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Performance Choice

Got an email yesterday from Beverly of the Motorcade. 

 "Foretravel Motorcoach is excited to announce the launch of our Patent Pending Performance Choice™ ride and handling enhancement feature that will be standard on all 2024 model year coaches. The system improves ride, handling, stability and safety for different road and weather conditions and places the driver in control. In Sport mode the ride is tighter and firmer while in Touring mode it is softer and smoother. Switching between modes is as easy as pressing the driver-operated switch. This feature is exclusive to Foretravel's Realm and Presidential models. Visit Foretravel.com for more information on Performance Choice™. You can also email questions to Performance.Choice@Foretravel.com, or visit our 2023 Florida RV Supershow display to learn more about this system. Stay tuned for more exciting news coming out of Camp Foretravel."

The link for information is FORETRAVEL

Not real sure why in the link address it has ih45 since I think they stopped making these in 2020 and what Beverly has posted does not say anything about a IH45

It looks like the main parts are a sway bar and ping tanks.  I know my IH45 has a big heavy duty sway bar  I do not know if when going to Spartan chassis that was eliminated.  Hopefully someone with a Realm can let us know if it has one. There was a thread over on an Entregra site that a guy was working with the IFS manufacture in testing of a Cornerstone by adding a sway bar (Entregra was saving money by not installing one) , making shock changes and adding ping tanks.  Looks like that was the bases of this system.
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: Performance Choice

Reply #1 –
    There are some typos, but here are the details of the system from that link:

    The Main System Compnents Include :

      • Anti-Roll Bar (ARB): Improved roll control in lateral events such as corners, cross winds, or accident avoidance. Approximate 13% reduction in cornering roll rate.
      • Two auxiliary air-spring ping tanks: Reduces spring rate, which improves ride and reduces cabin noise. Approximate 18% reduction in harshness.
      • Two tank/spring air control valves
      • Custom tuned 60mm Bilstein shocks: Optimized dampers to provide excellent body control on all road conditions.
      • Electronic ride control mode switch: Allows system to switch in real time between Touring and Sport modes – the driver can choose the operation mode based on driving conditions.
      • 2 yr Warranty (parts and labor) 3rd yr sway bar/ping tanks parts only
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Performance Choice

Reply #2 –
Coming back with some musings...

Active Air was developed when FT went to IFS on the newer coaches and those who had previously driven the solid axle coaches complained about the difference.

Once Foretravel went to a Spartan chassis, I believe it originally had Hadley air and now has Valid air (not positive, but that's certainly the case for Entegra and Newmar on a Spartan chassis).

I wonder if this new front end kit is in response to the Spartan chassis handling vs that of the no-longer-produced Active Air-equipped Foretravel chassis.  (or Spartan's switch from Hadley to Valid resulted in worsened handling and this is an attempt to address it, with some marketing spin added)
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Performance Choice

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Michelle –

I wonder if this new front end kit is in response to the Spartan chassis handling vs that of the no-longer-produced Active Air-equipped Foretravel chassis.  (or Spartan's switch from Hadley to Valid resulted in worsened handling and this is an attempt to address it, with some marketing spin added)
So being able to control air transver rate in and out of pig tank would really change how they perform. Softer in the straight, firmer in the side loads. With the advancements of electronic controlled shocks made in the past ten years Im surprised they haven't gone down that direction also. Making suspension change to current conditions yet retain desired rate of operation exists but comes with a cost and require more maintenance increase. Very exciting for every vehicle out there both big and small.  Whether this is by design or a patch to the problem either way will lead to future advances and may trickle down to everyone willing to pay for it.
Scott

Re: Performance Choice

Reply #4 –
Entegra discussion for those who want to read up.  It does potentially sound like Spartan does not put a front sway bar on the K3 and K4 chassis.  It also sounds like there is a kit available to do so, as well as change out to the custom-tuned 60mm Bilsteins:

https://www.irv2.com/forums/f278/steer-axle-tuning-spartan-k3-chassis-2018-cornerstone-562983.html

Here's a topic mentioning similar aftermarket work on Spartan-equipped Newmar coaches, with added discussion motion control valves:

Spartan Front Axle up grade now available - iRV2 Forums
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Performance Choice

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Michelle –
I wonder if this new front end kit is in response to the Spartan chassis handling vs that of the no-longer-produced Active Air-equipped Foretravel chassis.  (or Spartan's switch from Hadley to Valid resulted in worsened handling and this is an attempt to address it, with some marketing spin added)

Comments from people that had Entregra Cornerstones that had have owned both like the newer with the Valid  air better.
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: Performance Choice

Reply #6 –
Quote from: turbojack –
Comments from people that had Entregra Cornerstones that had have owned both like the newer with the Valid  air better.


I did see comments it was more responsive than Hadley.  I think Freightliner has been using Valid for a while now as well.  So that probably isn't what's prompting this change or option...

Improving handling/ride is always a good thing, just wondering what weakness/complaints they're addressing.  There are so many fewer Foretravels being built compared to Entegra and Newmar high end, it's hard to get real-life owner feedback for newer model coaches. 

Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320