New Purchase info

[ChunkyBeast]

Hello everyone. My wife and I are getting ready to purchase a 2000 40' Alpine Coach and have been reading some good and some bad mainly about the hydrolic brakes going out. Does anyone have any first hand experience with this year coach. Any info greatly appreciated. We don't want to make the mistake of a life time in purchasing this as well as making a mistake on possibly passing up a very good coach.

[MFortie]

I have firsthand experience with the brake issue.

Our coach is a 2000 36' mid-door and we have had to repair our brakes twice.

First time was about 7 - 8 years ago and then we had a second occurrence about a year later.

Here's a thread with some more info:
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f104/brakes-again-76922.html

We think the first shop did not replace the calipers with the new versions; I recall the second mechanic telling me he installed a new version on the next go-around.

We change the brake fluid now on an annual (roughly) basis and have not had a re-occurrence. We've had our coach now for thirteen years and have been very happy with it (disregarding the brake issues)...

[chrisancher]

On Our 2000 the only brake work I've had to do was replace all four calipers and they are stocked by most napa stores a very common part. Also very inexpensive surprisingly like 75 bucks each and very easy to replace.

The brakes on alpine coaches don't like to sit and they should have the brake fluid changed annually

[ChunkyBeast]

Thank you, I really appreciate the info.

[GMDavidson]

My 2001 has 116,000 miles on it. I did have to change out the brake fluid to the high temp fluid after brake fade on mountain roads. Anyway except for the brake fluke no brake work at all.

[wolfe10]

Yes, on ANY heavy vehicle with hydraulic brakes, brake fluid needs to be changed every couple of years-- interval depends on whether you are the damp/wet climate or desert SW.

[Old Scout]

PS--don't know about early Alpines with 2-piston calipers but on newer Alpines with 4-piston calipers, a complete flush of the brake system requires removal of the wheels to reach the outside caliper bleed screws. You might get at the front axle screws but the back axle is physically impossible. Don't let a repair shop tell you they did a complete flush without having removed the wheels......

[wolfe10]

And, on the early/2 piston calipers, the caliper slides need to be cleaned and lubed with caliper slide grease when you change the brake fluid.

[Stretch]

Originally Posted by Old Scout

PS--don't know about early Alpines with 2-piston calipers but on newer Alpines with 4-piston calipers, a complete flush of the brake system requires removal of the wheels to reach the outside caliper bleed screws. You might get at the front axle screws but the back axle is physically impossible. Don't let a repair shop tell you they did a complete flush without having removed the wheels......

Ignoring the brake issue, our early 2000 had a couple of small problems. One was the dash. 1999 had a somewhat ugly Naugahyde cover. The other was the driver side slide out. If the drivers seat was all the Back while moving the slide in they would interfere with each other.

[ChunkyBeast]

Originally Posted by MFortie

I have firsthand experience with the brake issue.

Our coach is a 2000 36' mid-door and we have had to repair our brakes twice.

First time was about 7 - 8 years ago and then we had a second occurrence about a year later.

Here's a thread with some more info:
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f104/brakes-again-76922.html

We think the first shop did not replace the calipers with the new versions; I recall the second mechanic telling me he installed a new version on the next go-around.

We change the brake fluid now on an annual (roughly) basis and have not had a re-occurrence. We've had our coach now for thirteen years and have been very happy with it (disregarding the brake issues)...

Hello and thanks for the info, just wondering if you still have the same coach and if you experienced any other trouble, like with the air suspension?

[ChunkyBeast]

Thank you everyone else for the additional information. Was wondering if any of you guys still own the same coach now or did you upgrade to something else.

My wife and I are on a very modest budget so we are being extra careful as this will probably be our last coach and have to last us a while

Thanks.

[BernieS]

2002 36' FDDS Purchased new 1/30/02

175K+ miles, will add another 10k this year.


Bernie
Pearland, Tx

[Jeff and Cheryl]

Bought mine with 40K miles on it. Have had it since 2005 and now have 132K on it. Air Ride suspension is great, and have had no problems. Alpine's have longer wheel base than coaches of the same time period and length as well as a better front/back weight distribution. These also make for better ride/handling. As others have mentioned, changing the brake fluid on a regular basis and having the pin slides lubed every 3 years or so will address any likelihood of the brakes hanging up. BTW, how do you plan on using the coach? Travel for several months of the year or mostly parked in one spot?

[ChunkyBeast]

Originally Posted by Jeff and Cheryl

Bought mine with 40K miles on it. Have had it since 2005 and now have 132K on it. Air Ride suspension is great, and have had no problems. Alpine's have longer wheel base than coaches of the same time period and length as well as a better front/back weight distribution. These also make for better ride/handling. As others have mentioned, changing the brake fluid on a regular basis and having the pin slides lubed every 3 years or so will address any likelihood of the brakes hanging up. BTW, how do you plan on using the coach? Travel for several months of the year or mostly parked in one spot?

Thanks for all the great info. My wife and I both still work so will not be using it full time. It will be used primarily for weekend trips from April to Oct. as our winters in Colorado can be long.