Future Service for Country Coach

[Pierat]

We are very interested in purchasing a used Country Coach when our house sells. We would like to know how current CC owners see the future in terms of service (and parts) for their coaches, if CC does not survive? (We hope it does, of course.)

We ask because we have seen various articles recently indicating that CC may not survive its present downturn and closure -- not the least being the reports of an eviction lawsuit and Bob Lee's advice to the laid-off workers to forget CC and go look for a job elsewhere. We know that we're asking for speculation in a sense, but we don't really know enough to think through what items eventually might require service from the coach manufacturer instead of their suppliers. Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide.

 

[Ron]

Might be a good time to delay changing rigs and wait till we see what happens.

 

[Pierat]

It would, except that we're selling the house to buy our first rig.... Maybe not a good time, but we're not getting any younger, either.

 

[Ron]

Have you looked at American Coach, Tiffin, or Newmar?  Probably best to buy a use rig I think.

 

[Jeff]

Ron:

I am not sure it makes much difference which manufacturer you look at, the latest rumors are that Andy Crain, son of Fleetwood's founder, says that the company is in such bad shape it will soon be no more or sold for next to nothing. The Portland Press also reported that Monaco hired a financial advisor to help with its problems. ??? ???

 

[Pierat]

Yes, I guess that leaves Tiffin or Newmar from that list. And, whatever brand, it will be used and several years old at least.... Thanks for the responses so far.

 

[Ned]

It's looking like only the privately owned manufacturers have any chance of survival

 

[Terry A. Brewer]

It's just not Country Coach... The whole Junction City, Coburg & Eugene area is in trouble.

Latest bad news Local RV builders are in trouble.

 

[Pierat]

Doesn't look good, especially if one were looking to buy new or used but still in warranty. But we're in the used market. Not sure how important it is to have the manufacturer around, if we find a good deal on an older, orphaned coach?

 

[Ron]

Doesn't look good, especially if one were looking to buy new or used but still in warranty. But we're in the used market. Not sure how important it is to have the manufacturer around, if we find a good deal on an older, orphaned coach?

Since you intend to buy a used MH I would consider getting one that the chassis is built by Spartan or Freightliner as services and parts are more likely to continue to be available.

 

[Richard 34A]

Ron:

I am not sure it makes much difference which manufacturer you look at, the latest rumors are that Andy Crain, son of Fleetwood's founder, says that the company is in such bad shape it will soon be no more or sold for next to nothing. The Portland Press also reported that Monaco hired a financial advisor to help with its problems. ??? ???

I believe I read a week or so ago that Fleetwood was delisted from the NYSE; the shares at that time were at .07!

 

[Tom]

I believe they closed Friday at $0.09. Here's the latest on their OTC listing. Ya think the CEO vision has changed?

 

[Jeff]

I an not sure that anyone can develop a business plan that deals with a loss of 70% + of sales for very long other than liquidation. ???

 

[John Canfield]

Fleetwood is highly leveraged - and that 'ain't' good 

Please add Winnebago Industries to your short list.  They have little debt and are financially healthy.  If you are looking for a high-end used rig, look at a 2004 Ultimate Freedom (or Advantage, but the Advantage doesn't have the ISL) - Spartan chassis, Cummins ISL with a side radiator, beautiful cabinetry, etc.  They are extremely popular among  owners so it might be difficult to find a used one.

 

[rhmahoney]

Country Coach repairs:
carrier & son's rv repair  541-461-1673  www.carrierandsons.com

Bob Lee (CC founder) has started a CC repair facility in the JC area.

 

[Ron]

That is good news for CC owners.

 

[Jeff]

Country Coach repairs:
carrier & son's rv repair   541-461-1673   www.carrierandsons.com

Bob Lee (CC founder) has started a CC repair facility in the JC area.

He is sort of competing with his own company at the moment isn't he?

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

CC is not really his own company, though. They are owned by a venture capital firm. They made Bob "Chairman Emeritus", but it is not an ownership or even a management position.

 

[DR]

We have an 08 Country Coach Prevost that is in for repairs at Buddy Gregg in Dallas. We had a call saying that for warranty work we would have to pay for any warranty work and try and collect from Country Coach. We are at least in a better position because our chassis is a Prevost bus so Prevost handles the major parts. We had a 08 Magna that had chassis problems that if we still owned the coach we would be in a world of hurt. I would stay clear of a coach that has its chassis made by the company. 

 

[Pierat]

Thank you for letting us know. I'm sorry to hear about your predicament and about CC.