Inspired by Country Coach Motorcoach Build Process

…A look back at the 2005 Inspire 330 as featured in the former corporate print magazine and on the internet.

Bob Lee taught employees of Country Coach that luxury travel is about function as much as it’s about comfort. The proof was in the motorcoaches that rolled onto First Avenue in Junction City, OR over the 36 years that Country Coach built highline motorhomes in Junction City Oregon. One such coach was the Inspire. Here follows an article from my editor days for the manufacturer’s print magazine which I ran across posted elsewhere on the internet. It gives a good refresher on the build process and a reminder why the coaches YOU STILL CHOOSE TO DRIVE are truly the World’s Finest.  

*Check out www.CountryCoach.com and www.PremierRVServices.com if you’re looking for a pre-owned Country Coach. Both dealerships offer outstanding preowned motorcoaches for those discerning buyers who desire the craftsmanship, livability, style, and drivability found in a Country Coach motorhome.

“The 2005 Inspire 330

Country Coach, manufacturer of the world's finest motorcoaches, proudly presents the 2005 Inspire 330. In the Country Coach tradition, the 2005 Inspire has been crafted with the highest possible “Country Coach” standards. End to end…each the 2005 Inspire 330 features the superior workmanship, comfort and power that have made the Country Coach a leader in the motorcoach industry for more than 25 years. The very first Inspire 330 coaches were released in 2004 to rave reviews. Attractive Country Coach paintwork and fiberglass… luxurious interior amenities and modular floor plans made the Inspire 330 one of the most sought-after motorcoaches on the road. Based on the success of our first series, the 2005 Inspire now has a suite of exciting new features that are sure to please owners. Tile entry landings… “nextgeneration” four hundred Horse Power Caterpillar diesel engines and thirty two inch LCD high definition television sets are only a few of the many popular upgrades that are now included in the Inspire 2005.

“In the Country Coach tradition, the 2005 Inspire has been crafted  with the highest possible “Country Coach” standards.”

The 330s are built in Country Coach’s massive 450,000 square foot campus in Junction City, Oregon. Highly skilled engineers, technicians and craftspeople put their talents to work each day to build Inspire coaches. The process begins with a foundation of solid steel …and ends with big time luxury. We invite you to tour the Country Coach manufacturing facility so you can see firsthand how the Inspire 330 is made.

The Chassis

The Inspire 330 is built on the DynoMax chassis, a Country Coach exclusive. The DynoMax serves as the platform upon which every Country Coach is built. Engineered for a lifetime of smooth rides and safe travel, the DynoMax takes advantage of what we call the “cradle of strength. ” This “cradle of strength” is created by a powerful combination of a semi-monocoque design and the structural rigidity of 8 inch by 3- inch by 1/4-inch tubular steel stringers that runs the length of the chassis. The chassis cage is forged from top grade, high yield steel tubing. Each junction is stitch welded together to ensure superior strength and durability. The big benefit of our advanced chassis technology is an unparalleled, smooth ride that has the power to take on the most challenging mountain grades.

Each DynoMax chassis offers precision handling and braking. The suspension of the 330 is built around the Holland/Neway USA Independent Front Suspension System with 3-way adjustable Koni shocks. This suspension is engineered into each DynoMax chassis, and provides an amazing 50-degree wheel cut in both directions. Stopping power is essential to a safe driving experience, and the Inspire 330 has been equipped with full anti-lock air brakes and automatic slack adjusters on the front brakes.

New for the 2005 Inspire is that they now run on Acer Technology: powerful, low emission Caterpillar C-9 400 horsepower diesel engines. The engines are mated to the smooth, reliable Allison 3000MH 6 speed electronic transmission with two overdrive gears. This unit exceeds the current emission standards and meets the 2008
standards for your convenience.

The electrical wiring for each DynoMax is meticulously installed according to detailed diagrams and specifications. For ease of service and diagnostics, each wire is carefully laid out and conveniently labeled. Once the chassis is complete, it is thoroughly tested at the DynoCenter. Secured in place, with the drive wheels on roll sets, Country Coach engineers manipulate the ignition switch, shifter pad and throttle. The engine is started, the transmission is engaged, and throttle pressure is increased until the transmission reaches 4th gear. Once in 4th gear, the roll sets provide resistance to the engine and drive train to simulate steep grades. During the tests, technicians observe horsepower and torque output; fuel consumption; engine RPM and engine turbocharger boost pressure percentage of engine load. Throttle position; coolant temperature; oil pressure and temperature are also rigorously tested. These procedures ensure that the power train is running at peak performance levels. After the DynoMax chassis passes our testing stage it moves on to manufacturing.

Building The Inspire 2005

Once the chassis has been thoroughly inspected, the assembly of an Inspire 330 can begin. Wiring, plumbing and tanks are installed. The floor is lowered and sealed to the chassis. In a separate area, beautiful interior cabinetry is custom built. Manufactured on-site by skilled artisans, the cabinetry of the 330 continues Country Coach’s reputation for superior woodwork that has become our signature. Team communication and pride of workmanship is at the heart of how we build coaches. To maintain the highest levels of craftsmanship, all cabinetmakers at Country Coach install their own finished cabinets. The result is incredibly precise cabinets--and fit. Its one of the many ways Country Coach is able to build superior components for each coach.

