GUNTHER

The question one has to answer is how much is my personal life and safety worth as well as my responsibility towards others who share the road with me when I travel? I chose to replace the defective factory suspension with new Source Mfg.heavy duty rear trailing arms and custom suspension upgrade (4new design air bags-ping tank-larger air suspension tubing - custom valved Bilstein Shocks). The coach now does not sway - rock - or bounce & bottom out ! The ride is now better than my heavy Superduty Lariat Pickup. The general RV'ing public has recognized the fact that Monaco - Navistar threw their loyal customers under the Bus as 2011 sales so far show Monaco with only 5% of the market & Tiffin (known for their customer service )has 22% market share along with the top 4 class A models in sales - followed by Winnebago with a 19% share.

ON MY 08 MONACO PRODUCT THE ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED MECHANICALLY HELD (DRAWS POWER ONLY TO LATCH IN THE ON POSITION)CONTACTOR IS LOCATED IN THE FRONT OUTSIDE DRIVERS SIDE POWER PANEL. FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY CONDENSATION. ONCE I SEALED ALL THE CABLE OPENINGS AND CRACKS WITH A FULL CAN OF FOAM SEALER THAT WAS NEVER DONE AT THE FACTORY THE FAILURES STOPPED. A NEW CONTACTOR CAN BE OBTAINED AT MEGARVPARTS.COM FOR $50.00---exact replacement.

REPLACED CONTACTOR WITH ONE THAT HAS NEW SILVER CONTACTS NOW EVERYTHING WORKS CORRECTLY --- ENGINE CHARGES BOTH SETS OF BATTERIES WHILE RUNNING AND INVERTER - CHARGER KEEPS BOTH SETS OF BATTERIES FULLY CHARGED WHILE CONNECTED TO SHORE POWER - ALL AUTOMATICALLY WITH NO MANUAL INTERVENTION. WHAT A WONDERFUL THING WHEN EVERYTHING WORKS CORRECTLY !!!! THANKS TO ALL !!!

DUE TO A RECENT COURT DECISION DISH NETWORK PROVIDES IN YOUR AREA LOCAL CHANNELS (MOST IN HD) THAT WILL COVER THE AREA YOU ARE STAYING IN AND WILL NOW CHANGE YOUR LOCAL NETWORKS WHEN YOU MOVE TO ANOTHER DESIGNATED MARKET AREA WITH A SIMPLE PHONE CALL (INCLUDED IN PACKAGE PRICE ALONG WITH FREE HD) JUST GIVE YOUR ZIP CODE AND ADDRESS for free ! --- OR YOU CAN GET ONE OF THE NATIONAL NETWORK PACKAGES EAST OR WEST EVERYWHARE FOR I BELIEVE $6.00 -----JUST REGISTER WITH YOUR RV INFO. WINEGARD CARRYOUT STATIONARY AUTO FIND SAT.DISH NOW UNDER $700.00 JUST DO A GOOGLE SEARCH--SORRY NO HD FOR DIRECT TV-- WINEGARD CARRYOUT GETS ALL HD CHANNELS FOR DISH NETWORK ONLY

NO BILL OF GOODS -------- DIGITAL TV & RADIO SIMPLY WORK BETTER AND ARE MORE AFFORDABLE (DO YOU HAVE A ANALOG P.C.?) DIGITAL TV PROVIDES A BETTER SHARPER PICTURE & STABLE COLOR (NO MORE GREEN OR PURPLE PEOPLE) BETTER AUDIO AND MORE SEPARATE PROGRAMS PER CHANNEL.OUR PBS STATION HAS 4 SEPARATE PROGRAMS ON ONE CHANNEL DURING THE DAY AND DROPS ONE CHANNEL AT NIGHT TO BROADCAST 1 CHANNEL IN HD. THE BROADCASTERS LIKE DIGITAL BECAUST THE TRANSMITTER USES LESS POWER AND REQUIRES LESS MAINTAINANCE.NO MORE GHOSTING STATIC AND SNOW IN YOUR TV IT'S DIGITAL EITHER IT WORKS GREAT OR IT DOESN'T. IF YOU STILL LIKE ANALOG THROW AWAY YOUR DVD PLAYER (DIGITAL) AND USE ONLY YOUR ANALOG VHS TAPE PLAYER. EUROPE AND MOST OF THE REST OF THE WORLD HAVE ALREADY SCRAPPED THEIR ANALOG TV AND RADIO AND ARE 100% DIGITAL. BY THE WAY THROW AWAY YOUR CELL PHONE AND YOUR CD PLAYER THEY TOO ARE 100% DIGITAL. I HOPE THIS ANSWERS ALL YOUR QUESTIONS.

