Country Coach Owners Forum Country Coach Motorcoach Forum

We have a new 40' 2003 Country Coach Intrigue with the optional 400 > hp Cummins engine. We absolutely love the coach and the optional > engine with 2 stage Jake brake is great going up and down the > mountains. The quality of construction and amenities really make > this a wonderful home for us.

Our previous motorhome was only 19 feet and we got used to camping

some fairly remote locations. The chassis to ground clearance was > excellent and it could go just about anywhere.

Well since our transition to full time living in our new Country > Coach, we have hit bottom 2 times, each time doing some expensive > damage. The first time we hit a rock with the oil pan while exiting > a campsite and poked a small hole in the fiberglass oil pan. The > second time, we dragged a hydraulic line on the pavement while > exiting from a fuel service center. The oil pan replacement cost us > around $1200. All the repairs have been done and the coach is like > new again - and I want to keep it that way! >

Now, I don't expect that we'll be able to go camping in the

locations that we used to, but the engine mounting on our coach

to be very low compared to some coaches. I emphasize "some",

since our unfortunate encounters with the ground, I've been looking > at hundreds of other coaches as they drive by in the campground and > service centers we have visited. I'd guess that nearly 50% have

engine component that hangs very low in the back. The ones with

rear overhangs are the worst of all. Fortunately our coach has a > very short rear overhang. Many have very low oil pans, while others > have low air intake pipes or other engine parts.

Now that we have the HWH Raise Latching Function (documented in > message 4679) working the way it is supposed to, we've been able to > raise and hold the coach when going over obstacles at slow speeds so > that we have more than 14" of clearance in the rear. That has been

life saver in many instances. The campground we are in now has 3 > very large speed bumps at the entry and each of them is at least 8" > tall. Without the Raise Latch function, I would have surely hit > bottom and done more damage.

So now with all that as background, I do have a question...
> I'm trying to figure out if there is some way to add a skid plate to > the rear of my coach so if I accidently hit something, I won't be > paying out another $1200 to have another oil pan replaced.

I'm thinking about bolting 4 vertical steel bars to the motorhome > frame around the engine, and then bolting a 1/2 thick steel plate to > the 4 bars that would cover the entire bottom of the engine

all the way forward to the transmission. This would make the bottom > of the coach "bullet proof" and reduce the rear clearance only about > 3/4 of an inch.

What do you think of the idea? Do you have any suggestions? Can

Cummings has a flatter low profile oil pan which you can buy.
GBettig

rvrobert2003,

An 8" speed bump shouldn't cause any problems. Sounds like you > need to have the ride height checked.

Steve

Intrigue #10673

wrote:

> We have a new 40' 2003 Country Coach Intrigue with the optional

hp Cummins engine. We absolutely love the coach and the optional > > engine with 2 stage Jake brake is great going up and down the > > mountains. The quality of construction and amenities really make > > this a wonderful home for us.
>

> Our previous motorhome was only 19 feet and we got used to

in

> some fairly remote locations. The chassis to ground clearance

excellent and it could go just about anywhere.
>

> Well since our transition to full time living in our new Country > > Coach, we have hit bottom 2 times, each time doing some expensive > > damage. The first time we hit a rock with the oil pan while

a campsite and poked a small hole in the fiberglass oil pan. The > > second time, we dragged a hydraulic line on the pavement while > > exiting from a fuel service center. The oil pan replacement cost

around $1200. All the repairs have been done and the coach is

new again - and I want to keep it that way! > >

> Now, I don't expect that we'll be able to go camping in the > backwoods

> locations that we used to, but the engine mounting on our coach > seems

> to be very low compared to some coaches. I emphasize "some", > because

> since our unfortunate encounters with the ground, I've been

at hundreds of other coaches as they drive by in the campground

service centers we have visited. I'd guess that nearly 50% have > some

> engine component that hangs very low in the back. The ones with > long

> rear overhangs are the worst of all. Fortunately our coach has a > > very short rear overhang. Many have very low oil pans, while

have low air intake pipes or other engine parts.
>

> Now that we have the HWH Raise Latching Function (documented in > > message 4679) working the way it is supposed to, we've been able

raise and hold the coach when going over obstacles at slow speeds

that we have more than 14" of clearance in the rear. That has

a

> life saver in many instances. The campground we are in now has 3 > > very large speed bumps at the entry and each of them is at least

tall. Without the Raise Latch function, I would have surely hit > > bottom and done more damage.
>

