Do I want an Alpine???

[Crasher]

We sold our 43' Allegro Bus last summer thinking we no longer needed it as we were mostly using it to travel between homes. After 25 years of traveling in a motorhome, I find it unpleasant to use motels and restraints'. Thinking of buying a smaller coach to travel between homes towing our 6300# Avalanche and occasionally a 300 miles side trip towing an 8,000# open trailer loaded with our off-road Jeep. I just saw a 2007 one owner 34' Alpine with 55,000 miles on it. What are the known issues with this year/model coach? I'm not crazy about the hydraulic brakes, but they seem to work. Are they like other shorter motorhomes in the wind, or does the IFS eliminate some of the effect? I like the idea of the performance of an ISL 400 hp in a lighter coach. What can one expect driving 65 mph with and without a toad? Our Bus averaged close to 7 mpg with a 48,000# combined weight. Any other comments are welcomed. Thank you.

[Alpine36]

Well, the 34’ WRV Peak chassis has shortest wheelbase of all Alpines at 217”.
The 36’ WRV Peak chassis has a 252” wheelbase.
I’ve heard the 36’ handles considerably better overall, but I’ve never driven a 34’ to confirm that. I don’t believe WRV ever offered an IFS option that I am aware of. I do know our 36’ handles fantastic. Yes, the juice brakes take a bit to get used to, but performed better than expected during a recent panic stop. WRV paid close attention to proper weight balance in all their coaches, I believe the 34’ is no exception.

[Crasher]

The ad claims IFS, but as you said, I can't find any specs that verify it.

[Bill USN-1]

I think i did you a favor and bought it Friday.
There are some things i need to address, but when done, should be a good MH.
The 400HP ISL cummins ran good and pulls pretty well compared to my 40ft Monaco with the 8.3 330hp cummins.
I drove all the way up 5 from socal to North Wa.
The slowest it got on in the mountains was 60mph with the cruise set on 70.
It pulled right at 7mpg thru the hills.

I initially made it 30 miles before smelling hot brakes, followed by brake pedal going to the floor in traffic on 15.
drivers rear wheel was smoking hot.
Took the son and I about 3hrs to run around to pick up tools and supplies to completely bleed the brake system and make sure all was well.
Fortunately the leveling jacks in the rear were tall enough to lift the rear wheels off the ground so we could run the engine and shift thru fwd and reverse to make sure all was fixed.
To make things more hairy, the front shocks are blown and the nose would dive every time you hit the brakes.

We'll see how it progresses once i find and fix all the issues.
Oh, and the ad said all servicing was complete....nope.
3qts low on oil and air filter dirty.
Good luck on your search, beware of sellers.
This one was supposed to be an individual but turns out he has an RV business and was selling it for the owner.

[Crasher]

Originally Posted by Bill USN-1

I think i did you a favor and bought it Friday.
There are some things i need to address, but when done, should be a good MH.
The 400HP ISL cummins ran good and pulls pretty well compared to my 40ft Monaco with the 8.3 330hp cummins.
I drove all the way up 5 from socal to North Wa.
The slowest it got on in the mountains was 60mph with the cruise set on 70.
It pulled right at 7mpg thru the hills.

I initially made it 30 miles before smelling hot brakes, followed by brake pedal going to the floor in traffic on 15.
drivers rear wheel was smoking hot.
Took the son and I about 3hrs to run around to pick up tools and supplies to completely bleed the brake system and make sure all was well.
Fortunately the leveling jacks in the rear were tall enough to lift the rear wheels off the ground so we could run the engine and shift thru fwd and reverse to make sure all was fixed.
To make things more hairy, the front shocks are blown and the nose would dive every time you hit the brakes.

We'll see how it progresses once i find and fix all the issues.
Oh, and the ad said all servicing was complete....nope.
3qts low on oil and air filter dirty.
Good luck on your search, beware of sellers.
This one was supposed to be an individual but turns out he has an RV business and was selling it for the owner.

Thank you for the info. It's a shame that some sellers lie about condition and then ask a price above it's actual value. Buying another coach was a fleeting thought. However, I spoke with a friend who has one like it and decided it wasn't for me. I was also surprised you did not get better mileage. I averaged close to 7 (65 mph) with my 43' bus towing a 6300# Avalanche. Good luck with your purchase.

