2nd childhood
Minnesota
New Member
Joined: 11/23/2007
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
 Offline
|
We are looking at this unit and am wondering if any of you have any
advice on particulars to check out. Any problems etc?
Rog & Sandie
Misty the Mini Schnauzer (the boss)
2011 Cedar Creek 36RD5S
2008 GMC 3500 Ext Cab Dually D/A EC
|
Mr.Mark
California/Tennessee
Senior Member
Joined: 09/24/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
We have one, what do you want to know? What floor plan? Which engine? How many miles?
Ours is 42.2 ft. four slides Diamond floor plan (you can see in our sig). We have the particulate filter on the Cummins which has worked perfectly. I've had a few things done.
Recently:
-new radiator hoses
-slide computer board connections tightened.
-slide hydraulic hose tightened.
-Dash air recharged (3 times within 9 months). Not happy with Colton Truck Terminal in California in that they charged me 3 times.
-wish the ride was smoother (52,000 miles).
MM.
Mr.Mark 
2008 Monaco Dynasty, 42.2 ft., 4 slides, 425 hp clean-air Cummins diesel
2013 Honda CR-V EXL, AWD, w/Nav, SMI Air Force One vacuum-assisted braking
|
2nd childhood
Minnesota
New Member
Joined: 11/23/2007
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
When checking with the dealer this a.m.found they have sold the Dynasty but have a 2008 Diplomat 40PDQ, Quad slides, 400 Cummins. 8-air bag system. It has 33,000. Was suprised you are unhappy with the ride, we have heard the 8-air bag system is supposed to be the ultimate in ride comfort. How is the fit and finish on the Monaco, have heard the new ones are lacking on quality.
Thanks for the advice.
|
bdpreece
Woodburn Oregon
Senior Member
Joined: 05/27/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
We have the twin sister to the Dip in an 08 HR Endeavor 40PDQ. We love the coach. We have only had one real problem and that was that the radiator blew a seam on our first trip out. Other than that it has been only small things like a loose screw here and there and a roof leak around the bathroom fantastic fan vent It is an 08 so it was time to re-seal all the roof seams so I don't blame that on the manufacturer. Compared to the ride of our previous coach which was on a Freightliner XC chassis the 8 air bag Roadmaster chassis is a dream to drive. There is a recall out on the automatic transfer switch but NAVISTAR Monaco is not doing it on the coaches built before they took over.
Brian, Loretta & Daisy (Golden Retriever)
2008 Holiday Rambler Endeavor PDQ40
2008 Ford Explorer toad
|
RayChez
Barstow, Ca. USA
Senior Member
Joined: 09/13/2003
View Profile
|
It just depends on what kind of ride you like. It is like the differance of driving on a sports car versus a luxury car. One is soft ride the other is a firm ride with hardly any roll over.
Some prefer the stiffer ride, others like myself like the softer ride.
The ride on the HR and a Camelot that I test drove were too stiff for me. JMHO! Do not mean to influence you one way or the other.
2002 Gulf Stream Scenic Cruiser
330 HP Caterpillar
3000 Allison Transmission
Neway Freightliner chassis
2013 Honda CR-V EX
Aventa II
FMCA member
|
|
|
Trap
Alberta
Senior Member
Joined: 11/10/2005
View Profile
 Online
|
2nd childhood wrote:How is the fit and finish on the Monaco, have heard the new ones are lacking on quality.
Thanks for the advice.
We've been seriously looking at the new ones and from what I can find and hear from talking to those that have them, the quality of the new ones is really good.
|
zmotorsports
Utah
Senior Member
Joined: 11/29/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
2nd childhood wrote:When checking with the dealer this a.m.found they have sold the Dynasty but have a 2008 Diplomat 40PDQ, Quad slides, 400 Cummins. 8-air bag system. It has 33,000. Was suprised you are unhappy with the ride, we have heard the 8-air bag system is supposed to be the ultimate in ride comfort. How is the fit and finish on the Monaco, have heard the new ones are lacking on quality.
Thanks for the advice.
The Diplomat is a great coach but not equivelant to the Dynasty that you were looking at. There are some distinct differences in both chassis and house. It depends on what standard equipment you are wanting as well as options as they will be different between those two models.
Mike.
A couple of large differences is going to be the 8-bag RR8R on the Diplomat and the 10-bag S-Series Semi-monocoque chassis under the Dynasty with a tag axle. There is a fairly large weight difference as well along (6-8k pounds depending on lenght/model). The Diplomat will have a 4.30 gear ratio with the ISL and the Dynasty a 4.78:1 with the ISL which I believe changed in 2009 when the ISM was available as an option in the Dynasty, the gear ratio with the ISM then went to the 4.30:1.
2003 Monaco Dynasty/ 26' Haulmark Edge trailer
2011 Jeep Unlimited Rubicon
|
2nd childhood
Minnesota
New Member
Joined: 11/23/2007
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Thanks much for all the help. We are going to check it out tomorrow,
hopefully it is as advertised. It always a pleasure to hear from
people who know what they are talking about.
|
Mr.Mark
California/Tennessee
Senior Member
Joined: 09/24/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
2nd childhood, the chassis on our '08 Dynasty has 10 airbags. It has a firm ride. When the road is smooth, so is the ride. When the highway is rough, it will jar your teeth! I would rather it ride like a '76 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham De'Elegance.. LOL!
We always get compliments on how much wood was used in the Dynasty. I keep it oiled with Old English wood polish so that it doesn't crack from the Southwest heat/dryness.
Also, when it's time to get new house batteries (8) which will be soon as they are 5 yrs old, I'm going to have the battery trays removed and powered coated then reinstalled. Even though I have had them painted a couple of years ago, they are rusting some from the outgassing of the batteries.
MM.
|
zmotorsports
Utah
Senior Member
Joined: 11/29/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
Mr.Mark wrote:2nd childhood, the chassis on our '08 Dynasty has 10 airbags. It has a firm ride. When the road is smooth, so is the ride. When the highway is rough, it will jar your teeth! I would rather it ride like a '76 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham De'Elegance.. LOL!
We always get compliments on how much wood was used in the Dynasty. I keep it oiled with Old English wood polish so that it doesn't crack from the Southwest heat/dryness.
Also, when it's time to get new house batteries (8) which will be soon as they are 5 yrs old, I'm going to have the battery trays removed and powered coated then reinstalled. Even though I have had them painted a couple of years ago, they are rusting some from the outgassing of the batteries.
MM.
Mark, I had similar complaints about my battery tray. It was pretty rusted up when we took delivery of it in 2007. I removed the tray, bead blasted it and brushed on a heavy coat of POR-15. It flowed out great and looks fantastic even after 5 years now. The POR-15 hardens to almost a ceramic like finish that is impervious to about anything. I remove my batteries and pressure wash the battery compartment once a year and usually spray the batteries/tray down several other times a year and they still look as good as the day I coated them.
Anyway, just something else to consider vs. the cost and down time involved with powder coating.
Mike.
|
|
|