> So now with all that as background, I do have a question...
>

> I'm trying to figure out if there is some way to add a skid plate

the rear of my coach so if I accidently hit something, I won't be > > paying out another $1200 to have another oil pan replaced.
>

> I'm thinking about bolting 4 vertical steel bars to the motorhome > > frame around the engine, and then bolting a 1/2 thick steel plate

the 4 bars that would cover the entire bottom of the engine > extending

> all the way forward to the transmission. This would make the

of the coach "bullet proof" and reduce the rear clearance only

>

Quote from: rheavn"[/quote

Quote

>]
> rvrobert2003,

> An 8" speed bump shouldn't cause any problems. Sounds like you > > need to have the ride height checked.
>

> Steve

> Intrigue #10673
> Thanks for your comments Steve. The ride height was adjusted at the > factory and then re-checked and tweeked slightly by the dealer again > at 5000 miles. I plan to crawl under the coach and measure it

myself

Quote

and compare the results to the information in the Files section.
There would be no way I could go over an 8" speed bump without > hitting it unless I used the HWH Raise Latch Function. The 400 hp > Cummins actually hangs about 2" lower than the bottom of the > transmission, and that is with the low profile oil pan (which

Country

Quote

Coach has confirmed is already installed on my coach and all Country > Coaches with the new 400 hp engine). The low profile oil pan has a > long low appearance versus the standard pan that looks like a bottom > of a 5 gallon bucket hanging from the bottom of the engine. I've > seen both oil pans and I'm fairly sure that I've got the low profile > one.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm going to recheck the ride height > myself.
>

> wrote:

> > We have a new 40' 2003 Country Coach Intrigue with the optional > 400

> > hp Cummins engine. We absolutely love the coach and the

optional

Quote

> engine with 2 stage Jake brake is great going up and down the > > > mountains. The quality of construction and amenities really

make

Quote

> this a wonderful home for us.
> >

> > Our previous motorhome was only 19 feet and we got used to > camping
> in

> > some fairly remote locations. The chassis to ground clearance > was

> > excellent and it could go just about anywhere.
> >

> > Well since our transition to full time living in our new Country > > > Coach, we have hit bottom 2 times, each time doing some

expensive

Quote

> damage. The first time we hit a rock with the oil pan while > exiting

> > a campsite and poked a small hole in the fiberglass oil pan.

The

Quote

> second time, we dragged a hydraulic line on the pavement while > > > exiting from a fuel service center. The oil pan replacement

cost

Quote

us

> > around $1200. All the repairs have been done and the coach is > like

> > new again - and I want to keep it that way! > > >

> > Now, I don't expect that we'll be able to go camping in the > > backwoods

> > locations that we used to, but the engine mounting on our coach > > seems

> > to be very low compared to some coaches. I emphasize "some", > > because

> > since our unfortunate encounters with the ground, I've been > looking

> > at hundreds of other coaches as they drive by in the campground > and

> > service centers we have visited. I'd guess that nearly 50% have > > some

> > engine component that hangs very low in the back. The ones with > > long

> > rear overhangs are the worst of all. Fortunately our coach has

a

Quote

> very short rear overhang. Many have very low oil pans, while > others

> > have low air intake pipes or other engine parts.
> >

> > Now that we have the HWH Raise Latching Function (documented in > > > message 4679) working the way it is supposed to, we've been able > to

> > raise and hold the coach when going over obstacles at slow

speeds

Quote

so

> > that we have more than 14" of clearance in the rear. That has > been
> a

> > life saver in many instances. The campground we are in now has

3

Quote

> very large speed bumps at the entry and each of them is at least > 8"

> > tall. Without the Raise Latch function, I would have surely hit > > > bottom and done more damage.
> >

