Country Coach Step by Step Motorcoach Exterior Paint Application Process

Ever watch a Country Coach pull into a resort or campground? Undoubtedly you'll usually see heads turning to watch it. pass. It's those magnificent  sleek exteriors and beautiful paint. Country Coach Exteriors received the World's Finest Original Paint Application Process when they were originally built.

Though Country Coach, LLC is no more, there are thousands of well-loved Country Coach motorcoaches on the road still today. All of those Country Coach Exteriors received the World’s Finest Paint Process. Here is just a brief overview of what that entailed.

I’ve been marketing the company's sales/service/storage business at Premier RV Services in Junction City OR for a few days each week over this past couple years now. Love the people! Two of my favorites are  Julio Patino and Steve Gottschling. They were the Country Coach, LLC paint experts during the manufacturing days of that defunct company. They probably had a hand in the beautiful paint job (either literally or from a supervisor's standpoint) that your Country Coach received. After the Country Coach, LLC company closed its doors in bankruptcy in 2009, these two paint artisans chose to continue their highend motorhome paint application and paint care business at Premier RV Services, 325 East First Avenue in Junction City, Oregon.

At Premier you can get a minor touch up done, or a full coach exterior painted, and the job is handled by these paint experts, utilizing the same Sikkens Paint which was originally applied.

I recently revisited the original paint application each and every Country Coach received, and here are some highpoints of what I was reminded of:

1)       Every coach exterior coming off line and into the paint shop was thoroughly investigated for fiberglass flaws or defects. The team would cover the exterior with a blue dye. The dye was then sanded off, revealing any defects or slight elevation variations in the exterior. Only when the surface was free of these was the graphics layout process begun.

2)       Graphics for a particular motorcoach were laid out to guide the paint specialists. There was an individual template for each model and included specs for the graphics. (In addition there were certain models like the Prevost, Rhapsody, or Affinity which received completely custom paint and graphics which were laid out all by hand).

The team patted down the template with a punce pad filled with blue chalk. There were little pin holes along the design. After this they’d remove the template and reveal the little blue dots.  Magnas and Affinitys received a base coast of gold or silver (or whatever chosen color of a custom application) and then the taping began. A special vinyl tape was applied which was eventually removed, but gave the motorcoach its separation of colors and pin striping.

3)       The coach was then painted with world-recognized premier Sikkens brand paint, section by section, with masking adjusted as the process advanced to cover the already painted sections while other colors were being applied. Every coach received a minimum of three and up to five coats of paint per color. (Each color has a different coverage ability, thus the variation in number of coats applied.) Then the tape was all removed to show the pin striping.

4)       The application of four coats of clear coat followed.  The clear coat is baked at about 140 degrees ambient temperature. Next 1200 grit sandpaper sands the entire clear coated area. This “cutting” step takes off all the orange peel texture and other roughness that may have accumulated during the paint process. When the paint specialists finished the sanding process, the coach was buffed to produce a glossy finish…Something for which a Country Coach is well-known.

5)       The coach went through a series of inspections which included exterior inspection on the paint and finish work. After these quality control checks the coach moved on to the next manufacturing step on its way to its eventual home in some lucky Country Coach owner’s driveway!

When a Country Coach owner needs fiberglass or paint work done these days be sure to give Premier RV Services a call. You'll find that the same exacting care and attention is given to a small fender bender  fiberglass and paint repair as to a full exterior paint job as was given to the original paint application process!

 

I remain convinced the world’s finest motorcoach  on the road today is still the Country Coach motorcoach. And as the Country Coaches age, trusted qualified expert care and routine maintainenance is of utmost importance. There are several reputable highline service centers who are qualified to handle those projects on your Country Coach to (and other brands as well).

Premier RV Services is one of them. You may reach them at 325 East First Avenue (on 26 acres of the former Country Coach, LLC campus) in Junction City, OR, by email premierrvservices@gmail.com or by calling 541-998-2640. Vist them online at www.premierrvservices.com.  (A couple other service centers unrelated to Premier RV but also highly qualified are Oregon Motorcoach Center in Eugene, and Country Coach Corporation which also offers full service in some of the original Country Coach, LLC buildings).

Premier RV Services also has the nation's largest selection of Pre-Owned Country Coaches on display in the largest indoor showroom in the Pacific Northwest. If you'd like a different motorcoach and have your heart set on a Country Coach, Call Louie Courtemanche to learn more, 541-953-6729, or email countrycoachrv@gmail.com.

