Community Forums

Herbie801 · 10-01-2010, 04:32 PM

There was a period of time when Country Coach had merged with National RV. During those years, I believe the National Islander was actually made in Oregon by Country Coach. Questions are...

1. Does anyone know what model years National and Country Coach were together?

2. Can anyone confirm that the National Islander was in fact made by Country Coach?

3. Does anyone know the years or VIN sequence that would include.

I am looking for a good used Country Coach, and thought maybe I could save a few bucks if I found a National Islander that was made by CC. But I am not sure of the years. I remember the merger, but don't remember when.

RV Wizard · 10-02-2010, 02:49 AM

I do not know all the specifics but do know that Some Islanders were on the Dynamax chassis. I think that National RV bought the chassis from CC. I do not believe that CC built the entire coach. Other than National RV buying the chassis, I do not believe they were in any way merged.

deandec · 10-02-2010, 01:54 PM

I think RV Wizard has the info correct.

But some sellers of National rigs have tried to label their coach a "built by Country Coach" unit.

When we were looking, the National Islander was very appealing. I think most National owners had good experience with the rigs.

It is said that one major reason National failed financially was that they tried to honor warranty on sidewall delamination before collecting money from the fiberglass manufacturer.

So, check for delamination when inspecting a National coach.

B Bob · 10-02-2010, 10:02 PM

CC was sold to National in So California in early 2000's, about 2003. I don't know the reason. Maybe the Lee family wanted to cash out. National was a long time maker of motor homes. We have a number of National built motor homes in our little RV Club. Maybe 6-7. One is an Islander. They just got back from 10,000 mile trip to Alaska and had nearly zero problems with their motor home. We also have a couple of Dolphins in our RV club also made by National. The owners say good things about them. A 1996 Dolphin gasser made the 10,000 mile trip to Alaska with the Islander. Also no problems.

I looked at Islanders when they were sold new. Very nice motor homes. That said Country Coach had / has a great reputation for attention to detail. I see that in my coach. If you are looking at an Islander check the electrical compartment in the basement. Are all the fuses easy to see and do they have an indicator light to say if they are operational? You get that with a CC. Does the Islander come with full documentation with drawings, schematics, and so on that you WILL need at some point? You will get that with CC.

But if you budget says National seems like the Islander is a good coach. I think the Country Coach chassis were shipped to the National factory in Perris CA and then National put the coach on top.

Herbie801 · 10-03-2010, 08:24 AM

Thank you for the responses. I guess it makes more sense that National would build the coach on the Dynomax chassis rather than have Country Coach build the coach with a National name.

I think perhaps my information was misunderstood by me, from some salesman trying to tell me that the Islander was the same as a Country Coach. You can tell when an RV sales man is lying, but watching their lips. If they are talking, they are probably not being 100% honest.

I was hoping to take advantage of a little-known fact, but as always, it looks like there is still no such thing as a free lunch.

Thanks again....

Smitty77 · 10-04-2010, 06:11 PM

The Islander was one that I looked into. Most owners I talked with or emailed with, were pleased with the full package. If I remember correctly, their was two model years where the Islander was produced. I think the first year suspension was a bit lower then the second years, as that was one caution that I was given. Not asure if this can be corrected, but good to be aware of it.

One thing I noticed when I first started looking hard at coaches, was that the Islander owners were asking I felt too large of a premium for their coaches. That is in comparison to say the same year Country Coaches. I have not looked for over 2 years now, so this may not be the case now.

I respected the way National tried to do the right thing on the delamination. I like the Dolphin, Tropical lines. I've heard much larger postive input on National's then negative.

Best of luck,
Smitty

Retiredblade · 11-09-2010, 02:44 PM

Hello folks, I'm a novice on the forum, I find it very interesting. I will be purchasing a 2001 Islander in two days, I hope I won't have any negative reports to make on it.

B Bob · 11-10-2010, 12:42 AM

Retiredblade - We have lots of National RVs in our small local RV club. Makes sense since most members are an hour from national's old manufacturing plant. We have one Islander coach in our members. Just got back from 10,000 mile trip to Alaska a few months ago. No problems. They were accompanied by a 1996 Dolphin with many many miles on it that also made the same trip with no problems. Our club is in S Cal. Don't know where you are located.

Retiredblade · 11-12-2010, 04:20 AM

Hi Bob and fellow Islander owners.
Unfortunately, I live in Pennsylvania, not able to fellowship with you all out there. I must say I am a bit overwelmed with my 2001 Islander, cannot find any info on the dash board controls, don't know what half of them do, I've only had this thing two days. On the way up from where I bought it, I noticed the fuel gage is pegged against the full mark and didn't move, so I guess it is broke, also the heater/ac/defroster controls don't work. guess I will have to check behind the dash and see if those fellows who put a new radio in while I was there pulled the wires off. I hate those red light gauges, hard to see at night.
I will be asking a lot of questions if you all will bear with me.

MMouser · 11-19-2010, 07:08 PM

COUNTRY COACH & Islander by National where for a period of time under the NATIONAL RV umbrella.
The manufacturing was handled by separate entities in separate locations.
The eventual demise of COUNTRY COACH can in part be blamed by the transfer of CC profits to shore up NATIONAL.
The only real CC engineering that went into Islander was CC profits.
I remember when the Islander was introduced one big dealer in Florida touted it as a direct desendant of CC almost forgetting intirely to mention National.
One of the biggest problems with the Islander was fit and finish. Look at the seams where the caps meet the roof. There are units with inches of misaligned filler.
I spent six months looking over the Islander to trade an Eagle for.

Now it is getting cold and wet in Coburg. Time to head South.