Coutry Coach state-of-art-motorcoach lineup.It
was debuted at the Califfornia RV show in
Pomona,California, in October 2001, the Lexa
created an instant stir of interest in the
high-end motorhome marketplace. The Lexa's
futuristic design includes large flush-mount,
awning-style windows and a smooth, dynamic,
European look inside and out. Motorhome
enthusiasts will appreciate its panoramic
full-height windshield, integrated hidden bay
latches, and LED running lights.
Country Coach's exclusive DynoMax semi-monocoque
chassis and features a Dana/Kirkstall
independent front suspension. The coach is
powered by a Caterpillar C-15 diesel engine
rated at 515 horsepower with 1,650 foot-pounds
of torque at 1,200 rpm. A six-speed automatic
Allison World 4000 MH transmission connects the
engine to the drive axle. The Lexa boasts the
most powerful engine in the Country Coach
product line.
All coach frames are designed and manufactured
(not simply assembled) at the company's facility
in Junction City, Oregon. Pride of ownership at
each station and at each inspection point, of
which there are many during the course of
constructing the motorhomes, is readily apparent
in the quality of workmanship. The technician
doing the work signs off on each step of
construction using a light pen, and then his or
her work is inspected and signed off on by
another employee charged with the task. As each
component assembly is completed, it is again
inspected and signed for. This process continues
until the entire coach is completed, with the
exception of paint and final interior touches.
Lexa designers
developed a sleek new look for the coach. At
first blush, it appears to have no awnings; in
reality, all of the equipment is hidden away
behind the roof fairing. This design allowed the
engineers to disguise the electrically
controlled Girard awnings above the roofline.
With the touch of a button, the awnings appear
out of the top of the coach. If the wind picks
up while the awnings are deployed, the system
automatically retracts them before damage can
occur. The satellites and roof air conditioners
are also concealed.
The coach has sleeping accommodations and seat
belts for four. Our test coach was equipped with
a sofa bed behind the driver's seat and a couch
behind the navigator's recliner. Aft of the
couch was the dining table, which could expand
to accommodate four people; two of the chairs
can be stored in the bedroom closet when not
needed. The galley rides behind the sofa bed.
The radiused wood surround of the driver's
compartment between the pilot and copilot seats
has a tray and a cup holder formed into its top.
The tray is a nice place for eyeglasses, a
flashlight, or a book.
Driver can easily find a comfortable position,
thanks to a reclining leather captain's chair;
dual pull-down, height-adjustable armrests; and
the ultimate in an adjustable steering
wheel/dashboard. An electrically adjustable,
custom-contoured dash featuring a
six-way-adjustable instrument cluster has been
designed specifically with the driver's comfort
and convenience in mind. It moves in conjunction
with or independent of the steering column,
allowing the driver to electrically move the
dash panel up and down, or tilt it forward and
rearward.
The fit and finish of the Lexa, extremely well
done, as it should be in a high-end coach of
this quality. Attention to detail is fantastic,
right down to the Panasonic 7-inch dash-mounted
color backup monitor.
The coach does have a Bose radio/surround sound
system. Lexa, all window coverings (windshield
privacy curtains and side window shades) open
and close electrically. The windshield privacy
curtains are controlled by two switches located
in a panel behind the driver, and the optional
side window silhouette shades in our test coach
were controlled via a Phillips universal remote
control with touch-screen buttons. Lexa to use
the Phillips universal remote technology, so we
will not go into much detail about it. The
Phillips remote control had a touch-screen menu
that lists all the systems this one device
activated, including the front and back
televisions, the DVD player. The Bose Surround
Sound system is controlled by its own
remote.Below the cup holder on the copilot's
side is a control panel full of switches for a
variety of lights, including the porch and entry
light; the battery disconnect; the storage bay
door locks; the power sun visor; the step cover;
and the entry step switches. The passenger side
of the dual-control dash heater and
air-conditioning zones also can be controlled
from this panel. Above the cup holder, a
concealable panel contains controls for the
front awnings. (Another remote controls all four
electric awnings, so they can be opened from the
outside while making sure they don't hit any
obstructions.) Country Coach and HWH. The
corners of each slideout are equipped with an
electrically actuated serpentine hardware
system. These systems work independently of one
another to extend or retract the slideout and
lock it in place.
The slideout in the galley and living room is 13
feet 2-1/2 inches long by 17 inches deep. It is
controlled by a keyed switch in the main control
panel, located just behind the driver. Also in
the panel is the second Coach Command screen,
two LINK 2000 battery monitors/inverter
controllers, the control panel for the central
hydronic heating system, the water pump switch,
and a variety of other switches.
The bedroom slideout measures 6 feet 10 inches
long by 17 inches deep and is controlled by a
keyed switch in a bedroom cabinet.
