly earthroamer was designed by a photographer wanting a mobile platform. I want a bit more comfort then the expidition vehicles but want to get closer and stay in parks the coach does not have the ground clearance to get to. So I am thinking of selling and buying my third new Born Free on a dodge 5500 four wheel drive chassis. It never fails I finish up the last remodel and I sell. I am not a fan of the IH as that would be the same amount of work too so. Finally the fact that I don't full time and probably will not and I do not see myself wintering in FL for the next ten years at least make it so it is time to do things differently. Has anyone else done this or are most of you going bigger?

This was a hard decision to even think about and has taken me over a year to even get this far. I love my coach and the comfort it gave me during radiation a few years ago and I could full time in it no problem. But with living next to the grand kids and my love of photography growing more and more it is time. I think Dave M's death was the final push along with the thread on living life.

Re: Thinking of selling my coach and downsizing

Reply #1 – December 19, 2016, 09:00:16 am

John, I am sure every one of us will reach this point sooner or later, bigger, smaller or not at all. And if we aren't thinking about it every once in a while we are probably kidding ourselves. It is sort of like an athlete who retires at their peak. Better then than when the choice is forced on you by circumstances you have no control over.

We bought our coach from a couple in CA. They were in thie mid 70s. They (mostly the wife) decided their rv days were done. He wasn't real thrilled about it but they seemed happy their coach was going to us. Within a year they bought a nice Class C for short trips.

A coach is just a means to do what brings true meaning and purpose to your life. They are a great way to travel and very comfortable but if it is inhibiting your true calling then make the change. Doing what is most important to you is more important than owning a coach. And you can be sure your coach will help someone live out their lives doing what they want to do.

Sometimes doing what makes us happy is defined and limited by the boundaries we put up for ourselves. Nothing wrong with that. Being close to family or close to home. Maybe it is a job. All of those constraints define the space within which we pursue our purpose. When those boundaries are removed or expanded there can be many new opportunities to improve how we pursue purpose and passion.

If you are thinking about it a lot then it is probably time to act. The days ahead are far fewer than those past.

Added a while later ...

I lost a great friend a few years back. Reminded me of Dave M. a bit. As he was slipping away from us, 54 days in a coma, we, I, talked to him at great lengths. And since he couldn't talk to us, we had to ask ourselves and each other the tough questions. What, Where, When, How ... What and who are most important. We came to many answers during that time. Even though Mike didn't participate in the conversation he helped us all make it happen. An amazing last and lasting gift to all of us from our dear friend.

And here again are conversations beginning, thinking starting, questions asked. Many brought to us by our friend Dave M. whose simple message "Do what makes you happy" has so much meaning at so many levels. Bless your heart, Dave. As you should, you live on in our memories.

Re: Thinking of selling my coach and downsizing

Reply #2 – December 19, 2016, 09:20:45 am

Well said Roger. We will all come to this crossroad at some point in our lives. When alls said and done, it comes down to doing what makes you happy.

Re: Thinking of selling my coach and downsizing

Reply #3 – December 19, 2016, 09:28:50 am

Very true.

Re: Thinking of selling my coach and downsizing

Reply #4 – December 19, 2016, 09:32:18 am

Bought my next small one (small POS class C) from MOT a couple of months ago. We're going to Alaska one more time next summer in the FT, then let MOT sell it. We've had 2 Sprinter B's and loved them, but felt they were to small for two old folks (& 2 Yorkies), and lack of service facilities swayed us. We looked longingly at the Sprinter C's, but not enough carry capacity, & same service issue. I had a Lazy Daze when we bought the FT, fantastic build quality for the "house" (better that the FT IMOO), but HATED the Ford chassis. We will take the FT to Alaska instead of the C, because of the comfort, capacity, power & space. It will be tuff weaning ourselves off of the FT for sure.

Re: Thinking of selling my coach and downsizing

Reply #5 – December 19, 2016, 10:01:03 am

John, as sated by others the decision is always tough. In my case I had a number of classic cars. It just got to be to much. I sold off three and kept one classic corvette and bought a 2017. I miss those cars every day, but I have lots of great memories. When I bought my Foretravel I thought I died and went to Heaven. I think sometimes I would get one that is not larger but with a slide. But I'm like you I don't fulltime, do small 3 and 4 day trips. I have also looked at smaller coaches but I don't want to give up the added comfort in the foretravel. Some of the small coaches have great quality but cant give you the added room no mater what. I'm sure you will decide whats best for you. But you cant beat an older foretravel for price and quality.

