Yahoo Message Number: 115959 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/115959)
Anyone have thoughts about this model I'm going to look at tomorrow?
Pros and cons? Issues with recession-era coaches from CC? Are there known concerns?
Your thoughts and advice are appreciated.
Ken
Yahoo Message Number: 115962 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/115962)
The time this coach was made was a time of turmoil with the factory attempting to revive itself selling directly to the public having separated from their dealer base. I would recommend you join the Country Coach Friends group and find the list of former employees who now service the coaches across the country and talk to them. And take a a large sampling, because it was a raw time and a lot of us weren't happy with what was happening at the time. The Intrigue used to be built with the Allures and was the most popular model back in the 90's and early 2000's until the inspire was introduced. Eventually the Intrigue was built with the Magnas and Affinities. So the coach was more up scale by 2009. This model uses the updated Cummins engines unless you are fortunate to find a model with an ISM 500. And not an ISX. The ISM doesn't require the additive and you could use diesel fuel in Mexico made the ISM choice popular at the time. Go to the bathroom and open the mirrored doors above the sink and look for the spec sheets. Some units had very little carrying capacity, other combinations did. I like heated tile floors. You realize the TV's are obsolete and the sound systems weren't that well thought out. Check fit and finish that was what CC was noted for. If things aren't well put together and seem less than stellar, walk away. TWInsall 2004 Intrigue 11731
Yahoo Message Number: 115987 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/115987)
What is a sufficient CCC to have for 2 full-timers?
We won't have any weighty hobbies that add lots of weight, so that won't be a concern. However, we want ample capacity to add solar panels and the associated batteries & electronics they require.
I understand people vary with "toys" they haul, but is there a minimum CCC that one should not consider?
Any thoughts?
Yahoo Message Number: 115988 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/115988)
If you like to do your own repairs and carry tools, or if you are into photography and video big time, my better half liked to quilt on the road and carried a heavy old Singer full size sewing machine with a spare under neath, we both liked to read using real books, you want a tag axle. . My coach dry weighs 33.400 and with fuel, water full pantry and refer, with clothes for 3 seasons, and bedding for 3 seasons we go down the road at 39950 lbs. With 4500 left. Our carrying capacity is 9500 lbs, so including two passengers and three fat cats and cat food we carry 5000 lbs. I wouldn't want any less carrying capacity, you never know what kind of souvenirs you are going to bring home. We collected rocks as heavy as I could lift. One time I came home with 600 lbs of new hifi equipment and 200 new to me LP's. My coach has a tag axle which stabilizes the coach in cross winds and adds great stoping power. MY 42 footer consistently stops shorter than my lighter 37 ft Allure and turns sharper with the IFS front end. MY only issue was keeping the weight off the front axle. Thats another reasonI went from 12 R to 315's on the front axle. Later coaches the fuel tank is mounted just in front of the duals for better weight distribution. Get three Airs if you like to go to Arizona. NM, and Texas in the summer time. Floor heat is great in the late fall and early winter if you don't want to listen to heat pumps or the furnace all night. TWI 2004 Intrigue 11731.
Yahoo Message Number: 115989 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/115989)
If we went to Napa California we would bring home 4 to 6 cases of wine, too. TWInsall. 2004 Intrigue 11731
Yahoo Message Number: 115990 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/115990)
Well, that is a very tough question to answer. We spend about six months a year in our 33' Allure, towing a 2008 Honda Fit. What with the living room and bedroom slides, it is fine for us. Maybe you need more space, but I wouldn't know why. And we have four solar panels and we use Lifeline AGMs. We are able to go quite a few (6?) days without use of the generator, as long as we don't park under a tree canopy. I suspect that if you have a residential refrigerator though, all bets are off.
Ken, 2004 Allure #31035
Yahoo Message Number: 115995 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/115995)
The problem with weight distribution after leaving Napa, is that their seems to be a relatively constant change in the weights. Something about cause & effect. The cause is consumption, the effect is the possible need to reallocate the remaining stock... (Though I admit, the DW does get happy once the consumption point has made enough room for her to keep her shoes in the coach, vs out in the back of the toad!!!).
