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Topic: Why buy an used Foretravel over Monaco, need help in this discussion. (Read 8158 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Why buy an used Foretravel over Monaco, need help in this discussion.

Reply #40 –
Quote from: staffcurtis –
If we compare coaches in the same price range, We get a four slide Signature competing with a two, maybe three slide Foretravel...  Foretravel is a better made coach, but my money is better spent on the Monaco for now.
It sounds like you evaluate coaches based primarily on the number of slides:  more slides equals more desirable.  I believe you should stick with Monaco.

Re: Why buy an used Foretravel over Monaco, need help in this discussion.

Reply #41 –
If more slides = better, then I agree also. Go for more slides.  But consider the actual floor space those extra slides give you.  Is it twice as much as 1/2 as many slides?  If not then IMO you're trading twice the complexity for not much more inside space.  Remember anytime you make a hole in a structure you weaken it.  The structure needs to be properly designed and built to add back the structural integrity. 
As an aside I've had people compliment how nice my coach looks but then ask with a dumbfounded look "you don't have ANY slides?"

Re: Why buy an used Foretravel over Monaco, need help in this discussion.

Reply #42 –
Why buy a used Foretravel?
1. The knowledge base on the Forum
2. Quality Built (as is evident from the number of old coaches still in everyday use
3. Factory still in production
4. Factory parts dept still supports its older coaches
5. Factory technical support available
6. Repair and servicing facilities around the factory run by former employees supporting the older coaches
7. Not many parts that cannot be readily sourced
8. Factory remodeling of interiors available
9. Motorcade (owners club)
10.Chapters

What am I missing?
David

Re: Why buy an used Foretravel over Monaco, need help in this discussion.

Reply #43 –
Quote from: Chuck Pearson –

Quote from: TGordon  -  4 months ago
Cummins has designed a new cylinder head for the ISX engine. It's purpose is to eliminate the number 6 valve sucking problem. $4K, no core charge.
NEW Cummins ISX 15 Cylinder Head For Sale - City Of Industry, CA - Alliance...

Tim

That seems like a smoking good deal for that head if it accomplishes all it claims.  A pre emptive retrofit would make sense for some.

Probably could resell old head if removed serviceable, would be a no brainer if you owned a ISX IMO
Scott

Re: Why buy an used Foretravel over Monaco, need help in this discussion.

Reply #44 –
Quote from: staffcurtis –
I have owned more than one Monaco Signature RV.  I have yet to own a Foretravel, but plan to do so one day.  I agree with people here which coach is better, but I wouldn't expect otherwise considering where the question was posted.

I don't think the Foretravel is the better value coach.  Every four slide 45' coach I looked at was over $100k more than the same year Monaco Signature.  I don't feel it's THAT much better of motorhome considering the Newell is $100k over the Foretravel, and beats it handedly.  I'm also considering the 2006-2007 year range due to it being the better Signature years (and Monaco closing it's doors shortly afterwards).

If we compare coaches in the same price range, We get a four slide Signature competing with a two, maybe three slide Foretravel, which I would not consider a fair contest (comparing apples to apples).  It's also hard to find a large used Foretravel selection which makes the prices stay higher whether it's worth it or not.  Foretravel is a better made coach, but my money is better spent on the Monaco for now.
How many windshields have you had to replace? My brothers '05 is on it's 3rd one and it has cracked again, he has only owned it 4 years. The company that made the leveling system also went belly up but I've heard that a buyer may buy the company and sell support parts. I owned a '81 Foretravel 40' diesel pusher for 18 years with very few problems. Bought a '96 Sig. in 2012 and had more problems in 3 years with electrical systems than 18 years on the FT. Bought my '99 Foretravel in '15 and it will outlast me for sure.

Re: Why buy an used Foretravel over Monaco, need help in this discussion.

Reply #45 –
Quote from: dsd –
Probably could resell old head if removed serviceable, would be a no brainer if you owned a ISX IMO
Scott
I remember some BMW cylinder heads that warped no matter what you did to them. Only option was to replace with the old one going in the round can.

ISX are not the only ones. I met a member my first time in Q that had just replaced his 8.3. 8.3 cummins with dropped valves - Google Search

More HP usually means higher EGTs. And that almost always translates to a shorter lifespan.

Pierce

Re: Why buy an used Foretravel over Monaco, need help in this discussion.

Reply #46 –
Quote from: folivier –
But consider the actual floor space those extra slides give you.  Is it twice as much as 1/2 as many slides?  If not then IMO you're trading twice the complexity for not much more inside space. 
We were looking at a 4-slide CC and this was the realization we finally came to. We didn't actually get much more *usable* space. The only place we felt the extra slides moved the needle was the bedroom. Otherwise, it was  just more floor space between seating areas or the kitchen. Unless you're really into yoga, it's hard to make an argument for the step down everywhere else IMO.

Our 5th wheel had two big opposing slides with a big island in the middle. Despite that, we actually find our FT feels bigger because the use of space is so much better.

Re: Why buy an used Foretravel over Monaco, need help in this discussion.

Reply #47 –
Remember, bedroom slides, really limit access to engine. Equals higher maintenance cost.

Been there, done that.

Think gynecologist when working on engine!

Also, we sold Monico's at RnR, and almost everyone had slide water leak issues, that did much damage.

Chris

Re: Why buy an used Foretravel over Monaco, need help in this discussion.

Reply #48 –
Slides always add complexity to a coach along with weight and compromised structural integrity. This means more maintenance in many cases.

They may limit interior space while driving.

Lots of law firms have owners with bad slides as clients.

If we full timed with extended time in locations, lots of slides might be the ticket. But we never will be full timers so no slides works best for us.

