Community Forums

augerdogger · 04-18-2021, 08:05 PM

Interesting responses, I have owned DP's since '98 and unless you put a lot of miles on them a gas may be the most cost effective solution. We put 20K miles a year on them. I am now thinking a gasser is a throw away that could be replaced every 5 years. The downside is noise from engine in front.

SuperDad · 04-19-2021, 04:27 AM

Seems most people are saying 2003-2008 MONACO's or TIFFIN's are the way to go. I was expecting to see Newmar in there too?

MO Fred · 04-19-2021, 07:10 AM

I would never think about switching out my coach for some other brand, new or old. C12 CAT at 1550 torque and 4000 Allison transmission. It’s a rear beast pulling steep grades and gets 8.2 MPG. Has a magnum chassis and extreme top quality interior. There are CAT dealers throughout the US and they all have parts and will work on your coach. It is rare that I can’t find a part for my coach.... but I always have Beaver Coach Sales in Oregon to rely on.

768Q · 04-19-2021, 07:52 AM

We searched high and low for a Beaver, Monaco, CC, Newmar or Tiffin for almost a year. Found our 2001 Beaver Patriot, 330hp Cat/Allison 3060 with 60k. The build quality on our Beaver is very, very good and it's 8 bag Magnum chassis drives like a dream. Owners of these upper end coach's in my experience looking tend to take better care of them. Good luck with your search.

Ken Davis · 04-19-2021, 07:52 AM

3 pages of responses here, and no one has mentioned the brakes. Best I can tell, most DPs didn't switch from drum brakes to disc brakes until the 2010- 2011 time frame. I once had a 2000 Holiday Rambler Imperial. Nice coach, but I sold it because long descents often scared the crap out of me. The drum brakes would fade to useless very quickly, and the engine brake and transmission just wouldn't hold it back. This is a SERIOUS design flaw and knowing what I know now, I would never own again.

To me getting disc brakes is far more important than pre-DEF engines.

One other consideration. Lots of folks opining here that miles don't matter on diesel engine coaches. Well that may be true for the engine itself, but the suspension components, steering components, differentials, drive shafts etc all wear at the same rate regardless of type of engine.

768Q · 04-19-2021, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Davis

3 pages of responses here, and no one has mentioned the brakes. Best I can tell, most DPs didn't switch from drum brakes to disc brakes until the 2010- 2011 time frame. I once had a 2000 Holiday Rambler Imperial. Nice coach, but I sold it because long descents often scared the crap out of me. The drum brakes would fade to useless very quickly, and the engine brake and transmission just wouldn't hold it back. This is a SERIOUS design flaw and knowing what I know now, I would never own again.

To me getting disc brakes is far more important than pre-DEF engines.

One other consideration. Lots of folks opining here that miles don't matter on diesel engine coaches. Well that may be true for the engine itself, but the suspension components, steering components, differentials, drive shafts etc all wear at the same rate regardless of type of engine.

Our 2001 Beaver Patriot above has disc brakes with ABS (magnum - 8 bag chassis) all 4 corners. FWIW

Traveler2162 · 04-19-2021, 09:10 AM

Recently started looking at RVs again. Looking for a 40 foot Monaco or similar and wondering about price. I see prices for a 2003/05 Monaco Diplomate from 60K Canadian to over 120k Cdn. I see a 2001 Holiday Rambler for 81k and a 2009 Monaco Camelot for 92k. These prices seem all over the map. Are these large prices just hoping and they will come down at some point or are the machines really worth that much? I know the value of a thing is what is will bring but is a 2005 Monaco Dynasty Platinum really going to go for 120K CDN?

768Q · 04-19-2021, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Traveler2162

Recently started looking at RVs again. Looking for a 40 foot Monaco or similar and wondering about price. I see prices for a 2003/05 Monaco Diplomate from 60K Canadian to over 120k Cdn. I see a 2001 Holiday Rambler for 81k and a 2009 Monaco Camelot for 92k. These prices seem all over the map. Are these large prices just hoping and they will come down at some point or are the machines really worth that much? I know the value of a thing is what is will bring but is a 2005 Monaco Dynasty Platinum really going to go for 120K CDN?

When I was looking I would google the year & model and a NADA link would be in that search, off that I would pick the model best I could and just view "base price" as a guideline without taking mileage and options, also watching CL and RVtrader gave me an idea of market values in my area. Also people that were selling especially if they had a new coach already seemed to be more inline with reality. I feel I got pretty lucky with mine at $40k Nada for mine below:

Values

Suggested
List Price
Low
Retail
Average
Retail
Base Price
$303,015
$38,650
$46,550
Options (Add)

Total Price
$303,015
$38,650
$46,550

Tha_Rooster · 04-19-2021, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EasyRVing

TIFFIN is the only RV manufacturer that consistently uses "normal parts" that can be bought anywhere, has been top-rated for making a quality product that most everyone can service, and has succeeded in not going broke or out of business, as so many others have.

TIFFIN has been acquired by the "Thor" group --- which owns many, many RV companies --- with the agreement that Tiffin will continue to be run by the Tiffin family and will be the "Top of the Line" RV brand for Thor.

Since the 2008 economic bust RV company after RV company has gone out of business. Think carefully about what this means to you and to getting service and maintenance on your new-to-you bus.

Again, Tiffin is the only diesel pusher I would recommend.

Just curious why Tiffin diesel is the only one you would recommend. Basically Tiffin builds the house part on gassers and diesels but has nothing to do with the chassis which is what I’ve always said start with a good chassis like a Spartan.

Wild Card · 04-19-2021, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tha_Rooster

Just curious why Tiffin diesel is the only one you would recommend. Basically Tiffin builds the house part on gassers and diesels but has nothing to do with the chassis which is what I’ve always said start with a good chassis like a Spartan.

Unless you buy a Newell or Prevost or other custom bus type conversion...aren't they all a house built on a chassis? Spartan is just a chassis, like Freightliner.

gryhester · 04-19-2021, 06:22 PM

My first MH was a 2005 HR Ambassador. As the years went by, I was so glad that my MH didn't require DEF for emissions and the multiplex communication system. Just wires.

Gary 05 AMB DST

Cfyanes1 · 04-19-2021, 06:50 PM

Love our 2005 Beaver 👍

OnSafari · 04-19-2021, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 768Q

Our 2001 Beaver Patriot above has disc brakes with ABS (magnum - 8 bag chassis) all 4 corners. FWIW

My 97 Safari has 4 wheel disc brakes, but not ABS

Mr_D · 04-19-2021, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Davis

3 pages of responses here, and no one has mentioned the brakes. Best I can tell, most DPs didn't switch from drum brakes to disc brakes until the 2010- 2011 time frame. I once had a 2000 Holiday Rambler Imperial. Nice coach, but I sold it because long descents often scared the crap out of me. The drum brakes would fade to useless very quickly, and the engine brake and transmission just wouldn't hold it back. This is a SERIOUS design flaw and knowing what I know now, I would never own again.

To me getting disc brakes is far more important than pre-DEF engines.

One other consideration. Lots of folks opining here that miles don't matter on diesel engine coaches. Well that may be true for the engine itself, but the suspension components, steering components, differentials, drive shafts etc all wear at the same rate regardless of type of engine.

My '09 County Coach has all wheel disk brakes.