VORAD no longer available

[TheJazzMan]

I spoke to Ken Williamson at Newmar this week about ordering an Essex and he said that Eaton, the manufacturer of VORAD, was no longer supplying their systems to the RV industry. Are there other choices for collision avoidance systems?

[TheJazzMan]

I spoke to Ken Williamson at Newmar this week about ordering an Essex and he said that Eaton, the manufacturer of VORAD, was no longer supplying their systems to the RV industry. Are there other choices for collision avoidance systems?

[bsavage]

That's too bad, we've always been very appreciative of our vorad system.

Brenda, of...

[Lug_Nut]

I don't know if that is entirely true as apparently Monaco has an exclusive on it. Now that isn't saying they will ever offer it again. It's funny, I originally heard the discontinuing was due to an accident related to the RV industry, then later, the story on Monaco.

Peter

[Chickadee]

OK, OK....what's VORAD????? Guess EVERYONE but me knows. Steve

[Route 66]

VORAD

[Chickadee]

OH!! Thanks. Steve

[SacsTC]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I don't know if that is entirely true as apparently Monaco has an exclusive on it </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
I don't know if it an exclusive, but it is now installed on the new Executive and above. Referred to as collision avoidance system and/or safety cruise

[Max Hubrich]

Chickadee--

I don't have one but I drove an '04 H3-45' Marathon coach about 1500 miles that had it. It's kinda neat when in cruise because it will adjust your vehicle speed in relation to the traffic in your front quarter-- automatically, no driver input required. When someone passes you, and moves into your lane and then slows down, it's wonderful.

I can see where it would come in handy in marginal visibility conditions.

I didn't like it going off on a left turn curve, when in the right lane or on a two lane road, being caused by a metal guard rail-- which it did a number of times.

I don't know the cost but anything with RADAR attached to its name comes with a high price tag.

[RVDude]

I think VORAD was officially listed as $6,000'ish Newmar option. For whatever reason my VORAD was included in my "specials" I added which were all grouped under one price. I would guess there is no way VORAD accounted for more the a couple thousand of my my "specials" total.

I ordered it expecting it to be a gimmick, especially if it was $6k. After 32,000 miles with it, I agree completely with max - and then a whole lot more he didn't say. Some have called it a gimmick, some an annoyance. It is clearly an ever watchful helper and the safety statistics prove that out. If you consider it an annoyance (and you only get a side alarm from a too close guardrail IF your turn signals are engaged on that side), your driving habits are clearly over the edge - it's not the system.

Of course, your opinions will vary and this is just my opinion. I would be extremely UNlikely to order another coach that did NOT have it.

[Gene & Kaye]

I have had the VORAD system on two Newmar Coaches and have really enjoyed it. My wife is the principal driver and I want her to have any device that helps her feel safe. She loves driving with the VORAD.

The system has been redesigned by Eaton and the radar frequency has changed. The previous model is no longer being sold but you can still get it serviced and parts are available. Monaco now has the exclusive rights to the redesigned system. The only way to get the system now is on a Monaco Coach or as an aftermarket through a Monaco dealer. Monaco may or may not sell VORAD as an aftermarket device. The redesigned system works almost identical to the previous system.

[CSX4350]

Give it a little bit, Monaco may not be around to have an exclusive.

After seeing how many coaches they had stacked up at their plant last time I was in Wakarusa, I seriously wonder if they will survive the current situation. It looked like when the RV market slowed down Monaco's manufacturing didn't. At the very least it's going to be a long time before they need to build any new coaches after seeing what they already need to get rid of.

[porscheracer]

Purely OT - nice to see another GT500 owner!! I have a Vista Blue '08 coupe that gets to ride in the trailer occasionally.

[rebelsbeach]

Dearly loved the VORAD and it's Smart Cruise on the LADB.... even when Dirk refused to keep up.

Ditto to your thoughts on all those Monaco coaches sitting in Wakarusa...

Now about those GT-500's.... Here's my own idea.