Re: Thinking of selling my coach and downsizing

Reply #6 – December 19, 2016, 12:01:43 pm

John- sounds like something you have been thinking about for a while now. You are 100% correct in that we must continue to evolve and change as our situations change, otherwise we miss out on opportunities in life being stuck in the past.

Here in Harlingen ,TX we have some friends that we met in 2007 while we were all volunteering at Escapees CARE. They have gone through an evolution from trading up to a diesel pusher (SOB), to having health issues limiting driving, stress, etc. They came to the park here because of their Thousand Trails membership, liked it, started staying for the winter season, then finally sold the motorhome and bought a used park model. Now they spend 8 months here and 4 months in a 5th wheel near the kids and grandkids in PA. They are happy, having fun with friends, going on cruises which they never did before, etc. They loved full timing but now love their new life because they were open to evolving to something new.

As our friend Dave M always said, " do what makes you happy".

Re: Thinking of selling my coach and downsizing

Reply #7 – December 19, 2016, 12:31:38 pm

John,

Why not 'start' your new lifestyle with your beloved current Foretravel? How many have said they wished they had back the coach they just sold. And when it comes to a machine, it may be better to have a 'known' motorhome with all it foibles, than to break-in and bring up to speed something new. Wonder when smaller is better. But then there is the benefit of high ground clearance and 4-wheel drive that can't be beat. Never easy to see the future so now is the time. But you could have both worlds by adding rather than replacing.

Re: Thinking of selling my coach and downsizing

Reply #8 – December 19, 2016, 01:32:09 pm

John,
Maybe you can just tow an Earthroamer and then play? Might be a tad heavy.

Re: Thinking of selling my coach and downsizing

Reply #9 – December 19, 2016, 01:44:46 pm

actually, the F750 version is just the right combination of size and ground clearance !

EarthRoamer » XV-HD

Re: Thinking of selling my coach and downsizing

Reply #10 – December 19, 2016, 01:49:51 pm

Quote from: John S – December 19, 2016, 08:10:01 am

...Has anyone else done this or are most of you going bigger?...

John - I've thought about this for years after we bought our coach and enjoyed the hell out of the amazing experiences, comfort, ride, convenience... but I keep circling back to another set of questions.

You know, longer term. If you are not looking forward then what? What do I want to do next? What haven't you experienced and how best can you accomplish that goal? Whatever that is. Will smaller get you where you wish to go next? As others have said and recent experiences remind us, time is finite for all of us and we really should give some thought to choosing wisely. I wish you the best in figuring this all out.

Re: Thinking of selling my coach and downsizing

Reply #11 – December 19, 2016, 02:08:18 pm

It gets to the point where you've exhausted all you wanted to do with the large coach. Then, you need to move to the next set of adventures/likes. This does not apply to the fulltimers as there is no better coach for this style than a Foretravel.

You only live once. Or, as the younger generations put it...YOLO So do what floats your boat and don't look back. I think you've enjoyed traveling and remodeling Foretravels. So to me it sounds like you're ready for that next set of traveling wheels. Just do it, and don't look back.

Re: Thinking of selling my coach and downsizing

Reply #12 – December 19, 2016, 02:50:29 pm

We've met a lot of folks that have downsized (including FT owners). Those "Super B & C" coaches are pretty cool!

Re: Thinking of selling my coach and downsizing

Reply #13 – December 19, 2016, 03:51:19 pm

Quote from: Roger & Susan in Home2 – December 19, 2016, 01:32:09 pm

John,
Maybe you can just tow an Earthroamer and then play? Might be a tad heavy.

John might have to sell his 2001 FT 3-4 times. Those earth roamers start at 425 CB's.

Re: Thinking of selling my coach and downsizing

Reply #14 – December 19, 2016, 03:57:27 pm

EarthRoamers are built about 20 mls from us, I don't know for sure if they have corrected their quality control and customer service. Fella' we know bought 2 of them for his movie biz. came into town for some warranty work on a thursday and was told to come over the following monday as they were have an employee party. This was when they only $300 k each !!!

Re: Thinking of selling my coach and downsizing

Reply #15 – December 19, 2016, 04:07:15 pm

John,

I hear what you are trying to say. Life is a large arc. We start out with smaller projects and they grow
higher and larger as we add on the years and get to a point that we can afford bigger and better. Then
as we crest the arc and start down. Where we hang onto the bigger and greater things (our trophies of
life) that we have accumulated along the way. I am getting to the point that I worry about getting older.
I realize that my reaction time is not as sharp as it used to be. Then I realize that maybe it is time for a
smaller coach, easier to get around and not as many bells and whistles to have to maintain. Most of us
are not ready to totally give up, but we can still stay connected but not on as large of a scale as before.

