Looking at a 2003 Monaco Knight 32' tomorrow.

[Gundog]

I have an appointment to see a 2003 Monaco Knight 32' coach tomorrow. I have done some searches on here but did not dig up to much. Is the knight an upper or lower model. If it passes the test after looking at it I plan to have it inspected by a local RV repair shop I know the owner. This coach has 45,000 miles and has been advertised as always stored inside. I am looking for a coach with a diesel to pull a boat and other trailers I have for toys. The boat weighs 8400# so it will need to have at least a 10000Lb hitch or I will need to add one. I have driven many big trucks and have owned other motorhomes. I have a class A license I know that is not required. It seems they are asking more than the NADA guide by about 10K + but I am not real sure the NADA guide seems vague on this model.

[Gundog]

doxiemom11 wrote:
There must be a reason you weren't supposed to have that one. That's how we looked at it when one got sold from under us as we were inspecting it. Even had a signed buy/sell agreement. Probably could have gone after them - easier and less expensive to just walk away.

That is what my wife said but it looked like brand new it was in such good condition that is why it stings so much.

[Gundog]

tropical36 wrote:

Gundog wrote:
I showed up at the agreed to time and the guy says he sold it this morning who does that he had my email and phone number is it too much to ask to give me a call and let me know so I don't waist my time. Plus he arranged the time last Friday why did he sell it out from under me what a jerk.

Might be time for a FL trip and for doing a maiden voyage on the way back home.
Consequently, I should be looking into a trip to your area, if and when it comes time to sale.
I once talked to a guy with a Bluebird Wanderlodge in Little America, Wy, that was on his way back home to the Pacific NW somewhere, after purchasing it somewhere on the east coast.

That would be a fun trip for sure. I have always wanted to see the gulf coast. I run a business full time and it is hard for me to get away I am a one man shop. A couple more years and I am going to retire again LOL. I worked 33 years in the electric utility industry and retired from that in 2016 to run my own business. I really thought I would have more time to do the things I wanted to do but that has not been the case.

[doxiemom11]

There must be a reason you weren't supposed to have that one. That's how we looked at it when one got sold from under us as we were inspecting it. Even had a signed buy/sell agreement. Probably could have gone after them - easier and less expensive to just walk away.

[Dance_Chick]

Gundog wrote:
I showed up at the agreed to time and the guy says he sold it this morning who does that he had my email and phone number is it too much to ask to give me a call and let me know so I don't waist my time. Plus he arranged the time last Friday why did he sell it out from under me what a jerk.

I agree - what a jerk. I'm always amazed at how inconsiderate people can be. No excuse unless he was in a coma. LOL

[tropical36]

Gundog wrote:
I showed up at the agreed to time and the guy says he sold it this morning who does that he had my email and phone number is it too much to ask to give me a call and let me know so I don't waist my time. Plus he arranged the time last Friday why did he sell it out from under me what a jerk.

Might be time for a FL trip and for doing a maiden voyage on the way back home.
Consequently, I should be looking into a trip to your area, if and when it comes time to sale.
I once talked to a guy with a Bluebird Wanderlodge in Little America, Wy, that was on his way back home to the Pacific NW somewhere, after purchasing it somewhere on the east coast.

[Gundog]

I showed up at the agreed to time and the guy says he sold it this morning who does that he had my email and phone number is it too much to ask to give me a call and let me know so I don't waist my time. Plus he arranged the time last Friday why did he sell it out from under me what a jerk.

[gswcgi]

I have a 2003 Safari which is built on the same chassis as the Monaco 4 baggers. You will have to replace the trailing arms if that was not already done, about $3,000 to have it done right.You cannot tow more than 5,000 lbs with that coach !!! That's the limit Monaco said.

[tropical36]

BillofPA wrote:
Not sure what drive train that Monaco has. But my '04 Holiday Rambler had the Cummins ISC330 with 950 ft.lbs. of torque and Allison 3000 Trans. And it was a 34' motor home. Had plenty of ooomph! also 10k towing.

That Allison 3000 is where the towing capacity comes in, along with wheel base and some other factors of course.
Nowadays, with some of the entry level models, they can go as big as 40ft with a 2500 tranny, have a 32K GVWR and thereby being close to max. GCWR, before hitching anything up to it.
There's this mindset out there, that a big DP can tow pretty much anything, but nothing could be further from the truth.
When looking at the initial specs and sometimes leaving out the critical points, it might say that it has a 10K lb hitch receiver, but so what, if there's a weak link somewhere else.
I'm good to go for 15K lbs towing, but with the rear axle, already at max. there's 0 hitch weight left and even though the hitch has a 1500lb rating. We always pull four down, so no problem, but just saying it's a no no for a big enclosed trailer, if you follow the specs. Interesting that we're good with the total weigh ratings though and just that the ton excess, that we have, is all on the front axle.
Not sure what an equalizing hitch would do for one in this case, but again, it's not am issue for us.

[BillofPA]

Not sure what drive train that Monaco has. But my '04 Holiday Rambler had the Cummins ISC330 with 950 ft.lbs. of torque and Allison 3000 Trans. And it was a 34' motor home. Had plenty of ooomph! also 10k towing.

