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Ocean_Mist's avatar
Ocean_Mist
Explorer
Jun 05, 2017

Test drove a 2006 Monaco Dynasty Countess wierd experience

Yes, I'm currently on the 40' Monaco Executive, and will hopefully love it, but we wanted to take a look at one close to home...

We test drove a Monaco Dynasty countess 42' and when we were driving the steering wheel had about 3-4" dead on center.

so, driving into a turn is approaching the motorhome goes into the turn and im giving steering input but its going straight! then I have to really crank it and then it starts to turn...

Question, is this normal, for a RR10S or is it something wrong? It just felt really loose.

Then to top it off, when stepping on the brakes, it pulled to the left!

I showed the seller. He is a doctor and doesn't really do any maintenance...

What could cause the steering to have such a large Dead on center area, and is this normal??

The seller said you get used to it, but i dont want to get used to it I want to FIx IT! lol :S
Class A
  • Tom_Barb's avatar
    Tom_Barb
    Explorer
    Jun 05, 2017
    How many miles on the coach?

    I'd have in inspected by a good front end shop.

    the pulling left could be a brake malfunction, like a grease seal in a front hub that is leaking and greased the brake pads.
  • msmith1199's avatar
    msmith1199
    Explorer II
    Jun 05, 2017
    x2 on the grease seal. Mine started pulling hard right when braking and it was the grease seal on the left wheel that gave out and soaked the brakes in grease. Can't help you on the play in the wheel as my motorhome isn't as larger as that, but my 35 foot DP doesn't seem to have that kind of play in it.
  • Ivylog's avatar
    Ivylog
    Explorer III
    Jun 05, 2017
    NO, that is NOT normal...sounds like it needs an alignment. Monaco did use two different steering gear boxes, a Sheppard steering box and a TRW steering box. The TRW is adjustable and the other is not and is prone to getting a lot of slop in it. With the engine off there should be less than 1/2" free movement in the steering wheel...this applies to all MHs and it's an easy adjustment with a TRW and impossible with the Sheppard. The pitman arm on a TRW is held on the gear box by a large bolt on the circumference of the arm at the top... not a small bolt on the end of the gear box shaft. Takes less than 10 minutes to adjust a TRW.
  • Ocean_Mist's avatar
    Ocean_Mist
    Explorer
    Jun 05, 2017
    Thank you for the information. I called the Monaco, number and the Tech center there looked all over and was unable to find out if the Steering was Poo-poo Shepard or the Lovely TRW...lol

    Is there any way to tell by the VIN XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX which one my rig may have?

    I haven't actually completed the sale yet...so I really need to know if I can fix it because this may be a deal breaker...
  • westernrvparkow's avatar
    westernrvparkow
    Explorer
    Jun 05, 2017
    If you like the rig, my course of action would be to make repairs of the steering and brakes a condition of the sale. If the seller refuses and you still want the rig, take it to a shop and at least have the problems professionally diagnosed. I wouldn't spend as much money as that Dynasty will command buying a pig in a poke.
  • Tyler0215's avatar
    Tyler0215
    Explorer
    Jun 05, 2017
    If the steering is loose and the brakes pull, and the owner said he didn't keep up with maintainece, what else is going to need repair? Move on.
  • Ocean_Mist's avatar
    Ocean_Mist
    Explorer
    Jun 05, 2017
    I'm sorry if i wasn't clear... I'm purchasing a Monaco 40' Executive, but yesterday i went and drove a 42' Dynasty countess III.

    The countess had all the deferred maintenance and loose steering. I went there to just test out the Monaco and all it's systems...
    Now, had the seller came off his $149 price to maybe $100, I may have been a buyer.

    The 40' Executve 525 ISX is about 7 hours away from me and it should be inspected within the next 2 weeks at a RV Center.

    They will check airbags, chassis, brakes, and all the systems.

    I need to know if the allignment is good,any leaks...

    What else should i ask them to check?
  • Tom_Barb's avatar
    Tom_Barb
    Explorer
    Jun 05, 2017
    Ocean Mist wrote:
    What else should i ask them to check?


    I would specify that each and every system be operated and inspected for proper operation.
    age of the hoses, belts, and tires, when they should be replaced.
  • sch911's avatar
    sch911
    Explorer
    Jun 05, 2017
    Pretty much a known issue with the Sheppard steering box. A thread about this issue with 1300+ replies is located here.

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