The Inspire’s roof is a composite of steel, polystyrene, fiberglass and laminates. This creates an incredibly strong and durable roof. To insure consistent temperatures in any season, thick block insulation foam lines the roof, sidewalls and floor. Overhead, there is ample insulation between arched rafters. The roof is also skinned with a single-piece, molded fiberglass shell. For extra strength, the coach body assembly is vacuum laminated with high strength adhesives to form a single, inseparable component. The next step is to mold the walls and ceiling, and join them to the DynoMax chassis to form a true semi-monocoque “cradle of strength and durability.” Once the elegantly designed fiberglass front and rear are attached, the exterior of the Inspire 330 is complete.

“To guarantee Country Coach’s high standard of quality control, each team is responsible for inspecting their own work AND the work of the previous team.:"

After the walls are in place, special touches are added. Mirrors, designer drapes and a plush queen size bed make the Inspire a comfortable and cozy home for its new owners. As each Inspire 330 moves from station to station it is inspected with meticulous attention to detail. To guarantee Country Coach’s high standard of quality control, each team is responsible for inspecting their own work AND the work of the previous team. This way quality of workmanship is checked and double checked. The exterior of the Inspire 330 is then finished with Sikkens full body paint. Designed by our staff of artists and applied by expert technicians, the multiple colors and clear coats create a strikingly beautiful exterior. The coach is then complete when standard exterior features like awnings are added.

At this point the Inspire goes through a series of rigorous brake and drive tests. Highway, steep-grade up hills and city driving are all included, as well as a stop at Country Coach’s state of the art brake testing facility. Once approved, the new Inspire is at last finished. The result is an impressive combination of art and engineering.

“The result is an impressive combination of art and engineering.”

The Complete 2005 Inspire 330

Each Inspire 330 features full body paint and a classic Country Coach exterior design. Full-height, insulated aluminum bay doors open to a lighted, spacious and insulated pass-through basement, complete with carpet liners. Behind other bay doors, you’ll find plumbing, electronics, communication, engine and various other utility access points. The 330 offers ample power for daily living. Each motorcoach is equipped with a front-mounted, seven-point-five kilowatt Onan Quiet Diesel generator with remote start/stop switching.

When you step through the tiled entryway to the driver seat you’ll discover why this motorcoach is a sheer pleasure to drive. You’ll navigate the highways with the 18 inch leather-wrapped SmartWheel … surrounded by conveniently located controls. The controls for the automatic, computerized hydraulic leveling jacks are easily accessible from the plush, six-way power operated driver’s seat. A custom contoured dash with burlwood trim holds the stylish and highly visible Teleflex gauges, which monitor a wide range of engine measurements. Inside the Inspire 330 owners enjoy residential, spacious feeling of home. The 85-inch high ceiling enhances the wide-open, double-slide living and galley areas. The slide rooms extend with the push of a button. The roadside slide extends to create a more usable flat floor. Country Coach “one-piece” slide rooms are spacious AND durable with their steel framed, sloping fiberglass roof. The roadside slide room interior height stands at six feet, four inches, so you’ll love the true comfort that comes with never having to duck your head. The Inspire is available in multiple configurations with a double, triple or quad slide. Owners choose the floor plan that best suits their lifestyle.

The 330 features true Country Coach handcrafted custom cabinetry. Signature cabinets are available in oak, light cherry and maple. Decorator fabrics and textiles coordinate to cover sofas, chairs, window valances and pillows with stylish sense of elegance. High grade carpeting complements the custom brick pattern tile flooring in the galley and bathroom. A twelve cubic foot, four-door Norcold refrigerator with icemaker, three burner cook top and custom solid surface countertops makes preparing meals a breeze. Culinary masterpieces are created in minutes with the GE Advantium oven featuring speed cook technology. This innovative oven harnesses the power of light to prepare conventional meals four times faster than a conventional oven.

The entertainment center in the Inspire 330 features a standard twenty-seven inch, flat screen television and a four head VCR. Owners selecting the “advanced package” enjoy a Panasonic home theater surround sound system and DVD player. A thirty-two inch LCD high-definition television is also available for state-of-the-art viewing pleasure. True theater buffs can opt for the “Digital Projection Cinema package.” This package includes a sixty eight inch, electronically-deployed projection screen, a projection television and blackout shades for the living area. Simply put in your favorite DVD, lower the screen, and enjoy the show! And for those who like to choose from hundreds of channels, we recommend the low-profile KVH in-motion satellite system option.

Amenities abound in the Inspire 330 bathroom. The luxury begins with a solid surface  countertop with edge detail and a porcelain vanity sink. The large, overhead vanity has mirrored doors and is accented with a decorative vanity light bar. The fiberglass shower enclosure features a hand held showerhead and plenty of room to stretch out. In the bedroom, relax in your plush full size queen bed with an upholstered headboard. A 20” color television is standard in the 330. Solid wood cabinets add to the inviting livability in your master bedroom. For ultimate convenience, you can liberate yourself from the Laundromat by choosing an optional washer and dryer.

Conceived, designed, engineered and built with the full expertise of Country Coach, the Inspire 330 is a true testament to the Country Coach legacy of luxury motorcoach manufacturing. Experience the Inspire 330 for yourself.”

*Check out www.CountryCoach.com and www.PremierRVServices.com if you’re looking for a pre-owned Country Coach Inspire or other Country Coach model. Both dealerships offer outstanding preowned motorcoaches for those discerning buyers who desire the craftsmanship, livability, style, and drivability found in a Country Coach motorhome.