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RE: Anyone have trouble parking with full wall slides?
I have a Monaco 40' SFT. The Slide extends from just behind the drivers seat to the rear of the bedroom on the drivers side of the coach.
Prior to putting the slide out, I stand at the front driver's side facing the rear of the coach, extend my left arm so that my fingertips are touching the coach, and walk completely to the rear.
If I can't get past an obstacle (tree, bush, picnic table, etc), then the slide won't either.
And, if it helps, I have never been in a park where I had a problem. Haven't had a problem with the slide either (extending, retracting, binding, making noise, taking off a finger or hand, or squashing one of the dogs).
Bud
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BudParrish
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02/16/12 05:33pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Should price of gas prohibit me from purchasing?
Well, if the price of gas is a problem, you could always go this route:
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRmw_0cNpLhxj-aotGm8LviYbP8khop9gwokWTFWmvuJBvIeYbH height=350
That would actually probably cost even more.
And it puts you BEHIND the exhaust :B
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BudParrish
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02/02/12 10:50am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Should price of gas prohibit me from purchasing?
Go HERE to see what the average RVer does yearly. You can then pick your probable category and estimate your annual fuel costs.
For mileage, I would suggest using 7-8 mpg to estimate costs, whether you get a gas or diesel. I've owned Class C (V-10 32 footer) and Class A (ISL400 - 40 footer). The gasser got MUCH worse mileage than the DP.
I'm not sure what mileage I get. If I am to believe the Alladin, I average 8.4, but when we travel, we generally use the generator set constantly.
People use motorhomes for different purposes. For us, it is the pure enjoyment of getting from here to there in comfort, with plenty of room to move about. While I probably wince while paying at the pump, we generally fall in the "less than 5000 miles/year" category.
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BudParrish
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02/02/12 07:54am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Is your Dash A/C enough in the summer while driving?
In summer, with dash air on high, our front side is barely tolerable, back side is toast. Generator and roof air ALWAYS.
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BudParrish
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01/30/12 02:53pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Running generator while driving
My generator goes on before the drive engine and is the last to turn off. It has more hours than the drive engine.
Bud
I can see using it to run A/C or maybe other special needs can't understand ALL THE TIME. I make sure mine run a minimum of 2 hours a moth under load, otherwise just when I need it. Pleas explain. :h
RV Jim
Houston has two seasons: Hot and Damn Hot. Usually, we begin to have high 80's weather starting March to December. We break out the heavy coats when it drops all the way down to 65, and Eskimo clothing below that.
We use the Heat Pumps (which require generator running) if it is cool enough, and AC the rest of the time. While the Microwave can work off the engine generator, it is not recommended in the manual. My grandchild watches TV almost the entire trip - and I'm all for whatever makes her happy. We may very well choose to run the washer/dryer during a trip between stops - and have many times for baby vomit or diarrhea sodden clothing.
I ran the generator over 8 straight days, 24 hours a day, during Hurricane Ike when the mid-day temps were >100 and the nighttime temps were >90, and the humidity was near 100%
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I guess I'm saying that I bought the coach for comfort, not economy. I do whatever it takes to make us happy, and conserve nothing.
Everybody is different, and you have to do what makes you happy. I bought my coach to use every feature as often as we want. If the generator gets used up, I'll fix or replace it. I don't drive <65 because I want to save fuel; I drive <65 because that's where I feel I have the most control.
We don't full-time in our coach, and never will. It is our hurricane evacuation plan. It is our travel vehicle and our way to stay out of crowded airports. We really enjoy our coach and take good care of it, but it is a tool that gets us from here to there comfortably.
Bud
Bud
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BudParrish
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01/29/12 09:03pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: New Monaco Diplomat
My big concern would be the 20' over hang, this severely limits where you can take the coach. Monaco is using it as a counter balance to remove weight from the front axel, at the cost of dragging it.
Hmmmmm... a 20 foot overhang on a 43 foot coach...that's a way big counterbalance.......:B:B:B.....Dennis
It's for the swimming pool :B
Bud
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BudParrish
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01/29/12 03:05pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Running generator while driving
My generator goes on before the drive engine and is the last to turn off. It has more hours than the drive engine.
Bud
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BudParrish
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01/29/12 10:01am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Our new 2011 HR Endeavor 43DFT
Makes me want to set mine on fire
Crap! Why didn't I think of that!
Bud
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BudParrish
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01/29/12 09:58am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Our new 2011 HR Endeavor 43DFT
That's a nice coach! We have the full wall slide in our '08 Diplomat and really like it. Actually, the only thing that has kept us from trading up is that we like our floor plan so much.
Congrats on the new coach. Terrific pics.
Bud
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BudParrish
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01/29/12 07:21am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: chassis: freightliner vs roadmaster ????
Dhart;
Until your most recent pics, I hadn't noticed that Monaco has begun to paint the sides of the slides to match the coach paint. That is a quality touch that my coach doesn't have, and it is one of the reasons I've been looking at a Heritage or Foretravel.
In my book, it is the touches like that which separate the luxury coaches.
Bud
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BudParrish
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01/28/12 07:32am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: chassis: freightliner vs roadmaster ????
Raychez;
I looked up your coach. That is one nice ride! Good choice. Did you get the one that has the projector TV and screen (and is the screen motorized). Now THAT is very cool.