> > So now with all that as background, I do have a question...
> >

> > I'm trying to figure out if there is some way to add a skid

plate

Quote

to

> > the rear of my coach so if I accidently hit something, I won't

be

Quote

> paying out another $1200 to have another oil pan replaced.
> >

> > I'm thinking about bolting 4 vertical steel bars to the

motorhome

Quote

> frame around the engine, and then bolting a 1/2 thick steel

plate

Quote

to

> > the 4 bars that would cover the entire bottom of the engine > > extending

> > all the way forward to the transmission. This would make the > bottom

> > of the coach "bullet proof" and reduce the rear clearance only > about

> > 3/4 of an inch.
> >

> > What do you think of the idea? Do you have any suggestions?

Can

rvrobert2003,

If you could when you check ride height could you measure &

the clearance you have from the bottom of oil pan to ground at ride > height. That 400 engine must hang much lower than the 350. Mine

16 1/4 inches clearance at ride height and my chassis has the 11R

profile tires. Many other things would hit before the oil pan.

Thanks in advance
Steve

Intrigue #10673

wrote:
>

[quote author=rheavn"

>]
> > rvrobert2003,

> > An 8" speed bump shouldn't cause any problems. Sounds like

> need to have the ride height checked.
> >

> > Steve

> > Intrigue #10673
>

> Thanks for your comments Steve. The ride height was adjusted at

factory and then re-checked and tweeked slightly by the dealer

at 5000 miles. I plan to crawl under the coach and measure it > myself

> and compare the results to the information in the Files section.
> There would be no way I could go over an 8" speed bump without > > hitting it unless I used the HWH Raise Latch Function. The 400

Cummins actually hangs about 2" lower than the bottom of the > > transmission, and that is with the low profile oil pan (which > Country

> Coach has confirmed is already installed on my coach and all

Coaches with the new 400 hp engine). The low profile oil pan has

long low appearance versus the standard pan that looks like a

of a 5 gallon bucket hanging from the bottom of the engine. I've > > seen both oil pans and I'm fairly sure that I've got the low

one.
>

> Thanks for the suggestion. I'm going to recheck the ride height > > myself.
> >

> > wrote:

> > > We have a new 40' 2003 Country Coach Intrigue with the

400

> > > hp Cummins engine. We absolutely love the coach and the > optional

> > > engine with 2 stage Jake brake is great going up and down the > > > > mountains. The quality of construction and amenities really > make

> > > this a wonderful home for us.
> > >

> > > Our previous motorhome was only 19 feet and we got used to > > camping
> > in

> > > some fairly remote locations. The chassis to ground

was

> > > excellent and it could go just about anywhere.
> > >

> > > Well since our transition to full time living in our new

> > Coach, we have hit bottom 2 times, each time doing some > expensive

> > > damage. The first time we hit a rock with the oil pan while > > exiting

> > > a campsite and poked a small hole in the fiberglass oil pan.
The

> > > second time, we dragged a hydraulic line on the pavement

> > exiting from a fuel service center. The oil pan replacement > cost
> us

> > > around $1200. All the repairs have been done and the coach

like

> > > new again - and I want to keep it that way! > > > >

> > > Now, I don't expect that we'll be able to go camping in the > > > backwoods

> > > locations that we used to, but the engine mounting on our

> seems

> > > to be very low compared to some coaches. I emphasize "some", > > > because

> > > since our unfortunate encounters with the ground, I've been > > looking

> > > at hundreds of other coaches as they drive by in the

and

> > > service centers we have visited. I'd guess that nearly 50%

> some

> > > engine component that hangs very low in the back. The ones

> long

> > > rear overhangs are the worst of all. Fortunately our coach

a

> > > very short rear overhang. Many have very low oil pans, while > > others

> > > have low air intake pipes or other engine parts.
> > >

> > > Now that we have the HWH Raise Latching Function (documented

> > message 4679) working the way it is supposed to, we've been

to

> > > raise and hold the coach when going over obstacles at slow > speeds
> so

> > > that we have more than 14" of clearance in the rear. That

been
> > a

> > > life saver in many instances. The campground we are in now

3

> > > very large speed bumps at the entry and each of them is at

8"