 

Highline RV Travel--The Next Chapter for Baby Boomers

Let's face it--we aren't getting any younger are we? You've worked hard, been contributors, influencers, and succeeded in your chosen careers. Now it's time to turn attention to well deserved play time. Throw the alarm clock out the window. Think about the next chapter.

Hmm...how to best enjoy these "golden years". Luxury motorcoaching is ideal for leisurely retirement travel around this great country.

"Every seven seconds or so, another baby boomer turns 50, according to the Alliance for Aging Research. Baby boomers — the 78 million Americans born between 1946 and 1964 — represent almost 30 percent of the U.S. population, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. From 2000 to 2010, the number of Americans 55 to 64 years old grew by 47 percent...

By conservative estimates, within the next couple of years (by 2015) all baby boomers will be over 50 and controlling more than: $7 trillion in personal wealth; 50 percent of all discretionary spending; and nearly 80 percent of all leisure travel " (source: SeniorLivingAbout.com). 

 More and more baby boomers are choosing the RV lifestyle.

There are 3 Fairly Obvious Reasons Highline Motorcoach Travel Makes Great Sense:

Comfort, Freedom, Convenience...Take to the road, decide when and where you stop, and you have your 5 Star hotel accommodations wherever you are.  Craving a hogie? Pull into a roadside park and put together a sandwich in your fully appointed galley and sit back and enjoy a leisurely lunch.  Want to enjoy the amenities and activities of a luxury resort like Desert Shores Motorcoach Resort in Indio CA...or perhaps you prefer boondocking in your favorite state park? This home on wheels is a great home base for wherever you choose to be.

This isn't your grandma's retirement plan...it's BETTER. Let the adventures begin!

Leisure Travel in a highend diesel motorcoach is the BEST way to enjoy the well-earned golden years. You've worked hard, now you deserve to play hard....in the luxury of a pre-owned Country Coach or other brand highline diesel motorcoach!
 www.PremierRVServices.com or www.countrycoach.com have some of the most attractive deals on pre-owned luxury motorcoaches in the nation.               

Guest Post: Pre-owned Motorcoaches, How Many Miles is Too Many?

Pre-Owned Coach: How Many Miles Are “Too Many”?

by Mike Martinkus, Motorhomes Of Texas

Shopping for a pre-owned motorhome the question always arrives about the current miles on the prospective purchase. So how many are “too many”? The answer is multilayered and can be answered best by stating that there really is no such thing as too many. It may sound crazy at first but upon closer inspection one can see that while it is part of what makes a buying decision for a coach, unlike purchasing a car, the odometer is not the first place to look when determining condition of a motorhome.

       Think of a motorhome first like it was a fifth wheel or travel trailer that has no odometer. The first thing you do is when you first step inside, smell the air. Mildew has a distinctive odor. If you detect that odor, there is or has been a leak somewhere in the unit. That may or may not be a deal killer but you need to find where that leak (s) happened before proceeding. Then look at things like the wear on the carpet in the high travel areas and the front edges of the front seats. See if there are lots of scrape marks on the leading edges of the kitchen cabinet floors and the same of the exterior storage compartments. Open drawers at the kitchen counter and look for evidence of heavy use. Look at the inside roof of the microwave to see if there is lots of evidence of multiple uses in this hard to clean area. If there is a gas cook-top look between the burner and the top it’s self to see if there is a grease build-up under the stove-top. Are there exhaust dirt marks at the air-conditioner outlets? Is there lots of wear at the entry door step and inside the entry door? Pull the bedspread up and look at the condition of the mattress. Smell the inside of the refrigerator. If you smell ammonia inside, it’s not from being cleaned; it’s most likely because the cooling unit is leaking. Look under the engine area to see if there are puddles or drips of any fluids. Look at the batteries. Are they corroded and dirty? Does the sealer at the seams of the unit look old and cracking?

       This is by no means a complete check list of things to look for but it illustrates the point about mileage. A coach could fail all of the above tests and have 1,000 miles on the odometer. Another unit could pass all these tests and many more and have 200,000 miles. I traded for a Blue Bird a number of years ago from a customer who lived in Canada and had a business in Florida. He had a driver drive him in the coach back and forth between the two places. The owner and driver slept in hotels and ate in restaurants. They performed meticulous maintenance on the unit and when we traded his coach had almost 200,000 miles on it and was practically new. I have also traded for units that had very low miles but were in terrible condition. Both of these examples are on the rare side but are cautionary stories that should make you aware of the possibilities.  

