South Willamette Valley Oregon RV Industry!

Good News abounds from businesses serving this great industry and calling Lane County "Home."

Have you been to the South Willamette Valley in Oregon this year? Then you’ve seen firsthand all the busyness and flurry of action taking place on dealer lots, at service centers, furnishings and accessories businesses. Actually the upturn in business is evidenced as well throughout the many Oregon small cottage businesses some way serving motorcoach enthusiasts and enhancing their RV lifestyle! RVers are returning to Oregon to spend their leisure time and enjoy the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. While here they're discovering all those great motorcoach resources are still here offering the Best of the Best services.

If you were able to attend the FMCA 90^th Family Reunion & Motorhome Showcase in Redmond, Oregon, August 13-16 you saw many new coaches on display that were exceptional. Like Marathon’s newest show coach valued at $2.1 million and loaded with upgrades and innovations. Wow! is all I have to say about that. Marathon recently announced it was hiring and that business was up.

Redmond OR show visitors were also treated to a look at some absolutely beautiful Pre-Owned Country Coach motorhomes in the Premier RV Services dealer display that made Luxury Travel at an affordable price more than just possible, but a reality! Located on 20+ acres of the original Country Coach campus, the company has been offering highline coach consignment sales, full service and indoor heated secure storage solution to motorcoachers nationwide.  In fact just today a news item on RV Business and RV Daily Digest news outlets reports on substantial summer sales in the Preowned coach division at Premier RV in Junction City OR.  http://www.rvbusiness.com/2014/08/premier-rv-services-reports-record-july-aug/

More great news for the RV industry was announced a couple weeks ago in the Eugene, OR paper, Register-Guard: “An Elkhart, Ind., RV firm has bought the former Monaco Coach plant in Harrisburg for an undisclosed sum and plans to restart production in a few weeks, a company official said Thursday. Forest River Inc. completed its acquisition of the plant last week, has hired back the plant’s former management team and soon will be hiring office and production staff, said Paul Eskritt, who is general manager of Forest River’s plant in Dallas, Texas, and will oversee the Harrisburg plant.” More jobs, more RV customers, and more dollars for the local economy are sure to result from this great news. (visit www.Come2Oregon.com for a link to the full article)

Junction City Oregon’s Country Coach Corporation recently released the following news update. More good news. The 2015 Allure motorcoach prototype project is moving forward with the prototype an example of what they intend to be building in 2015. Ron Lee, President/CEO, stated, “I want you to know I have brought all the resources I have available forward to support and maintain the name and reputation of the brand Country Coach.”

This is just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak when it comes to Good News in the South Willamette Valley! Oregon RV Alliance is a great resource for anyone planning a trip to this area of the nation. Natural wonders, outstanding coastal, valley and high plains attractions, and a mecca of motorcoach services await.

Come see for yourself why it’s all good for motorhome visitors too in Lane County Oregon and the surrounding area! Valley, Coast, High Plains....there is something for everyone.

Guest Post: Is it Time to Update the Motorhome Audio Visual System?

Guest Post: Is it Time to Update Your Motorcoach Audio Visual System?

By Adrian Cochran, Oregon Motorcoach Center

So, you’ve owned your motorhome for several years now. Over the years you have done an outstanding job of keeping it maintained by having it winterized yearly, keeping up to date on scheduled maintenance, replacing slide room seals as needed and making sure your leveling system is staying “level” headed. All of this work done to keep your home or your home away from home in tip top shape right? I will probably have many of you scratching your heads in just a second when I ask the next question. So when was the last time you checked on your Audio/ Video system? Are you scratching yet?

Yes believe it or not, you’re a/v system is equally important in the upkeep of your coach. Now granted, it’s not going to keep you from your next outing but it could mean the difference in future relationships if not performing up to par (that was a joke). Technology advances at such a rapid pace that it is almost impossible to stay on top of the latest and greatest in the world of Televisions and sound systems. But thanks to experts in their craft, a good qualified service technician and service center is really all you need. I know, when you think about having a slide room adjusted or chassis work done, you probably don’t think much about issues or upgrades to your onboard entertainment system but believe it or not that can be done at the same time. 

So what is the latest and greatest you ask? You’ve probably heard tech terms like VOD, streaming, 4kTV, Dolby TrueHD, or DTS Master audio. To elaborate on this without making it too confusing we must step back a little in time and see where consumer electronics stood during the production of your motor home. I won’t touch high definition here but I will say that most televisions that were installed during this time were somewhat capable of displaying an HD image but nothing close to what displays are capable of today. The satellite receivers also required a nest of cables to get you the most out of your TV, and they were hot.