> > > tall. Without the Raise Latch function, I would have surely

> > bottom and done more damage.
> > >

> > > So now with all that as background, I do have a question...
> > >

> > > I'm trying to figure out if there is some way to add a skid > plate
> to

> > > the rear of my coach so if I accidently hit something, I

be

> > > paying out another $1200 to have another oil pan replaced.
> > >

> > > I'm thinking about bolting 4 vertical steel bars to the > motorhome

> > > frame around the engine, and then bolting a 1/2 thick steel > plate
> to

> > > the 4 bars that would cover the entire bottom of the engine > > > extending

> > > all the way forward to the transmission. This would make the > > bottom

> > > of the coach "bullet proof" and reduce the rear clearance

> Country Coach is now installing engine skid plates at the factory on > all new coaches with the ISL 400 engine according to the engineers

the factory. We had ours shipped to us and installed last week on > our 2003 Intrigue. At the same time, the mechanic re-checked and > adjusted the ride height. According to Country Coach the distance > between the air bag plates on our coach should be 12 inches. The > mechanic showed me the actual measurement after the adjustment was > made, so I know it is now correct. Based on this adjustment to the > ride height, we now have a total of 7 1/4 inches clearance from the > bottom of the skid plate to the ground - a far cry short of Steve's > 16 1/4 inches. The skid plate reduces the clearance from the pan to > the ground by about 1/2 an inch, so that without the skid plate, we > would have about 7 3/4 inch clearance from the ground to the engine > oil pan. So the skid plate reduces the engine oil pan clearance

slightly.
> So, in answer to your question Steve, we could not clear an 8" speed > bump without raising the coach with the HWH raise function. By

the HWH raise function, we add 3 1/2 inches of additional clearance.

Thus, with the coach raised to the max, we have 10 3/4 inches of > engine clearance.

Just one more comment on the ride height adjustment...
> If we drop our coach as low as possible and measure the height, then > raise it as high as possible and measure the height, the difference > is 7 1/2 inches - exactly the factory spec. According to the

design engineers, when the coach is at ride height, it should be > sitting in the middle of these two extremes. We checked this on our > coach and this verifies that the ride height is now correct. We

3 3/4 inches of possible suspension movement each way. So, using > these measurements, if we hit a bump that causes the rear suspension > to compress, our rear skid plate clearance drops from 7 1/4 inches

3 1/2 inches - just barely enough to clear the crown in the road > surface.
> In the spirit of this sharing community, I'd suggest that all owners > of the ISL 400 engine take precautionary measures to "protect their > rear ends" - have the skid plate installed and have your ride height > checked and adjusted if necessary. Not doing so could result in a > very expensive repair bill.

Regards,

Robert

Quote from: rheavn"[/quote

Quote

>]
> rvrobert2003,

> If you could when you check ride height could you measure & > report

> the clearance you have from the bottom of oil pan to ground at

ride

Quote

height. That 400 engine must hang much lower than the 350. Mine > has

> 16 1/4 inches clearance at ride height and my chassis has the 11R > low

> profile tires. Many other things would hit before the oil pan.
>

> Thanks in advance
> Steve

> Intrigue #10673
>

> wrote:
> >

[quote author=rheavn"
>
> >]
> > > rvrobert2003,

> > > An 8" speed bump shouldn't cause any problems. Sounds like > you

> > > need to have the ride height checked.
> > >

> > > Steve

> > > Intrigue #10673
> >

> > Thanks for your comments Steve. The ride height was adjusted at > the

> > factory and then re-checked and tweeked slightly by the dealer > again

> > at 5000 miles. I plan to crawl under the coach and measure it > > myself

> > and compare the results to the information in the Files section.
> > > There would be no way I could go over an 8" speed bump without > > > hitting it unless I used the HWH Raise Latch Function. The 400 > hp

> > Cummins actually hangs about 2" lower than the bottom of the > > > transmission, and that is with the low profile oil pan (which > > Country

> > Coach has confirmed is already installed on my coach and all > Country

> > Coaches with the new 400 hp engine). The low profile oil pan

has

Quote

a

> > long low appearance versus the standard pan that looks like a > bottom

> > of a 5 gallon bucket hanging from the bottom of the engine.

