[Grandpa]

Did your Foretravels have a delam problem?

[pairodice]

Every single one of them! When the 2000 42' (non-slide) started getting huge, bulging bubbles at 5 years old I sold it... I think if it would have had slides it would have been a non-issue since the sides were 'broken up' into smaller sections of fiberglass with the slides. Don't get me wrong we loved many, many things (especially the gorgeous wood cabinetry!) of the FT but I would never buy another one... Unless it was really cheap... Ok, maybe not... I think my rants are still on the FT Yahoo group if it still exists...

[jcus]

Had same problem on my brown foretravel, in the sun, big bubbles, maybe 2 ft square, but only when sitting 
in the sun. Disappeared when it cooled down. Used a ir thermometer, 148 for the brown color, 118 for the light 
colors. No problem with the white coach. I think many dark colored fiberglass coaches have this problem.
Jim

[Fulltiming]

It is beginning to look like Newell changed the tag suspension from 4 bags to 2 bags at the same time they changed to the Series 60, which was a couple of years before changing the front suspension to the Dana IFS. It would be interesting to know if #363 and #365 (1994's) which are two of the earliest Newells I know of with the Series 60 had 2 bags on the tag axle rather than 4.

[Fulltiming]

Two bags on tag, might have something with eng/trans weight?  I have series 60 with 740

Jim, I appreciate the information. It is looking like the Series 60 engine may the deciding factor on the change to two air bags on the tag axle. You have a somewhat unique coach in that it is one of a handful that have the Series 60 and an Allison HT 740 transmission. I understand that #377 has the Series 60 and a 4 speed Allison while #376 supposedly has the 8V92 and a 6 speed Allison. #376 was likely the last Newell built with an 8V92. #371 and #365 also had the Series 60 and the HT 740.

[qcj]

NOT meaning to bash Newell but I have owned three Foretravels and can definitely say that the 2000 42' FT handled and drove WAY better than my current 98 Newell.  It truly felt like a giant sports car whereas my Newell wanders and is hard to keep on the road at times.  Maybe I'm just getting older and maybe I need some front end help... The guy at the oil shop said the front end looked like it needed some work on tie rods or something... I'm planning to have that looked at if I can ever find a shop nearby to work on it... (Flame suit on)...
ON THE OTHER HAND, I would never own anything but a steel or aluminum coach ever again.  I don't like fiberglass and all the delam problems that come with it.  I do understand how much heavier the Newells are and this is ONLY my opinion, which is free, so you get what you pay for :-)

Funny thing, I drove a 03 Foretravel last week and the first thing I ask the salesman did this thing have power steering.  He said of course it does, you are just use to driving a Newell.  I also owned a 02 Foretravel several years ago, which I traded for the 99 Newell.  The 99 drives and tracks a lot better.

[mnhoff]

Just for interest my 95 show coach built in feb 94, with a 8v92 has four on the steer, 4 on the drive and 2 on the tag. All 10 just replaced 1 1/2 years ago. Had to wait on the 8 to be manufactured by firestone as there was no stock what so ever in north America as they all had the 1 inch hole fed from the accumulator tanks from inside the frame. Mike

[encantotom]

my 02 has 2 on the tag, 4 on the drive and 2 on the steer

tom

[kyleb]

Caster & Camber needs to be right too for tire wear. But, Toe-In makes the most noticeable difference in driving.

If not enough toe-in --- it will wander & be hard to keep on the road.