Knight Monaco 2001, How SWEET It Is!
Written: Oct 23 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: C-channel walls , safety, 260- horse Cummins diesel (with electronic fuel injection) with a five speed Allison T-1000 transmission
Cons: The overall coach has a one-year warranty.
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| djgeiger's Full Review: 2000 Monaco Coach Knight |
We attended a RV show. We had the opportunity to talk with several salespeople and more important we had the opportunity to speak with RV owners from all over. From the salespeople we learn we could rent or lease different brands of RV’s. This was valuable information for us. Purchasing a RV is a major life decision. Face it, RV’s are expensive. Being able to take a RV on a road trip really helps to determine what you really need in a RV. Talking with various RV owners we learned that most people end up trading, or just selling their RV the first year. So renting or leasing a RV can really save you heartaches. Try before you buy!
What were our conclusions?
Size matters, size matter a lot! In a smaller RV or a RV with out the pop out rooms you feel closed in. You quickly get on each other’s nerves. We concluded that trying to save money by purchasing smaller is not the way to go. Maybe interior colors don’t seem real important. But color can become important after only a few days of living in a RV. Pea green was not pleasant after only a few days. I can’t imagine living with pea green for the next several years! Storage quickly became a major factor. The more storage area the better. In most of the country diesel fuel is cheaper than gasoline. We already pretty much agreed upon the purchase of a diesel over a gasoline engine. The diesel engine makes since especially for us since we are relatively young and plan on owning the RV for many years to come. Diesel engines outlive a gasoline engine by many hundreds of thousands of miles. Paying the extra money for a diesel engine becomes cost effective shortly after one hundred thousand miles. The fuel mileage for the diesel Monaco Knight ranged from nine to eleven miles per gallon.
The Knight Monaco 2001
Here is a 36-foot RV with a diesel engine for the same cost of a gasoline engine RV. We can have it customized and have it in just six to twelve weeks. The cost of the Knight Monaco we tried out was $155.255. The special price at the RV show we attended was $119.977. We obviously have dealing leeway here! The Knight Monaco is the least expensive of the Monaco line. The next coach up is the Executive with the price range between $260.000 and $340.000. Next coach up from the Executive is the Signature Series with the prices ranging from $365,000 and $415,000. The top of the line coach is the Royale Coach with the price range between $550.000 and over $900,000. The Knight Monaco is beginning to look better and better!
Engine
The Monaco Knight comes with a 260- horse Cummins diesel (with electronic fuel injection) with a five speed Allison T-1000 transmission. If you want a more powerful engine there is an optional Cummins 300 hp engine with a six speed Allison 3000MH transmission. The chassis is Road master with air suspension. The suspension is Neway Air Suspension with 4 outboard mounted airbags and 4 Monroe shock absorbers. The alternator is 160 Amp. The diesel fuel tank holds 75 galleons of fuel. How far did this fuel tank get us? If you figure at the bottom line fuel mileage of 9 miles per gallon and 75 miles of fuel that will take you 675 miles. How much will a fuel fill-up cost? This cost is will within the ouch range, with the cost of number 2 diesel fuel at $2.00 a gallon that will cost $150.
Other interesting features.
One of the features that impressed me the most is the pass-through basement storage. Storage became a big issue on a long road trip. The storage area is like a large basement made out of one-piece polyethylene. The polyethylene makes the storage area very easy to clean. It can easily be hosed out! There are lights on the outside storage compartment. Tank capacity can become pretty important if hook-ups or places to fill-up are few and far between. The grey water holding tank is 52 gallons. The black water tank is also 52 gallons. The fresh water tank is 80 gallons (the Winnebago Chieftain was 75 gallons) and the LP tank is 38 gallons. The gross vehicle weight rating is 22,000 lbs with the gross combined weight rating being 26,000 lbs. The all-important feature air conditioning! The air conditioner is 13.5M BTU with an analog wall thermostat. The 36 R comes standard with a second air conditioner as well. The second air conditioner is an 11.0M BTU. The air conditioning is center ducted. The furnace is a 35M BTU electronic ignition furnace. There is a 12V-roof vent in the bathroom and kitchen.
The ALL-Important Safety Features.
This coach has several safety features. A fire extinguisher (10BC), deadbolt lock on the entrance, 120V GFI protected circuit, LP gas detector, smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector, driver and passenger three-point seat belts, third brake safety light and egress window.
Front Cab/ Driver’s Area
One of the features on many of the motor homes we’ve used or test drove is the one entrance only to the RV. Many of the RV’s have a side access only going to the living area. On the Monaco Knight there is a drivers access door as well. The driver’s area has an ergonomic design. Everything can be reached easily. In a very expensive Airbus walking from the outside into the cab area one of us hit our heads on the TV monitor. The other of us hit their head on the same TV monitor on the way back out. Not very well designed. The video system has audio. So when you’re backing up your helper can talk to you as well as make obscene gestures! The driver’s and passenger recliner seats are very comfortable. A six-way power option can be added. The Knight has a tilt wheel and cruise control. The leveling system is a fingertip away. A great feature is the heated remote-control mirrors. I don’t know how many times that I have driven in Minnesota in below zero weather and have had my mirrors freeze up on me! For the music lovers there is an AM/FM/CD stereo with four speakers.
