Anyone have an 06 La Palma 34 PD???

[LVRVLUVR]

diesel rear leaf spring and juice brakes???

good , bad ???

thanks for replys

[blahargoue]

I have an HR Vactioner 34 PDD with only 42,000 miles. Clone of your rig. If you haven't bought it yet, I'd avoid it. Most ill handling rig I've ever driven. I spent $2500 on sway bars, shocks and a steering stabilizer just to make it more manageable. It's still a handful with any cross winds over 25 MPH.

Brakes are barely adequate. Tow rating is a low 4000 pounds. I recently stopped towing my Jeep Wrangler and started towing a 2900 pound Subaru to relieve some strain on the 5.9 Cummins and the brake system.

Just spent $4500 on a new turbo and lift pump due to a design flaw in this first generation VGT turbo. Add to this 3 broken slideout cables and two broken rear spring shackles and you should get the picture.

The rig was Monaco's attempt to build an entry level coach by sticking a rear engine diesel in a modified chassis which uses a lot of Workhorse components. They also used an Allison 1000 five speed transmission in '06. This is the same transmission used in Chevy Duramax pickups at the time. (My transmission has been great though.)

The interior is very nicely done for an entry level rig. Body integrity is pretty good too. It does have creaks and rattles in the interior when going down the road thanks in part to the leaf spring ride quality.

I've poured so much money and effort into mine that I hate to sell it at this point. I would not buy one if I had to do it all over again.

Bruce LaHargoue
HR Vacationer 34 PDD/Cummins ISB
Clovis, CA

[LVRVLUVR]

Originally Posted by blahargoue

I have an HR Vactioner 34 PDD with only 42,000 miles. Clone of your rig. If you haven't bought it yet, I'd avoid it. Most ill handling rig I've ever driven. I spent $2500 on sway bars, shocks and a steering stabilizer just to make it more manageable. It's still a handful with any cross winds over 25 MPH.

Brakes are barely adequate. Tow rating is a low 4000 pounds. I recently stopped towing my Jeep Wrangler and started towing a 2900 pound Subaru to relieve some strain on the 5.9 Cummins and the brake system.

Just spent $4500 on a new turbo and lift pump due to a design flaw in this first generation VGT turbo. Add to this 3 broken slideout cables and two broken rear spring shackles and you should get the picture.

The rig was Monaco's attempt to build an entry level coach by sticking a rear engine diesel in a modified chassis which uses a lot of Workhorse components. They also used an Allison 1000 five speed transmission in '06. This is the same transmission used in Chevy Duramax pickups at the time. (My transmission has been great though.)

The interior is very nicely done for an entry level rig. Body integrity is pretty good too. It does have creaks and rattles in the interior when going down the road thanks in part to the leaf spring ride quality.

I've poured so much money and effort into mine that I hate to sell it at this point. I would not buy one if I had to do it all over again.

Bruce LaHargoue
HR Vacationer 34 PDD/Cummins ISB
Clovis, CA

thanks so much for postingsaved me a trip to look at it

[blahargoue]

You are welcome.