       When we buy a used car we always go immediately to the odometer because it tells much more of the story about that car. If someone was using the car, it’s a given that they were accumulating mileage. A motorhome though is a whole different story. Look at the speedometer for sure but don’t let it tell you the whole story. With proper maintenance these “high-end” motorhomes like Country Coach, Newell and Foretravel will be around long after this writer and readers are gone. Our goal should be to leave a high mileage but pristine coach to our children, grand children or great-grandchildren.

www.motorhomesoftexas.com

Lane County Oregon “not-to-miss” Day Trips

While visiting the area for the CCFI FRIENDSHIP RALLY this August, or for services, renovations or shopping for a motorcoach, here are some Lane County not-to-miss day trips and afternoon activities we highly recommend.

University of Oregon: On-campus “exploration musts” for visitors are Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art where First Friday of the month is free admission and the Museum of Natural and Cultural History. http://jsma.uoregon.edu/  and natural-history.uoregon.edu/

Wine Trail: More than a dozen vineyards/wineries are nearby, most of them just off the Territorial Highway west of Eugene, including the largest in Oregon, King Estate Winery. Learn more at www.southwillamettewineries.com/

Eugene is Bike Friendly! Most of us travel with our bikes, and this is a great city for biking. The Willamette River’s Ruth Bascom Riverbank Trail is a long-distance bike path with five bike/pedestrian bridges across the river. Runners use the four-mile Pre Trail in Alton Baker Park. Drive down to Valley River River Inn’s Sweetwaters for a great meal and excellent service and relaxing friendly setting. A downloadable pdf showcasing this Ruth Bascom Trail is available online in several places. www.ltd.org/pdf/RiverbankTrail.pdf

 Covered Bridges: Meander through the countryside and view some stunning Bridges of Yesteryear at Marcola, Lowell, Dorena, Cottage Grove …there are 20 bridges to be found (more than anywhere in the West. www.co.lane.or.us/About/Pages/CoveredBridgesIndex.aspx

For more ideas of how to enjoy a leisurely afternoon while your coach is in for service or whenever your travels bring you to southern Willamette Valley in Oregon, visit www.Come2Oregon.com

RV Rallies Could Have An Economic Impact of Up To $15 Million?!

Did You Say A Rally Can have an Economic Impact Up To $15 MILLION?!   
By Sherry Fanning

I am a Strong Believer that RVing has a Great Economic Impact on the communities in which they travel, recreate and rally! As a motorcoach owner enjoys the fruits of their labors from the cockpit of their highline motorhome, traveling from Point A to B or wherever the whim takes them, they are also leaving some serious cash along the way. As they tour and shop and enjoy a particular area, they are impacting the local economy.

I've been thinking about the Economic Impact of a large FMCA type rally (2,000 coach families in attendance) to the Community in which it is held. By conservative estimates, I'd guess that figure could hover somewhere around 15 million dollars, even factoring the post-recession economics into it. According to FMCA's Chris Lusk, whom I queried on this subject in June 2013, “No communities have provided data since the recession. Prior reports placed the economic impact of our events between 15 million and 35 million. The impact will vary due to event attendance, local tax structure, and availability of services. Something to remember. . . these are '1st time' dollar impacts. The influx of new dollars ripples several times (i.e. are spent several times) before they evaporate. There are formulas available to compute the 'net' economic impact, however, we prefer to only use the '1st time' numbers.” --Chris Lusk, Events Manager, Family Motor Coach Association, 8291 Clough Pike, Cincinnati, OH.

Even a smaller event like a 50-100 coach rally with Country Coach Friends Inc is surprisingly impacting to a community! Just doing the calculations based on Chris Lusk’s comments about economic impact during better times, it seems a CCFI event today could inject upwards of $300,000 into a local economy before, during and after its 5 day rally (even more for those who buy coaches from one of the dealers displaying at a rally)! Then I thought about the charitable giving this club is becoming famous for….Usually CCFI also leaves thousands of additional monies with a rally charity whenever Country Coach Friends gather. I’ve always known this club has some of the kindest and friendliest souls in its member ranks. Turns out you are also some of the most generous!

Keep up the momentum Country Coach Friends Inc….and let’s keep injecting local economies in which you rally with much needed monies you generously spread around at eateries, wineries, shops and malls, RV-related businesses, tire centers, cabinet shops, furnishings boutiques, and more! See we ladies have always been onto something profound. Shopping is a GOOD thing--for those who enjoy the retail therapy, for the businesses benefitting from their shopping, and for the local economy as a whole.  Although there is no recent data on the EXACT monetary benefit to a community in which RVers rally, suffice to say "It is significant."

