Foretravel Motorcoach and Spartan Motors have partnered to bring the new Foretravel Iron Colt (ic-37) – a compact 37-foot Class A diesel motorhome – to the market and fill a gap in the RV marketplace.
Foretravel debuted the ic-37 built atop Spartan’s K2 450 chassis at the Florida RV SuperShow in Tampa to provide customers another option, according to Steve Guillaume, president of Spartan Specialty Vehicles.
“There will still be those customers that want everything a 45-foot coach offers in terms of space and living room, but other folks prefer to have and manage a smaller coach. A certain piece of our customer base has expressed desire for a coach at this size,” Guillaume said.
He says that customer base encompasses younger and relatively new RVers entering the Class A segment. It also includes the other end of the spectrum; experienced RVers who might want a smaller coach without giving up luxury and features.
“It seems there are owners of luxury motorhomes who overall want the high-end coach interior and driver interface, just in a smaller package,” Guillaume said. “The ic-37 offers the maneuverability and size for their travels with a high-end coach interior and driver interface. They don’t need 45-feet for what they’re carrying or where they’re going.”
Tyle Fore, director of sales and marketing at Foretravel and grandson of the original founders, agrees.
“We know there’s a need not only from our customers, but the market, a need and desire from customers that want a quality-built motorhome with nice amenities, but don’t want to sacrifice quality. We bring that to the table,” he said. “There’s a demographic that wants to downsize. They want a shorter coach that’s easier to maneuver, but they don’t want to give up the lifestyle. On the other end there’s a younger demographic that wants to try and jump in.”
From conception to production, the Iron Colt took about a year to bring to fruition. Foretravel brought the idea to build a more compact footprint of the ih-45 model, which is built on a larger format Spartan chassis, to Spartan and the collaboration began.
“With all three models on top of Spartan chassis now it just made sense to partner with them on this,” Fore said. “We have a good repertoire and relationship. It’s easy for our customers and employees because they already have relationships and contacts established. It’s the natural go to.”
Another benefit of a Spartan chassis it the access to its network of nearly 300 authorized service centers across the nation, providing help to RV owners 24/7.
Fore says the RV currently comes in three floorplans, two featuring a double slide, while one features a triple-slide. It is available in three color packages and Foretravel will decide on three exterior color packages. Fore says they are still fine tuning the exterior graphics and color schemes. With the addition of the Iron Colt, Foretravel now offers three different brands in its lineup.
“When going smaller you don’t take everything from one area. You take a little bit from every area,” said Fore. “It impacts the whole coach and we feel like we have done a very good job putting it together and maximizing floorplans.”
The ic-37 remains powerful with a Cummins L9 450-horsepower diesel engine and Allison 3000 MH transmission, preserving its towing and power capabilities that Class A diesel customers have come to expect.
Other features include a three-stage engine compression brake, suspended adjustable pedals, 17,000-pound independent front suspension with air disc brakes, 24,000-pound drive axle with air disc brakes, Spartan Connected Coach, featuring push-button start and next-generation digital dash and Safe Haul chassis integrated air supply for tow vehicle brake systems.
The features stay true to the Foretravel legacy of luxury, including DEF level gauges, fuel levels and a push-button keyless entry.
Since debuting at the Florida RV SuperShow, Fore said the feedback he’s received has been very positive.
“Everybody has said, ‘Finally. We have a more affordable luxury motorhome in a shorter length,’” he said.
The ic-37 on display at the Show is currently the only one finished, but Guillaume said several are in production.