W hen John Fore and his son,James E., built their cov-ered wagon more than 100

years ago they couldn't have knownthat they were setting more thanwooden wheels in motion. Theirexamples of industry and ingenuitywere destined to reach forwardthrough a generation to spark thebeginnings of a successful motor-home manufacturing company thatwould bear their name.

Foretravel Inc., founded by James'son Clarence, and his son, Ray, grewrapidly after its first motorhomewas virtually hand built on a 1967Dodge chassis. The factory is alsoClarence's creation and is a livingtestament to the mechanical geniusthat the Fores have demonstratedthrough the years. More than merely

modern, the facility has a sense oflogic and organization that is re-flected in a product which seems tobear the mark of old-world crafts-manship. The latest improvement isthe first Foretravel to be powered bythe turbocharged Caterpillar rear-mounted engine.

Stepping inside this elegantmotorhome is a graphic demonstra-tion of how far today's coach hasevolved from the simple canvaswalls and plank seats of its pioneerpredecessors. The deep-brown color,the texture of real wood and wood-grained veneers and an overall feel-ing of elegance are the dominantfirst impressions. Upholstery is acompatible rust, and the pulley-mounted curtains, done in a muchlighter fabric but accented withbrowns and rust, breathe just theright degree of lightness into thewhole color scheme. The large-sidewindows are also equipped with

transparent, tinted roll-downshades, blocking some of the sun'srays, while providing daytime pri-vacy without blocking the view. Andwhen a floor-covering expert sawthe lush carpets in this coachhe whistled and exclaimed, "Theyreally went first cabin here!"

Both interior and exterior storageare strong factors in this coach.Overhead cabinets with smoothly.operating roller-doors fill virtuallyall of the available space from frontto back. Drawers are also generouslydistributed throughout the coach,substantially enhancing utility.Cupboards are large and easilyaccessible. Exterior under-chassiscompartments are spacious, car-peted and lockable with sturdyhardware.

If you've experienced the" aver-age" motorhome, you'll instantlyrecognize that the living area seat-ing is arranged in a conventionalplan, but here it is decidedly moreplush. The convertible couch withits adjustable side bolsters is themost obvious attraction {there is lit-

de storage under this couch as live-aboard components consume mostof that area), but you enter the realcomfort zone as you sample the twoside-mounted swivel chairs. One ofthem is a recliner model with afootrest that elevates as the backlowers to ease your body into a rest-ful posture. That's the way to viewthe color television mounted abovethe driving stage.

The galley, a focal point in any rig,is well-appointed with useful fea-tures. The fine assortment of appli-ances for the serious cook include aMagic Chef four-burner gas rangeand overhead oven plus a Sharp car-ousel convection and microwaveoven, a large Dometic RM1303energy-selector refrigerator (the onewhich automatically switches fromgas to electric operation withoutyour having to remember), a built-incountertop NuTone blender, aDometic icemaker and even a Ropertrash compacter. Overall kitchen

storage is abundant in many cup-boards and drawers, and there is alarge cupboard with no less than 10sliding drawers for those who wantto lay in a good supply of cannededibles. And the undersink storagearea, unlike many, is only minimallydisrupted by the routing of utilitylines. The generously proportionedand scratch-resistant countertoppresents a more than ample surfacefor creative cookery. Furthermore,this area can be expanded by usingthe matching sink covers and theslide-out cutting board.

To serve the meals that come fromthis beautiful kitchen, you have theoption of using a 30 x 30-inch tablewhich easily extends from its recep-tacle between the two living arealounge chairs. This makes a finearrangement for a cozy dinner fortwo. You'll probably want an extrapillow, though, as the deeply plush

swivel chairs offer minimal supportfor comfortably sitting up straightfor dining. Alternatively, twin 24 x16-inch pedestal tables may beinstalled in front of the convertiblesofa. For more casual dining orentertaining, the kitchen counter isalso a bar complete with two verycomfortable stools and the tradi-tional brass foot rail.

The bedroom in this floorplan fea-tures a queen-size bed with aisles onboth sides. The decor is a continu-ation of the earth tones used in theforward section of the coach. Theabundance of features for graciousliving include the vanity table, withits drawer and cupboard offering amultitude of functional uses and themirrors above it making the entireroom appear larger. Naturally there

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is a built-in color television set posi-tioned for convenient viewing fromthe bed. Also in the entertainmentdepartment, an AM/FM/cassettestereo unit is mounted beneath thetelevision, rather than beside thebed as most manufacturers positionit. A separate gas furnace and ther-mostat plus a second Coleman TSRMach III roof air-conditioner quietlycontrol the room's environment.Mirrors on two walls over the vani tyserve a functional purpose as well asvisually giving the already spaciousroom an even more expansive feel-ing. Aseparate control switch for thegenerator is mounted in the wall,along with the TVantenna boosterswitch and interior light switch.