Albany, get ready! Country Coach Friends are coming to town in August for the 3^rd Annual CCFI Friendship Rally August 21-25! I can almost hear the cash registers ringing up the sales. (Well, I’m dating myself, I guess the cash registers don’t exactly “ring” up the sales any longer;)

And next year, in August 2014, FMCA is coming to Redmond, OR!  The immediate Redmond/Bend area will realize millions of dollars in sales garnered from these RVers before, during, and after their visit. So will the south Willamette valley, as most will continue on to have service work done, buy tires, batteries, and have interior and exterior renovations done on their coach! 

The Lane County area is a wonderful place for RVers to take care of these types of projects and the ones whom I know indeed do LOVE spending leisure time (and dollars) here in the Lane/Linn County area!

Ten More Things You May Not Know About Oregon

from http://www.squidoo.com/ten-things-you-may-not-know-about-Oregon.

*NOTE: These days my head is completely in Oregon for most of my waking hours, as I help Rally Hosts Pat & Candayce Detloff with their upcoming Country Coach Friends Club Friendship Rally coming this August in Albany, and I work at Premier RV Services in Junction City, and I volunteer with Oregon RV Alliance which promotes all of Oregon and the merits of spending leisure time in this wonderful state.   So when I ran across this article online at http://www.squidoo.com/ten-things-you-may-not-know-about-Oregon.the other day, I thought some of the Country Coach Friends may find it as interesting as I did. Thanks to the folks at squidoo.com for authoring such an interesting read!

1. Mainland casualties of World War II happened in Oregon - During the course of World War II, the Japanese had launched more than 9,000 balloons equipped with fire bombs into the Pacific jet stream with the hopes that they would land in the United States and start forest fires. One balloon landed near Bly, Oregon and was inadvertently triggered by a child who found it. The resulting explosion killed that child, four others, and an adult female. These were the only people to die during World War II due to enemy action on the mainland of the United States.

{According to Wikipedia, from late 1944 until early 1945, the Japanese launched over 9,300 of these fire balloons, of which 300 were found or observed in the U.S. Despite the high hopes of their designers, the balloons were ineffective as weapons: causing only six deaths (from one single incident) and a small amount of damage. Japanese bomb-carrying balloons were 10 m (33 ft) in diameter and, when fully inflated, held about 540 m³ (19,000 cu ft) of hydrogen. Their launch sites were located on the east coast of the main Japanese island of Honshū. Japan released the first of these bomb-bearing balloons on November 3, 1944. They were found in 17 states as well as Mexico and Canada. General Kusaba's men launched over 9,000 balloons throughout the course of the project. The Japanese expected 10% (around 900) of them to reach America. About 300 balloon bombs were found or observed in America. It is likely that more balloon bombs landed in unpopulated areas of North America. The last one was launched in April 1945.}

2. Astoria, first Permanent English Speaking Settlement West of the Rockies  - Astoria, a community located at the mouth of the Columbia River and on the southern end of the more than two and a third mile long Astoria-Megler Bridge that connects the state of Oregon with its neighbor to the north Washington, was the first permanent English-speaking settlement west of the Rocky Mountains

3. The first, second and third most populous cities in the state of Oregon are all located relatively close together in the Willamette River Valley, they are: Portland (1st), Eugene (2nd) and Salem (3rd).

4. Crater Lake - Deepest lake in the United States - Oregon's Crater Lake found in the state's only national park, Crater Lake National Park, is the deepest lake in the entire United States with a maximum dept of 1,949 feet and an average depth of 1,148 feet. It is the second deepest lake in North America and the ninth deepest lake in the entire world.

5. Corvalis, temporary capital of Oregon  - While Salem has been both the territorial and state capital of Oregon since it was moved there in 1851 from Oregon City, for one year in 1855 Corvallis became the capital of the Oregon Territory before it was moved back to Salem the following year.

6. Hells Canyon - Is the deepest river gorge in North America at approximately 8,000 feet. It is a very scenic location where you can also go whitewater boating, hike or horseback ride along the 900 miles of trails around the Snake, Imnaha and Rapid Rivers.

7. Home of the hazelnut  - Oregon is the only state that has an official state nut, the hazelnut. In fact, Oregon grows 98% of the hazelnuts in the United States. This hazelnut, also known as a filbert, was first introduced to Oregon via early French settlers. If you know someone from Oregon, tell them they are nuts.

