January 26, 2001:  We just replaced our Gulfstream motor home with a practically brand new Fortravel!  When I say "practically new", I mean we are the first purchasers of this coach from Foretravel after  they used it for about a year to lead caravans of Foretravel owners to various locations around the country. They put about 17,500 miles on the coach before we bought it.  We were actually offered our choice of 3 coaches that were coming off caravan duty.  We picked this one as it had both a washer/dryer and "bus type" compartment doors, normally found only on their higher end coaches.  These doors lift up parallel to the side of the rig instead of hinging at the top (and were originally a $6000 option!)  To see a few pictures I took prior to delivery, please click here.

Of course nearly everything I buy has to be improved somehow.  Our Foretravel is no exception.  Below is a portion of the modifications I have made to our Foretravel.  Some of these modifications were made to assist my wife who was mobility limited, while others were convenience changes. 
 

Accessibility Changes:

Betty had a severe case of Rheumatoid Arthritis and could walk only on a flat, smooth surface.  She could not climb steps at all.  She also could not reach above her shoulders.  Sadly, Betty passed away in April, 2005.  The following couple of sections show many of the changes I made to assist her.  Several of these changes have since been removed, but many remain.

Convenience Projects:

Note from December 28, 2020:  It is with bittersweet emotions that I must tell you  I just sold my wonderful Foretravel motorcoach.  After just shy of 20 years owning this treasure, I finally came to the difficult decision that it was time I give up RVing.  I initially owned a 28 foot LaSalle Champion motorhome powered by a Chevy big-block V8, and then a 32 foot Gulfstream Sun Runner powered by a 5.9 liter Cummins diesel engine.  Each of these rigs caused me significant problems (and expense) during the time I owned them.  With the Foretravel, it just ran and ran.  Overall, it had very few problems.

Once I decided to sell it, I listed it on Craigslist figuring it might or might not sell there, and after a month I would list it on the nationwide RV Trader.  It sold in the first 36 hours, leaving 7 other interested parties who inquired before I took the ad down on day 2.

As part of the sales process we mutually agreed that I should keep the coach in my garage until 1) they found a suitable place to park it and 2) a cracked windshield was replaced.  I had a claim approved well before selling the coach, but several factors including Covid and weather managed to delay the installation over 5 weeks.  The windshield was finally installed and today, January 31, 2021, the buyers were able to come get a complete walk around inside and outside, having me tell them everything I know about it, and get any questions of theirs answered.  They then drove off in THEIR motohome!

Farewell!