Good luck in your decision,

Carter Langford
Nac-

Re: Thinking of selling my coach and downsizing

Reply #16 – December 19, 2016, 04:21:51 pm

The fellow I'm going to meet soon has a 40 foot FT. In the midst of our two hour conversation, he said something interesting that I'll remember: "I just got to the point where I did not trust myself driving a long coach w/toad". This comes from an ex-trooper!

Re: Thinking of selling my coach and downsizing

Reply #17 – December 19, 2016, 11:13:14 pm

Interesting thoughts here, and I value them. I have been looking this over for a few years and since 2006 I have owned two coaches a Born Free and a Foretravel at the same time. The BF was a bit to small butmostly it was a gas van and the dog house burnt my leg and was too tight and loud. It was for under 200 mile trips and I put fifty thousand on the second one and 45k on my first ne. I had exactly two repairs over eleven years with twitter coaches. I used it for photos but it was a van and not four eel drive so I sold it this year. Then I saw a coach on a 550 and a couple on navstars and said wow they would work well. I think it is time to do it differently and to go,places I can't get this coach into easily. To take the fire road or hit the field and park by the creek or to use it to sit and rest till 4 am when I get up and set up. If I was in my old 34 foot this would be a much harder decision. I almost bought a bus but did not figuring I had everything they had and it is paid for. I want to go shoot and use it as a base came and to explore off the beaten trails in comfort so I guess I will put this on the front burner now.

Re: Thinking of selling my coach and downsizing

Reply #18 – December 20, 2016, 08:54:54 am

We sold our coach last weekend to a couple from Connecticut. Bittersweet, to be sure .... but what keeps me happy is knowing that it is going to folks who are excited and motivated and have years of adventures ahead of them. When I imagine them seeing the stuff that Jeff and I saw, laying eyes on all that wonder for the very first time, my heart is happy. We have a decent "withdrawal period", as they are keeping it in AZ for the rest of the winter and we will babysit. When they come back in the Spring, we will do a good tutorial before they head out. It was definitely time for us to move into the next phase. Age & Gravity are ruthless forces.

For those of you who know Jeff & Suzanne Ashlock (Two Hams in a Can), former Foretravel folks and Forum members, they have just moved on to their next unit! They went from an Airstream trailer to a Foretravel to a Casita and now to a Phoenix Cruiser 2400! They are on their way to Sarasota to pick it up right this minute!

It is actually the kind of thing that I might be interested in ... but first, I am thinking about a River Cruise in Europe. Just sayin'!!

Re: Thinking of selling my coach and downsizing

Reply #19 – December 20, 2016, 01:12:51 pm

How fun that folks adjust like Two Hams are doing. Good to hear that! I wonder what they did with the Casita? Love those little trailers.

Chris

Re: Thinking of selling my coach and downsizing

Reply #20 – December 20, 2016, 02:30:47 pm

the 2400 bought by two hams appears to come in a FORD 4X4 version per their web site.....

Re: Thinking of selling my coach and downsizing

Reply #21 – December 20, 2016, 02:41:34 pm

What first got me into "the itch" was when I was a professional photographer. Had a Land Rover 109 long body. Built a platform on the roof to take the tripod and a ladder up. Mostly traveled alone w/faithfull dog. I was in Rock Springs, WY having a cold one, noticed a VERY good-looking gal working there, young, "jail bait". Fine, flirt, leave, get in the LR, the dog was in the front seat, which was odd for him and the blinds were drawn. Pulled the blind back and, whoops, the gal was in the back! She said, "I hate my parents and hate this town, please get me out of here." For a moment, the thought crossed my mind. I then recalled Kansas had "The Mann Act" which was a go to jail offense for transporting minors across State lines. I asked her to leave, wondering if she'd make up some story about abduction. This was fifty years ago, and I always hoped she'd made it.

Re: Thinking of selling my coach and downsizing

Reply #22 – December 20, 2016, 08:19:36 pm

Quote from: Tim Fiedler – December 20, 2016, 02:30:47 pm

the 2400 bought by two hams appears to come in a FORD 4X4 version per their web site.....

They come in different configuations in different years. Believe the unit they are buying has a Sprinter chassis.

Re: Thinking of selling my coach and downsizing

Reply #23 – December 20, 2016, 09:09:04 pm

John,

When people ask for advice I tell them to choose wisely before they make a
move, but that life is not a one way street. If we make a change in our life path
and it does not work out as we want, we can always go back and try again.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained and that nothing is forever.

Carter-
Nac

Re: Thinking of selling my coach and downsizing

Reply #24 – December 20, 2016, 09:42:34 pm

That is true and I have owned a Fortravel for 16 years so far.

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