Yahoo Message Number: 23499 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/23499)
We've found a gently used 2001 Allure that has caught our eye. Some questions about coach usability.
1). This floor plan is the 40' Crown Point (dual slide). How large is the pantry? What can you store in it?
2) How well do the thermo bronze reflective coating windows and pull down shades (plus the 2 AC units) work to keep the coach cool? We live in Texas and it gets down right hot in the late Spring/Summer and early Fall. We had a 1996 Aerbus (no comparison to a CC) and we had to use the insulated foil window inserts to come close to keeping the coach usable in the summer. I hope to avoid this with a CC.
3). A political question - this coach has the "lowly" 330hp engine. Why would I need more HP or torque than this engine provides? Would a Banks upgrade provide this? or returning to Cummins for a tweak?
4). Any one pull a full sized pickup, 4 down? I have a Chevy 4X4 that I can pull in Neutral (in the transfer case). (this is to carry the Harley)
5). Anyone pull a 2003 Toyota Highlander 2wd? How? (this one is when I don't feel like taking the Harley along)
Thanks for the always great input from the group. We hope to join the "in CC crowd" soon.
David
Hurst (Ft. Worth), Texas
found one, now just got to get the deal done.
Yahoo Message Number: 23513 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/23513)
We have a 37' Intrigue with 2 air conditioner units. We can freeze ourselves out on the hottest day without the foil inserts.
We tow a 91' Toyota 4-runner 4x4 all four down. This weighs 5,000 lbs. and we have the 400ISL cummins and we can pull a 6% grade at 55mph. Any questions on power we have always had great luck with Cummins in West Sacramento, Calif. (Lee).
Gary Bender
04' Intrigue 11701
Yahoo Message Number: 23536 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/23536)
http://countrycoach.com/showroom/archive/ (http://countrycoach.com/showroom/archive/) provides the specs on all the older models.
The 330 engine has plenty of torque for my purposes. True, I will not win any up hill race. I tow a 1999 Chevy Tahoe. We made a six month trip from Florida to Alaska and back last year and in 2004 we spent 4 months in AZ, NM, UT, CA, TX & OK during the spring/summer.
The steepest grades we hit were short 8-10% and long 6-8% grades.
We had no problem on any of them.
The two AC's worked just fine. They are most efficient if filters and units are kept clean.
Suggest that you check the file section and take a look at the PDI check list I have posted there. It may give you an idea of some things to look for before you buy.
Jim Hughes
2000 Allure #30511
Some questions about coach usability.
large is the pantry? What can you store in it?
pull down shades (plus the 2 AC units) work to keep the coach cool? We live in Texas and it gets down right hot in the late Spring/Summer and early Fall. We had a 1996 Aerbus (no comparison to a CC) and we had to use the insulated foil window inserts to come close to keeping the coach usable in the summer. I hope to avoid this with a CC.
engine. Why would I need more HP or torque than this engine provides? Would a Banks upgrade provide this? or returning to Cummins for a tweak?
that I can pull in Neutral (in the transfer case). (this is to carry the Harley)
when I don't feel like taking the Harley along)
the "in CC crowd" soon.
Yahoo Message Number: 23539 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/23539)
We have a '99 Allure, live in Waco, TX and have had no problem with keeping the coach cool in the summer time. Have stayed for a couple of days at Buddy Greggs comp. CG and the coach stayed cool with no problems. BG CG is all concrete and very little shade.
You will have no problem with the 330 engine. We tow an '02 Tahoe andcan hardly tell if it is back there. We have been on most all of the big grades in the lower 48 and have had no porblems. Don't even think about the Banks, you will not need it. If you have more questions feel free to e-mail me.
Egon
'99 Allure #30321
'02 Tahoe Z71
Yahoo Message Number: 23540 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/23540)
We have an '06 Allure, 400 ISL, 2xAC, 40', quad slide and just traveled from southern CA to the Las Vegas area. We tow an Element which is about 4,000 lbs.
When we headed up on Sunday it hit 119 in Baker (where we stopped for lunch) and has been 100+ since then in the Vegas area. While in Baker we didn't put out awnings and didn't have the curtains drawn and it was fine. Once parked in NV we have the curtains drawn, awnings out and windshield/side sunscreens on.
There has not been any problem in keeping things cool with the A/C's.
If it ever gets below 90 we'll probably open a Window and run the fans instead while we're parked.
When you're parked put the sunscreens on and you will get a big improvement by reducing the sun hitting the big glass. We found that on our last rig this was the biggest help in hot climates.
Yahoo Message Number: 23547 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/23547)
The tranny in the Allure won't handle any more torque. "P" version in the Intrigue of that year would handle 1200 ft-lbs, but the Allure can only handle 1000 ft-lbs. You crank up the engine and the tranny will quit on you sooner if not very soon. What you want is the later 3000md world transmission. Allison said at the time it was and is 15% more efficient than the previous 3060 and 3066P units. I believe they were installed in 2000 yr. un its, plus the mid year coaches have the IFS front end and better tire set up. TWI 98 Allure 30255 (last 98 built) 2004 Intrigue 11731.
Yahoo Message Number: 23551 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/23551)
This group is awesome. Given happenings of the past day, we have probably moved on to a 2002 Allure hiding out in Oregon. From what I read in the CC Archieves, this is a more robust engine and tranny. Like a lot of things, as time moves on, so the coaches get better and better.
We'll see if the deal can be done on the newly focused coach.
Drive safe. Hope to meet some of you on down the road.
David
Hurst, Texas
Yahoo Message Number: 23847 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/23847)
We have a 2000 Allure with the 330 engine. I like power and enjoyed passing everything in site with our GMC Duramax and 34' fifthwheel but this is sooo much nicer to travel in that it's not such a bad sacrifice!
We currently tow the Duramax, a Heavy Duty 3/4 ton, 4x4 crewcab and load it with two large ATV's. Total weight 9,000 lbs. Up the "Grapevine" we could only make 37 mph but passed six semi's. On the flat it cruised so nice that the CAP rewarded us with a $300 speeding ticket (71 mph). Like all CC's it was so smooth and quiet that it seemed like 60.
The engine and especially the transmission were designed to work together and in the long run should probably be left as is. This same ISC engine is used in many Freightliner FL70's and in these and other commercial applications Cummins won't set them over 220 HP. Hmm, do you suppose they allow us another 100 HP because don't expect us to put 300,000 miles on our motorhomes?
Your Allure is much lighter than the newer models with tags so you probably won't notice that much difference unless you compare it to a really high HP engine.
I hope this helps a little, I am sure that you will receive many more opinions and this is just my experience.
Jim & Linda
2000 Allure 30419