How is the Neway chassis different than, say, the Spartan? I couldn't find any information on that.
Bud
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BudParrish
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01/28/12 07:23am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: chassis: freightliner vs roadmaster ????
DHart - you are very right! If they had made a tag Diplomat when I purchased, I would have that instead. I think that Monaco makes a terrific product. I do wish that a quarter of a million dollars bought more coach, tho.
We have really loved our Diplomat. Not a problem, well, except the fan belt broke, twice. That could happen to any coach. We've enjoyed the ride. Feels like a soft ride to me, but I have no comparison except the Fleetwood Jamboree GT I owned before this. I won't get in to that.
My bottom side says 'thank you' every time I sit in the Command Seat (at least that's what I think it is saying). My wife loves the ride. My daughter sleeps through most every trip.
Monaco puts an air valve system in that shifts air to keep the coach from leaning in a curve. Maybe all coaches do that like RayChez says- I don't know. If that's a fact then it sounds like we've all had an opportunity to sound off about our coach ride.
All things considered, it sounds like they all get from right here to over there on the map! In my case, hopefully, often :W .
:B
I want the heated floor in the Eagle/Heritage! ..., and everything else:W
Bud
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BudParrish
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01/27/12 02:18pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: chassis: freightliner vs roadmaster ????
Respectfully, I don't see this thread as a "brand loyalty" war. I read everything as each person's personal experience.
While I really like my Diplomat, my next coach will be an American Heritage or a Foretravel. Wife and I are trying to decide.
Once again, both of those coaches ride on different chassis; one firmer than the other.
As for Cadillacs vs sports cars, at these prices, they are all Cadillacs/Lexus/Mercedes! That includes my last Class C!
Insert smiley face here.
Bud
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BudParrish
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01/27/12 07:30am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: chassis: freightliner vs roadmaster ????
I was in moderate traffic driving on I-10 through Beaumont, Texas. Fortunately nothing was in the right lane next to me, but this was a lane that merged from another highway.
Suddenly the car in front of me swerved to the right HARD. A large metal wheelbarrow had fallen from a trailer in front.
With less than 50 feet of room, at 50 mph I swerved hard to the right. Personally, I was glad for a firm ride.
Another time I had exited I-45 onto the access road in League City, Texas. A young girl pulled onto the access road from a gas station coming directly toward me. She was going the wrong way on a one way access.
Again, I was glad for a firm ride in an emergency maneuver.
You can't plan emergencies, but it is nice to know the coach was manageable in those situations.
I read that the RoadMaster chassis will shift air in the bags to reduce roll. Seems like a nice feature.
Bud
2008 Monaco Diplomat 40'
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BudParrish
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01/26/12 05:00pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Fuel too low to run generator?
It has happened with my Monaco Diplomat. Press and hold the generator STOP (presuming that your start/stop switch is a rocker switch) for 10 seconds. That will prime your generator with fuel.
It should start fine after that.
Bud
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BudParrish
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01/15/12 07:30pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Construction debris under cabinets
I've found wall paper pieces, cut wiring, cut insulation, candy bar wrappers and even Burger King wrappers beneath the bottom drawers in cabinets and in various places that would normally be hidden.
For me, cleanliness is a marker of pride in workmanship and quality control. I would have expected better in a quarter million dollar coach from the supervisors and managers of the coach builder.
Yes, it isn't anything tough for me to clean these areas, but the real question is, why should I have to? Would you expect to find all kinds of trash under the hood, seats, and inside the glove box of your new Lexus, or even your new Civic?
Of course not! You should expect pride in workmanship.
Bud
2008 Monaco Diplomat SFT
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BudParrish
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01/15/12 07:11pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: TX Registration Fees Explode!
Last year $206. This year $356.
:(
Bud
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BudParrish
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01/10/12 06:25pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: What was your Occupation??????
Lots of military people responding. Thank you for your service.! I was 24 years active duty Army, now 20 years medical business owner.
If I had known RVing was this much fun, I'd have started 20 years ago!
Bud
2008 Monaco Diplomat SFT 40'
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BudParrish
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01/08/12 06:53pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Sleep Number bed-Roll call
We have one in our 2008 Monaco Diplomat. Summer heat here in Houston is brutal, and takes its toll on rubber connectors.
Last fall the bed began to lose pressure on one side and would be almost flat overnight. Using the "spray bottle soap" trick, I found the tube connectors were leaking. A little silicone lube fixed it for a while, but soon I'll need to replace the rubber seals, or maybe even the entire tube set.
We have a sleep number in our home also. I like them both. Of course it stinks when something isn't working right. I have thoughts, occasionally, of replacing the one in the motorhome with a memory foam mattress, but want to wait as long as possible.
Bud
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BudParrish
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01/06/12 07:05pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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Has anybody put on HWH Active air?
I have a 2008 Monaco Diplomat. 8 airbags, 8 shocks. 3-point hydraulic PowerGear leveling. I'm okay with the ride and handling.
The leveling only allows putting the jacks down, and down. It does not allow control to raise a single jack - they must be raised all at once.
I was thinking of putting an HWH Active air, but feel like this might be like putting the Corvette magnetic ride on a Volkswagen....it'll do better but it's still a Volkswagen.
Has anybody upgraded their suspension to HWH?
Bud
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BudParrish
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01/04/12 08:02pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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