Pierce

Re: Why buy an used Foretravel over Monaco, need help in this discussion.

Reply #49 –
Quote from: staffcurtis –
I have owned more than one Monaco Signature RV.  I have yet to own a Foretravel, but plan to do so one day.  I agree with people here which coach is better, but I wouldn't expect otherwise considering where the question was posted.

 Foretravel is a better made coach, but my money is better spent on the Monaco for now.

Curious - this was a bump of a 5 month old topic as the member's first post on the forum...

Re: Why buy an used Foretravel over Monaco, need help in this discussion.

Reply #50 –
Interesting about slides. I personally don't understand why someone wants a 45-ft coach with four slides but then that's me. Just not something I want.
Had a monarch move his coach the other day from Oceanside to higher up in the RV Park and he moved it without pulling in his rear slide. Now I don't know if he knew that or not but I thought you couldn't drive a coach with the slide out I guess he removed the interlocks. You know those safety interlocks that keep something really bad and expensive from happening when the owner does it dodo move like that.
The other thing I think I know is that people that own 45 ft motorhomes with four slides usually don't care about forums like these because then they take it to professionals and pay a lot of money to get things worked on. That's why a lot of us don't have newer models. Even if we could afford them and I'm sure some of us could we prefer to not have them so we can do our  maintenance and our own work. I have a no slide coach and I really like it although I can understand that if I had a woman with me she would prefer more space. I've been in coaches with slides and I do like the extra space but then I think about the loss of storage hitting my head on those slides trying to access the bays underneath them and a host of other real and pretend issues in my brain. The other thing too is if you go on a foretravel forum expecting to hear anything other than Foretravel are the best then maybe you're barking up the wrong tree. If I go to a newel forum I would expect them to say their coach is the best same with country Coach and prevost. We all like what we have and what we spend money on. It was interesting hearing from you guys that have had multiple different types of coaches wound up with four travels and are totally happy with them. This is my first and probably my last motorhome.
I saw a video the other day of a woman that's sleeping in her Jeep. Then there's the van group. The scamps. The air streams. All the way up to 45 ft and four slides.
No telling what somebody will wind up with. Then I saw an Instagram today somebody who has a sailboat is selling it because guess what bad weather can just come up at any time LOL like they didn't know that before they bought the sailboat? That's like saying I'm going to sell my motorhome because the price of fuel is going up.. you bought a motorhome and you didn't realize that the price of fuel changes constantly?
My personal feeling is that unless you have a lot of money that you don't care about owning a motorhome like these is justifiable if you spend a lot of time on them and in them like full timing or at least part of the year. Otherwise it's just a hood ornament sitting in your driveway or worse, sitting in a storage lot.

Re: Why buy an used Foretravel over Monaco, need help in this discussion.

Reply #51 –
No one has talked about moving around in the coach with the slides in. 

In mine I can go from the very front  to the rear with out  having to climb over something.

Only thing I have to open a slide for is to get to the  washer  dryer. Not sure if that is the same for all FT

Re: Why buy an used Foretravel over Monaco, need help in this discussion.

Reply #52 –
I have never wanted a slide. I prefer the extra storage space in the no slide. Also when I stop for a short time everything is usable.

Re: Why buy an used Foretravel over Monaco, need help in this discussion.

Reply #54 –
When we were searching for our next home, there was some discussion on slides.
I do most of the maintenance . . .

Now for me, Lynn said "We give up one half the cedar wardrobe for the washer dryer."  Cedar Wardrobe?

Two years in, I find myself repairing water damage in the roof, and very happy to see that aluminum tube framing with the blue foam insulation.  There was a factory oopsie when the skylight was originally installed, I didn't catch when I resealed the skylight two years ago.  Full time living took its toll.

Re: Why buy an used Foretravel over Monaco, need help in this discussion.

Reply #55 –
Quote from: Journey, Roam, Explore –
you bought a motorhome and you didn't realize that the price of fuel changes constantly?

I hope it isn't!
I just thought all this time the value of my money was going down.
I'm so confused
Scott

Re: Why buy an used Foretravel over Monaco, need help in this discussion.

Reply #56 –
Quote from: John44 –
Looks like you answered your own question with your last sentence,we chose quality over quantity you choose quantity over quality.

I choose value over all else.  If you prefer quality over quantity, then don't buy a Foretravel.  Choose Newell or Prevost.

Re: Why buy an used Foretravel over Monaco, need help in this discussion.

Reply #57 –
Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie –
It sounds like you evaluate coaches based primarily on the number of slides:  more slides equals more desirable.  I believe you should stick with Monaco.

I do desire more slides because I'm going with my two kids.  The extra space is needed while camping.  The amount of slides doesn't change the basis of my post.  You'll get a better coach with Foretravel, but pay quite a bit more.

Re: Why buy an used Foretravel over Monaco, need help in this discussion.

Reply #58 –
Quote from: Michelle –
Curious - this was a bump of a 5 month old topic as the member's first post on the forum...

I've been interested in buying a Foretravel for a couple years.  Wanted to see what peoples thoughts were compared to Monaco, and I got my answer thank you.

Re: Why buy an used Foretravel over Monaco, need help in this discussion.

Reply #59 –
Quote from: staffcurtis –
I've been interested in buying a Foretravel for a couple years.  Wanted to see what peoples thoughts were compared to Monaco, and I got my answer thank you.

But you already stated you preferred Monaco and you had already purchased one and simply posted to inform the group you had done so in a 5 month old thread that wasn't yours. 

You weren't asking for member's thoughts (unless of course you are simply trolling the group...)