What 1st Time Buyers Need To Know???

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What 1st Time Buyers Need To Know???

January 27, 2003, 03:56:50 pm

OK, we've decided on a Country Coach... because I'm allergic to formaldehyde and this coach is low on that list. In talking to owners and the dealer in Tucson I'm also finding out that it's a very well built coach - which is a good thing, since we're selling our house and going to live on the road for a year or so in it.
Do we get a 36' or 40'? Do we need a slide out? What about resale value? What do you wish you'd known before you started out??? Any help - advice, etc. is appreciated! Thanks! Sheryl

Re: What 1st Time Buyers Need To Know???

Reply #1 – January 28, 2003, 09:47:27 am

Yahoo Message Number: 3880

Hi Sheryl; Good luck in your search. I just bought my 2000 Allure last June. If you are buying a new unit then you have to take what they provide. Most new units now seem to come with 2-3- or even 4 slides...My 2000 unit has 1 slide which I felt was ample. Slides are "in" so if you are just planning on keeping the unit for a short time the slides will help when selling it. Only you can determine what length you need. Go through both size coaches carefully and slowly and try to determine which satisfies you more. I am most satisfied with my 36ft length and one slide. Whatever you buy make sure that the dealer/seller gives you a very good explanation of everything. If new insist on camping out at the dealer, use the coach to live in, and pester away with questions the next day or 2 or 3. These coaches are COMPLICATED! Even 8 years with a gas coach did not nearly prepare me for this diesel. Good luck.
On Mon, 27 Jan 2003 12:56:48 -0800 (PST) Sheryl Gassamn rayandsheryl@...> writes:

Re: What 1st Time Buyers Need To Know???

Reply #2 – January 28, 2003, 01:26:37 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 3883

Good decision. You will not be sorry.

If you are going to live in it, get as much room as possible. Buy the 40 foot with 2 slides if you can afford it. This will put much less stress on your marriage, as you learn to live in smaller quarters.

Steve

2001 Intrigue 11294

--- Sheryl Gassamn rayandsheryl@...> wrote:

Quote

>

OK, we've decided on a Country Coach... because I'm > allergic to formaldehyde and this coach is low on > that list. In talking to owners and the dealer in > Tucson I'm also finding out that it's a very well > built coach - which is a good thing, since we're > selling our house and going to live on the road for > a year or so in it.

Do we get a 36' or 40'? Do we need a slide out? > What about resale value? What do you wish you'd > known before you started out???

Any help - advice, etc. is appreciated! >

Thanks! Sheryl

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Re: What 1st Time Buyers Need To Know???

Reply #3 – January 28, 2003, 01:43:52 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 3884

Hi Sheryl, Glad to hear that you have made the decision to purchase a Country Coach. Let me tell you what I as a woman would and would not get again in the coach. We purchased our coach from the factory so we ordered the options we wanted. First, I would not geet the etching on the shower door as it is seen very little and usually covered with a towel. Second, if possible have Davis Cabinets(in Junction City) build in the extra cabinet down the non-slide side. This enhanses you storage space. Get as much tile as you can, including the front walkin area and the water closet. We had the special computer table put in by CC and the Euro Recliner with stool instead of two sofas. Greatly increases the space. If you aare going to get carpet, see if you can get berber or the best possible as this is an unending source of concern. Make certain that there is a splashguard at the end of the corian counter next to the sofa. If you have additional questions, please feel free to e-mail and I will do as I think of additional items that you may like to be aware of. Sara Herring --- Steve Herring s2herring@...> wrote:

Quote

Good decision. You will not be sorry.

If you are going to live in it, get as much room as > possible. Buy the 40 foot with 2 slides if you can > afford it. This will put much less stress on your > marriage, as you learn to live in smaller quarters.

Steve

2001 Intrigue 11294

--- Sheryl Gassamn rayandsheryl@...> wrote: > >

> OK, we've decided on a Country Coach... because > I'm

> allergic to formaldehyde and this coach is low on > > that list. In talking to owners and the dealer in > > Tucson I'm also finding out that it's a very well > > built coach - which is a good thing, since we're > > selling our house and going to live on the road > for

> a year or so in it.
>

> Do we get a 36' or 40'? Do we need a slide out? > > What about resale value? What do you wish you'd > > known before you started out??? > >

> Any help - advice, etc. is appreciated! > >

> Thanks! Sheryl
>
>
>
>
>

> Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up > now

Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up > now.

http://mailplus.yahoo.com >

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Re: What 1st Time Buyers Need To Know???