The software necessary to drive the serpentine
hardware uses a language called CAN (Control
Area Network) electronic protocol. This
technology was adopted by HWH so that it could
combine the electronic control of the slide
rooms with the electronic control of the coach's
leveling system, so only one computer system
would be needed. A fully electric leveling
sensor is used in place of the traditional
mercury switch, resulting in a tighter tolerance
in coach leveling. (The CAN electronic protocol
is also used to control the tag axle, which
reduces the number of mechanical parts needed,
such as solenoids and relays.)
Nearly hidden in the ceiling is a 46-inch LED
back lit Samsung monitor, which swings down at
the touch of a button. Whether you're watching
a DVD, or something via satellite, you'll enjoy
it. Combine this huge monitor with the full
surround sound of the Bose Lifestyle 30 home
theater system, and it's probably the most
entertainment you've ever seen outside of a
movie theater.Just aft of the galley, through a
pocket door that can be secured open or closed,
is the center-aisle bathroom. On the curb side
is a washer-dryer unit topped by a spacious
shirt closet. Next is a separate area that
houses a vanity sink with storage beneath and a
medicine cabinet, as well as a residential-style
ceramic toilet that uses air pressure to
force-flush.
On the street side of the bath area, the
dominating presence is the round glass shower
enclosure. Inside the shower is a fixed
showerhead and a hand-held wand, as well as a
convenient seat. A second sink and a medicine
cabinet are on the wall next to the shower.The
50-amp shore cable is stored out of sight on a
powered reel.
Another feature that was placed on my long list
of "likes" was the dual fuel fills. Just behind
each front tire is a lockable fuel door, both of
which feed the 145-gallon fuel tank.
|
SPECIFICATIONS
Manufacturer ... Country Coach
Inc.
Model ... Lexa
Floor plan ... 45' Alexandria
Chassis ... DynoMax (Country
Coach)
Engine ... Caterpillar C-15;
515 horsepower at 1,800 rpm; 1,650 foot-pounds
torque at 1,200 rpm
Transmission ... Allison World
4000 MH six-speed automatic
Axle ratio ... 4.30 to 1
Tires ... Toyo steel-belted
radials; front, 315/80Rx22.5; rear and tag axle,
12Rx22.5
Wheels ... Alcoa aluminum (6);
steel inner dual wheels
Wheelbase ... 270 inches
Brakes ... dual ABS air; front
-- disc, rear -- drum
Suspension ... front -- Dana/Kirkstall
independent front suspension with double
wishbone construction and bus-style air bags;
rear -- Ridewell model 227 with four air bags;
tag -- Ridewell model 207 with arched beam and
four liftable air bags
Alternator ... 200 amps
Batteries ... chassis -- (2)
heavy-duty deep-cycle 8D; house -- (2) Freedom
25; optional all-electric package includes 4
absorbed glass mat heavy-duty deep-cycle 8D
maintenance-free house batteries
Steering ... Sheppard power
steering with tilt and telescoping column
Inverter/convertor ... (2)
2,500-watt solid-state inverter; 130-amp
solid-state convertor/charger with 15-amp charge
system
Electrical service ... 50 amps
Auxiliary generator ... Onan
12.5-kilowatt diesel
Exterior length ... 42 feet
Exterior width ... 102 inches
Interior height ... 6 feet 8
inches
Exterior height ... 12 feet 7
inches (with roof air conditioner)
Gross combination weight rating (GCWR)
... 56,500 pounds
Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR)
... 49,500 pounds
Gross axle weight rating (GAWR)
... front -- 17,500 pounds; rear -- 20,000
pounds; tag -- 12,000 pounds
Wet weight as tested ... front
axle -- 14,009 pounds; rear axle (including tag)
-- 29,030 pounds; total -- 43,039 pounds
Payload ... 6,461 pounds
Frame construction ...
8-inch-by-3-inch-by-1/4-inch tube steel cage
with vacuum-bonded walls and floor
Insulation ... 1-1/2-inch
expanded polystyrene sidewall and floor;
R20-valued roof insulation
Fresh water capacity ... 102
gallons
Holding tank capacities ...
gray water -- 60 gallons; black water -- 40
gallons
Fuel capacity ... 145 gallons
Fuel requirements ... diesel
Water heater ... Atwood
10-gallon with Doucette heat exchanger
Water system ... demand with
motor aid
Furnace ... Hurricane
45,000-Btu with dual-zone climate controls and
freeze protection for plumbing bay
Air conditioner ... (3)
15,000-Btu roof units with heat strips
Refrigerator ... Dometic
21-cubic-foot side-by-side with ice dispenser in
door
Toilet ... china, electronic
with air assist |