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Looking to buying a used Country Coach, need some help?

Yahoo Message Number: 67736
I am in the process of selling my house and going to a full-timer status. I am looking at Country Coach's for sale from 1998 to 2004. The models are the Inspire, Allure, Intrigue. As one might image prices are all over the map from private sellers to dealers. Are there any problems I need to look for on these models and years? What advise would you give in buying one. I understand these are well built, but once I spend my money there is no trading up or changing my mind. I have to watch my money and pinch penny's, not going into my reserve fund to live on. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated in helping me make my selection for my new home. I have a 19999 33 foot Newmar pull trailer and a old Travco about 17 years ago so I have done some extend traveling. Thank you with your help. Greg

Re: Looking to buying a used Country Coach, need some help?

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 67740
Greg,

You might consider adding Affinity to your list of CCs you are considering. We bought one 15 months ago and love it. Don't get me wrong, the ones you mention are also great. You do get extra amenities with the Affinity for a bit more money. We really like the tag 42' version. The layout for us is great.

Bob Nuttmann

2002 42' Affinity

Re: Looking to buying a used Country Coach, need some help?

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 67747
Seeing how you are going full time I would look for a 42' 2003 or 4 Intrigue. Your wife will enjoy the larger kitchen and counter space. The three full bays underneath are a nice addition, too. You will have 9,600 lbs of carrying capacity. If you can find a late 04 unit you will have the big Screen TV's that can handle digital signals. The earlier units will need upgrading. Right now all the Norcold refers need to be upgraded with factory recalls, but at no charge. You will need new tires, fuel lines replaced to the gen set and the Hydro-hot., The Hydro-hot had an earlier recall on its combustion chamber. You need to check all the awnings, the 03 had Zip Dees, which I prefer, the 04's had Carefrees and a combination with A&E Dometic awnings. All the units from 99 to 04 had some lamination issues on the edges of slide rooms, and if caught by the previous owner early on is now a non issue. Some of the older Allures have cracking issues with the side fiber glass. Early Allures aren't fully clear coated and maintaining the finish can be a real issue. All the coaches with out full body paint have issues with the clear coat sticking to the fibre glass. The later 04 Intrigues have pull out generators which is a nice for service. If you can find at late 04 it will have 3 airs which is great in hot weather country. Most all of the coaches have either ISC or ISL engines from Cummins, but there are some later 04 Intrigues with 505 Cats. They get up and move, where the 400 ISL will get you there, but with a little planning going up 7+ degree slopes. You also might look for a coach that's been upgraded by Davis cabinets. The added storage space and conveyance is one reason I have stuck with my early o4 Intrigue 42' Ovation. Extended pull out drawers, drawers added under the cook top and to storage spaces under the counter top, shelves in the storage bays, additional cabinets and expanded cabinets over the sofas and behind and above the drivers seat have made for ease of living in our coach. Just wish I HAD THE THIRD AIR AND SLIDE OUT GEN. It's really not a problem till the temp gets over 102 deg. F.
TWI 2004 Intrigue 11731 PS. All Cherry finishes get darker with age, walnut gets lighter with a touch of added warmth, Oak seems to be pretty stable and maple gives a open feel. Of coarse walnut can always be touched with a little OLD ENGLISH FURNITURE POLISH.

Jan 23, 2011, at 2:54 PM, dahlgrengreg wrote:

Re: Looking to buying a used Country Coach, need some help?

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 67750
Greg... Look for a 1999, 2000, or 2001 Magna or Affinity with the Cat C10 or C12 engine and the Allison HD4060 or MH4000 transmission...

Avoid the "tag" axle like the plague...
Don't try to take everything with you... All you need to enjoy life is a couple of changes of clothes and a full belly...

buck

k7wn, '99magna5653, Cat C10, Allison HD4060

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Re: Looking to buying a used Country Coach, need some help?

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 67751
Why avoid a tag?

George WB5LDN
92 Prevost

From: "buck"

Sender: Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2011 00:38:53 -0000 To:
ReplyTo: Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Country-Coach-Owners] Re: Looking to buying a used Country Coach, need some help?

Greg... Look for a 1999, 2000, or 2001 Magna or Affinity with the Cat C10 or C12 engine and the Allison HD4060 or MH4000 transmission...