I have the same problem with my 08 Safari Simba diesel pusher. At present I am using a small BATTERY MINDER cube charger to keep up the starting battery--The battery compartment needs more ventilation--will order new solenoid and try for more air in the compartment as charging fumes are highly corrosive that's why the connections are covered with red anti-corrosion grease from the factory--too bad Monaco went with a cheap contactor as their desire to save a few cents can ruin the reliability of an otherwise well designed coach.

RIDE ENHANCEMENT KIT FROM MONACO IN OREGON $1950.00 + FREIGHT.WILL NOT DISCUSS ORIGIN OR MFG. OF KIT OR GIVE PHOTO OR INFO AS TO WHAT THE KIT CONTAINS. PART #S01807200.

JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH MONACO PARTS $1950.00 PLUS FREIGHT FOR RIDE ENHANCEMENT KIT FOR RR4R 4 BAG CHASSIS. WON'T DISCUSS THE ORIGIN OF THE PARTS OR WHAT THE KIT CONTAINS. " MONACO PART #S01807200 MUST BUY ENTIRE KIT NOT JUST SOME PARTS.

THE RR4R FRONT SUSPENSION IS ALMOST THE SAME AS RR4R REAR TRAILING ARM SUSPENSION (TWO AIR BAGS & TWO SHOCKS AT THE REAR OF TWO TRAILING ARMS - ONE EACH SIDE-CONNECTED TOGETHER FOWARD BY AN I BEAM FRONT AXLE ) THE RR8R HAS 8 AIR BAGS & SHOCKS ONE AT THE FRONT AND REAR OF EACH TIRE POSITION & TAKES UP A LOT MORE ROOM & CARGO SPACE & IS MORE EXPENSIVE. I SUPPOSE YOU COULD ADD A HELPER AIR BAG BETWEEN THE FRONT AXLE AND THE FRAME - FABRICATE BRACKETS - BUT WOULD THE FRONT TRAILING ARMS TAKE THE EXTRA STRESS AT THAT LOCATION & CREATE A SAFETY HAZZARD ON THE ROAD? THE SOLUTION FROM SOURCE MFG (IS THE MONACO RIDE ENHANCEMENT KIT THE SAME & MADE BY SOURCE MFG ? ) IS TO ADD A LARGER - SMOOTHER RIDING AIR BAG WITH POSSIBLY AN INTERNAL RUBBER BUMPER.THE SORCE MFG. ALSO ADDS A PING TANK AND SPECIAL SHOCKS TO FURTHER SMOOTH THE RIDE.I THINK $2500.00 + SHIPPING +LABOR ($3500.00-$4000.00)IS TOO MUCH TO STOP THE FRONT END FROM BOTTOMING OUT AND EVENTUALLY CAUSING A CATASTROPHIC FRONT END FAILURE - EXTENSIVE LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. I DON'T NEED MY ENTRY LEVEL DIESEL COACH TO RIDE LIKE A 1.5 MILLION DOLLAR NEWELL- MONACO OWES US OWNERS A SAFE - COST EFFECTIVE SOLUTION EVEN IF THEY WILL NOT PAY ANY OF THE COSTS. I GOT RID OF THE 5 - 6 BOUNCES WHEN HITTING A BUMP WITH 4 OFF THE SHELF BILSTEINS - $600.00 INSTALLED-ANYTHING BUT A SMALL BUMP CAUSES THE FRONT END TO BOTTOM OUT. ( IT IS LIKE HITTING A CURB AT 65MPH). G. MILLER F 402804