The bathroom is the one area thatchanges wall tones; lighter colorsare used to contrast attractivelywith the wood hues of the cabinetry.Here again, storage is well-executedwith large under-counter areas, aconvenient single drawer and a verylarge double sliding-door medicinecabinet with three shelves. There isa separate control for operating thewater pump at this point also. Andthe tub in the shower stall is largerthan most found in Class A's.

Adjacent to the bedroom is thefull-length 24-inch-deep x 58-inch-tall x 52-inch-long hanging ward-robe closet with an additional 10-inch-high overhead shelf. Andadjoining that is a five-shelved 21-inch-deep x 16-inch-wide floor-to-ceiling linen closet. There is simplyno question about there being ampleroom for the amenities of life in thismotorhome.

Lighting aboard this Foretravel isa subject which receives a rareMotorHome grade of A + + . Thereare probably more Thin-Lite fluores-cent fixtures attached to the ceilingand under cupboards than anyonewould want to count. You can virtu-ally stand anywhere in the coachand reach out to turn on at least oneof these handy fixtures. Additionally,very attractive incandescent bullet-type lights have been scatteredthroughout the coach for providingeither a lower light or direct illu-mination on specific seats for read-ing. And beneath the windowvalances, long fluorescent tubes pro-vide attractive indirect lighting atthe flip of a wall switch.

On the RoadIf you haven't yet driven a motor-

home powered by Caterpillar's 3208turbocharged diesel engine, don't doit - unless you are also willing to buyone. It's an imJ;>ressivepower plant!50

In this Foretravel, the engine iscalled a "pusher" because it ismounted at the rear of the chassis.The first obvious advantage of thisconfiguration is the welcomeabsence of an all-pervading dog-house on the driving stage. Thus it'svery easy to get in and out of bothfront seats. The next advantagebecomes evident as soon as the en-gine is started; it's remarkably qui-eter in the front of the motorhomewith the engine in the rear. Thatrelative silence is profound at cruis-ing speed, when the hum of the tiresis louder than the powerful dieselengine. The third, and maybe pre-mier, advantage is manifested while

The galley's scratch-resistant countertopcan be expanded with matching sinkcovers and a slide-out cutting board. Abedroom boasting vanity table and built-in color television for viewing from thequeen-size bed has all the amenities ofgracious living.

bearing down on the accelerator andleaving other traffic standing at thelight. This big 636-cubic-inch (10.4-liter) displacement V-8 engine withdirect fuel injection has power! It israted at 250 hp (210 hp in California)and the power curve runs fairlysteep up to about 2200 rpm; hencethe good initial get-away push. Thenhead for the nearest hill and see howthe excellent low-end torque dispellsthat old motorhomer's inferioritycomplex about holding up traffic.

While the 3208-T is used in only afew motorhomes, it has seen exten-sive service in marine and industrialapplications since 1967. One reasonfor the engine's commercial popu-larity is the hefty construction. The3208-T also features a maintenance-free fuel system, meaning that theindividual fuel injection pumpshave built-in calibration and neverneed adjustment during routinemaintenance, overhaul or evenwhen fuel injector nozzles are

replaced. And this engine was actu-ally designed for the greater compo-nent stresses of turbocharging. Withthe turbo option, the engine deliversrated power to at least 8,200 feet.The turbo system is a low-inertiadesign for a fast response to accel-erator demand.

Long-haul industrial usersdemand engines that can be quicklyrebuilt, and this model offers severalpossibilities; the cylinders can be re-bored three times and fitted withoversize rings and pistons and thecrankshaft can be reground. There isalso fast availability of remanu-factured engines, short blocks andmany parts with full warranties (at50 to 60 percent of the new cost)through 2,000 nationwide Caterpil-lar dealers, and there are in-frameand out-of-frame overhaul options.Most motorhomers, however, don'tlog enough mileage forrebuildability to be important.

more on page 134

FORETRAVEL ::;50To accompany this professional

driver's engine and chassis, Fore-travel provides an exceedi~gly well-arranged instrument panel; everygauge or control is within easyreach. Important extras such as atransmission oil temperature gauge,coolanttemperature gauge, oil pres-sure gauge, voltmeter, air pressuregauges, the speedometer andtachometer are tightly grouped, sothey can all be qtiickly surveyed.Readily available to the driver's leftare the rocker switches controllingthe windshield washer and wipers,ICC courtesy lights, independentcontrols for the left and right fans,and the air pressure-actuated park-iIig brake. (Incidentally, the air-operated doorstep automaticallyextends when the parking brake isapplied and retracts when the brake.is released.)

