Choosing a Coach

What to consider when choosing a coach

Whether you're a racer looking for a coach to travel from track to track or a hard core dirt bike rider, Haulmark gives you plenty of options to choose from for your vehicle. Choosing among those options should not be a chore. You simply have to consider how you intend to use the vehicle. That will make most of your decisions for you.

The Haulmark coach models offer from about 29 feet to nearly 45 feet of living space. This gives you plenty of options for living quarters. For instance, if you take your family with you, you can choose amenities such as a larger bedroom and a more spacious bath. If the coach is more of a space for you and the crew to relax, you might want a smaller vehicle.

Helping to make your decision is the type of hitch you want on your vehicle. Haulmark motorcoaches can accommodate a gooseneck, a fifth wheel or a tag hitch. The gooseneck and fifth wheel hitches generally take more space, leaving less room for living quarters.

The most popular Haulmark chassis is the CL 120 Columbia with either the Mercedes Benz engine or the Detroit Diesel. This chassis has 450 hp. and 1,550 lb.-ft. of torque, giving you plenty of beef to tackle hilly and mountainous terrain. The transmission is a 12-speed automatic and the GCVW is 80,000 lb.

The M2 chassis with its Caterpillar engine offers 350 hp and 860 lb.-ft of torque. It comes with a six-speed automatic transmission. It does not offer the beef of the Columbia, but it may be just the ticket to take you in style.

The top of the line chassis is the Coronado with its 515 hp and 1,550 lb.-ft. of torque. The main difference between the Columbia and the Coronado, besides the extra 65 hp., is that the interior and exterior cab appearance is higher end. Both offer 12-speed automatic transmission and a GCVW of 80,000 lb. The Coronado comes only with the Detroit Diesel engine.

Once you determine the size of engine and type of hitch you want, you can turn your attention to the amenities. Here are some hints on what to look for:

Make sure the coach has the RVIA (Recreational Vehicle Industry Association) certification label. This insures the living quarters meet the exacting specifications mandated by RVIA for important construction, electrical and plumbing installations. A coach without the label offers no guarantee the workmanship is up to code.
Appearances count. You?re making a statement with your coach. Decide what you want that statement to be. Besides looking good, a Haulmark coach can make a winning statement to potential sponsors.
Make sure the manufacturer has taken advantage of all available space in the coach to give you the maximum amount of storage.
Entertainment packages always spruce up a motorcoach and the choices here are almost boundless. A thin screen television might be what you want. Some models are mounted on the wall or ceiling and flip out for viewing but lock out of the way when traveling. (Here?s a tip: if you purchase a coach with a thin screen, make sure it is an LCD (liquid-crystal display) screen rather than a plasma screen. LCDs are much more rugged.
Many coaches have slideouts to give extra room at the track. Look for slideouts that extend with a flat floor, rather than a cumbersome step-up.
Ask your coach dealer plenty of questions about the electrical and plumbing systems to ensure both have the capacity you will need. The wiring for the coach should be fully accessible.
Closely inspect the fit and finish of the interior. This unit will be with you for a number of years and you want to make sure it remains looking good. Also, check things like the cabinets and doors ? are they solid or cheaper hollow cores.

Carefully selecting the vehicle can make those weekends at the track or on the road more comfortable and more enjoyable. Taking time before you buy can ensure you have the vehicle that fits your needs.