OP, if I had to replace my 04 MH it would not be one with a engine newer than 06 so my answer to your question is NO. I find it strange that Scott would opt for a newer diesel but he drives a pre emission 03 Cummins (lightly bombed)... more smoke out the exhaust. The first emission mandated changes were on engines built in 04. To say these changes "were for power, reliability and efficiency (emissions)" is not true. What set me off was putting "efficiency (emissions)" together as that is not a positive relationship. To say that electronic controls increase reliability did not help either. 07 was the next emissions increase in complexity and cost and Cat gave up on making OTR engines before the 2010 increase. Navastar/MaxForce failed in meeting the 2010 absurd requirements and they are out of the MH business.
Tom is X2 BUT at least he knows to stay below 2010 (in most cases) DEF required engines. As each increase in complexity and cost came along (07 & 2010) some MH manufactures bought extra 06 & 09 engines to put in the next years MHs. I actually saw a 09 Monaco MH with a 06 engine in it so check which year engine is in it. It's easy to tell a 07 or newer, just look at the exhaust system... if it has wires running to it, it's a 07 or newer.
As for the Allison trannies, they are very reliable and from around 1998 they are electronic controlled BUT you do not want to work on the wiring harness, ECM, or even the shift pad. There is over 25 wires that replaced a lever and most of the time it works well but when it does not... GOOD LUCK
*OP, sorry about the rant and welcome to the forums.