When you immerse yourself in a movie, it can only be as good as the playback sources. If you have an older television in your coach, you may only be getting a playback of 720p or 1080i or less. If you recently upgraded to a Blu Ray DVD player, you are not getting to see the movie the way it was intended because your flat panel possibly (if original with the coach) cannot handle that type of display resolution. Flat panels now have the capability to be able to play back movies at a 1080p resolution with a refresh rate of 60, 120, or even 240 HZ. Don’t forget about 3D either, that technology is just breaking out of the theaters and into homes. Although you have to deal with those cumbersome glasses still. 3D can add a whole new realm to your favorite movies and it’s becoming more and more a standard feature in TV’s and Blu Ray players.

So, if so much is available in televisions now as compared to a handful of years ago, is the same true for surround sound? The answer is yes, and believe it or not your current Audio/Video receiver could be hindering more than helping your situation. From the sound quality standpoint Dolby Digital was already a mainstay in most home theater equipment but even now the formats available are more advanced and capable of playing back full uncompressed lossless audio information just as the song or soundtrack was recorded. Confused yet? Let me expand. When you plug in your iPod to hear your favorite music those files have been compressed so you have the ability to cram a huge amount of music into a very small space. In cramming all of those files in a small space, sound quality takes a hit because bits and pieces have to be cut out of the original recording to make it fit. Now when it comes to audio video receivers, the decoders that are built in to decipher the correct sound format have come a long way in a short period of time.

When surround sound was first evolved (way past the days of quadraphonic) you had Dolby surround technology which incorporated two stereo front speakers and a monaural rear channel that two speakers could share with limited frequency response. Then there was the development of Dolby Pro Logic, which although almost identical to the latter format, incorporates a center channel decoder thus moving from four speakers to five but leaving a mono rear channel with limited frequency. In the last ten years or so Dolby Digital became the common place in A/V receivers delivering five separate full bandwidth channels (20Hz to 20Khz.) and the .1 low frequency or bass channel.

People became immersed in a new way to listen to movies. Within the last couple of years we’ve been seeing the addition of more rear speakers with Dolby Digital EX which adds additional information to a surround back channel. I know, it’s a lot of information to absorb. Now we introduce Dolby True HD, which can carry up to fourteen channels of sound. The difference being the new movies that appear on Blu ray can be decoded in a pure format (if available on the disc)  meaning, just as it was recorded with nothing lost from compression like the files on your mp3 player.

 Now that we covered the technical side of the spectrum let’s get back to you! Audio issues with your entertainment system can be a little more difficult to pinpoint compared to determining the age of your TV. If you answer just a few simple questions you can find out if you just need a tune up or have to consider replacing your current unit. First, how does it sound? Let your ears do the work, if something does not sound right chances are it probably isn’t. If you notice any distortion or notice that a particular speaker is not working at all when you playback a familiar source (something you’ve listened to enough to know) then you may have deeper issues than you think. Let me interject here that, unless you have current high end components that you’re in love with and don’t want to lose, try and avoid thinking about “…..can it be fixed?” Repairing a piece of audio equipment can be time consuming and costly depending on the problem sometimes equaling what you may have paid for the unit when it was brand new. In this day and age of “disposable” electronics it’s more cost effective to replace than repair unfortunately. 

Second, not including aerial antenna or cable from a park connection, when you watch your satellite receiver or a DVD and yes, even a VHS tape, do you have to change through multiple inputs on your TV and then sound settings on you’re a/v receiver to accomplish your activity? It may be time to upgrade. Audio video receivers today allow a wide variety of different components to be connected and just a single HDMI cable to be connected to the TV. In doing so, all the switching is done through the A/V receiver, using it as the centerpiece for your system. I know all of the techies out there are saying “What do you mean it’s been that way for years?” Yes the capability has been there but A/V receivers today have the capability of upconverting all incoming signals from source components like the old VCR from 480i (video tape resolution) to 1080p (full high definition) and outputting the signal to your beautiful new 1080p flat panel with just a single HDMI cable interlinking the two devices.

If you answered yes to either of the previous questions, it is definitely worth having your system looked at by a qualified service center with an experienced Audio Video technician. Don’t be afraid to ask whoever it may be looking at your system about their qualifications and/or experience. If the person is reputable, he or she will have no problem answering that question. Don’t worry if all they have is on the job experience, sometimes that’s the best way to learn this industry as long as they are seasoned in the field or working under someone with a good background in the world of Audio Video installation. Don’t ever be afraid to question.

A couple of other things I wanted to bring up for you. When you use your entertainment system, do you ever notice how warm it gets? Heat is the number one issue with premature component failure. I know there aren’t very many options when it comes to space for your components but even in the smallest compartments they can be cooled sometimes with a little forced help. I have never seen a single piece of equipment physically “burn up” from getting to hot but I have touched some components that have left their mark, that’s too hot! Audio video equipment should never be too hot to touch even those pesky satellite receivers. If you can reach into your cabinet comfortably enough to reach the tops of the components with the palm of your hand they should feel mildly warm to the touch after being on for quite awhile. Anything hotter than that requires some sort of venting or forced cooling via temperature sensor and fan(s) to move air. It will prolong the life of your components even if there is a trade off for a little fan noise (usually not much) during a movie.

