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whtmtnhiker · 04-10-2016, 04:53 AM

Hi all,
I'm looking at possibly buying a 2006 Monaco LaPalma 37PCT with about 25,000 miles. Anything in particular I should be looking for that is peculiar to this coach or chassis? This will be my first motorhome after spending many years in 5th wheels. I plan on towing a 2012 Chevy Equinox. It is on the Ford chassis. It looks very nice although I have not seen it in person. We are going to look at it on Monday. Thanks.

windsorbill · 04-10-2016, 06:38 PM

Whtmtnhiker,

I would start by checking dates on tires and batteries. Other than that, the maintenance records would be nice to go through.

You might verify, but I thought the LaPalma 37PCT only came on the W24 chassis (a GMC product, I believe). Quite often on the larger gassers (ford or others), available cargo carrying capacity (CCC) is fairly low. Also it's easy to overload an axle once you start throwing your stuff in there unless you're careful.. I would research that very well before you pull the trigger. Also check the weight of your equinox--I think they are 3500-4000lbs You don't want to go over the GCVWR either.

Good luck.

xydial · 04-10-2016, 06:57 PM

The brochure for a 37 PCT states that it is built on a Workhorse W24 chassis. Check for the brochure here.

Monaco Brochures

windsorbill · 04-10-2016, 07:08 PM

xydial,

Yep, you confirmed what I thought.

windsorbill · 04-10-2016, 07:09 PM

a 37 footer is pretty big for the ford chassis.

whtmtnhiker · 04-11-2016, 03:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xydial

The brochure for a 37 PCT states that it is built on a Workhorse W24 chassis. Check for the brochure here.

Monaco Brochures

So it's a workhorse chassis even though it's a Ford engine & trans? The brochure really doesn't make any sense. it differentiates between a Ford and W-24 chassis in one place, then in another place says the W-24 is a required option on the PCT. There is a big difference between the two in CCC. I don't believe it has the Workhorse chassis with a Ford power plant. Am I wrong? I know for sure it's the Ford.

windsorbill · 04-11-2016, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whtmtnhiker

So it's a workhorse chassis even though it's a Ford engine & trans? The brochure really doesn't make any sense. it differentiates between a Ford and W-24 chassis in one place, then in another place says the W-24 is a required option on the PCT. There is a big difference between the two in CCC. I don't believe it has the Workhorse chassis with a Ford power plant. Am I wrong? I know for sure it's the Ford.

I don't believe you HAVE TO have a ford chassis under a ford power plant, so to answer your question, I don't know. I'm not sure which year coach you're looking at, but most if not all of the Ford engines are very good.

xydial · 04-11-2016, 08:18 AM

If you believe the brochure, the Workhorse chassis (W22 & W24) always has the 8.1 Vortec engine. I do find it odd that the W24 chassis is "standard" on the other two 37 foot units but a "required option" on the 37PCT. If it is a "required option" then it should be "standard".

There is a chassis spec sheet somewhere in the motorhome. Mine is inside the bathroom medicine cabinet. It will list the Gross & Gross combined weights.

Good Luck

windsorbill · 04-11-2016, 12:50 PM

Something is not adding up. Possibly miss information from the seller? Is seller a private party? Often dealers will be wrong when quoting specs. I had a dealer trying to get me to trade in our Windsor several years ago because he 'had a eager buyer that wanted a CAT engine". I walked away.

whtmtnhiker · 04-11-2016, 08:24 PM

What it turned out to be is a coach that was built in May of 2005 but rolled out as a 2006. The 2006 brochure does not include this coach configuration with this chassis but the 2005 brochure does. The serial number says it's an 06 but the actual build is really an 05. The coach itself is so heavy that it doesn't leave much room for cargo. UVW 20600, GVW 22000, GCVW 26000.

windsorbill · 04-11-2016, 10:00 PM

So you're saying you can put in 400 pounds before you're overweight?

whtmtnhiker · 04-12-2016, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by windsorbill

So you're saying you can put in 400 pounds before you're overweight?

Unless I'm figuring wrong that leaves us 1400 lbs we can put in the coach. Between my wife and I we weigh 300 so now we have 1100. I do allot of dry camping so a full tank of fresh water would be 560 leaving 540 and a full tank of propane would be 157 leaving 383 I can put in the coach. I'm thinking 383 wouldn't be enough with food, clothes, tools, etc. Do I have this right?

windsorbill · 04-12-2016, 08:06 AM

I missed a 1 when typing. You're correct, 1400 lbs. Then you're down to 383 lbs. That's not very much. Throw in a dog or a 3rd person, some hiking boots, etc, and that 383 will disappear. I'd keep looking.

xydial · 04-12-2016, 10:53 AM

Sixty gallon of fresh water = 480 lbs, not 560, so a gain of 80 lbs.

Another concern is the Equinox. It is listed at 3,786. The tow capacity of the LaPalma is listed a 4,000 lbs. So you can't exactly load up you tow to off load the coach.

Best to find another coach with a heavier chassis.