Community Forums

Joe Lenberg · 07-17-2009, 12:34 PM

Sometime back, I saw a thread where someone was trying to determine how many Alpine Coaches were sold by using the Vin numbers. I own the last Alpine Coach manufactured by WRV which I purchased from Wells Fargo Bank just before the auction. The identification tag on my coach had to be hand written by Burke Morgan who was acting on behalf of the bank.

The last 5 digits on my coach are 75818.

Joe Lenberg & Jean Gunderson
2009 36' Alpine (Premature baby)

Don & Ruth · 07-17-2009, 05:52 PM

We must have a premature baby also (#75812) only our 09 had been sitting on the lot at Guaranty Family RV Center, Coburg, OR since May 2008. It was built in Feb. 2008 and we bought it on May 20th of this year. It's a 36' FDTS and we are extremely happy with it. Because it had been sitting unused for so long there were plenty of things to fix. We spent a week in Guaranty's repair shop and they fixed our entire list at no charge to us. I beleive Guaranty bought up a block of Alpine Coaches in 2008 and still had at least four when we bought ours.
Unfortunately our coach came without a owners manual and we have printed out a 2006 provided by the Alpine Coach Association website but if anyone can suggest where we might find a more current one we would appreciate hearing about it.

Don and Ruth Johnson
2009 36' FDTS Alpine Coach

Cinequip · 07-20-2009, 01:09 PM

Now I know we have 9 from the end. Original owner took factory delivery in Feb '08. We bought it in May '09 with only 1800 miles. I'm pretty sure we test drove the 36TS at guaranty.

Larry B. · 07-20-2009, 01:58 PM

Looks like I'm number 12 from the end #75806.

Joe Lenberg · 07-20-2009, 02:32 PM

This is a warning to any of you who purchased a 2009 and/or any coach built in 2008. We just had a universal joint failure. Since we were not sure what the problem was (there was a vibration when the engine was under load), I took the coach to Cummins. They found that the universal joints were never lubricated at the factory and they were burned up. $500.00.

Jamie Jamison who also has a 2009 built in Feb. 08 had the same problem.

Check your universal joints. Ours failed at 5,500 miles, Jaimie's at about 7,000 miles.

Cinequip · 07-22-2009, 05:17 PM

Right after I read the U-joint failure post, I ran down to NAPA to buy a grease gun and a tube of Lucas #2 Red and Tacky. I crawled under the coach and pumped 1/3 tube into the FIVE zerks on both U-joints. In all cases, nasty black grease was forced out.

My haste was due to pulling the Hill up to Zion NP last Sunday, I noticed some vibration. We had about 3800 miles on the clock that day. Today I pulled the steep switchback hill out of Zion through the tunnel, and had no problem. I have had vibration problems with the G670 tires, so I'm a little jumpy when vibrations occur.

Dale777 · 07-22-2009, 07:47 PM

Last Alpine,

See these links for others with the U-Joint problem:
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f104/bad-...ngs-14077.html
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f104/u-jo...6-a-22146.html

NorCal Hal · 07-27-2009, 12:54 PM

There has been a lot of concern about the U-joints failing and particularly on the 2006 model year. Several have failed at the 10-12,000 mile range.

fyi - My WRV owners manual says "Inspect and lube the drive shaft every 16,000 miles". I lube the joints every 10,000 miles and haven't had a problem in 39,000 miles.

I like nice round service interval numbers that I can remember. If you follow WRV's recommendations you would have 7-9 different service intervals.

Our Jeep Liberty Diesels oil change interval is 12,500 miles (with synthetic oil), I use 12,000. My truck says 7,500 miles I use 5,000 because it does some towing. KISS

Harold