Living Area
The living room and bedroom slide outs make for a very spacious living and sleeping area. The Monaco’s pull out system is hydraulic and is flush with the floor. If you’re just stopping for lunch and don’t want to take the time to slide out the slide out rooms it’s not a problem. Everything will work when the slide outs are closed. All the interior and exterior color schemes are pleasant. At least they aren’t pea green. Of the three choices, tapestry, seafoam and wheat, tapestry would have to be my favorite. I loved the wallpaper border in the bedroom and bathroom. The Western oak cabinets were very handsome with adjustable shelves. The cabinet hardware had a brass finish setting the oak out beautifully. If you prefer a darker wood it comes in walnut also which is an option. The drawers are on roller guides so they open and close easily. The sinks and counter tops are marble looking. A booth dinette comes standard but I think I prefer the freestanding dinette with two chairs and two folding chairs. The freestanding dinette is an additional option. One thing to consider when adding options, especially leather chairs. The costs of these items are rather high. I think you could do better in a furniture store. The queen bed was a bit more comfortable than some of the other RV beds we have tried. Some of the options you can add are a VCR, bedroom TV, pre-wiring for a satellite dish, refrigerator with icemaker, and a washer and dryer.
What goes into building a Monaco?
I found this process so fascinating I wanted to include it.
Starting with Cummins 260 hp and ISB chassis. The chassis is a C-Channel one piece frame. The chassis is delivered to the production facility. The first things added are the wiring harness and the LP tank. As it goes down the production line the jacks are included. While this is all happening the steel structure called the saddle is being welded together. This is what will hold the motor home together. The saddle and the chassis now become one chassis by being welded together. This whole unit is now sprayed with a rust inhibiting material. Now the polyethylene storage bays are installed. The welded steel cage cockpit (steel reinforcement) is now installed on the chassis. Before the unit moves on to the floor department the plumbing is started and the wiring continues.
Now the coach moves to the main production line. The floor is added. The carpeting and vinyl are installed which are protected with plastic. Thick foam insulation is applied to the areas under the dashboard and the firewall. At this point the cabinets are installed. They use special lifts so the wood will not be damaged. Now the bathroom area is begun. The water system and the plumbing are incorporated. The piping is color coded for easy service. The C-channel walls are lifted now onto the chassis. The C-channel is supposed to be strong as well as light. The cross members and the uprights are added which run the entire length of the motor home. Everything is double welded for more strength. The sidewalls are bolted right to the steel truss frame. Now the slide-out mechanism is started. The wiring is run through the walls. It is run through plastic grommets in the C-channels. The rear cab frame area is added. Before the roof is add the large appliances are set into the motor home. Next come the overhead cabinets. Aluminum supports anchor the front seat shoulder harnesses. This is integrated into the Alumaframe structure. The roof has been made during this process and is now ready to be added. The roof is a 9-layered triple insulated roof. Special lifts and scaffolding is used so that the workers are safe. The roof is bolted and welded into position. Now the walls are insulated then the fiberglass exterior is put into place. All the windows and door holes are cut out and doors are added on. The end cap is now added and the rear camera installed. The mechanisms for the slide out rooms are now tested before the rooms are put in. All the plumbing and wiring are integrated into the new room slide outs. The driver’s area is completed now with the addition of the wiring, dashboard and steering wheel. Now the drivers and passengers seats are installed. Now the finishing touches to the interior are finished, the cabinetry drawers, doors and furniture are included. Vinyl graphics are added before the motor home is cleaned getting ready for the paint shop. After the paint is dried the incidental interior features are added. Now the appliances are tested. Before heading to the dealerships the furniture is unwrapped. But before going anywhere it has to pass several tests. These tests include the rain booth and a drive test.
Warranty
The superstructure has a five-year warranty. The Cummins diesel and the five speed Allison T-1000 transmission has a 5 year/100,000 mile warranty. The overall coach has a one-year warranty. A 24-hour emergency road service is also available in the US and Canada. The towing or the roadside service call isn’t charge but the actual repairs will be charged.
Summary
The building of the Knight Monaco is an amazing process. Seeing the step by step process only adds to your knowledge that the Knight Monaco is an amazing motor home. The Knight Monaco is an excellent value for the money spent. The coach was easy to drive, easy to back up and all and all very comfortable. I recommend it highly.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
djgeiger
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Member: Diana Geiger
Location: Huron, South Dakota USA
Reviews written: 150
Trusted by: 343 members
About Me:
I am a writer and the Exotic Pets Editor for BellaOnline.com.
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