Forum Discussion

rexlion's avatar
rexlion
Explorer
Jun 27, 2017

Saw a wobbly Monaco

While driving east through IL last week, I found myself passing and being passed by a Monaco MH towing a late-model red Grand Cherokee. The Monaco's driver and I were both traveling at about 70 mph. Every time the MH driver made a slight steering correction, the top of the MH would pitch like crazy from side to side. It was scary! I tried to keep my distance for fear that the guy could lose control.

I don't understand why anyone would spend that much money on a nice vacation rig and then not maintain the suspension to keep it safe. :h Weebles are supposed to wobble, but MHs should not!

Oh, and the roof AC appeared to be wrapped with black plastic, too. :R
  • Monaco had a number of different chassis over the years.

    So, comparing an 8 outboard air bag suspension with, say the mid 2000's 4 bag gives VERY different results.

    Do you recall what model it was?
  • If it was new and still had areas wrapped in plastic it may have been in delivery modebefore someone got it and began fine tuning. I shudder when i think of whar mine went through in delivery.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    It may not be a maintenance issue.. The side to side "Rocking" you describe is called SWAY (Yup Sway means different things in a Motor home and a Trailer, on a motor home trailer type sway is "Wag") Now workhorse Custom Chassis, knows their frames are going to be RV's so they put on an oversize Sway Bar.. At least in the case of my rig it's rather effective.

    But many (including WCC) the same chassis may be used for other things which are not nearly as "Top heavy" as an RV, so the sway bar from the factory is simply not up to the task,, never has been.. So if the owner is the original owner he may thing "This is normal for Motor Homes" mostly because it is as delivered new.

    Where as we the readers of these and other forums, Know it can be fixed.
  • They all do that if there is the tiniest bit of wind which there always is. It's all in how the driver keeps his hands on the wheel to handle the MH.
  • timmac wrote:
    Some just wont spend the extra money to slow the sway, I have seen some just abuse their motorhomes while other sort of like me cant do enough upgrades.

    70 mph while towing is also not smart in a motorhome, heck I dont even drive 70 not towing in my rig.


    Most motorhome tires are rated at 75 mph.
  • I tow my CRV on the car caddy regularly. The MoHo seems to like 67-68 mph the best. It drives good there, sounds & feels good too.
  • Some just wont spend the extra money to slow the sway, I have seen some just abuse their motorhomes while other sort of like me cant do enough upgrades.

    70 mph while towing is also not smart in a motorhome, heck I dont even drive 70 not towing in my rig.