Is a Western RV Alpine a Quality Coach?

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))

I sent an email to the seller with the pics. He's doing some other work to it so he can check this out too.

barmcd wrote:

wolfe10 wrote:
Mike is correct.

Newer models than ours did have a steering bracket upgrade kit: http://www.irv2.com/forums/f104/wrv-alpine-steering-bracket-upgrade-kit-58155.html

And, the brakes starting in the early 2000's are 4 piston (fixed, not floating caliper) hydraulic over hydraulic. Won't get into a debate over air vs hydraulic-- either done properly work well. Remember, a 747 weighing over a million pounds uses hydraulic brakes. I have had both, and hydraulic have more "car like" feel-- both stop very well.

And, Alpine ordered the Cummins ISL with the optional 2 stage engine compression/jake brake.

Thanks, I need to check that out on the coach. Does the old bracket fail somehow?

I eventually saw that. Are the kits still for sale on the off chance that this one made it to 100K without the kit?

The Engineer that designed the Western chassis was hired by Tiffin Motorhomes after Western went under, and the Tiffin Powerglide chassis is a much improved design on the Alpine chassis. BUT, the Powerglide does have Air Brakes. Doug

We went with my sister and her husband to visit three factories in Oregon and Washington in early 2003. We went to Monaco, Country Coach and Western Wilderness (Alpine Coach). From the first time I saw an Alpine Coach, it was the DP I had to have some day (out of budget at the time). The chassis were built like they were in a Nascar plant. As stated by another, they were Huck bolted, making them very strong. Once the frame was assembled, they were washed and coated.

When we did our tour, the chassis designer was present. He was basically building a "Hot Rod" motor home and was successful. Fast forward to late 2004, early 2005 and we were about ready to buy. We saw a couple of Alpines at shows and they had started to go down hill in terms of fit and finish. They had one at a show, that had a baseball size lump on the front cap. (Cool feature....the lower half of the front cap slid out for generator access and exposed the fuel fill). Many of the interior parts were falling off, yet they continued to show the coach.

I think the Alpine Coach was one of the best built and sexiest coaches on the road until the last year or so when Western Wilderness went under.

Ivylog wrote:
38' is close enough to 40'. :B
I've had luck finding complete Velvac chrome mirrors (including the arms) for less than $200 on Ebay. Just need to keep looking.

Yes it is! I'll check out E-bay if we end up with the coach.

J-Rooster wrote:
Very nice high end coaches that were made in Yakima Washington. They were billed as the finest steering RV on the market. Western RV used to have RV show and tell shows hosted by Alpine members at the RV Park in Toppenish, WA. across the street from the casino. I've been in many of these coaches and watched a lot of them being sold. You have a jewel hang on and take care of it!

Thanks, Sounds like a good coach, I hope we end up with it.

wolfe10 wrote:
Mike is correct.

Newer models than ours did have a steering bracket upgrade kit: http://www.irv2.com/forums/f104/wrv-alpine-steering-bracket-upgrade-kit-58155.html

And, the brakes starting in the early 2000's are 4 piston (fixed, not floating caliper) hydraulic over hydraulic. Won't get into a debate over air vs hydraulic-- either done properly work well. Remember, a 747 weighing over a million pounds uses hydraulic brakes. I have had both, and hydraulic have more "car like" feel-- both stop very well.

And, Alpine ordered the Cummins ISL with the optional 2 stage engine compression/jake brake.

Thanks, I need to check that out on the coach. Does the old bracket fail somehow?

barmcd wrote:

mike brez wrote:
I think some of them have a steering box mounting plate issue.

Do you have any more info on the issue?

See my second post for the upgrade kit-- very simple. Go to the link-- it even has pictures of the reinforcement.

mike brez wrote:
I think some of them have a steering box mounting plate issue. I believe they have hydraulic brakes and not air. Not sure if that's good or bad or makes any differance.

Do you have any more info on the issue?