Of course the other battle is space. How can you have the best up to date equipment if it won’t fit in your existing cabinet? Part of a good A/V tech is working with the customer and any other facet of integration from the cabinet maker to the interior designer to find the right solution so in the end you can have what you want. Very seldom does there ever come a time where we have to say, no that can’t be done. Some installations may be more labor intensive than others but the end result is always the satisfaction knowing the customer is happy with the outcome. The installation is the easy part of it, keeping customers well informed is what separates the good from the best. So if you are interested in an upgrade take a minute and examine your space and don’t always assume that just because you measured it that it won’t fit, let us take a look.

I know for some people all of this can be overwhelming but that’s how I keep my job! As a custom A/V integrator, it’s my job to look at your A/V system no matter how current it may be, and let you know how it is performing. It is also my job to make recommendations about upgrading or what can be done to make it work better. So the next time you come in to Oregon Motorcoach Center, don’t forget about your A/V system with the rest of your maintenance.  

www.oregonmotorcoachcenter.com

Country Coach Friends Incorporated Raises $19,000 for Charities in 2014!

Country Coach Friends Incorporated’s 

2014 Rallies Raise $19,000 for Charity!

August 11, 2014, Junction City, OR--For Country Coach Friends Inc., an international chapter of Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA), giving back within the communities where club rallies are held is just part of what makes belonging to this motorcoach owners club special. With just 36 coaches in attendance at its August 4-8^th Fourth Annual Friendship Rally, this generous group gave $8,565.00 to benefit two great food banks in the Junction City / Harrisburg area where all Country Coaches were built!  That’s an amazing ratio of giving per coach. God’s Storehouse, Harrisburg, and Junction City Local Aid will each receive $4,282.50.

At the 2014 Friendship Rally charity auction Ron Lee, owner of Country Coach Corporation in Junction City, Oregon, autographed a Vern Meighen-engineered Country Coach covered wagon that Meighen (lifetime club member) had jokingly called the 2014 Country Coach Allure. Meighen built several dozen covered wagons in his wood shop several years ago as rally centerpieces. When approached to sell the centerpieces to benefit charity fundraising efforts that year, he said, “Do you think anyone would pay money for them?” Indeed! Those wagons have raised thousands of dollars for rally charities over thse past several years! The one sold at the 2014 event sold TWICE during the auction. Then Ron Lee who bought it the second time gifted it back to Vern Meighen. Members often donate their prized wagon and let it be auctioned for the rally charity. A few of the items rally attendees donated this year were gift baskets with Oregon wines, handmade quilts, interior décor, plus there were free services certificates to local RV-related businesses, Country Coach logo apparel, free stays at luxury RV resorts and many more items.

Earlier in 2014 at the CCFI Spring Rally in Beaux Bridge, Louisiana this club raised $10,435.00 for the Wounded Warriors!

Country Coach Friends Inc. was founded on Friendship with 42 motorcoach owners signing up at the initial rally in 2011. It now numbers over 300 Coach families and Growing! Members hale from coast-to-coast. Rallies offer that quality experience you remember from pre-Country Coach manufacturer's closure, only now by necessity on a smaller scale. Member Benefits include discounts nationwide on services, parts, resort stays and more. A robust list of benefits from Family Motor Coach Association are enjoyed by CCFI members, too, as all CCFI members also maintain a membership in FMCA. Stay connected via a monthly e-newsletter Friends to Friends. Membership and Rallies are open to owners of all brands of qualifying motorhomes  (You must be able to move from the living quarters to the driver area from inside the coach). For club information, to sign up to receive its monthly eNews, or to join this fun-loving, steadily growing motorhome owners club, you may visit online at www.CountryCoachFriendsIncorporated.com.  Or, call 775-742-4627, Past President Jerry OConnor, to inquire about this club and its fundraising efforts.

Country Coach Won't Start?

GUEST POST BY BRIAN KEYS, Former Systems, Training & Resources Manager at the former Country Coach, LLC.  ...Shared from several years back, written by an excellent technical writer I always enjoyed reading...Country Coach motorhome owners enjoy.

Won't Start?

Most starting problems are caused by a tripped breaker, blown fuse, or sticking solenoid, and once the fault has been identified, it can typically be corrected (if only temporarily) within a matter of minutes.

Let’s begin by taking a look at the various components of the system and how they are connected. The circuit starts, of course, at the chassis battery itself, as shown on the diagram below and from there chassis power goes directly to the starter motor and to the chassis battery disconnect switch, followed by the chassis breaker which in turn allows power to the chassis fuse panel, ignition solenoid, and start solenoid.

