Monaco

Just so you know the Holiday Rambler Line was also built by Monaco, and in most cases it was the same coach, Knight=Neptune, LaPalma=Vacationeer, and I think Navigator or Imperial was the same or very close to a Dynasty or Sig. They baically had different paint jobs and interior colors. The HR line is still in production from Fleetwood, Monaco not so much.

We have an 08 Monaco Dynasty..... one of the last north/south bedrooms they made.... we have been very happy with it.... no major problems, just minor stuff.... we go to every major RV show and look at the new coaches with all of the new features.... then we go home and hug our 08 paid for Dynasty.

We see your question a lot on the forums. However, there is very little "Monaco" stuff on their coaches (same for most MH mfgrs). Monaco kept an inventory of parts but the parts are actually from other makers. It is sometimes difficult to ID the original part vendor as Monaco added their part number for their inventory. The best solution is to post a question here. You will most likely find someone who solved the issue and can point you to a part supplier (often at a discounted price). So, go for it.

By agreeing with DSDP I agreed with buying up to 09... not just 04-07. Cummins rod problems is for engines built in 06 and the problem should have happened by now if it was going to happen. Even the black areas of my 04 do not have the crazing issue, and even if it did, it's a cosmetic issue on a 13 year old coach...not something I'd try to fix.

My 04-07 recommendation is more about less engine pollution components and less likely to have the multiplex control system. Most of the 07 Monaco coaches have 06 engines and 07 was the last year for the DD60 engine in the Exe... my dream coach. The multiplex system is great when it's working but a challenge to fix when it is not.

Even if I won the lottery... hard to do when you don't buy tickets, I would not spend 4X $$$$ to buy a new Monaco that's only a Monaco in name only... no RR10S chassis. Also, I may be full of it but I do not need a bath and half coach which is the norm today in 40+ rigs.

When Monaco first went under a group of Monaco owners started a Yahoo group "Monacoers" to list where to find parts and to help solve problems. Fortunately the Monaco customer support continues although it's recently been moved to IN from OR... new people and maybe not for older coaches.

We got our 08 in October and love it. No problems and I had Alliance Coach in Wildwood, Fl go through it and do all of maintenance as I had no records but a carfax showing we were the 3rd owners. After coming from a 05 Cedar Creek 5th wheel and a Coachmen Encounter gasser I am spoiled now, especially with 10 airbag air suspension and tag axle. Whomever had it was in the "rust belt" sometime and I had to pull all 10 batteries out and sand, prime and the repaint 3 trays as they were bad. Basically I look for rust and try and take care of it so far. As for parts Alliance Coach still has some parts in inventory from when the place was East Coast Monaco facility and staff that used to work there when Monaco was there too.

There is no truth to having special problems with an 08 coach! Our 08 has been a great coach. It is on 08 but was built in the fall of 07. Very few Dynasty's were built after mid 08. Actually early 07's still had problems with the rear frame area. Our 08 came with all the reinforced updates. The build quality is excellent. We have had minor issues. The same ones other Monaco owners of earlier years have encountered. Unless one has actually owned a problematic 08 or knows of hundreds of owners with problems this ugly rumour should be put to rest. Bragging about 04's is not such a great idea. Many of them had the fiberglass crazing problems as well as ISL rod problems.

Moisheh

Ken/OP, since you recently bought a 08 Monaco Sig I'm confused by your question. If my memory serves me right, I think you used to own a Dynasty??? So, is your question about a new Monaco?
I do agree with what DSDP Dan said and if I had to replace my 04 it would be with another Dynasty or maybe a Exe and not newer than a 07.

I think DSDP Don means don't buy newer than 2009, not older than. We are very pleased with our Monaco built coach and if we were looking for another coach, we would be looking in the same vintage as we have now, but not newer than 2009, maybe even 2008.

I had a 2005 Monaco Diplomat and it's still the best coach I've ever had. If looking for used, I wouldn't buy anything older than 2009 when they went out of business. They were bought out by Navistar who installed Navistar engines and then sold the company again to the Fleetwood parent company. They pretty much built a new coach on a Freightliner chassis and called it a Monaco. What made Monaco a Monaco, was the Roadmaster custom chassis.

Don't know about newer ones, but we have a 2000 Monaco(gas) and have not had any problem getting any parts.