Forum Discussion

HOM's avatar
HOM
Explorer
Sep 13, 2014

Price range of coaches and quality

The following two companies have multiple coaches with Tag-axles.

• American has four (4) coaches from the $390 to the $840,000
• Newmar has five (5) coaches from $350 to the $850,000

Both of these companies have mid range coaches that fall around $500,000. So here is my question.

With Entegra, Monaco and Tiffin their top of the line coaches are right around $500,000.

In your opinion is there any benefit to buying a “Top Of The Line Coach” from Entegra, Monaco and Tiffin? Or a “Middle Line Of The Line Coach” from American and Newmar?

It may not be a very good question but I would be curious to your answer.

Thank you,

HJ
Class A
  • eheading's avatar
    eheading
    Explorer
    Sep 25, 2014
    We had a Monaco "semi-monocoque" body/chassis. The reason they called it that was that the "frame strength" was provided by a bridge type truss system in the walls of the body of the coach. While it didn't include all of the body, it did move the forces up into the lower 18" or so of the body.

    Personally, if a motorhome has 3-4 slides, to say nothing of a full slide on one side, I do not believe that the monocoque either full or "semi" is as good as the rail coach. By the time you put all of those cutouts into a body, it is next to impossible to get the strength that we think of with monocoque.

    Just my thoughts as a former strength of materials engineer. And I apologize because I dont' think I've spelled monocoque correctly.

    Ed Headington
  • Deano56's avatar
    Deano56
    Explorer
    Sep 25, 2014
    rvbmw94 wrote:
    Mr.Mark wrote:
    HOM, the upper end Monaco's, Holiday Rambler's and Beaver's had the Semi-Monoque Chassis. I know our 2008 Dynasty has it.

    MM.


    There is no such word as "Semi-Monoque Chassis." You are either "one piece" or not. The phase was made up by Monaco to sell their coaches. It's a gimmick phase.

    Monoque is a process used by Prevost, meaning their coach is one-piece, no chassis rails. So, the entire coach and frame is the chassis. Their coach frame is raised to install the front end stering package, then the rear end engine and axles package. No rails are used to tie the both together.

    All fiberglass coaches (exception is the old Foretravels) use rails. Via, Spartan, FL, and yes even RoadMaster.

    Hope this helps

    Rob & Victoria
    2011 Entegra Aspire RB
    my question was really for you on the chassis/rails
  • down_home's avatar
    down_home
    Explorer II
    Sep 25, 2014
    I think I understand that lots of increase in MSRP and the real prices are more reasonable. Content has gone up. Quality? Solid wood is now defined as compressed saw dust etc with a sprayed finish or pieces, of wood for framing of the cabinet doors etc on some coaches on the market.
    Drivetrain...I don't think we hear as many concerns as in years past.
  • Mr_Mark1's avatar
    Mr_Mark1
    Explorer
    Sep 24, 2014
    Deano56 wrote:
    so you are saying there is no welds on the entire chassis? It's one piece? Something has to be welded together unless casted, that would be the only one piece in my mind. I guess I need a picture


    I'm not really saying anything particular....just quoting what the Monaco brochure states, that's all. You can go to 'www.monacocoach.com' and go down to archives and read about the chassis. Ours happens to be a 2008 Dynasty so that's what I quoted from and it has a picture of it in the brochure (substructure/chassis).

    Our coach is on consignment but our new coach is a true monocoque chassis as it will be a Prevost.

    MM.
  • rvbmw94's avatar
    rvbmw94
    Explorer
    Sep 24, 2014
    Deano56 wrote:
    Mr.Mark wrote:
    rvbmw94 wrote:
    Mr.Mark wrote:
    HOM, the upper end Monaco's, Holiday Rambler's and Beaver's had the Semi-Monoque Chassis. I know our 2008 Dynasty has it.

    MM.


    There is no such word as "Semi-Monoque Chassis." You are either "one piece" or not. The phase was made up by Monaco to sell their coaches. It's a gimmick phase.

    Monoque is a process used by Prevost, meaning their coach is one-piece, no chassis rails. So, the entire coach and frame is the chassis. Their coach frame is raised to install the front end stering package, then the rear end engine and axles package. No rails are used to tie the both together.

    All fiberglass coaches (exception is the old Foretravels) use rails. Via, Spartan, FL, and yes even RoadMaster.

    Hope this helps

    Rob & Victoria
    2011 Entegra Aspire RB


    I understand what you are saying but that's what Monaco called it in our 2008 brochure.

    From the brochure:

    "The semi-monocoque design, with trussed superstructure, distributes stress evenly throughout the entire chassis and adds strength to sidewalls and bays."

    "All chassis are equipped with steel cage construction, steel firewall and steel stepwell for added safety."

    "Full-length frame rails fabricated from 3” by 8” by 1/4” 60,000 PSI structural steel; rails are spaced 44” on center for a wider stance and unmatched strength.