When the key is turned to the ignition position, the ignition switch receives power from the chassis fuse panel on wire #50 and passes it onto the ignition solenoid on wire #34E. This signals the ignition solenoid to close and pass power from the chassis breaker through to the ignition fuse panel and also to the ECM (engine computer) through an inline fuse (located at the solenoid on Allures or Intrigues and in the electrical bay on Magnas, Affinitys and Lexas) and an ‘Engine Kill’ switch located in the engine compartment. With the key in the start position, power is supplied from the ignition switch to the neutral start relay on wire #33 and, assuming the transmission is in neutral, this power is forwarded to the start solenoid on wire #33A which signals it to close. Once closed, the start solenoid will pass power from the chassis breaker to the starter solenoid on wire #33B through a breaker or fuse, depending upon the model of your coach.

Now that we know where all the components are located and how they are connected,let’s take at look at the four most common scenarios that you might experience should your coach fail to start.

1. Nothing happens when you turn the ignition switch to the ignition or start positions.

Make sure that the chassis disconnect switch is turned on and reset the chassis breaker if it has tripped. Check for loose or corroded chassis battery terminals or cable lugs and use the battery boost if your chassis batteries are severely discharged. If this does not solve your problem then check for power on the yellow wire #34E at the ignition solenoid. If wire #34 has power then check the large terminals on either side, if only one of these has power then the solenoid is sticking and must be replaced. Gently tapping on the solenoid should allow it to close but it may now stick in the closed position meaning that your engine will continue to run when the key is turned off. Tapping on the solenoid again with the key off should release it. This should only be considered as a ‘get you home’ measure.

If wire #34E does not have power at the ignition solenoid then check the fuse for wire #50 in the chassis fuse panel and make sure that the wiring at the ignition switch is intact.

2. Dash and other ignition systems power up when the key is turned to the ignition position but nothing happens when the key is turned to the start position.

With the ignition on, verify that the transmission is in neutral, and then check for a tripped starter breaker or blown starter fuse. Check for power on blue wire #33A at the start solenoid behind the rear bumper on the passenger side. If wire #33A has power, then check the large terminals on either side of the solenoid. If only one of these terminals has power, then the solenoid is sticking and must be replaced. Gently tapping on the solenoid should allow it to close but it may now stick in the closed position meaning that your engine will continue to crank when the key is turned off. Tapping on the solenoid again should release it but as before, this should only be considered as a ‘get you home’ measure.

If you hear a loud clunk when the key is turned to the start position and both sides of the start solenoid have power, then the gear on the starter motor is probably unable to ‘mesh’ with the gear on the engine flywheel. Although extremely rare, this can and does happen, with the only cure being to manually turn the engine a little using a large socket and bar on the crankshaft pulley or to momentarily spin the starter motor by bypassing the starter solenoid on the motor itself. The latter should only be done by a professional mechanic.

3. Dash and other ignition systems power up when the key is turned to the ignition position and the engine cranks but will not start.

Assuming you have not run out of diesel, then the first thing to check would be the engine kill switch on the right side of the engine compartment. If the engine kill switch has not been activated, then check the inline fuse that provides ignition power to the ECM or Electronic Control Module. This fuse is located at the ignition solenoid on Allures or Intrigues and in the electrical bay on Magnas, Affinitys and Lexas. If the ‘Check Engine’ light on your dash is illuminated or flashing, then there is most likely an engine fault that you will need to have investigated by a Cummins or Caterpillar dealer. Earlier coach models used an engine kill relay located on the right of the engine compartment next to the engine kill switch and this relay can prevent your engine from starting, especially if the engine kill switch has been used recently. The relay is available at most local parts stores and can be changed in a matter of minutes.

4. Engine starts but will not continue running when the ignition key is released.

This situation is unheard of on current models with ECM’s or Engine Computer Modules. If you have an earlier model coach, however, with a non-electronic engine, this condition could indicate that the coach’s Engine Protection Module is preventing the engine from running. This is generally caused by a critical condition such as low oil pressure, hot coolant, or low coolant level triggering that device. These coaches have been provided with a foot-actuated override switch located near the driver’s right foot. Depressing this foot switch will allow you to start and drive the coach long enough to pull safely off the road. In these cases, it is prudent to check the obvious things first, such as coolant and engine oil levels. If the problem is caused by a temporary overheat situation, you may be able to wait until the engine cools down sufficiently to re-start and then continue on your way. In the case of low coolant level (one of the most common culprits), replenishing the coolant level and cycling the ignition key off and back on should allow the coach to start and run normally. In addition to these situations, a failed fuel solenoid can cause this no-run symptom, but this is an item that will require the skills of a professional mechanic.

Hopefully, you’ll never have to encounter a disabling scenario like those discussed above, but having a bit of knowledge about your coach’s chassis electrical system may save you some grief and expense.