Avoid the "tag" axle like the plague...
Don't try to take everything with you... All you need to enjoy life is a couple of changes of clothes and a full belly...

buck

k7wn, '99magna5653, Cat C10, Allison HD4060

=================================================

Re: Looking to buying a used Country Coach, need some help?

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 67758
I personally would not go with out the tag if you are in a larger coach. The extra set of brakes and parking brakes (tag axel). The front steer tires do not apply brakes when the emergency air is released so it is nice to have that extra degree of braking power. The ability to get the larger cat c12 engine (that really does not use any more fuel than the 400 because it runs a higher torque at lower rpms than the 400), the large towing capacity with he extra set of brakes. If you blow a drive tire you still have two tires to support the rig before you get to the side of the road. It will lift off the ground about 2 inches when you need to make tight turns (below 15 mph), some tags on other coaches do not come off the ground when released.
Not sure why there is any downside to a tag other than the extra couple tons of weight. I have not read a comment where someone who had a tag went to a single unless they wanted the smaller engine and rig. I love the power of the c12 going up grade and getting up to speed. I love the three speed jake brake for being able to fine tune the engine braking to the slope you are traveling. I use all three settings depending upon the speed I want to stay at going down grade on highways.
My opinion is based upon putting a number of miles driving a 2003 40 foot intrigue with a cummins 400 and a 2004 intrigue 42 foot with the C12 and tag.
The resale value of the larger engine with the larger gross weight is another factor when it comes to preowned rigs from what I experienced when I finally decided on our first and last motorhome purchase.

Dallas 2004 intrigue ovation 42' with tag and C12 505hp

Re: Looking to buying a used Country Coach, need some help?

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 67759
Anyone advising a 40 foot+ coach buyer to purchase one without a tag is not a driver.
I cannot imagine having a 40,000 rig on only 2 axels. It, does not work, won't carry any decent load, and has a hard ride.

D Bradley

04 Intrigue C-13 Cat w/tag axel

Re: Looking to buying a used Country Coach, need some help?

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 67763
I have a 40 footer with no tag and my ride is about as good as it gets, not sure where you get the idea that you must have a tag axle. Have you driven an Intrigue without a tax? I'm sure the tag is fine but it isn't a necessity in my opinion.

Ray

2000 Intrigue 11040

Re: Looking to buying a used Country Coach, need some help?

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 67764
And, I was so happy, well actually still am, with my little 40 ft Intrigue with one slide out! And, no tag axle!

Ray

2000 Intrigue 11040

Re: Looking to buying a used Country Coach, need some help?

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 67766
Same here.

Jack nichols, 2003 intrigue 11527. 40 feet suite of dreams,

Travman100 travman100@...> wrote:

Re: Looking to buying a used Country Coach, need some help?

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 67767
Really the tag came down to cargo capacity for us. By the time we piled up the Golf Gear, Ski Gear, dog agility equipment, mountain bike and road bike gear, kayak gear, tools, spare parts, and other necessities for fulltiming we needed the CC.
Marc 05 45' affinity #6429

Re: Looking to buying a used Country Coach, need some help?

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 67768
Jack and Ray...

Guys, I think our problem is that we are just not "drivers" like Bradley... Otherwise we would know that our piddly little two axle coaches just ain't "up to snuff"...
Of Course, somehow I got 105,000 miles on the '99 Magna, and before that 62,000 on a '93 Vogue XL... (Oops! Forgot that the XL had a tag)
And I really miss that tag... 4 extra tires to buy at $500+ each... More expensive Brake jobs... and that dratted "lift" system that sometimes worked and sometimes didn't... Not to mention the extra diesel fuel it took to drag around the extra two tons of axle, wheels, brakes, etc.
Finally figgered out that I really didn't need to carry around all that "equipment" and traded for the Magna... Gotta give the ol' Magna credit tho, as it don't know it won't carry a decent load and that it rides hard, so it just floats its 42,700 lbs right on down the road like a magic carpet...

buck

k7wn, '99Magna5653, Cat C10, Allison HD4060

Re: Looking to buying a used Country Coach, need some help?