HAD MY DEFECTIVE TRAILING ARMS REPLACED MARCH 2010@ TAMPA SPRING-A HEAVY DUTY OVER THE ROAD ALIGNMENT-FRAME-SUSPENSION-AIR BRAKE SHOP JUST WEST OF I75-ROUTE 40 OCALA FLORIDA. A NO NONSENSE REASONABLY PRICED,KNOWLEDGEABLE SHOP WITH A WORKMAN LIKE MANNER AND COURTESY TO MATCH THEY DON'T STOCK THE PARTS BUT CAN GET THEM LOCALLY. THEY REQUESTED I COME BACK IN A THOUSAND MILES TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS OK AS THE ARM SUSPENSION PARTS ARE CRITICAL FOR SAFE OPERATION. I PLAN TO HAVE MY FRONT BEARINGS CONVERTED FROM GREASE TO OIL BATH AT THAT TIME BECAUSE OF THE EASE OF MAINTAINABLE AND THEIR REASONABLE LABOR RATE AND GREAT ATTITUDE AT TAMPA SPRING. I NOTICED TODAY, 04/24/2010 THAT THE ROAMING TIMES WEB SITE HAD A PRESS RELEASE FROM NAVISTAR / MONACO STATING MONACO NOW OFFERS PROVING GROUND TESTED REPLACEMENT TRAILING ARMS & RIDE ENHANCEMENT KITS AT COMPETITIVE PRICES---CAN'T VERIFY AS TODAY IS SATURDAY---AND THE PHONE MESSAGE @ MONACO SAYS THEY ARE AVAILABLE ONLY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY---877-466-6226. I GUESS MOST ORPHANED MONACO- SAFARI-HOLIDAY RAMBLER ETC. OWNERS ARE NOT AT ALL HAPPY WITH THE NEW MONACO LLC. SINCE THE RECENTLY GOT A FANCY FOUR COLOR MAILING FROM THEIR SALES MANAGER (WHO ELSE) ASKING FOR THEIR LOYALTY WHEN THEY PURCHASE A NEW COACH.--- GOOD LUCK MONACO LLC. SO FAR IT HAS COST ME OVER $8000.00 AND ALMOST 2 YEARS TO BRING MY NEW 08 SAFARI UP TO A ROADWORTHY CONDITION- ALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY THE ORIGINAL MONACO WARRANTY. THANKS AGAIN MONACO LLC.!!!!!!

I HAVE A 2008 SAFARI 36FT REAR CAT DIESEL & HAD MY TRAILING ARMS REPLACED AT TAMPA SPRING RT. 40 OCALA FL. REPLACEMENT LABOR WAS ALMOST AS MUCH AS INSPECTION COSTS.THEY DO NOT STOCK THE PARTS AS THEY ARE MOSTLY A HEAVY DUTY OVER THE ROAD TRUCK SUSPENSION CHASSIS & FRAME SHOP. HOWEVER THE PARTS ARE AVALABLE LOCALLY AND THEY HAD ME IN AND OUT IN ONE DAY.REASONABLE PRICES, COURTESY AND A NO NONSENSE WORKMAN LIKE MANNER FROM HIS EMPLOYEES. THE REAR IS NOW TIGHTER & DOES NOT SWAY AS BEFORE.COMBINED WITH NEW OFF THE SHELF BILSTEIN SHOCKS THE COACH NO LONGER BOTTOMS OUT OR BOUNCES 5-6 TIMES AFTER HITTING A BUMP. CAMP MONACO WILDWOOD KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM IN JULY 2008 WHEN THEY WERE STILL SOLVENT AND ONLY RAISED THE FRONT RIDE HIGHT OUT OF SPECIFICATION WHICH CAUSED THE REAR HICH TO BOTTOM OUT AND THE FRONT TO CHANGE LANES ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN PASSED BY THE BOW WAVE OF CARS AS SMALL AS A HONDA. I RECENTLY GOT A POSTCARD FROM NAVASTAR/MONACO ASKING FOR MY LOYALTY WHEN I PURCHASE A NEW COACH-----GOOD LUCK-----NEXT TIME IT WILL BE A TIFFIN .BOB TIFFIN STANDS BEHIND HIS COACHES EVEN IF IT COSTS HIM A FEW BUCKS OUT OF HIS POCKET AND MOST IMPORTANT KNOWS THE REAL VALUE OF A REPEAT CUSTOMER TO HIS BOTTOM LINE AND REPUTATION. G.MILLER F402804