Is a Western RV Alpine a Quality Coach?
The first RV that we looked at, which fits our criteria, is a 2004 Western RV Alpine, 38DTS, with 101K on the 400 hp/1200 TQ Cummins ISL. We're not real familiar with Western RV and solicit your opin...
Forum Discussion
Alpines were on our short list. As we were willing to have the side entry vs front - so as to enhance the passenger seats view while traveling. And as mentioned, the chassis really were known for their handling.
No coach is perfect, but I found many more positives from Alpine owners then negatives. And, we personally liked the looks of the paint schemes and interior designs.
The bracket kit on those that needed it, were not a big deal. And, I'll point out that my 04 CC Allure, also had a retrofit bracket like kit fro the IFS, to help stiffen it.
Wolfe 10 was caught one day with many cans of yellow paint, sneaking up under his coach around 3:00AM. And rumor has it, that he added a self looping sound system in there rear, of a CAT C12 engine. (Now, it's very possible that Cat Man is getting a bad wrap on this... He has always been willing to acknowledge the Cummins could make a good engine too:)!).
Due to a large galley, we ended up buying our Country Coach Allure 40'. It is bigger then most 45' coaches. I liked the Tag, we have over 11K of CCC, which also brought us up closer to around 37K weight when traveling. The CAPS era ISL370, updated by Cummins to ISL400, also has the two speed Jake Compression. I would like a more advantages power to weight ratio then we have, but it is what it is. And handling of our CC was to say the least less then BMW like when we bought it:)! National was really pushing CC on the 'softer compliant floating ride', so much so, that in the 2004 model Allure (I think Intrigue too.), they used a front Koni Adjustable SP1 shock, that just could not tame the front IFS. (And, Koni highly recommended to CC and National, that this shock was not up to the job. (Which I was also told, that CC engineers agreed with Koni on.) So, as I feel that good handling is a distinct safety advantage, we've spent money to add: Road Kings on all 6 shocks. We added Super Steer Motion Control Valves. I set the tires for a bit higher PSI then the four corner weight indicated, and went with a stiffer less flexing sidewall tires all around. (Michelin XZE*, with the "*" meaning a bit beefier sidewall to handle curb scrubbing.). These upgrades resulted a firm, but much improved and faster 'setting' coach then what we drove out of the dealer from when we bought it 5-6 years ago. So stiff, that I just had the MCU's removed, and added the Source Engineering Comfort Control Valves. This has helped reduce the jolts and stiffness over expansion joints, bumps, and small pot holes. And, due to pot hole damage to two tires, and the Michelin tire shortage, our steers now have much less stiff sidewalls via BG Goodrich ST230's. All these mod's, to try and get a compromise between comfort and handling, with handling winning out over comfort. That begin said, a 38' Alpine, I believe it was a 2005 year - but memory is fuzzy on this - handled better then our heavier coach.
Long way for me to say, I like the Alpines, and feel they're a solid coach and good bang for the buck!!!
Best of luck,
Smitty
(2004 Allure, 40' Tag, ISL370(400))
No coach is perfect, but I found many more positives from Alpine owners then negatives. And, we personally liked the looks of the paint schemes and interior designs.
The bracket kit on those that needed it, were not a big deal. And, I'll point out that my 04 CC Allure, also had a retrofit bracket like kit fro the IFS, to help stiffen it.
Wolfe 10 was caught one day with many cans of yellow paint, sneaking up under his coach around 3:00AM. And rumor has it, that he added a self looping sound system in there rear, of a CAT C12 engine. (Now, it's very possible that Cat Man is getting a bad wrap on this... He has always been willing to acknowledge the Cummins could make a good engine too:)!).
Due to a large galley, we ended up buying our Country Coach Allure 40'. It is bigger then most 45' coaches. I liked the Tag, we have over 11K of CCC, which also brought us up closer to around 37K weight when traveling. The CAPS era ISL370, updated by Cummins to ISL400, also has the two speed Jake Compression. I would like a more advantages power to weight ratio then we have, but it is what it is. And handling of our CC was to say the least less then BMW like when we bought it:)! National was really pushing CC on the 'softer compliant floating ride', so much so, that in the 2004 model Allure (I think Intrigue too.), they used a front Koni Adjustable SP1 shock, that just could not tame the front IFS. (And, Koni highly recommended to CC and National, that this shock was not up to the job. (Which I was also told, that CC engineers agreed with Koni on.) So, as I feel that good handling is a distinct safety advantage, we've spent money to add: Road Kings on all 6 shocks. We added Super Steer Motion Control Valves. I set the tires for a bit higher PSI then the four corner weight indicated, and went with a stiffer less flexing sidewall tires all around. (Michelin XZE*, with the "*" meaning a bit beefier sidewall to handle curb scrubbing.). These upgrades resulted a firm, but much improved and faster 'setting' coach then what we drove out of the dealer from when we bought it 5-6 years ago. So stiff, that I just had the MCU's removed, and added the Source Engineering Comfort Control Valves. This has helped reduce the jolts and stiffness over expansion joints, bumps, and small pot holes. And, due to pot hole damage to two tires, and the Michelin tire shortage, our steers now have much less stiff sidewalls via BG Goodrich ST230's. All these mod's, to try and get a compromise between comfort and handling, with handling winning out over comfort. That begin said, a 38' Alpine, I believe it was a 2005 year - but memory is fuzzy on this - handled better then our heavier coach.
Long way for me to say, I like the Alpines, and feel they're a solid coach and good bang for the buck!!!
Best of luck,
Smitty
(2004 Allure, 40' Tag, ISL370(400))
