Researched by Warren and Arlie MacKenzie
1967 – 1st Foretravel Motorhome built on family property & continued building there for 5 years at a loss.
1973 – 1st major change to the “Super Luxura” with fiberglass front & rear cap and side panels.
Jan 1973 – Western Mexico Motorcade
1974 – Winter Convention – Frank & Fern Schleicher – New Directors
1974 – pioneered the 1st diesel engine in a conventional motorhome
1977 – introduced the “FTX” (Foretravel 10) offered features not common to the RV industry. TV’s, VCR’s, Dual Roof A/C, Icemakers, Central Vacuums & more.
1977 – Travco Winter Convention – Orlando FL. – 343 Motorhomes
April 1977 – Maritimes – 109 Motorhomes – $153 – 4515 Miles
July 1977 – Foretravel International becomes an FMCA Chapter
Oct 1978 -1st conventional rear engine diesel powered Motorhome.
Oct 10-13 1978 – Foretravel buys Travco Corp. including Motorcade
Jan 15-17 1979 – Yuma Convention – 272 Motorhomes
1979 – Summer Convention in Holland MI, under severe gas shortages, 263 Travcos showed up. Desert Magic Motorcade, South American Cruise (Jetcade) & the Appalachia Motorcade
1980 – Winter Convention in Harlington TX – 198 Travcos attended
1980 – Summer Convention in Missoula MT – 97 Travcos attended.
1981 – Winter Convention in Crystal Lake Resort, Okeechobee FL.
1981 – Foretravel Travelers & Travco Motorcade Consolidate with Warren & Arlie MacKenzie #2335 as Corporate Club Managers & implementing a 10% discount on parts & labor.
1981 – Acquires rights to “AVCO” GTC to be built by Foretravel
August 1981 – “Mail Forwarding” Benefit implemented & in Dec, 24-hour message service added & continued until 2002.
1982 – New Chassis on the 35′ & 38′ with DD, Air brakes & Allison
1982 – International Convention held at Heritage HS in Maryville TN World Fair with 302 motorhomes in attendance.
July 1982 – Disastrous fire of Foretravel offices & in 1983 dedicates new Showroom, Service & Corporate Headquarters.
1985 – International Convention held in Ontario Canada with 130 Foretravels in attendance.
1985 – New model the “Grand Villa” is announced
1987 Travco out of Business – 2700 Club Members – Dues $10.
1987 – “Grand Villa Unihome” introduced with a unitized body
Feb 1988 – Suggests waving to other motorhomes as you pass by.
1991- they did away with duel stainless bumpers and replaced them with a single plastic one and was also the last year of 8′ wide Unihomes (U280, U300)
1992 – they molded the bumper shape into the front and rear fiberglass caps and also made the Unihome coaches 102″ wide. Introduced electronic air leveling.
1993 -Buddy Rally at Foretravel with 518 Motorhomes in attendance
1994 – The “Unicoach” was introduced.
1994 – Beverly Koonce is the new Club Secretary.
1994 – 1996 – a few models were optioned with the hydraulic retarder.
1995 – was the 1st year of the front-door bus-front.
1995 – Foretravel began to convert to the Unicoaches
1996 – Foretravel creates Company Webpage
1997 – ducted air, Screen Door and dual pane windows were added.
Sept 1998 – Introduces slideout in Foretravel.
Oct 1999 – 32,890 square foot Refurbishing, parts & Service building opens along with RV Park.
1999 – Grand Villa Unicoach with mid-entry.
June 2000 – announces Paul Tinkle to be Corporate Club Manager
June 2000 – announces 2 Maritime Motorcades 1 week apart
August 2000 – Tom & Elaine Nale join as Activity Tour Directors
2001 – introduces painted Foretravels as opposed to decals.
Feb 2001 – Merle & Jo Dean Neel join as Tour Directors
Oct 2001 – introduces tag axels to 40′ U320 & GV 320
2003 – introduces the Motorcader Magazine will be quarterly
2003 – announces changing to independent dealers from Co. stores
2004 – introduces Quad Slide
Feb 2005 – Lyle Reed & group of investors purchase Foretravel
Oct 2005 – Merle & Jo Dean promoted to Club Manager & club dues raised to $75.
2006 – John & Dawanna Hughes join as Service Representatives
2013 – The RV/MH Heritage Foundation board has announced the names of those who will be inducted into the RV/MH Hall of Fame as the Class of 2013. According to a press release, the induction ceremonies will be held at the RV/MH Hall of Fame in Elkhart, Ind., during the annual induction dinner on Aug. 5.
C.M. Fore (deceased) an RV manufacturer from Foretravel, Inc. in Nacogdoches, Texas. Since founding his company in 1967, he has been a leader in the evolution of luxury Class A motorhomes. He was among the first to use diesel engines in motorhomes, and among the first to build pusher chassis. He built the first uni-body motorhomes and pioneered the use of many household features such as multiple air conditioners, central vacuum systems, icemaker refrigerators and more. He led the concept of factory-owned stores by creating factory outlets in major markets around the country.