Reply #4 – January 28, 2003, 02:02:58 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 3886

Sheryl,

I don't mean to contradict Steve but my wife and I spent 5 plus months straight for 4 years in a 40' non-slide and had no problems. But that's just us. We now have a 40" dual slide and really like the extra room. If you go for a 40' you get a tag axle which cuts into basement storage, as does hydronic heat, so a dual slide (with rear closet) would offset some of that.
A few dealers told us that a non-slide has no resale (trade in) value because everybody wanted slides. That may be but I had one dealer who wanted to buy my old coach even though I didn't do business with him and I got what I considered a good trade when bought my current coach. And the dealer sold it within a few weeks. So.... who knows. If you are full-timing for a while get what you feel comfortable in and worry about the trade value when the time comes. It's only money!

Dick May

2002 Intrigue, #11438

Re: What 1st Time Buyers Need To Know???

Reply #5 – January 28, 2003, 02:14:08 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 3887

Good advise..... Some of the cabinet work that Davis does is now done as standard by Country Coach. Go to www.daviscabinets.com to see some of the nice things that Davis can do and compare to the CC standards. It might also be worth while to compare cost between Davis and the CC price list.

Dick May

2002 Intrigue, #11438

Re: What 1st Time Buyers Need To Know???

Reply #6 – January 29, 2003, 08:17:10 am

Yahoo Message Number: 3897

Sheryl

There have been some great responses so far. As a couple of posts indicated, personal perferences are a big part of the decision process. I would like to share with you some of our good and bad experiences we had when doing the same thing you are now doing.

My wife Barbara and I looked for over a year before we decided on a used 40' 2000 Allure Chandler floor plan. This is our first coach we have ever owned and just purchased it this past June. We are planning to retire in January 2004 and wanted to do some extended travel. We had rented motorhomes (gas) some years ago and really enjoyed the travel freedom it offered. After spending the last 36 years in a career traveling around the globe, I am tired of airlines, airports, hotels, lousy meals in resturants and rental cars. I want to travel this country when and where on my terms. We always thought we would consider one day owning one when we had more time to really use it. At that time I could not justify owning one for a couple weeks and a few weekends use a year. Of course, no matter how you do the math, you will never justify economically the ownership of a coach. Just look at it as the cost of a lifestyle you want to enjoy and accept as that.

While we are not planning to go full time, we do plan to do extended travel of 2-3 months at a time and maybe staying in one place 7-10 days at a time. So, we are going to have allot of road time. Who knows, also owning a home may become too big of a burden and we could deside to go full time as well. Just want to keep my options open.

When we looked at coaches we went all over the southeast. We used several internet sites that listed used coaches by private owners.
We spent many weekends becoming familiar with all the options by talking to current owners, visiting shows and dealers located in Florida, Georgia and Alabama. We also began using web sites and various forums like this to ask questions and get opinions. We made day visits to various campgrounds and stopped to talk to owners about their own experiences with a particular make of coach. You will be surprised how many people like to talk about their rigs. We narrowed down our lists of likes and dislikes of the various floorplans, design and features available. We ranked them in order of importance. We created a list of interior features as well as system and chasis design requirements.

I am a few inches over 6 feet and 235# and my wife is only 5-2 on a small frame. So, the requirements of the inside features of having access to everything was a concern for my wife. While I wanted to be able to be comfortable using the bath and all the features inside, when looking, I stood up in the shower, sat on the toilet, laid on the bed and coach, noticed where all the places were I would bump my head. I quickly found that the enclosed seperate toilet I could not use because my knees would be pinned against the wall or cabinet in front of it. Some showers did not have enough head room for me to stand up in. Some were a small tub with everything elevated, that Barbara would have had problems stepping in and out of it safely.
So, we began looking at open bath designs, but with a way to separate it off for privacy. Our Allure has pocket doors that can be used to do that.

I wanted storage. The 40' allowed for one additional pass through bay underneath along with good pantry and kitchen counter space. I was not real interested in all the slides at first, until I began looking at the wholesale values of the non-slide units. The data quickly showed that the consumer market wanted slides. So resale potential was greater with slide(s). My concern was giving up weight capacity and axle loads. The Allure we purchased offered the capacity and axle loads. I felt that a tag axle, like on the newer coaches, would not offer much to consider except add weight, take up storage space and add to maintenance costs. Of course the newer coaches with all the slides and weight added had no choice but to go to a tag because of axle and capacity loads.

