The wide spacing of the air springs does reduce the need for anti-roll (stabilizer) bars, although the same roll stiffness can be achieved by either method. It is the dampers (shock absorbers) which should be mounted as outboard as possible for chassis control... but unfortunately they're not as far out as the air springs.
The wider frame rail spacing mentioned at 7:38 is interesting. Commodity RV chassis do use the same frame rail spacing (37 inches across the outside of the rails) as commercial trucks, and with a wide body (2.6 m or 102", instead of the typical heavy truck width of 2.4 m or 96") the wider frame spacing would be desirable. Does anyone know what the Roadmaster spacing is... and if they kept using that spacing through the Roadmaster chassis production?
The video claims higher pass-through storage due to the custom Roadmaster chassis, but a 2015 brochure lists one features of the replacement as: "The all new Roadmaster™ Chassis storage capacity is larger than before without compromising chassis strength." That "all new Roadmaster Chassis" is a Freightliner, so perhaps Monaco's Roadmaster chassis wasn't that great...
Actually the 2015 chassis was not a freightliner, it was a modular chassis called the liberty chassis that was engineered for American Coach which made Monaco in 2015 and used the same chassis. So the video was correct with greater storage. The Freightliner chassis does not have as much storage. I was a Beaver dealer for Monaco and then in 2015 for Monaco and American coach. Just to confirm my statement. Plus you are comparing a 2008/2009 chassis to a 2015. 7 years technology changes. Hope this helps.
Interesting,@@RVing_TV. But the flyer from Allied Recreation Group which I quoted said "Designed and built to deliver the very best motorhome experience, The All New Roadmaster Chassis utilizes a more rigid, advanced bridge design, engineered in tandem with Freightliner Custom Chassis." So although it is custom for Allied/American Coach/whatever, and it is certainly different in some ways than stock Freightliner chassis, it must to a significant extent be a Freightliner. It had some interesting details (primarily the I-beam main rails) in any case.
@@brianb-p6586 To clarify, the chassis is designed and engineered by American Coach. Freightliner is contracted to build it. It is not a variation of the freightliner chassis at all. It can not be offered by freightliner to any other RV manufacturer. Watch this video it will show you the difference. ua-cam.com/video/pTtQar8oz1Y/v-deo.htmlsi=jm6imofmMo1PUeWd On Monaco product it was branded "Roadmaster" but is the exact same, as the Monaco's ran down the American Coach assembly line. I have walked the assembly line, talked to the team, and have been certified by REV group on their product. Hope this clarifies.
@RVing_TV having now found more information, particularly from Freightliner, this appears to be simply the Freightliner XCM (Modular) chassis (or an earlier version of the same idea) - the ends with all mechanical components are Freightliner, and the "bridge" structure between them is by the RV manufacturer. American Coach offered this - still using the "Bridge" name - with a choice of Freightliner or Spartan ends.Either way, the interesting I-beams were a feature of the coach manufacturer's part (the bridge).
@@brianb-p6586 This video was produced prior to the XCM chassis was even in production. The Monaco Roadmaster chassis was produced in a plant owned by Monaco and no affiliation with Freightliner. What you read today is on current chassis. The video is for Roadmaster chassis built up to 2010. After that Monaco was under new ownership and used a Navistar chassis and then REV group purchased them and moved to the XCM chassis. I was a dealer for Monaco and have been to the original plants that are not around anymore.
7:21 "Instead of taking a truck frame and slicing it, putting it back together, and trying to make it fit right" What is that nonsense? The chassis suppliers (Ford and previously Workhorse with gas engines; Freightliner and Spartan with diesels) offer a range of wheelbases. RV manufacturers don't cut and splice those frames (they just buy the right wheelbase for the model); did they do that crap back when this video was made? To be fair, in front-engine gas chassis Ford does provide only one rear overhang length, so longer coaches have frame extensions added... but that is very different from cutting the frame within the wheelbase and splicing.