8. Heceta Head Lighthouse - One of the most beautiful  - Oregon is home to the Heceta Head Lighthouse, a working lighthouse that is 56 feet high and one of the most photographed lighthouses in the United States. It is truly one most beautiful in the world. A visitor to the lighthouse can enjoy bed and breakfast rentals while delighting in the outdoor scenic view.

9. No Self Serve Gas Stations  - Oregon is one two states (the other is New Jersey) where there is no self service gas. It is believed this gives jobs to people and it helps out the elderly and the handicapped who have difficulty pumping their own gas. The nice about it is that they don't expect tips for this service since it's done all over Oregon.

10. Portland is nicknamed the City of Roses.  - The city of Portland, Oregon is nicknamed "The city of Roses" due to having an abundance of rose gardens throughout the city. If you visit the International Rose Test Garden you can view over 9,000 roses in a four acre area.

SHERRY'S CLOSING NOTE: I am quite certain this is only the FIRST 10 things we may not have known about Oregon. There is so much to do and see and enjoy in this Pacific Northwest State of Wonders. Come see for yourself. Perhaps at the 3rd Annual Country Coach Friends Friendship Rally August 21-25, Albany OR!

Oh The Places You'll Go in Albany, Oregon

OH, THE PLACES YOU'LL GO: 6 THINGS TO DO IN ALBANY THIS AUGUST! 

*Excerpted from 150 things to do in Albany, Albany Visitors Association…check out these and 144 other fun things to do during the CCFI Friendship Rally August 21-25

WINERS LOVE ALBANY - In the middle of the Willamette Valley, Oregon Wine Country, stop by Albany Visitors Association to pick up a winery guide and spend a pleasant afternoon touring the rural side of Oregon and its wineries. Nearby Springhill Cellars www.springhillcellars.com and Marks Ridge Winery www.marksridge.com both offer tastings and a nice selection of wines. Check their websites for when they're open and for special events.

ANTIQUERS ALLEY - Albany has several antique stores where you can find that very special accent piece to add to your collection.The Albany Downtown Association located in the Two Rivers Mall has a free guide map to the antique shops. Browse through an antique shop and step back in time.

BE AMAZED BY ALBANY'S ARCHITECTURE - Historic downtown Albany (Monteith House pictured here) has many different styles of architecture. In the three downtown historic districts there are over 700 historic homes and buildings with in about one hundred block area. Stop by Albany Visitors Association for a copy of Seems Like Old Times, a self guided tour of these districts. "Bring along a magnet and discover which of Albany's downtown buildings use cast iron as a decorative material. Cast iron was extensively used for architectural ornament in the late 19th Century. Albany not only has five buildings with cast-iron pilasters, there were also two iron works that manufactured architectural cast iron for use throughout the Pacific Northwest." --Bernadette Niederer  P.S. Here are the buildings with cast iron... • Flinn Block • Conn & Huston Bldg • Western Union (309 1st Ave NW) • Murphy's Seed Store (225 2nd Ave SW) • Straney-Moore Livery Stable

BIRD WATCHING PARADISE - Discover a birding trail that includes sites up and down the Willamette Valley. Want to see an Osprey or click a photo of a Bald Eagle? Would you like to watch Eurasian Wigeons and gulls go to Grand Prairie Park. Sites for all of these, as well as other speicies of birds can be found on the Willamette Valley Birding Trail Map. Maps are available at the Albany Visitiors Association (541-928-0911).

CAROUSELS REMEMBER WHEN - The Historic Carousel and Museum project is a grassroots driven effort to create a carousel in the same manner as the Dentzels did back in the 1800s. Local people are coming together to learn to carve, sand and paint the beautiful and unique animals. The Dentzel family, through the National Carousel Association, donated a 1909 Gustave Dentzel mechanizm to the project. When operational there will be a menagerie of 52 animals and two chariots. Visit the Historic Carousel Project and Museum for a beautiful example of zebra and quaga, too. A quaga is an extinct breed of zebra that is brown/orange and tan instead of black and white. --Call 541-791-3340 or 541-928-0911 for hours and further info.

LINN COUNTY COVERED BRIDGES - Known for its collection of covered bridges, Oregon has the best collection west of the Mississippi River. Just east of Albany in the Crabtree and Scio areas view several bridges in a leisurely two hour drive. This beautiful drive through the rural countryside on a warm summer day may include a picnic and quick dip in an old fashioned swimming hole beneath the Larwood Bridge. Drive the extra few miles to the Roaring River Fish Hatchery and see how Oregon Rainbow Trout are raised.