Need help buying a 37/38’ tag for boondocking

[coloradomtn]

Hi,

Firstly, a huge thank you to everyone who contributes to this site. We’ve learned so much from everyone’s posts. We’re long-time lurkers and getting ready to purchase our first class A.

We will be part-timing and carrying two motorcycles (approx 750lbs combined) using a Hydralift and will be towing a Jeep Wrangler 2 door so we believe we need a tag axle to accommodate the extra weight. We’d like to split our time between boondocking, National Parks and the occasional RV park (dumping/washing clothes etc) so would prefer to be as short as possible.

From reading this site, we’ve learned that a lot of people recommend the older class A’s so we’d like to go this route. We think this narrows down our choices to early 2000 pre-DEF models like the Monaco Dynasty 38’, Country Coach Allure or Intrigue 37’, and the ForeTravel U320 38’.

There is a 2007 Country Coach Allure 470 Sunset Bay advertised on RVT.com. On paper, this RV meets our needs e.g., the right size, rear axle, aqua hot, HWH leveling, solar etc but we have some questions that we’d love your help answering.

• Would this coach work well for boondocking?
• Is there anything we should be aware of with regards to this specific model?
• Are there any downsides to a tag (apart from the cost for the extra tires and lost storage) for our usage?
• How much ground clearance is normal? Could we expect the HWH leveling system to raise the coach an additional 5-6” if needed on gravel roads/BLM lands etc?
• What questions should we be asking the owner apart from things like service history, garaged, how it was used, number of owners etc?
• What percentage of nada are people paying for used coaches?

Thanks so much for your help!

[awol50]

As long as you know the road you are going down can handle your rig, well ok.
It takes an awful alot of skill to get these land yaht turned around or backed out if you are wrong.

[2 Stroker]

Originally Posted by coloradomtn

Hi,

Firstly, a huge thank you to everyone who contributes to this site. We’ve learned so much from everyone’s posts. We’re long-time lurkers and getting ready to purchase our first class A.

We will be part-timing and carrying two motorcycles (approx 750lbs combined) using a Hydralift and will be towing a Jeep Wrangler 2 door so we believe we need a tag axle to accommodate the extra weight. We’d like to split our time between boondocking, National Parks and the occasional RV park (dumping/washing clothes etc) so would prefer to be as short as possible.

From reading this site, we’ve learned that a lot of people recommend the older class A’s so we’d like to go this route. We think this narrows down our choices to early 2000 pre-DEF models like the Monaco Dynasty 38’, Country Coach Allure or Intrigue 37’, and the ForeTravel U320 38’.

There is a 2007 Country Coach Allure 470 Sunset Bay advertised on RVT.com. On paper, this RV meets our needs e.g., the right size, rear axle, aqua hot, HWH leveling, solar etc but we have some questions that we’d love your help answering.

• Would this coach work well for boondocking?
• Is there anything we should be aware of with regards to this specific model?
• Are there any downsides to a tag (apart from the cost for the extra tires and lost storage) for our usage?
• How much ground clearance is normal? Could we expect the HWH leveling system to raise the coach an additional 5-6” if needed on gravel roads/BLM lands etc?
• What questions should we be asking the owner apart from things like service history, garaged, how it was used, number of owners etc?
• What percentage of nada are people paying for used coaches?

Thanks so much for your help!

Looks like a good pick boondocking, plus you can't go wrong with a Country Coach.
A tag will give you a great ride in a shorter coach.
To raise the coach an added 5" to 6" is not a good idea because of the short drive line, big problems. They are made to run at ride height.
You will need to see if it has had the wet PTO installed.
Need to see if the radiator has been replaced with a steel and copper.
Here is an 06 with the wet PTO and new radiator.
Kenai Coach 2006 Country Coach Allure 470 37 Sunset Bay
Here is one more
http://www.premierrvservices.com/200...ach-allure-37/
Being a C-9 Cat the oil needs to be change max 5000mi and fuel filters 10k because of the HEUI pump and only use Cat filters.
The Norcold needs to be changed to a RR frig because of the problems with fires.
2 stroker

[guardrail53]

I think the one you listed would be the best choice, as it already has the solar, (600W), and the GC batteries!
And it has 3 A/C's!
Good pick, looks like a very well maintained coach!
I don't know about the ride height changing, but if you have to raise it for a short distance, as long as you go slow, you should be ok!
I would contact the owner and ask away! Good luck, Rail!

