Yahoo Message Number: 2254 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/2254)
I am seriously looking at the '03 Allure and have come up with a couple of questions.
One of the options is the "solid surface backsplash" in the kitchen and bathroom. What is the standard? The pictures in the brochure show a backsplash coming up a couple of inches. Is that standard. There are two units I am considering--one with and one without and I am trying to figure out the difference.
Also, one of them does not have the optional "8D AGM house batteries". Are these to maintain the charge while using the inverter? How important are they? Is there room to add them if needed? The salesman is checking into this, but I want other opinions. Besides, he cannot get me answers until Tuesday :)
Thanks for you input.
Ree
Yahoo Message Number: 2259 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/2259)
Regarding the optional backsplash: this is a band of Corian, about 3" in height that has a decorative inlay. The band is mounted just above the standard backsplash. If you look at each of the two coaches you are considering, you'll see the difference.
The battery option replaces wet cell batteries with glass mat batteries.
They are not additional batteries.
I'm very surprised your salesman couldn't answer your questions.
Fred Johnson
Yahoo Message Number: 2261 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/2261)
My 2 cents worth. I'd go with the AGM batteries rather than wet-cell batteries. If they are wet-cell and not AGM or GEL cell then you will have to add water to them as a maintenance item. This can be a pain especially in hot weather or when you use the batteries on inverter a lot it will cause the water to be needed rather often.
Look at where they are located and check to see how easy it is to get a water filling device to each battery cell to add the water and make sure you can see the level to add, etc. If the deal is right regarding price on the motorhome you can always change them later, when needed, since 8D determines the physical size of the battery, not the type of battery.
Also you wondered how important the batteries were. They are what supplies your 12 volts into the inverter to produce 120 volts out to run whatever standard electrical appliance you might be using....ie TV, VCR, etc. when you are not running either the engine or the alternator.
In my Prevost, which is all electric, there were 8-8D GEL cell batteries that I am now replacing with 6-8D AGM batteries. Almost 5 years old and needed to be changed. They are used with 2 inverters to provide all electric for refrigerator, tv, stereo, microwave etc. but not cooking or water heating.
Bill-PA-Country Coach XL '98
batteries".
important are
get me answers until
Yahoo Message Number: 2269 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/2269)
For everyones information, if you switch from wet cell batteries to gells or some other type, CCI says you must do some reprograming on your Links unit. I asked about putting Gells in a new Magna and the quote was an additional $1200 or more, can't remember exactly but I was told the additional cost was to reprogram the system. so you just can't switch batteries, at least thats what CCI says. I have heard of several people going to gells without redoing the electronics and they were not very happy.
Bill G. 2001 Magna
Yahoo Message Number: 2273 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/2273)
Damon replied privately to my question and said that "The 8D AGM Batteries are a nice option because they last twice as long andrequire zero maintence. They go "in place of" the standard batteries. They could be added later but then you have to get your Trace Inverter controllerreprogrammed for those glass mat batteries." ree
Yahoo Message Number: 2276 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/2276)
Get the AGM batteries..we wanted them but our salesman forgot to write it up later (when we had contacted him by phone)...we're constantly checking these 18 wet cells, so it's a pain! We're getting AGMs as soon as the bank account will allow us that extravagance. They're IMPORTANT.
Also, get the backsplash...looks nicer, easier to maintain, etc.
Enjoy the new Allure...in our opinion, it's got a lot of great improvements over our 2001 Intrigue (which we dearly love, too)...they're great rigs.
Jan McNeill
2001 Intrigue 11320
Yahoo Message Number: 2277 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/2277)
What are AGM batteries? Are they better than gel? Linda
Yahoo Message Number: 2279 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/2279)
Does anyone have a PDI checklist that you can send me? When I got my current rig the salesman gave me about an hour run-through and I was on the way. This time, I want to check stuff--but I have to figure out what to check besides the obvious things like drawers and doors.
The coach that it looks like I will be getting will have the AGM batteries but not the backsplash. Oh, well, cannot have everything!
Ree
Yahoo Message Number: 2286 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/2286)
I just uploaded one to the files area that I used recently in the purchase of my 2000 Allure. It is in Excel format.
Jim Hughes
Jacksonville, FL
2000Allure 40' #30511
Yahoo Message Number: 2290 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/2290)
Thanks, Jim
I am printing it right now. I had a couple a year or two back, but I my computer has crashed since then. I am sure that they are on a back-up CD somewhere--but who knows where!
Thanks a bunch,
ree