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 67769
Some things I left out , you want newer coaches for the larger tires. You also want Independent front suspension for nicer ride and sharper turns. My 42' can turn sharper than my old 98 36' Allure. And you definitely want the tag axle. More carrying capacity, safety, braking and it prevents the diesel 18 wheelers and strong cross winds from grabbing the rear of the coach and steering you across the centerline or into a ditch. It also protects you from dragging your oil pan on the ground. The 03 and 04 Intrigues are CC first coaches with flat a floor full width slide and a deep above floor slide up front. Where the the earlier Magna's and Affinities only have either 1 24" slide or one or two very narrow slides up front. 2004 Magnas Also have the two deep slides up front and a larger C-15 engine, but is a fuel hog. The 505 C-12 and the Intrigue is a much better combination weight wise. Another issue with the Magna is it doesn't have the storage space underneath in the 40 or 42' model the Intrigue has. The Magna has better power and function displays, and upgraded counter tops, window treatment, carpet, hardware and the third air for sure, and more floor insulation. The pilot and co-pilot chairs are better, too. That's why I had 07 Magna Chairs with dual lumbar support installed in my Intrigue. The Intrigues and the 04 Magna use a Marine toilet with a Macerator and has a p-trap, so no smells and worries with electronic toilets. Though I have to admit they use water in excess until you learn how to modulate the control button. The Intrigue has a rectangular front door as opposed to the slanted front door of the Affinity and Magna, They both can leak, but service techs and owners of the slanted door have more problems. The battery charging systems on the later coaches are much superior to the older coaches, I have had both. Make sure you buy a coach with the genset mounted up front and of the Onan type. It much quieter than having a power tech or Onan mounted under your driver seat. Access Damon Rapozo wed site, and scan his info on the CC models and their upgrades year to year model to model. If we can't answer a model accessory question, he can. He knows CC's front and back, up and down. We prefer the combination florescent lighting in our coach with accent quartz lamps over the seating and head of the Queen bed.. Its not as sophisticated as all the quartz lamps in other models, but provide much more light with much less power. You definitely need the third air with all quartz lighting. Try to find a coach with floor heat, its a great addition on cool nippy mornings. TWI 2004 Ontrigie 11731

Re: Looking to buying a used Country Coach, need some help?

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 67770
My 42' Intrigue full of fuel, tanks, books, camera's, Cd's Dvd's, tripods, one bay full of quilting material, sewing machine, weighs, 39,900 lbs. We get better milage than our 98 Allure at 31,600 lbs. We still have 4600 lbs of capacity left. Another advantage of the three slide coaches over the two or one slide coaches is weight distribution. Side to side the weight difference is only 135 lbs. On my old Allure with one slide the difference was 900 lbs, which caused tire issues up front. CC coaches tags only have two tires, not 4 like on the Vogue.
TWI 2004 Intrigue 11731

Re: Looking to buying a used Country Coach, need some help?

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 67773
I've owned a 40ft bus conversion with tag. (4 tire tag). 10 tires. 10 air bag suspension.
We now have a 40ft Intrigue Suite of Dreams. No tag.
If I was to go full timing I wouldn't hesitate in owning a tag unit. More CC. Better ride. Better to drive. And in my opinion safer with more stability and more brakes.

But and there's is always a but!

But a tag unit will cost you more in tires and brake maintenance. The space taken up by the extra axle will take away bin space. So the gain in length may give you more CC but not necessarily more cubic space. Our bus conversion was so heavy, 55,000#, that I was too scared to take it off the hard stand.
It's a 50-50 compromise. You have to work out what's important to you.

Me? Give me a tag anyday.

Bruce 2001 Intrigue #11278

Re: Looking to buying a used Country Coach, need some help?

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 67779
For me, it was all about the "numbers". The calculation of Cargo Carrying Capacity eliminated many coaches from my consideration. (Many of the newer coaches grew "overweight" in my opinion....) We are fulltimers and wanted room to remodel and haul safely.

The tag affects CCC and(IMHO)how it handles.

Denis Vogel
06 Allue #34109

Re: Looking to buying a used Country Coach, need some help?

Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 67781
The best advice I got when buying a coach was " buy your second ( in my case 4th ) coach 1st ". I got the message too late!! Whatever your budget is, if possible , add to it, about 25%. This is the best time to buy an RV , based on what has happened to the market place. All the things you compromised on will become apparent, not very far in the future. If you are going to fulltime, then things like rear bath , become very important. If traveling out west a lot, then a bigger engine is preferable in the mountains. It always bugged me to be doing 38 MPH going up some of those hills. Based on 12,000 miles per year, the difference in fuel is 284 gallons at 6 MPG versus 7 MPG. That costs you 923$ at 3.25 $/Gal.. I prefer a bit larger engine and am prepared to pay the premium. If in a little bit cooler climes, I wouldn't be without floor heat. It's quieter the roof air heat pump or a furnace , and the electricity is included in the camp ground cost. With regard to a tag axle, If you have had a coach with it , you wouldn't go back. The handling advantage in winds and from oncoming trucks , means you will not have to "white knuckle it " driving down the road. There are still people who buy cars without A/C , so you have to take some of the comments with a grain of salt. I would not own a coach without a tag, regardless of all the previous comments to the negative. My CC is the best of 5 Mohos that I have owned. If you have questions , email offline

Ron Baran 09 Magna 7025

Re: Looking to buying a used Country Coach, need some help?

Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 67784
I'm not an expert on MH chassis and models, but, does/did any manufacturer produce a 40' with a tag? Or even weighed 40,000 lbs? I have a 40' SOB, single drive axel and C12 engine. I thought they started tags with the 42's. What model and year did Country Coach produce a 40' coach with a tag?

Jim E

Re: Looking to buying a used Country Coach, need some help?

Reply #19 –
Yahoo Message Number: 67786
Quote
Quote from: pairajays"

Jim,
Yep.

Lyle Wetherholt

04 40ft. tag Intrigue 11740
> I'm not an expert on MH chassis and models, but, does/did any manufacturer produce a 40' with a tag? Or even weighed 40,000 lbs? I have a 40' SOB, single drive axel and C12 engine. I thought they started tags with the 42's. What model and year did Country Coach produce a 40' coach with a tag? >

Jim E

Quote from: countrycoachbrad"

>

> Anyone advising a 40 foot+ coach buyer to purchase one without a tag is not a driver.
> I cannot imagine having a 40,000 rig on only 2 axels. It, does not work, won't carry any decent load, and has a hard ride.
>

> D Bradley

> 04 Intrigue C-13 Cat w/tag axel >

Re: Looking to buying a used Country Coach, need some help?

Reply #20 –
Yahoo Message Number: 67787
Monaco Dynasty, at least for a few years from 04, at least, made ALL Dynasty's with tag axles, including their 38 footer. Mine was an 06 40 with a tag. Monaco built their own chassis. Newmar had a tag axle 40 for a while around 05 that they had problems with, and stopped production. They now sell all 40 ft and up Dutch Star's with a tag ( a Dutch Star is listed under standard motor homes, not luxury ), and that is on a Freightliner chassis. Since Freightliner now has a tag, I am sure you will see tag axle 40's from most manufacturers who are still manufacturing. To those , out there , who talk down the importance of a tag---why would they do that ? And a Dutch Star is not even considered " Luxury "

Ron Baran 09 Magna 7025

Re: Looking to buying a used Country Coach, need some help?

Reply #21 –
Yahoo Message Number: 67788
I'm looking to buy a 07 Magna (45') with a 600 HP Cummins engine and a Tag Axle with Radiant Heated Tile Floor, 3 ACs and this will be my "First RV" so I am trying to only buy an RV once and not 3 or 4 times like so many RVers have done.
I am not going cheap at all so I will have everything I want and need from the GitGo so I want be tempted to trade up down the road.

Re: Looking to buying a used Country Coach, need some help?

Reply #23 –
Yahoo Message Number: 67799
I had a 33' Holiday Rambler Imperial that had a tag axle. Helped it through sharp driveway dips, and helped stabilise the coach, espeially in the wind. Now I have a 40' Inspire with out a tag and find it to have a good ride and stable on the highway. Trucks or no trucks. If the coach is loaded correctly, tires properly inflated, and not overweight, it should perform fine. Tag or no tag?? Personal opinion. Thats why God allowed both Chocolate and Vanilla Ice cream.

Jim Hodges

2007 40' Inspire, #51969

Re: Looking to buying a used Country Coach, need some help?

Reply #24 –
Yahoo Message Number: 67801
I was a bit surprised to hear that CC and others built a 40' with a tag. I wonder why. I've never owned a MH with a tag so I can't compare to no tag. I always thought the coaches I've owned rode really good. Maybe that is why CC shifted to tags in the early years of 2000 because they gave a better ride. You would think the increased cost would be a negative factor. Of course, Bob Lee did not own the company then.

Jim E