Since we only were going to use the bedroom for one thing (maybe two), a bedroom slide was not important. The living room or galley slide would open the front part of the coach up. It was also important that when the slide was closed, the floor plan would allow full use of everything in the coach without feeling like you are in a box. We had many a slesman open and close slides for us so that we could make sure of the space in case we would ever be in a position of not being able to put out the slide. Or, in some cases only doing a shrt stopover long enough to get some sleep and you do not want to take the time to open the slide, you are still comfortable.

Once we began to narrow our lists down, I test drove many of the coaches. I do not like the setup on Freightliner chasis. There was a world of difference when I first test drove a Country Coach with independent front suspension. That feature was a must. A big block diesel engine with 6 speed tranny electronically controlled and a diesel generator were others top on my list. I wanted the dependability and range of the diesel. In looking at used coaches it became obvious there were many with low miles. Two to four year old coaches with only 3-5k miles on them. It was apparently a coach that spent much of the time sitting in one place or in storage. This could be a problem for a diesel. They are meant to be driven. So, we felt that a used diesel with 8-10k miles a year of use would be be ideal. Our 2000 Allure had 23k miles when we purchased it last June.

Living in the south all our lives, we tend to avoid areas that have the white stuff on the ground during winter, unless it is beach sand. So, AC units with heat pumps were a good option that would save on propane fuel while connected to shore power. Of course the addition of a good propane furnace was necessary when the temps went below what the heat pumps could handle. A hot water heater that has the capability to heat water either by electric, propane and engine recirculation is a great feature. Having hot water when you arrive at your destination without having to use propane or an electrical source is great.

We included consideration of size that we could safely handle and yet fit it in many campgrounds. Years ago, many campgrounds would not even consider trying to accomodate a 40ft. coach. Nowadays 40foot lengths seem to be a norm for many parks. Granted there are allot of them that need to catch up, but we figure that many of the places we want to go have many campgounds somewhere in the area that can take a 40' coach. Even the military camps have upgraded to handle 40's with no problem.

Everyone of the sellers and dealers have the coaches priced out at maximum retail. Don't let that scare you, for everything can be negotiated. We armed ourselves with a subscription to the NADA book for RV's. Over a period of time I looked at the way the values changed according to the NADA data. There was no way we were going to buy new. By using the wholesale values in the NADA book as our basis, we began making offers.

WhileTake your time....when you look and narrow down the selection, pretend you are living in it. Most of all enjoy the moment!

Jim & Barb Hughes
Jacksonville, FL
2000 Allure #30511

Re: What 1st Time Buyers Need To Know???

Reply #7 – January 29, 2003, 11:49:22 am

Yahoo Message Number: 3899

Sheryl,

Two comments about some of the notes I am seeing,
1. A tag axle gives you more then extra tires. You get additional brakes, air bags and a better ride plus you can run your tires at a lower pressure because your load is spread out to more tires. You will loss some storage but most of us carry more items then we need anyway. A tag also reduces your turning radius by reducing your wheel base.
2. When negotiating a price I always figure 20% off list is average, 22% is
good and 25% is outstanding and sometimes is due to something that is not selling well because of an odd item on the coach. We always order our coaches so we don't get something everyone has played with on the lot and these discounts usually hold for custom orders also at least they have for us when we ordered coaches at FMCA rallies. hope this helps

Bill G. 2001 Magna #5998

Re: What 1st Time Buyers Need To Know???

Reply #8 – January 29, 2003, 01:48:45 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 3900

Jim - No pun intended - but you should write a book!!
I can always tell when it is your post as you are so detailed and "tell it like it is"....so we can understand MOST of it. Some of your techo stuff is way over my head but I know you are telling those smart guys we have on the CC site just how to do things.
I thought you did a great job on what a "newbie"should look for. One additional recommendation might be the J.D. Gallant RV Consumer group. Between the NADA info and that book, you really get a good overview - once you decide on that myriad of options you are looking for.

Keep up the informative good work Jim.

Kathy Marsh

Re: What 1st Time Buyers Need To Know???

Reply #9 – January 29, 2003, 02:39:27 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 3901

If your interested in the Consumer Group there's a good review of them at http://www.greenberg.org/RV/rvcg1.html

Re: What 1st Time Buyers Need To Know???

Reply #10 – January 29, 2003, 03:34:15 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 3902

Jim Hughes wrote:

Re: What 1st Time Buyers Need To Know???