I've

Quote

> seen both oil pans and I'm fairly sure that I've got the low > profile
> > one.
> >

> > Thanks for the suggestion. I'm going to recheck the ride height > > > myself.
> > >

> > > wrote:

> > > > We have a new 40' 2003 Country Coach Intrigue with the > optional
> > 400

> > > > hp Cummins engine. We absolutely love the coach and the > > optional

> > > > engine with 2 stage Jake brake is great going up and down

the

Quote

> > > mountains. The quality of construction and amenities really > > make

> > > > this a wonderful home for us.
> > > >

> > > > Our previous motorhome was only 19 feet and we got used to > > > camping
> > > in

> > > > some fairly remote locations. The chassis to ground > clearance
> > was

> > > > excellent and it could go just about anywhere.
> > > >

> > > > Well since our transition to full time living in our new > Country

> > > > Coach, we have hit bottom 2 times, each time doing some > > expensive

> > > > damage. The first time we hit a rock with the oil pan while > > > exiting

> > > > a campsite and poked a small hole in the fiberglass oil pan.

> The

> > > > second time, we dragged a hydraulic line on the pavement > while

> > > > exiting from a fuel service center. The oil pan replacement > > cost
> > us

> > > > around $1200. All the repairs have been done and the coach > is

> > like

> > > > new again - and I want to keep it that way! > > > > >

> > > > Now, I don't expect that we'll be able to go camping in the > > > > backwoods

> > > > locations that we used to, but the engine mounting on our > coach

> > > seems

> > > > to be very low compared to some coaches. I emphasize

"some",

Quote

> > because

> > > > since our unfortunate encounters with the ground, I've been > > > looking

> > > > at hundreds of other coaches as they drive by in the > campground
> > and

> > > > service centers we have visited. I'd guess that nearly 50% > have

> > > some

> > > > engine component that hangs very low in the back. The ones > with

> > > long

> > > > rear overhangs are the worst of all. Fortunately our coach > has
> a

> > > > very short rear overhang. Many have very low oil pans,

while

Quote

> others

> > > > have low air intake pipes or other engine parts.
> > > >

> > > > Now that we have the HWH Raise Latching Function (documented > in

> > > > message 4679) working the way it is supposed to, we've been > able
> > to

> > > > raise and hold the coach when going over obstacles at slow > > speeds
> > so

> > > > that we have more than 14" of clearance in the rear. That > has

> > been
> > > a

> > > > life saver in many instances. The campground we are in now > has
> 3

> > > > very large speed bumps at the entry and each of them is at > least
> > 8"

> > > > tall. Without the Raise Latch function, I would have surely > hit

> > > > bottom and done more damage.
> > > >

> > > > So now with all that as background, I do have a question...
> > > >

> > > > I'm trying to figure out if there is some way to add a skid > > plate
> > to

> > > > the rear of my coach so if I accidently hit something, I > won't
> be

> > > > paying out another $1200 to have another oil pan replaced.
> > > >

> > > > I'm thinking about bolting 4 vertical steel bars to the > > motorhome

> > > > frame around the engine, and then bolting a 1/2 thick steel > > plate
> > to

> > > > the 4 bars that would cover the entire bottom of the engine > > > > extending

> > > > all the way forward to the transmission. This would make

the

Is this also a problem with the Cummins ISL 370 HP engine? >
Tom

> More info on the skid plate and answers to questions from Walt and > Ron & Molly...

