Community Forums

msu1966 · 03-04-2020, 09:02 PM

I am looking for a Country Coach 2002 - 2004 vintage. Most of them have the Cummins ISL 400. I found a 2004 Magna with the Cat15/515 engine with 80,000 miles (one owner)but I don't know anything about them.

What are the pluses and are there any issues with maintenance, performance, repairs, etc. that I should be aware of?

Thanks in advance,
Ken

2 Stroker · 03-04-2020, 09:38 PM

Ken
This may help some. They do like fuel 5.5 to 6.0mpg but they have lots of power.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0J_PII_Fi0

2 stroker

guardrail53 · 03-04-2020, 10:50 PM

2004 With a 2003 C-15 Cat single turbo is about as Bullitt proof motor out there! A real life 1,000,000+ mile motor, proven in many semi's still out there racking up the miles! Yes, they are thirsty, but they run and pull good!
If you are going to be pulling a heavy trailer, that Cat won't break a sweat!
Make sure the cooling system is up to snuff, and get a computer readout, to see if it ever had any overheating issues, and what service it has had! Cheap insurance! Good luck! Rail!

Smitty77 · 03-05-2020, 08:57 AM

Concur a workhorse of an engine, and much simpler smog 'stuff' on it. Also agree for pulling a trailer or say 1 ton crew cab 8' bed truck - the C-15 is not going to blink. One owner said he was able to get 7MPG + rather consistently, by keeping his foot out of it. And he also said he loafs along on the highway at the optimum RPM for MPG too... Me? I'd want to see the Life of Engine MPG reading

! As I suspect 6 to 6.5MPG would be 'good' MPG with that engine.

04 Magna's are well built. The only knock I have to that package with the C-15, is the fuel tank at 110G, is not going to give you a large range of travel between fill up's. And, forget where it was in the model range year, but they shifted the front slide to a 'flat floor' sort of drop down. I was told, so second hand info, that these could be problematic. (But if the coach your looking at has the flat floor, do your own research. Call Eric Oldstrum in AZ, or Jim Cooley at Premier - as two sources to ask questions about the flat drop down slide floor.). If it's the coach in Chandler, it is priced very conservatively... Sure, the add reads well and all is supposed to work. But that price point, IMO, is more of a yellow flag to do deep due diligence... And if all checks out, smile all the way home at that price point!!

Good luck to you,
Smitty

vito.a · 03-05-2020, 02:25 PM

The early Cat C15 is one of the best on road diesel engines made. My brother had several in class 8 trucks that all went well past 1 million miles. The off idle torque is incredible.
In a motor home, it will vibrate a little more than an ISX, especially when cold.
When servicing, it will take approx 41 quarts of oil. You should be able to check the lifetime MPG on the coach trip computer.

Damon Rapozos web site has an excellent summary of yearly changes on Country Coach models.
https://damonrapozo.com/model-history

1doodadd · 03-05-2020, 08:42 PM

If available can you post the engine serial number. I personally drove an 06 Cat C15 for several years and put close to 300,000 TROUBLE FREE MILES on it until I retired. It was in my KW low bed tractor, T800, most of my loads were 130,000 lbs. It was the twin turbo model but still the same hp platform. If you are able to provide the engine serial number or check it and it is the 6NG platform DONT LET THAT RIG GET AWAY.

Will wait for a reply

msu1966 · 03-06-2020, 09:05 AM

A big Thank you to all who offered their advice. As part of my due diligence I asked the owner if it was the single or dual turbo. Unfortunately his reply was "Sorry my CC is now sold".

Since I am in Michigan, I just couldn't respond quick enough to make a deal.

All the Best,
Ken