Reply #11 – January 29, 2003, 08:15:03 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 3906

Thanks, Bill:

I just read your reply to Sheryl, and learned a lot.
It balances with things I have been observing.
Steve, Intrigue 11294

--- gablerwh@... wrote:

Quote

Sheryl,

Two comments about some of the notes I am seeing, > 1. A tag axle gives you more then extra tires. You > get additional brakes, air

bags and a better ride plus you can run your tires > at a lower pressure

because your load is spread out to more tires. You > will loss some storage but

most of us carry more items then we need anyway. A > tag also reduces your

turning radius by reducing your wheel base.
2. When negotiating a price I always figure 20% off > list is average, 22% is

good and 25% is outstanding and sometimes is due to > something that is not

selling well because of an odd item on the coach. We > always order our coaches

so we don't get something everyone has played with > on the lot and these

discounts usually hold for custom orders also at > least they have for us when

we ordered coaches at FMCA rallies. hope this helps >

Bill G. 2001 Magna #5998

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Re: What 1st Time Buyers Need To Know???

Reply #12 – January 30, 2003, 03:03:24 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 3916

Sheryl...you're in the right place and doing the right thing to ask all these questions BEFORE!

Now, for my 2 cents...nobody's mentioned NuHeat tile floors. In my opinion, they are one of the best upgrades we ever did...and we don't travel in "the white stuff" either, but we have our tile floors on all the time and I'm sure it helps keep the dampness out of these rigs when in damp areas (currently in foggy Oceanside, CA)not to mention getting up in the morning and having warm tootsies. I would never give them up! Also, hydronic heat is wonderful...quiet! The few times it's needed, it's nice to have it quietly on.
We researched with many dealerships, too. Remember, you can buy from one dealer and pick the coach up at the factory (which is really nice to do), so the dealer may not be so important. They may just handle the paperwork. Now, I know about the local servicing, but there are dealers known for great service and ones that aren't, so it's up to you to find that out. You may never be near your "local dealer" when you need service! We've never been within 500 miles of the dealer who sold us our rig, but we've found several good places to have the coach serviced in other areas when we've needed it.
I second the Davis Cabinets...we ordered our new CC and had Davis do the extra cabinets before we picked the coach up. However, CC is doing a lot of the same stuff now...(get Davis to do the front cabinet in front of the passenger seat though..very handy).
Now, we fulltime in our CC, but we had never owned or even driven an RV before. Most fulltimers we queried did say that "larger is better." It's no different to drive them...it's the width you need to get used to! We are very pleased with our 40' because of all the storage we have. We have two slideouts and the 2001 Intrigue Suite of Dreams which has a larger CCC than the newer one of the same floorplan. If we got the newer one, we would go to the 42'. We LOVE the basement storage. I think this holds the most stuff of any rig out there...great for packrats. (We're still under our gross weights.)

Weights are another issue...make sure to learn about what you can carry in each rig..they do differ.

Any chance you can go to one of the CC rallies? That's a wonderful place to start and ask questions and visit with other owners.

Anyway, you're well on your way...it's a fabulous way to see our country! We retired 2 years ago and have been 'on the road' ever since and never regretted it! Fabulous! Good luck...see you in JC sometime (Junction City...where all CC owners eventually gather at Camp Country Coach.) Jan McNeill

2001 Intrigue 11320
www.mcneillsonwheels.com

Re: What 1st Time Buyers Need To Know???

Reply #13 – January 30, 2003, 04:15:33 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 3917

Quote from: janmcneill\[br\

"]
Sheryl...you're in the right place and doing the right thing to ask > all these questions BEFORE!

Jan McNeill

2001 Intrigue 11320

www.mcneillsonwheels.com

Hello Jan

After all this time, I finally went to your website. It is great! I really enjoyed it and will check on it occassionally to see how you are doing.

Sherry and I were in Oceanside the last week of December. We stayed at Paradise by the Sea RV park. It was nice, but the sites were really tight. Backing up our 40 footer was a trick and I had folks standing outside their coaches to watch me. Lifting the tag and Sherry on our walkie talkie worked great.

Tom Royer

2003 Allure 30858

Fulltiming in Colorado

Re: What 1st Time Buyers Need To Know???

Reply #14 – January 30, 2003, 05:19:40 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 3918

Greetings, Tom. On my last trip I encountered alot of " bottoming out" on the front end while travelling our great highways. I previously had the shocks adjusted which helped until this trip. Since the adjustment I had the coach weighed and have reduced psi to 85 in front and 75 rear and tag based on the Toyo tables. The ride quality improved dramatically except for this new problem. Have you, or any other 2003-40' tag axle Allures/Intrigues experienced this problem?

Walt Rothermel
2003Allure30811

Re: What 1st Time Buyers Need To Know???

