Concern With R4R or RR4R Chassis After Recall Repair?

More complex answer than one would expect.

There were a number of failed rear trailing arms that were replaced (some more than once) with the SAME BAD DESIGN trailing arms.

So, just because they have been replaced, does not insure that they are good.

Here is an indepth look and description of how to identify the bad design/structurally sound design: http://community.fmca.com/topic/569-important-safety-issue-monaco-hr-safari-chassis/

If either the "new Monaco" or even stronger Source Engineering trailing arms are installed, this is a non issue.

I had the trailing arms replaced at dealer expense before I purchased my 2007 cayman. After doing all the research I could I have found nothing that kept me from purchasing after that was done. There is also a ride enhancement kit you can do but from the folks I talked to it was a mixed bag of responses. Everyone almost stated that replacing the stock shocks with Bilsteins shocks made a huge difference without the ping tanks and slightly larger air lines. I went the shock route only.

I am sure you will get a lot of mixed answers on this question. I am very pleased with my Monaco. By the way, my replacement trailing arms were the beefer ones not the same flawed design.

We had our trailing arms replaced 6 years ago (after one broke) and have no issues since then. The replacements were from Source Engineering and are several times heftier than the originals. I think as long as replacements were like ours there should never be a future problem. I have read of replacements being new ones but just the same design as the original failed ones. Also some folks welded braces etc. and rewelded the cracked ones. I would stay away from those "repairs".

wolfe10 wrote:
More complex answer than one would expect.

There were a number of failed rear trailing arms that were replaced (some more than once) with the SAME BAD DESIGN trailing arms.

So, just because they have been replaced, does not insure that they are good.

Here is an indepth look and description of how to identify the bad design/structurally sound design: http://community.fmca.com/topic/569-important-safety-issue-monaco-hr-safari-chassis/

If either the "new Monaco" or even stronger Source Engineering trailing arms are installed, this is a non issue.

Thanks, I've seen pictures of the original and replacement arms and it should be obvious if the coach has the more robust arms. (I printed a picture of them to take with me when looking at coaches)

I was just wondering if redesigned arms took care of the problem.

barmcd wrote:

I was just wondering if redesigned arms took care of the problem.

In a word, YES.

Remember, This is ONLY a Roadmaster chassis issue. NOT Freightliner or Spartan chassis's. Roadmaster was the Monaco built chassis and suspension. When they went out of business, the paid for recalls stopped. So, when researching older Monaco/HR built motorhomes, THAT issue will need to be addressed BEFORE purchase. If not replaced, then they will have to drop the price to reflect the new owner having to pay to have it updated. Doug

"barmcd"......"dougrainer" brings up a good point. Only CERTAIN Monaco/Holiday Rambler models had the bad trailing arms. Monaco made their own proprietary chassis, called the Roadmaster chassis. The MAJORITY of the Roadmaster chassis were the RR8R with four airbags and four shocks in the front and four airbags and four shocks in the rear. Six in the rear if it had a tag axle. They made a less expensive model, which includes the Cayman, I can't recall the name of the sister unit, that had a R4R chassis. This meant it had two airbags and two shocks up front and two air bags and two shocks in the back. This was the ONLY chassis that had issues.

With all that said, the R4R chassis is a VERY rough riding chassis. They made an enhancement kit ($3500.00) to improve the ride, but many said it didn't help much. Our friends have a 37' Cayman that I changed the shocks to Koni's, adjusted the ride height and lowered the tire pressure and it still road rough. They also had trailering arms that broke on the freeway and destroyed the transmission.

So......Monaco made many levels of motor homes and they were all pretty good quality with the exception of the R4R chassis models. If it were me, I would skip anything that has an R4R chassis and look at the Knight, Diplomat, Camelot and above, which are all on the RR8R chassis.

As was pointed out by Don...

the rr4r chassis, regardless of if the trailing arms have been replaced and with what, was a "designed to a price" entry level RV chassis.

These days, at the age of these products, and the prices they get...

Look for a "real monaco, rr8r chassis motorhome" You will find them, at near the same price. Way better. better quality, better ride, better handling, just plain better all around.

Also note, the Knight and HR Ambassador went to the rr8r chassis in 2005.
Older models of these were rr4r.

Also note, for what it's worth, we are extremely happy with our 08 knight. We've had it 5 years, put 32,000 miles on it, and are currently full timing.

From the title of the thread, I suspect that the OP knows that the rear trailing arm issue was only on the 4 bag chassis by Roadmaster (Monaco's in-house chassis).

As posted, the 8 bag chassis never had this issue.

Like Don said, the R4R Roadmaster rides very rough. I know, I had one. I also installed the ride enhancement kit, it made very little difference in my opinion............still rode rough. Stick with an R8R chassis, Sparten or Freightliner.