My coach is a new 2003 and is still well within the warranty

CC supplied the skid plate at no charge and picked up the cost for > the dealer to do the installation. So the cost to me for this was > zero. Total installation time was under 2 hours.
> A Cummins mechanic explained to me that the ISL 370 and ISL 400 use > the same block and pan and have the same profile. The only > difference is the 400 has more horsepower. So, I would expect that > the skid plate would fit both engines. CC could certainly provide > more information to you regarding the fit of the skid plate to the > ISL 370 engine.
> The first time I bottomed out my engine pan, the total bill for the > damage repair at Cummins was $1200. So those of you that got off

less got a bargain. The second time I hit bottom I damaged the > hydraulic hose that goes across the back and the cost for that

was substantially less. I would hope that the skid plate

future repair bills for bottoming the back end of my coach.
> The skid plate supplied by CC came in 3 pieces - 2 T shaped support > brackets and the skid plate. The installation is a bolt-on only

does not require any welding. The T shaped brackets are first > mounted to the transmission/engine support located on the frame

on each side on the transmission/engine and about mid-way between

engine and transmission. The mechanic removed the 2 nuts from the > bottom of the transmission support bracket, then used the same 2

to mount each of the T shaped brackets. The bottom of each T

extends to just below the front edge of the oil pan and has a hole

it. The skid plate then is bolted into place with 4 bolts that are > supplied with the bracket - 2 bolts into the bottom of the T

and 2 bolts into the existing holes in the bottom of the rear

support posts. I do have a picture of the skid plate and brackets > that I'll post to the Photos section.
> The plate is not very heavy and is made of material that appears to > be about 1/8 inch steel plate. CC told me that they tested the

plate by driving a coach over several low driveways and bumps and

plate provides the needed protection. I'll probably use the basic > design as a starting point and have a heavier and thicker plate > welded and installed at a future date. For now, I'll see how it > works and how well it protects my rear end.

I hope all this information is helpful to you.

Regards,

Robert

Quote from: Spiker1029@a...

> Robert, did CC charge you for the skid plate and installation?

I've

Robert, I'm being advised by CC that they will not pay for adding

skid plate to my 03 Allure. This is coming from Doug Beaudry > according to " Russ " a tech I've not talked to before. Do you

if I cite your experience where they did pay for the skid plate?

it's OK pls provide your coach no.

Thanks,

Walt Rothermel
03Allure30811

[quote author=rvrobert2003"

> More info on the skid plate and answers to questions from Walt

Ron & Molly...
>

> My coach is a new 2003 and is still well within the warranty > period.

> CC supplied the skid plate at no charge and picked up the cost

the dealer to do the installation. So the cost to me for this

zero. Total installation time was under 2 hours.
>

> A Cummins mechanic explained to me that the ISL 370 and ISL 400

the same block and pan and have the same profile. The only > > difference is the 400 has more horsepower. So, I would expect

the skid plate would fit both engines. CC could certainly

more information to you regarding the fit of the skid plate to

ISL 370 engine.
>

> The first time I bottomed out my engine pan, the total bill for

damage repair at Cummins was $1200. So those of you that got

for

> less got a bargain. The second time I hit bottom I damaged the > > hydraulic hose that goes across the back and the cost for that > repair

> was substantially less. I would hope that the skid plate > eliminates

> future repair bills for bottoming the back end of my coach.
>

> The skid plate supplied by CC came in 3 pieces - 2 T shaped

brackets and the skid plate. The installation is a bolt-on only > and

> does not require any welding. The T shaped brackets are first > > mounted to the transmission/engine support located on the frame > rail

> on each side on the transmission/engine and about mid-way

the

> engine and transmission. The mechanic removed the 2 nuts from

bottom of the transmission support bracket, then used the same 2 > nuts

> to mount each of the T shaped brackets. The bottom of each T > bracket

> extends to just below the front edge of the oil pan and has a

in

> it. The skid plate then is bolted into place with 4 bolts that

supplied with the bracket - 2 bolts into the bottom of the T > supports

> and 2 bolts into the existing holes in the bottom of the rear > engine

> support posts. I do have a picture of the skid plate and

that I'll post to the Photos section.
>

> The plate is not very heavy and is made of material that appears

be about 1/8 inch steel plate. CC told me that they tested the > skid

> plate by driving a coach over several low driveways and bumps

the

> plate provides the needed protection. I'll probably use the

design as a starting point and have a heavier and thicker plate > > welded and installed at a future date. For now, I'll see how it > > works and how well it protects my rear end.
>

> I hope all this information is helpful to you.
>

> Regards,
>

> Robert
>
>
>
>
>

> -