Leveling jacks

[printernot]

Hi All,
Is there any reason I would need or want jacks on my new Knight...they say the bags are sufficient, but looking for other opinions.

[Our Time]

What year Knight are you referring to? You would definitely need the jacks to level the coach as the air bags are for ride support and not designed for long term leveling in that model coach.

[JimM68]

Haven't read the specs, but I wouldn't think air leveling is even an option on a knight. It certainly wasn't in 2008.
Get the jacks. Surprised they are not standard.

[PizzaGuy]

I just checked the specs for the 2012 Knight on the Monaco site. Automatic Hydraulic Leveilng system is listed as an OPTION. There is no mention of air leveling. Just air ride suspension.

It is a nice looking coach but I am shocked about the jacks being an option. Go figure

[Our Time]

Even worse besides this being a option, is the salesman pushing it off as not really needed. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[crah]

Quote:

Originally Posted by PizzaGuy I just checked the specs for the 2012 Knight on the Monaco site. Automatic Hydraulic Leveilng system is listed as an OPTION. There is no mention of air leveling. Just air ride suspension. It is a nice looking coach but I am shocked about the jacks being an option. Go figure

I'm sure its stating "automatic" is an option. I'm sure the manual leveling jacks are standard which has been fairly common for quite a while.

[printernot]

The salesman got back to me about this...he said the leveling is done through the automatic leveling system, just like in the big busses. No jacks are on it for reasons like not shifting the chassis, eliminating broken windshields, floor tiles, etc.

[Rex]

Well go back and ask the salesman if the automatic is air leveling. If so that is good. If not he is blowing smoke at you and you should run. You will need some sort of leveling system either jacks or air. Both have an automatic option. Somehow I think you should consider the salesman lips moving as very suspect. Ask for and read the written data on the coach which should list the equipment. See what it says about leveling.

[printernot]

It is air...I only said bags in my original post, should have said air bags, I guess. Still kind of new with the diesel coaches.

[Rex]

OK, you will love air leveling. It should have two functions, one will allow automatic leveling, and the other should allow you to manually level using air. What it does is adjust the air in the air bags by letting air out or adding air to level the coach. It will first dump air before adjusting.

I have jacks on my coach, but added HWH air leveling about a year ago. I rarely use the jacks anymore and love the air leveling.

[rpasetto]

Wow! the Knight has sure changed for 2012; I just looked at it online, in the "standards and Options" section under Chassis/Engine/suspension it states "Automatic Air Leveling System" as standard, with "Automatic Hydraulic Leveling System" as an option.

Going "up the line" to the 2011 Diplomat "Automatic Hydraulic Leveling System" is standard; for the 2011 Camelot, Hydraulic leveling is standard and Air leveling is an option; for the 2011 Dynasty there's Automatic air leveling with dual leveling the option.

The website shows the Knight as the only 2012 product yet to make the lineup, also has the new Navistar MaxxForce engine instead of a Cummins. Looks as if this is the new direction for the company.

[printernot]

The 2012 line up was changed from before. They eliminated a model and moved the Knight up a notch, I think, above the Diplomat. I heard this at the Hershey show, but can't remember all of the conversation. They are claiming a 11-12 mpg for the Knight, which was part of the reason I ordered one...I guess we'll see. It's supposed to be ready in December.

[rpasetto]

I'm sure you'll be getting a great coach, and the 2012 Knight will be way ahead of the Diplomat of a few years ago. However don't count on the 11-12 mpg or the Knight "above" the Diplomat ... just salesman talk. As of 2011 the Dip's are all 42-43 footers on the RR10 chassis as opposed to the RR8. Monaco is not likely to regress the Diplomat in 2012 IMHO; if they did it's be the first time they've downscaled. Again, more salesman talk.