Reply #15 – January 30, 2003, 06:04:35 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 3919

Hi Walt,

Sounds like your "Ride Height" needs to be raised/adjusted in front.

Damon

Re: What 1st Time Buyers Need To Know???

Reply #16 – January 30, 2003, 06:29:01 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 3920

Hi Walt

Damon always says "the ride height" needs to be adjusted. :-)

I have not had any problems with the shocks, or bottoming out on rough or bumpy roads. I am running my tires at a higher pressure than you are. I have the front at 105 and the back and tag at 95. It sure seems to ride ok at that pressure.
When I am at the factory in April, I plan to have CC weigh the coach again and Les Schwab adjust the pressure and reprogram my SmartTire.
Also, while I am there, I plan on buying an air hose and tire gauge for the tires so I can use the coach air compressor for tire pressure adjustments. Have you done that?

Tom Royer

2003 Allure 30858

Quote from: damonrapozo\[br\

"]

Re: What 1st Time Buyers Need To Know???

Reply #17 – January 31, 2003, 09:31:49 am

Yahoo Message Number: 3930

Damon, this was checked and reset before I left for Florida. I'll have it rechecked, though.

Walt Rothermel

Re: What 1st Time Buyers Need To Know???

Reply #18 – January 31, 2003, 09:35:43 am

Yahoo Message Number: 3931

Tom, I have the hose on my coach, but find it takes too long at these higher pressures. The lower pressures I'm carrying are based on actual wt. of my coach when loaded. The ride is superb, but I am having a " bottoming out " problem.

Walt Rothermel
2003Allure

Re: What 1st Time Buyers Need To Know???

Reply #19 – January 31, 2003, 10:02:16 am

Yahoo Message Number: 3932

Tom,

I had the air connection installed and carry an air hose with me. I find it very useful for topping off the air in my coach tires as well as filling bicyle tires and car tires.

In Oregon, look for weigh stations that are closed.
The state leaves the scales on, so you can weigh each wheel if you want to.

Steve, Intrigue 11294

--- "Tom and Sherry Royer royerte@...>" royerte@...> wrote:

Quote

Hi Walt

Damon always says "the ride height" needs to be > adjusted. :-)

I have not had any problems with the shocks, or > bottoming out on

rough or bumpy roads. I am running my tires at a > higher pressure than

you are. I have the front at 105 and the back and > tag at 95. It sure

seems to ride ok at that pressure.

When I am at the factory in April, I plan to have CC > weigh the coach

again and Les Schwab adjust the pressure and > reprogram my SmartTire.

Also, while I am there, I plan on buying an air hose > and tire gauge

for the tires so I can use the coach air compressor > for tire pressure

adjustments. Have you done that? >

Tom Royer

2003 Allure 30858

> -

Re: What 1st Time Buyers Need To Know???

Reply #20 – January 31, 2003, 01:07:15 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 3939

Walt,

We have always been told by the tire people to never go below 85 # on any tire. At that pressure you do not have any room for error. Keep an eye on your wear patterns as well.

Bill G. Magna #5998

Re: What 1st Time Buyers Need To Know???

Reply #21 – January 31, 2003, 01:49:15 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 3940

Hi Steve

Thanks for the info regarding the Oregon scales. I will give it a try.

You and Damon have both said that the air hose connected to the coach works well, but I am concerned about Walt's response. It is worth having the hose, in your opinion?

Thanks
Tom Royer

2003 Allure 30858

Quote from: Steve Herring\[br\

]

Re: What 1st Time Buyers Need To Know???

Reply #22 – January 31, 2003, 04:58:03 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 3944

Bill, I am maintaining 85# in the steering tires, even though the weight tables called for 80#. I have attended several seminars given by the Schwab people, and they have always said to get a four ( or six ) point weight and use the tables provided by the tire mfg. inflating to the figure for the heaviest weight per axle. I have gone one level higher than that resulting in 85# front and 75# rear duals and tag. I can't tell you how much the ride improved except for the recurrent " bottoming out " in front. I think it's a shock absorber issue.

Walt Rothermel
200.Allure30811

Re: What 1st Time Buyers Need To Know???

Reply #23 – January 31, 2003, 04:59:50 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 3945

Ton, I don't remember addressing the air hose issue. I have one, but seldom use it.
Walt

Re: What 1st Time Buyers Need To Know???

Reply #24 – January 31, 2003, 05:33:25 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 3946

Tom, I certainly did address the hose issue---abt an hour and a half ago---talk about senior moments----sorry

Walt

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