Community Forums

frazierdee · 07-16-2012, 11:37 AM

My hubby and I just bought a 2000 Monaco LaPalma. We pick it up tomorrow,will do a walk thru with service people. We are fairly green RV'ers - we owned a 2001 Winnie for a short time. We need, and are open to, and would appreciate any and all new RV owner advice. We travel full time for biz, mostly West Coast, Arizona, some trips a little further east. Are there any particular questions we should ask the tech during our walk thru? As I said we are in the "pre-K" group of RV owners. Got a lot to learn.
Thanks,

jfran304 · 07-16-2012, 12:05 PM

Congrats on your new (to you) coach.

When you do a pre delivery inspection take your time and make sure you know how to work everything and that everything works. DO NOT TAKE THEIR WORD FOR IT...

Being that it is a 2000 model coach check the manufacturer's date on the tires. They recommend replacing RV tires between 5 and 7 years of age.

Good Luck,
Jon

wrb7636 · 07-16-2012, 12:31 PM

I bought a 2000 Dutch Star last year. My mistake was not having someone with me who was motor home savy. The first thing you should look for is the maintenance history/records for the coach. If there are no records I would require them to have all maintenance items completed IAW the coaches service schedule. Also, take the coach for a camp out weekend at least 50 miles from the sellers location and use everthing you possible can. Look under the coach too. Mine needed new tie rod end bushing and they needed to be lubed. Check the differential and u-joints and make sure it is lubed too. Get someone with pre-buy experience and take him with you. It will pay out in the long run. My coach had a problem with the ABS computer and caused a problem with the ECM. It was spewing out garbage and caused the engine to downgrade its performance. I was luck to have perchased form a dealer who stood behind the coach, evn though it was used. $2000 dollars later and a new ABS computer and wiring harrness, air dryer and fuel filter the coach was in pretty good shape. Make then change the oil too. Big expense on a diesel unless you can do it yourself.

Get A Pre-buyer or someone who knows MH to go with you to look out for your interest.

Have fun and enjoy the new MH.

Bill and Marsha
2000 Dutch Star DSDP3851/ 2010 Buick Enclave CXL

Mochisme · 07-19-2012, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazierdee

My hubby and I just bought a 2000 Monaco LaPalma. We pick it up tomorrow,will do a walk thru with service people. We are fairly green RV'ers - we owned a 2001 Winnie for a short time. We need, and are open to, and would appreciate any and all new RV owner advice. We travel full time for biz, mostly West Coast, Arizona, some trips a little further east. Are there any particular questions we should ask the tech during our walk thru? As I said we are in the "pre-K" group of RV owners. Got a lot to learn.
Thanks,

Welcome to the La Palma Family. I also have a 2000 La Palma which over all I am very happy with, but there have been a few little problems.

Things I would recommend you check closely are:
1. Tire age: If they are over 7 years old have the dealer replace them or lower the price by the cost of new tires. (Check the date on new tires also) I discovered my tires were 11 years old and scared the heck out of me.

2. House Batteries: Check fluid level and charge. Dealer told me that had checked mine, but they died on my first trip only to discover two were bone dry, two were 50 down and they had not been checked at all. Dealer did reimburse me for the cost of 4 new battries and their installation, but it was a pain in the rear.

3. Have them open all awnnings so you can check the over all condition and connections to the coach.

4. Check seals on all slides, I had and still have a leak after Monaco installed a new seal at their shop in Colburg, OR. Check the carpet behind the drivers seat with the slide out.

5. Consider adding "Steer-Safe" units, it made a world of difference on my La Palma.

6. Take your time and make lots of notes as they walk you through the operation of everything as there is so much you will not remember it all with out good notes and please don't ask me how I know that.

Good Luck and I hope to see you down the road.

frazierdee · 07-27-2012, 10:30 AM

Thank you all. We got our "casita grande" from Guaranty RV in Junction City, OR. The walk thru was indeed very fast and overwhelming. Since then we've been back for leaking hydraulic jack seals and a few other minor things. But over all we are loving our big little house. We travel with our business - we do festivals, fairs, home shows etc. Having a second chapter of US travel in our 60's. Hubby says we are "children of the sixties, in our sixties, doing it one more time". About sums it up. Thanks all - lovin the RV so far.