Foretraver uses a dash-mountedBendix heavy-duty cruise control inthis area, rather than the steering-column mounted type. The onlysmall disadvantage to this place-ment occurs when the driver moveshis seat back and must then lean for-ward to reach the control switch.Easily reached by his right hand,though, is the above-average qualityAudiovox SPS AM/FMI cassette ste-reo entettainment center, the dashheater and air-conditioner, plus adigital display monitor panel show-ing the cw:rent status of everythingfrom the charge in the batteries tothe temperature inside the refrigera-

tor, simply by touching the name ofthat item. This monitor panel alsohas an integral alarm system whichwill signal whenever any of the nineconditions that it monitors reachesthe critical point which you havepreset into the system. And, finally,the piece de resistance for someRVer!;: a selector switch for the elec-tronic musical hornS which have arepertoire of more than 40 songs.

The top of the instrUment panel isattractively pad4ed ~d hingedalong the full length, so that it canbe easily lifted to access the instru-ment panel fuse box and electrical,heating and radio connections. Apeek into this environment alsoshows you something about themethods used by Foretravel; all thewires are arranged in n.neat manner.That orderliness and good house-keeping also was readily apparent inthe Foretravel factory as workersprogressed at an efficient, but nothasty, pace. .

.Sitting in the comfortable, elec-trically controlled driver's loungechair, you'll notice that your visionin almost all directions is exemplary .

due to the generous proportions ofthe RV windows. And, because thereis no driver's side door on anyForetravel coach (a feature whichrilight be missed by Some owners),the narrow front pillar doesn'tpresent a large blind spot. The twoside mirrors conform with the cur-rent style being used by most manu-facturers; in my opinion, they areslightly sm~l. While the larger .

truck-type mirrors definitely aren'tas pretty, they do provide a moregenerous view to the rear. Thisshortcoming is compen~ated, how-ever, by the closed-circuit televisionmonitor whi~h displays a 45-degreeview behind the coach. I had sometrouble with this device, as con-densation would form between thecamera lens and its protective .outercovering, thus obscuring my vision.Nevertheless, when it functions, thisrearview television is one of the .

.greatest motorhome driving aidsthat has come down the road in along time. The only addition to rear-vision safety that we would suggestthe buyer might consider adding isthe optional side.-:-mounted dockinglights for safer nighttime backing.

The gear lever on the left wall ofthe driver's comp~ment cOI.ltrolsapowerful Allison 643 four-speed-:-for-ward automatic transmissionwhich, for a heavy-duty item of thiskind, shifts gears quite smoothly.The transmission can bedownshifted at speeds in excess of~otorflorne,April1984

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the maximum allowable enginerpm, and it simply refuses toactualize the shift until the vehiclehas slowed sufficiently. The trans-mission also features a lockup clutchin the third and fourth gears thatautomatically engages to provide adirect drive between engine andtransmission when the peak powerdemand drops. The operation of thisfeature feels like another shift in .

gears; it is not bothersome and it .does contribute to better fueleconomy. .

Far from the timbers and nails ofthose early Foretravels, today's lux-ury product is built with state-of-the-art components. The body sitsatop an Oshkosh chassis designedspecifically for Foretravel motor-homes: The sidewalls and ceiling areof the latest sandwich panel

. (Styrofoam chemically bondedbetween a lis-inch plywood paneland the 1/4-inchveneered walnutpanels in the living areas and cedarpaneling in the wardrobe closet).The walls, floors and ceilings arealso reinforced with welded tubularsteel frames, forming a steel cage su-perstructure.

The coach is built for comfortablecold-weather living so most of thewaterlines are routed where theywill benefit from operation of the in-terior furnaces. The water tank alsodirectly receives a blast of air fromthe furnace. Therefore only the hold-ing tanks really require antifreeze.And that big Caterpillar engine isdesigned to turn over happily at lowtemperatures. The chassis isequipped with a cold-weather startassist capacity as well as an engineheater that can be plugged into 120-volt power. Air pressure for the airbrakes will fall substantially over-night, a fact J;"eflectedin the dash-mounted air pressure gauge. The .

automatic pumps, however, rapidlyI bring pressure back to the 90-120i PSI range by the time you get thei. seat belt fastened and your seat com-

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fortably positioned.Overall, this new coach drove very

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comfortably through an approxi-mately 1,SOD-mileshakedown cruise

. across the Southwest. It was quite. easy to drive, the good power

response was a welcomed relief, andthe motorhome, with almost all theamenities you could want, is exceed-ingly comfortable to live in. Truly it-isthe next step forward in a long lineof excellent products fromForetravel. 0

(ForetravelInc., 1221 N.W. StallingsDrive, Nacogdoches, Texas 75961.)