2012 monaco

[bigdomino]

Would any of you consider a new Monaco when replacing your coach? The 2012 looks very nice.

Second question. Would you go for a Diplomat or Tiffin Phaeton assuming price is about the same?

Steve

[Freebird23]

In a word NO. All my problems have been with the roadmaster part of the coach,not the house.They will not warn people about very bad problems on their pre bankrup units.I know this is a seperate co,but how much does a letter cost that could save somebodys life.If not for this forum I would not have found out about the trailing arm deal till it broke all the way .I also think you will find the same people that treat there old and ex buyers like they never were.
My 2 cent (free) Bill

[Steve Ownby]

In a word, YES! I do understand the previous poster's bad feelings concerning the RR4R Roadmaster chassis trailing arm problem. There was a national recall concerning the issue but the old Monaco went into chapter 7 bankruptcy and the new Monaco Coach is a different company. The other chassis built by the old Monaco are very solid and well thought of.

The new Monaco coaches show great promise. I attended the eastern Monaco coming home rally in Alabama in Sept and I was very impressed by the new Navistar executive in charge of Monaco. He is a "hands on" engineer who was in charge of the F150 project at Ford. The engineering talent and assets available to Monaco through Navistar is far beyond any other motorhome manufacturer.

As an owner of an "old Monaco" product, I have always had and continue to have excellent tech support and parts availability from the new Monaco.

[Batman_777]

Monaco built some of the best motorhomes in the industry. My favorite was a Beaver and next a Dynasty and a Sig.

Well,,,,,, Here's an interesting story about Monaco. I was at Camping World just last week and the sales rep approached me with his intro etc. While talking, he told me they have a 2005 Signature (Beautiful White with trim). The original MSRP was $700k and is now selling for $250k.

Wait!!!! What???? In only 6 years it dropped $500k in value? Wow!!!!

Something losing $100k/year is NOT good. That's about the worst investment I've ever heard of until I thought about the homes in Vegas, Phoenix and California.

Well, then the $700k did not have any meaning.

[Freebird23]

Its true they did have a recall,and replaced them with arms as bad as the first ones,but if you bought a used unit you would not know about the problem from them.I know this is another co,but how much does it cost to mail a letter or contact all dealers that this problem is for real.All that said I enjoy my coach very much. I have spent several thousand $ on air bags,shocks,bushings,trailing arms,brakes,ect,and now it drives a lot better.I hope the new ones do great and wish the new CO. luck,but burn me once ---my fault--just saying.
Bill

[hardy1000]

I just went to the RV show in Pomona last month and saw the new Monaco's and do not like the new rear caps and the front is questionable. I spoke with the Monaco rep and he said the rear cap is designed for maxium airflow for the Navistar engine. The quality was good on the inside (2012 Diplomat and Knight). He told me that the Signature has been dropped and that the Dynasty is the top of the line. I have been, and am very happy with my 07 Diplomat but, the new Monaco is not the same as the old Monaco but if it was I would buy another Monaco in a heart beat.

[JimM68]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freebird23 Its true they did have a recall,and replaced them with arms as bad as the first ones,but if you bought a used unit you would not know about the problem from them.I know this is another co,but how much does it cost to mail a letter or contact all dealers that this problem is for real.All that said I enjoy my coach very much. I have spent several thousand $ on air bags,shocks,bushings,trailing arms,brakes,ect,and now it drives a lot better.I hope the new ones do great and wish the new CO. luck,but burn me once ---my fault--just saying. Bill

Just to be clear....
Bill is reffering to Roadmasters entry level 4 air bag trailing arm chassis, the rr4r

The 8 bag roadmaster chassis, rr4r and rr4s, do not suffer from any problems, inherent defects or otherwise, and are IMHO are under some of the best built best riding best handling motorcoaches in the industry

[distaff]

In short, I'd buy another used one, but I would never buy a new one, from anyone.

[JDT]

JimM, I think you mean RR8R and RR8S, not the 4 as you typed. Just want to be sure there is no confusion for some who don't know the lingo. I don't think the Navistar owned Monaco ever used the RR4R.

[itdave]

To the OP. The issue with trailing arms has been discussed in depth on this and other RV related sights. I Googled Monaco Neptune Problems and half of the entries that showed up mentioned the trailing arms problem. Just a little investigating on your part would have alerted you to the problem. Any dealer selling these products should have been aware of the problem the fact that they chose not to find out or let you know is an issue with the dealer not the new Monaco.

[cb5300]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hardy1000 I just went to the RV show in Pomona last month and saw the new Monaco's and do not like the new rear caps and the front is questionable. I spoke with the Monaco rep and he said the rear cap is designed for maxium airflow for the Navistar engine. The quality was good on the inside (2012 Diplomat and Knight). He told me that the Signature has been dropped and that the Dynasty is the top of the line. I have been, and am very happy with my 07 Diplomat but, the new Monaco is not the same as the old Monaco but if it was I would buy another Monaco in a heart beat.

The Monaco website still shows the Signature is available...I was told that they would hold off on building any new Sigs until the inventory from the old Monaco thinned out a bit, however, if you wanted a new one then they would build one to order....With that being said, I'm not sure that Navistar has an engine to push the Sig down the road....

[hardy1000]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cb5300 The Monaco website still shows the Signature is available...I was told that they would hold off on building any new Sigs until the inventory from the old Monaco thinned out a bit, however, if you wanted a new one then they would build one to order....With that being said, I'm not sure that Navistar has an engine to push the Sig down the road....

I also mentioned the websight and he said they show it because of a small inventory still out there and to support there dealers. Great point on the engine.

[bigdomino]

Thanks for the great reply. Now how Would you compare a Monaco agaInst a new Tiffen? For me, it would be a Diplomat verses a Phaeton.

Steve

[Freebird23]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimM68 Just to be clear.... Bill is reffering to Roadmasters entry level 4 air bag trailing arm chassis, the rr4r The 8 bag roadmaster chassis, rr4r and rr4s, do not suffer from any problems, inherent defects or otherwise, and are IMHO are under some of the best built best riding best handling motorcoaches in the industry

That is correct Thanks,for making this clear.It also does not apply to any pre 2001 I think .There are a lot of post on this on the roadmaster forum.I agree that the 8 bag units are great units,but they are out of my pay grade.
Tents ,pop ups ,or entry level, were still having fun.
Bill