New guy question 2003 Neptune 30 ft

[fatbrothers]

Well it looks like I should take delivery next Saturday so I need some help !!
Does the allison transmission take a filter when you service it ?. Is this something I can do similar to my F-350 Ford truck or do I need to take it in to a service location ? If not what specific fluid does it take . I also would like to know the chassis type . I believe from what I have read it is a RR4R .The coach has the upgrade to the Cummins 300 motor . I also want to know the wheel lug pattern . I know it has 10 lugs .

Thanks to all for any assistance provided .

Jeff

[JeepTJ5]

If you have the 2500MH, then the filter is probably visible on the bottom of the transmission and is easily changed when the fluid is changed. (At least my 2500 MH is like that... ;-

My transmission says to only use TranSynd (tm) fluid, which is made by Castrol especially for Allison. I got mine in gallons at a Mack truck dealer that services Allison. Note on transmission somewhere says warranty void if you don't use TranSynd. I used it.

Don

[fatbrothers]

Don:

Good information . I have several truck supply centers nearby . I appreciate the information .

Thanks :
Jeff

[MLMath]

Jeff, have you looked at the trailing arms to see if they need to be replaced?? If you are unaware of this go to the Monaco forum and plug in trailing arms..
Mike M..

[MLMath]

I'm sorry, I told you wrong, you just need to go down this forum(Roadmaster chassis) til you come to trailing arms and click..
Mike M..

[fatbrothers]

No ..I was not . I will follow up on this .

Thanks

Jeff

[fatbrothers]

Well the coach is now in my garage ..I'm now a first time owner of an "RV " . I had the repair shop check the arms . I printed out the notice and gave it to the shop owner . He said there were no cracks or signs of failure . The coach is a 2003 30 ft Neptune DP . I will keep an eye on them .Thanks to all ....

Jeff

[MLMath]

Jeff, this is not something you can just keep an eye on.. You need to get them changed before you travel.. They will break, it's not a matter of watching them until they crack and then get them replaced.. Someone on the West coast had there's break and it jammed the drive shaft into the transmission doing around $15,000 damage to the coach.. Ours weren't cracked either, we thought, we had them checked just two weeks before we had them changed, and when they took the old ones off and layed them on the floor, cracks opened up on each arm.. I can't stress enough to please get them changed before you travel.. I don't want to see you on the 6:00 news..
Also you need to check out the Holiday Rambler RV Club, and aspecially the 419 Diesel Pusher sub chapter to help you learn about your coach and how to take care of it.. They have a gathering once ayear at Goshen In. in the spring..
Mike M..

[JeepTJ5]

Jeff:

I would like to reinforce the statement from MLMMath. This isn't the kind of thing you can wait-and-see about. I know expense is great, especially since you just purchased, but they WILL break. Please consider doing it before you have a problem. And, don't install the original factory replacement - it was the same as what was installed on the new coach. Monaco now makes a new replacement unit that is sound as does Source Engineering. (I used Source)

Best wishes.

Don

[fatbrothers]

Well , it seems quite clear changing the arms is not an option . Anyone have a recommendation for a shop in the San Bernardino / Riverside area ?. Thanks for the sound advice from all.
Regards:

Jeff

[Nonno]

Quote:

Anyone have a recommendation for a shop in the San Bernardino / Riverside area ?

Here's a link to Source dealers in CA. Dealers They can either install them or ship to a center you prefer.

Quote:

Does the allison transmission take a filter when you service it ?.

Short answer, yes a spin-on filter. There's also an internal filter that is changed when overhauled

According to the HR specs (Neptune by Holiday Rambler) you have the Allison 2000.
Look here Allison Transmission and enter the appropriate info to get the change interval.

[BDKrull]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatbrothers Well , it seems quite clear changing the arms is not an option . Anyone have a recommendation for a shop in the San Bernardino / Riverside area ?. Thanks for the sound advice from all. Regards: Jeff

You might check with Monoco first to see if they have been changed already. I bought a 2003 Abassador a few months ago. The trailing arms were on a recall some years back. The recall records showed that they and been changed out in 2005 by the by the previous owner.

Benson

[fatbrothers]

Benson:

Thanks for the information . I purchased the coach from the original owners and I had asked them if they had this type of repair performed. Sadly they had not . So I had the Source arms and REK installed. Mine were cracked about 1/4 inch but the REK made a big difference in ride.

Jeff

[JeepTJ5]

Benson:

If your coach had it's trailing arms replaced in 2005 then the replacement arms installed or provided by Monaco are defective also. The replacement arms Monaco provided at that time were the same as the original and will break just like the original ones. Please take your coach in and have them checked. You should really just replace them whether or not they are cracked now, because they will.


The New Monaco (Navistar) and Source engineering both make replacement arms that are strong enough to last.

Don