Older Monacos rule

[moisheh]

By older I mean pre Navistar. I am in Q
My friend is parked next to me. He has an 88 Wanderlodge the same as my old Bird. We went to dealer lots in Quarzsite today. I had not been in a new coach fir years. The park where we are staying has a number of newer Dutch Stars. They are gorgeous on the outside. The first Dutch Star we entered looked nice. But the interior quality was horrible. The dash was thin plastic and not well mounted. The cabinetry is some sort of light plywood with a thin outer of real wood. Drawers were stapled together. The bathroom door wobbled. It reminded me of our old Bounder. When we bought our Dynasty in 08 Dutch Star's were high quality
Not now. We looked at a Allegro Bus. Stunning exterior. But the Fiberglass was terrible. Wavy. I suppose if I looked at any of the Rev products they too would be disappointing. What has happened to the industry? These new coaches will not survive 10 years. Maybe less. We also looked at an Entegra Cornerstone. Nice inside and out. Well built cabinets. Also had a $908,000 list price. So if any Monaco owners are considering a new unit be carefull.

[pduggs]

When we starting shopping for a coach six yeas ago, we looked at new and were disappointed in the cheapness common to the interiors of those coaches. I always liked Monaco so when we first saw ours fives ago, we bought it because the interior had good quality.

I will say I saw the inside of a new Foretravel last summer. It was parked next to me and the owner was kind enough to show me inside. It really impressed me, but than it listed for over $1 million.

[dbircky]

Was at a rv show a couple of weeks ago. Looking at a 5 with some friends. All had list prices over $90,000. Most you could wobble the kitchen island with not much force. My 2001 keystone TT had better quality drawers (dovetailed and glued plywood versus stapled butt joints). The overall quality was very disappointing.

[Iceclimber]

They build them as cheap as possible with a shiny outside. I look at new coaches and lust after the looks but it's all window dressing. The issue to me is the number of parks that have these stupid 10 or 15 year rules. Like you have to meet their snobby standard to be in the club.

[moisheh]

Where I am parked in Brenda there a number of late model Dutch Stars. I was looking at them across from me
I admit I was envious. I think that is a sin
Something like: Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's motorhome. But after looking at the new units yesterday I am pleased with what I have. I would sooner buy a 12 year old Marathon or Liberty.

[shootist]

Originally Posted by Iceclimber

They build them as cheap as possible with a shiny outside. I look at new coaches and lust after the looks but it's all window dressing. The issue to me is the number of parks that have these stupid 10 or 15 year rules. Like you have to meet their snobby standard to be in the club.

If your coach is in nice condition you won’t be turned down as a rule. They’re trying to keep busted up stuff out of their parks. It’s a major headache and very expensive for the park to have an old abandoned trailer hauled off. Dump fees alone can be a thousand or more. Let alone getting it there.

[wolfe10]

Yup, if a nice older coach, just send them a photo with recent date on it.


With our 1993 Foretravel, we had no problem staying in "10 year rule" parks when over 20 years old.


Could there be a "rule follower" making the decision? Ya, I guess. No problem-- move on.


BTW, it is not just older Monaco products. This applies to any other well-kept older high-end coach.

[Iceclimber]

I have often thought it would be great to have a method to refresh the front end on an older coach since it's just fiberglass mostly but then I thought 'ol large marge already looks dead sexy.
Yes gents I have sent plenty of pictures to comply but still find it irritating. So does large marge, a lady should never be asked her age. Or, she can lie.

[8.3Oilbuner]

Hi Everyone; Seems to be the norm nowadays! Prices way up and quality way down. And that's not just on RV's. A lot of new cars,SUV's and trucks are the same way. The old 01 Monaco Windsor looks real nice to me and going to keep it until I am ready to not RV anymore.

[maint1]

Wife and I just spent 15,000 to remodel our 02 Windsor. I understand more and more people are doing the same. The cabinets and tile work is far superior to what you find in the median priced models that they are building now. Can't afford a million dollar coach. We are very happy with the way things turned out. I would post pictures but where the coach is parked I cannot open the slides.

[John.W]

There is an old Monoco coach sitting outside the storage building where we keep our 5th wheel. We have been at this site for 5 years now and this coach is just rotting away. The tires are flat and clear coat paint finish has turned white and chalky. I don't know what the interior looks like but it's a shame to see this coach go to seed. Looks like it was a grand coach once upon a time.

[MarvinG]

I keep looking for an older project Monaco, Holiday Rambler, or anything else in the same family on the Roadmaster. I flip houses so I’m OK with a lot of repairs needed so long as the engine and transmission are good, and no delamination, etc., on the sidewalls. What are some models I should be looking for? Will these older models need exterior paint?

[Surf Fisher]

Bought what I thought would be my last coach back in 2003 after doing one year's worth of research, going to dealers to walk through coaches and attending RV shows. It was my 2002 40-foot Monaco Windsor. Had it 18+ years but one day I drove a friend's 2006 40-foot Dynasty tag axle and the rest is history.

Searched for 2-3 months in the southeast area from MS to FL and was about to give up after looking at overpriced well used 2006 Dynasty's that needed work to get it back into the condition I thought it should be. I wasn't about to purchase a Dynasty that wasn't in the same or better condition than my Windsor.

Then one day I logged on to RVTrader where I had been looking and there it was. The perfect 2006 42-foot Monaco Dynasty Countess III that had just been listed on the website. Jumped on the phone and called immediately. Unfortunately, the coach was in Salt Lake City.

Negotiated a deal with Nate, the salesman, after doing a video tour and having the coach inspected. Flew out there the end of February and drove it 2700 miles back to Florida.

The rest is history. Got myself an excellent well-built tag axle coach.

Even if I was wealthy and could afford it, I still would NOT waste my money on a new coach.

I totally agree, older Monaco's Rule!

[MSHappyCampers]

The early 2000's Monaco coaches were really well-built, especially from the Windsor on up! We lover our Windsor!