[tropical36]

Gundog wrote:
Going down the list to the link PPL sales prices. They are all in the 29K to 32K range for what I am looking at I do not want a coach longer than 34' which really narrows the search my boat is an Aluminum pilot house about 34' trailer length boat is 26'6" without the offshore bracket the motors hang on so I really do not want it too long. My RV cover is 36' long so I would really prefer a 32'er but would consider up to 34' and I want at least 2 slides. I don't want any older than 03 would prefer newer but I would like to keep expense down. I am in no hurry I am just starting the search and I am not married to Monaco any other quality brand that fits my needs would work.

OK, my bad and for some odd reason, I mistook what you wanted for a 97 model. Guess we're in the $30K range for an 03.
Oh well and at least you can do your homework now....

[Gundog]

Going down the list to the link PPL sales prices. They are all in the 29K to 32K range for what I am looking at I do not want a coach longer than 34' which really narrows the search my boat is an Aluminum pilot house about 34' trailer length boat is 26'6" without the offshore bracket the motors hang on so I really do not want it too long. My RV cover is 36' long so I would really prefer a 32'er but would consider up to 34' and I want at least 2 slides. I don't want any older than 03 would prefer newer but I would like to keep expense down. I am in no hurry I am just starting the search and I am not married to Monaco any other quality brand that fits my needs would work.

[tropical36]

Gundog wrote:

tropical36 wrote:

Gundog wrote:
I have an appointment to see a 2003 Monaco Knight 32' coach tomorrow. I have done some searches on here but did not dig up to much. Is the knight an upper or lower model. If it passes the test after looking at it I plan to have it inspected by a local RV repair shop I know the owner. This coach has 45,000 miles and has been advertised as always stored inside. I am looking for a coach with a diesel to pull a boat and other trailers I have for toys. The boat weighs 8400# so it will need to have at least a 10000Lb hitch or I will need to add one. I have driven many big trucks and have owned other motorhomes. I have a class A license I know that is not required. It seems they are asking more than the NADA guide by about 10K + but I am not real sure the NADA guide seems vague on this model.

Hopefully you won't be giving more than $20K or so for it, as you'll need some room for everything you find after the sale. Always stored inside, means that it may leak with the first real storm.
As for towing, not only will it need to have the hitch receiver specs., but most importantly, the GCWR less the GVWR should be at least 10K lbs. Usually the tranny is a deciding factor, so what transmission does it have and then look for some real specs. on it, which are sometimes hard to find.
Are ya planning on launching the boat with the Motorhome and if so, how has that worked out for you, in the past?

No on the launching I will have a friend launch or pay someone to launch and retrieve most ramps are tight and would not have parking for a setup that long.

Both these coaches are way above 20K Cayman is 30K and the knight is 39K. I will do my due diligence on price once I find something I like if it looks like new that has a value to me and I would pay above NADA for that. I am paying cash so I don't need a bank approval but I also don't want to pay too much. I don't think you can get a coach like I am looking for for 20K NADA for my area base is around 26K before adding any of the options.

I have covered storage so whatever I get won't be stored in the open. I had a 30' toy hauler 5th wheel that I recently sold. I have a metal carport that I store the boat and RV under it is 30' wide and 36' deep.

$20K is what one could expect with a private sale, here in FL, during the summer off season and would hate to have to try and resell it, even in winter, if I had paid anymore than that for it.
PPL in TX is a good reference and since this one is only fair, it probably won't bring more than $12K.... 97 Monaco Knight

Here's actual sales prices for a variety of coaches, for a better idea of the real world... PPL sales prices

[wolfe10]

Ya, the part that got a lot people in trouble is that when Monaco (the old Monaco) did the recall, they replaced the old (weak) part with a new weak part.

It was a design problem-- only the more robust trailing arms are a "fix" for the problem.

When the old Monaco Corp went bankrupt, there was no more "recall" even though this is a serious safety issue. If a trailing arm fails, that side of the rear axle can more front to back. Think of the old time fire trucks with a steering axle in back. But on a motorhome, no one would be controlling it!

Again, this ONLY applied to the Monaco (and all their other "brands"-- Safari, Holiday Rambler) coaches with the 4 air bag suspension.

[Gundog]

wolfe10 wrote:
A good discussion of the Monaco trailing arm issue (ONLY on the 4 bag suspension):

https://community.fmca.com/topic/570-serious-problem-some-monaco-holiday-rambler-safari-chassis/?tab...

I would NOT let this stop me from buying one, but would subtract for getting the trailing arms replaced if still the original (weak) design.

That does not mean this coach will meet the OP's needs. More a question of ability to tow that heavy a boat, so they need to get more information on the engine/transmission and tow rating.

As Doug said, this was the entry level Monaco product, so less likely to have as large an engine as higher end models.

That link had pictures so now I know where to look for damage although I am not sure I could identify if the unit had the upgrade or not but I do know where to look for damage. I have the tools and resources to change out these parts so maybe if I find one that needs the work I can get the price down.