Our 04 Allure, 40' Tag, is a relative lightweight compared to other 40' CC's. When shopping, I looked in the mirror info labels that lists many things about the coach (Engine Serial being one, which I'd then call and talk with Either CAT or Cummins about he specifics of that engine.). Weights were another. Not surprising, the Intrigues were a bit heavier, well lots heavier if they had the CAT and Allison 4000's vs Cummins and Allison 3000's. Magna's moved up in the weight. We looked at a few Affinities, but due the budget range we were targeting, they were usually 2000 if lucky, but usually late 90's. These were the heavier coaches, especially the 2000 model I looked at.
We have an amazing CCC of greater then 11K pounds. I explained what this meant to he DW, that we could park two of our CRV toads inside the coach, and still have higher remaining CCC then many coaches going down the road. We have the IFS our era, and the front four six axle weight measurements showed we still had about 1800 pounds of safety margin on steer axles. (Fully fueled, water, half grey & black, coach set for a long 3-4 mounts of travel with gear and clothes, and full stock of the basic's of vino and more stiff adult beverage arsenal.) The bulk of our CCC is over the Dual and Tag's, but as mentioned the front was more then adequate on our coach. I'll add, that we've install solar, and bumped up house battery capacity too, and our measurements with those added weight items, show a combined front/duals/tag weight remaining CCC of over 7K remaining - as we're fully loaded and ready to go. (With the front being the area for us to keep an eye on when adding more items.)
We consider CCC, and remaining CCC, but since I add 10% contingency to our tires PSI's - we frankly really never need to be worried about it in our coach. Even with the 12R tires all around OEM wise, now changed to 295/80's, we're safe and ready to roll from the weight equation of RV'ing.
How much is enough, well that varies by how people use their coaches. How much gear they carry, tools, spare parts, etc., etc. But for a full timer, in say a 40-45' coach, I'd start with nothing less then 6K pounds. And, as mentioned, I'd look for the factory measured weight of the specific CC being looked at (Our's game box of goodies and manuals.) and take a good look at the steer axle weights. Recognize that this is at the factory, not full water, or fuel, or loaded for travel... But, it gives you good info to consider when shopping for a CC.
Best to all,
Smitty
04 Allure 31017
Yahoo Message Number: 115996 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/115996)
I have a 2007 allure 470 with over 2000 watts of solar and 1000 amps of lithium batteries if interested call me 361-537-7000.
Yahoo Message Number: 115998 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/115998)
Hi,
Have not had a new message it 2 days?
What happened?
Mikee
Yahoo Message Number: 115999 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/115999)
That makes 2 of us.
Mike, did you get this one?
Dave 04 intrigue 11793
Yahoo Message Number: 116000 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/116000)
That make three of us
Walt
Texas ⭐️Strong
Sent from my mobile device, please excuse any typographical errors.
Yahoo Message Number: 116001 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/116001)
I got all 3 of these...nope things have been slow on the site.
Guess everyone's CC is running great and no problems.
Dave
2007 Allure 40'
Yahoo Message Number: 116002 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/116002)
Awfully quiet out there... was that a tumbleweed I just saw roll by ...
Greg
06 Magna
Yahoo Message Number: 116003 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/116003)
yes
Yahoo Message Number: 116004 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/116004)
Indeed!
Lee Zaborowski
Yahoo Message Number: 116005 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/116005)
Could you share details on your solar system and batteries?
Yahoo Message Number: 116010 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/116010)
I have 5-200 amp GBS cells in 12 volt system . Over 2000 watts solar ... 3-320 watt 6-175 watt total 2010 watts. 2-60 amp morningstar charge controllers 1- magnum msh3012 hybrid
Yahoo Message Number: 116013 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/116013)
Thanks. What batteries are you using? Can you share the cost range? Thanks
Yahoo Message Number: 116014 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/116014)
GBS is the maker I think elite is the US supplier. 8500.00 is what the batteries with management system cost. My setup is very large . I can run my bedroom air con for 9 hours on them.