[coloradomtn]

Originally Posted by awol50

As long as you know the road you are going down can handle your rig, well ok.
It takes an awful alot of skill to get these land yaht turned around or backed out if you are wrong.

Totally agree. We're going to unhook the Jeep and scout out all gravel roads before we consider driving the coach on them. We have a 40' long truck & travel trailer now so we have a general idea of the type of trouble we could get into if we're not careful. Obviously a 37' class a is a totally different beast so we'll take baby steps.

[coloradomtn]

Originally Posted by 2 Stroker

To raise the coach an added 5" to 6" is not a good idea because of the short drive line, big problems. They are made to run at ride height.
You will need to see if it has had the wet PTO installed.
Need to see if the radiator has been replaced with a steel and copper.
Here is an 06 with the wet PTO and new radiator.
Kenai Coach 2006 Country Coach Allure 470 37 Sunset Bay
Here is one more
2008 Country Coach Allure 37′ | Premier RV
Being a C-9 Cat the oil needs to be change max 5000mi and fuel filters 10k because of the HEUI pump and only use Cat filters.
The Norcold needs to be changed to a RR frig because of the problems with fires.
2 stroker

We only plan to raise the coach for short distances when going 5-10 miles p/hour when needed. The other concern the hubby has is lack of articulation between the two rear axles causing the drive wheel to stay up in the air over a pothole (assuming the rear drive axle has an open diff).

Thanks for the heads up on the PTO, radiator, and fridge! This is very helpful and exactly the type of info we were hoping for. We'll be sure to ask these questions.

Do you know if the engine is a Cat or Cummins? The ad says Cummins and so do the other two listings you provided. Thanks also for the listings! We saw the coach at Kenai but not at Premier. The coach at Premier is a 2008 and has the upgraded disc brakes (versus drum) and the 315 tires. How valuable are these two items?

[Mr_D]

A CC is very well built and will serve you well. Raising the rig for short distances can be done but need to keep it to 5 mph or so. Just not recommended for very long. Breaking a driveline or ruining a transmission oil seal will ruin your day.

[coloradomtn]

Originally Posted by guardrail53

Good pick, looks like a very well maintained coach!

Thanks for confirming the coach looks good for boondocking! We thoughts so too but are new to all of the extra goodies a class a offers over our current travel trailer.

Originally Posted by guardrail53

I don't know about the ride height changing, but if you have to raise it for a short distance, as long as you go slow, you should be ok!

Honestly, our biggest fear is spending all this money on a coach only to find out that we can't get into our favorite spots due to size and clearance issues. My hubby is bringing his dirt bike and wants to be able to camp close to trailheads on BML lands in CO, AZ, and UT, etc. Often coaches are photographed with their airbags deflated so it's hard to imagine how much clearance the coaches will have with their airbags fully extended. We've also heard good things about the HWH system providing additional assistance. We don't expect to be bombing down these gravel roads. We'll be creeping down the road with a spotter walking beside the coach checking clearance.

[coloradomtn]

Any comments on the pricing guide contained in this link.

Based on the guide's recommendations we should not pay more than ~$130k (fair market value) and potentially could pay less. Does that sound realistic or not?

We'd hate to submit a low ball offer but we also don't want to overpay.

Any pricing advise is much appreciated.

[2 Stroker]

Originally Posted by coloradomtn

We only plan to raise the coach for short distances when going 5-10 miles p/hour when needed. The other concern the hubby has is lack of articulation between the two rear axles causing the drive wheel to stay up in the air over a pothole (assuming the rear drive axle has an open diff).

Thanks for the heads up on the PTO, radiator, and fridge! This is very helpful and exactly the type of info we were hoping for. We'll be sure to ask these questions.

Do you know if the engine is a Cat or Cummins? The ad says Cummins and so do the other two listings you provided. Thanks also for the listings! We saw the coach at Kenai but not at Premier. The coach at Premier is a 2008 and has the upgraded disc brakes (versus drum) and the 315 tires. How valuable are these two items?

Ok, the one you are looking at has a Cummins, just to play it safe, in the Cummins section you can check the motor S/N for bad wrist pins on motors 05 to 06. With the miles on it it should be good but you should check. It's an 07 maybe with an 06 motor.
Disc brakes can be a little more work, bleeding the system every 2 years or so but I think they have better stopping ability.
3 to 5 mph max you should be good, but that would be places I would never go[emoji27]
2 stroker