    MM.


    Yep, a chassis rail. But, it was a great line to quote and Monaco did wonderful sales off this term used.


    Rob & Victoria
    2011 Entegra Aspire RB
  • Deano56's avatar
    Deano56
    Explorer
    Sep 24, 2014
    so you are saying there is no welds on the entire chassis? It's one piece? Something has to be welded together unless casted, that would be the only one piece in my mind. I guess I need a picture
  • Deano56's avatar
    Deano56
    Explorer
    Sep 24, 2014
    Mr.Mark wrote:
    rvbmw94 wrote:
    Mr.Mark wrote:
    HOM, the upper end Monaco's, Holiday Rambler's and Beaver's had the Semi-Monoque Chassis. I know our 2008 Dynasty has it.

    MM.


    There is no such word as "Semi-Monoque Chassis." You are either "one piece" or not. The phase was made up by Monaco to sell their coaches. It's a gimmick phase.

    Monoque is a process used by Prevost, meaning their coach is one-piece, no chassis rails. So, the entire coach and frame is the chassis. Their coach frame is raised to install the front end stering package, then the rear end engine and axles package. No rails are used to tie the both together.

    All fiberglass coaches (exception is the old Foretravels) use rails. Via, Spartan, FL, and yes even RoadMaster.

    Hope this helps

    Rob & Victoria
    2011 Entegra Aspire RB


    I understand what you are saying but that's what Monaco called it in our 2008 brochure.

    From the brochure:

    "The semi-monocoque design, with trussed superstructure, distributes stress evenly throughout the entire chassis and adds strength to sidewalls and bays."

    "All chassis are equipped with steel cage construction, steel firewall and steel stepwell for added safety."

    "Full-length frame rails fabricated from 3” by 8” by 1/4” 60,000 PSI structural steel; rails are spaced 44” on center for a wider stance and unmatched strength.

    MM.
  • Mr_Mark1's avatar
    Mr_Mark1
    Explorer
    Sep 24, 2014
    rvbmw94 wrote:
    Mr.Mark wrote:
    HOM, the upper end Monaco's, Holiday Rambler's and Beaver's had the Semi-Monoque Chassis. I know our 2008 Dynasty has it.

    MM.


    There is no such word as "Semi-Monoque Chassis." You are either "one piece" or not. The phase was made up by Monaco to sell their coaches. It's a gimmick phase.

    Monoque is a process used by Prevost, meaning their coach is one-piece, no chassis rails. So, the entire coach and frame is the chassis. Their coach frame is raised to install the front end stering package, then the rear end engine and axles package. No rails are used to tie the both together.

    All fiberglass coaches (exception is the old Foretravels) use rails. Via, Spartan, FL, and yes even RoadMaster.

    Hope this helps

    Rob & Victoria
    2011 Entegra Aspire RB


    I understand what you are saying but that's what Monaco called it in our 2008 brochure.

    From the brochure:

    "The semi-monocoque design, with trussed superstructure, distributes stress evenly throughout the entire chassis and adds strength to sidewalls and bays."

    "All chassis are equipped with steel cage construction, steel firewall and steel stepwell for added safety."

    "Full-length frame rails fabricated from 3” by 8” by 1/4” 60,000 PSI structural steel; rails are spaced 44” on center for a wider stance and unmatched strength."

    MM.
  • rvbmw94's avatar
    rvbmw94
    Explorer
    Sep 24, 2014
    Mr.Mark wrote:
    HOM, the upper end Monaco's, Holiday Rambler's and Beaver's had the Semi-Monoque Chassis. I know our 2008 Dynasty has it.

    MM.


    There is no such word as "Semi-Monoque Chassis." You are either "one piece" or not. The phase was made up by Monaco to sell their coaches. It's a gimmick phase.

    Monoque is a process used by Prevost, meaning their coach is one-piece, no chassis rails. So, the entire coach and frame is the chassis. Their coach frame is raised to install the front end stering package, then the rear end engine and axles package. No rails are used to tie the both together.

    All fiberglass coaches (exception is the old Foretravels) use rails. Via, Spartan, FL, and yes even RoadMaster.

    Hope this helps

    Rob & Victoria
    2011 Entegra Aspire RB
  • Mr_Mark1's avatar
    Mr_Mark1
    Explorer
    Sep 21, 2014
    HOM wrote:
    Hi MM,

    So of the currently in business coach companies the Monaco Dynasty is the only one with a Semi-Monoque chassis? Unfortunately it also has the MaxxForce diesel and I will pass on that! Give me a Cummins any day!


    You had mentioned that you were only interested in used coaches. The upper end Monaco products had semi-monoque chassis's. The MaxxForce wasn't put in until later on after Navistar bought them. They used the original Monaco chassis and Cummins's engines for a while before they switched to their own engines. I, too, would not want a MaxxForce engine.

    The new owner's of Monaco are using the Cummins engine.

    MM.

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