[Bill USN-1]

Originally Posted by Crasher

Thank you for the info. It's a shame that some sellers lie about condition and then ask a price above it's actual value. Buying another coach was a fleeting thought. However, I spoke with a friend who has one like it and decided it wasn't for me. I was also surprised you did not get better mileage. I averaged close to 7 (65 mph) with my 43' bus towing a 6300# Avalanche. Good luck with your purchase.

7mpg seems to be pretty common with the ISl.
That was the first tank through the mountains. We were cruising at speed limit +5-10 trying to make it home.
The second tank mostly flat land through oregon and Wa, we have over 500miles on it and are only at about 1/2 tank.
So at even 60gals would be 8-9mpg.
I think a programmer is in my future!

[Jason911]

Originally Posted by Bill USN-1

7mpg seems to be pretty common with the ISl.
That was the first tank through the mountains. We were cruising at speed limit +5-10 trying to make it home.
The second tank mostly flat land through oregon and Wa, we have over 500miles on it and are only at about 1/2 tank.
So at even 60gals would be 8-9mpg.
I think a programmer is in my future!

I was thinking also of getting a programmer, let us know what you get. I was considering this one…. 8.3L and 9.0L Cummins engines with a CAPS Fuel System – Performance Module

https://www.ultrarvproducts.com/ISC-...mance-Kit-URVP

https://www.agdieselsolutions.com/product/caps8390/

[Bill USN-1]

Originally Posted by Jason911

I was thinking also of getting a programmer, let us know what you get. I was considering this one…. 8.3L and 9.0L Cummins engines with a CAPS Fuel System – Performance Module

https://www.ultrarvproducts.com/ISC-...mance-Kit-URVP

https://www.agdieselsolutions.com/product/caps8390/

Do your research.
I have a 99 Monaco with 8.3 caps and used the TS MP-8.
I found out that my 99 had the fuel temp/pressure sensor was the early combo sensor.
To use the tuner it had to have the upgraded dual sensor setup so it could T into just the temp sensor.
Cummins offered the change as a factory upgrade, you can find online.
Once all done I plugged it in and took for a drive.
No difference in power and started getting an engine error light that turned into a fault with a depower mode.
I ended up changing the Caps pump and replacing the low pressure pump with a FASS pump and filter assy.
Once done, I tried the MP-8 again, no change in performance.
By this time the warranty had expired.

[andy29847]

I strongly believe that adding a fuel pump/filter system is one of the best things you can do for your coach.

https://www.irv2.com/forums/f104/fas...ne-484540.html

[Crasher]

It seems there were two Alpines for sale in CA. I just received an email from the one I inquired about that he just took a deposit over the weekend. Will let me know if the financing falls through. That might explain the difference in stated condition between the one Bill purchased and the one I was looking at.

[Bill USN-1]

Originally Posted by Crasher

It seems there were two Alpines for sale in CA. I just received an email from the one I inquired about that he just took a deposit over the weekend. Will let me know if the financing falls through. That might explain the difference in stated condition between the one Bill purchased and the one I was looking at.

I had only seen 2, the 34' in temecula and a 36' in oregon, but the 36' was crazy at $149K.
But i limited my search to 400hp min and 36' max.
I wanted the shortest with the largest engine for towing.

[Crasher]

Originally Posted by Bill USN-1

I had only seen 2, the 34' in temecula and a 36' in oregon, but the 36' was crazy at $149K.
But i limited my search to 400hp min and 36' max.
I wanted the shortest with the largest engine for towing.

That's odd. The guy that responded is from Temecula. His name is Aaron Kinard and claims he just took a deposit for it. He even left a phone number. Someone is playing games.

[Bill USN-1]

Originally Posted by Crasher

That's odd. The guy that responded is from Temecula. His name is Aaron Kinard and claims he just took a deposit for it. He even left a phone number. Someone is playing games.

That's him.
You have no idea the games he played!!
Stay clear.

[Crasher]

Originally Posted by Bill USN-1

That's him.
You have no idea the games he played!!
Stay clear.

No worries here. I wasn't all that interested in getting back into the RV life. Just like to look.