I have heard that this chassis had a problem in the rear control arms on older versions does anyone have any info on this? Have heard a lot of good things about the Roadmaster Chassis but I am just beginning a search for an older Diesel Pusher “Pre Def” open to all suggestions/recommendations.
The 04 Navigator does have a S-series Roadmaster chassis, if you think may not ride the same, I would seek out a good dealership that is familiar with the chassis and have it checked.
It's hilarious that Monaco promoted their cheap front beam axle as better than the independent suspension (IFS) of other high-end coaches due to high roll stiffness, even though any desired roll stiffness can be achieved in any suspension with an anti-roll bar, and IFS has inherently higher roll stiffness due to the springs than a beam axle has due to its springs. I suppose you can claim just about anything when your customers don't understand the technology. This Roadmaster chassis was replaced by a chassis designed and built by Freightliner. In a 2015 brochure for that replacement, the message about IFS changed completely, contradicting the statement in this video. " *ZF® INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION* Heavy-duty stabilizer bars and beams widen the effective load center on the axle, creating a higher resistance to vehicle roll, while improving responsiveness and handling for increased driver comfort."
The wide spacing of the air springs does reduce the need for anti-roll (stabilizer) bars, although the same roll stiffness can be achieved by either method. It is the dampers (shock absorbers) which should be mounted as outboard as possible for chassis control... but unfortunately they're not as far out as the air springs.
The wider frame rail spacing mentioned at 7:38 is interesting. Commodity RV chassis do use the same frame rail spacing (37 inches across the outside of the rails) as commercial trucks, and with a wide body (2.6 m or 102", instead of the typical heavy truck width of 2.4 m or 96") the wider frame spacing would be desirable. Does anyone know what the Roadmaster spacing is... and if they kept using that spacing through the Roadmaster chassis production?
Distorting the video - presumably by stretching a 4:3 image to 16:9 - certainly makes those old coaches look low and wide! 😃
The video claims higher pass-through storage due to the custom Roadmaster chassis, but a 2015 brochure lists one features of the replacement as:
"The all new Roadmaster™ Chassis storage capacity is larger than before without compromising chassis strength."
That "all new Roadmaster Chassis" is a Freightliner, so perhaps Monaco's Roadmaster chassis wasn't that great...
Actually the 2015 chassis was not a freightliner, it was a modular chassis called the liberty chassis that was engineered for American Coach which made Monaco in 2015 and used the same chassis. So the video was correct with greater storage. The Freightliner chassis does not have as much storage. I was a Beaver dealer for Monaco and then in 2015 for Monaco and American coach. Just to confirm my statement. Plus you are comparing a 2008/2009 chassis to a 2015. 7 years technology changes. Hope this helps.
Interesting,@@RVing_TV. But the flyer from Allied Recreation Group which I quoted said
"Designed and built to deliver the very best
motorhome experience, The All New Roadmaster
Chassis utilizes a more rigid, advanced bridge
design, engineered in tandem with Freightliner
Custom Chassis."
So although it is custom for Allied/American Coach/whatever, and it is certainly different in some ways than stock Freightliner chassis, it must to a significant extent be a Freightliner. It had some interesting details (primarily the I-beam main rails) in any case.
@@brianb-p6586 To clarify, the chassis is designed and engineered by American Coach. Freightliner is contracted to build it. It is not a variation of the freightliner chassis at all. It can not be offered by freightliner to any other RV manufacturer. Watch this video it will show you the difference.
ua-cam.com/video/pTtQar8oz1Y/v-deo.htmlsi=jm6imofmMo1PUeWd
On Monaco product it was branded "Roadmaster" but is the exact same, as the Monaco's ran down the American Coach assembly line. I have walked the assembly line, talked to the team, and have been certified by REV group on their product.
Hope this clarifies.
@RVing_TV having now found more information, particularly from Freightliner, this appears to be simply the Freightliner XCM (Modular) chassis (or an earlier version of the same idea) - the ends with all mechanical components are Freightliner, and the "bridge" structure between them is by the RV manufacturer. American Coach offered this - still using the "Bridge" name - with a choice of Freightliner or Spartan ends.Either way, the interesting I-beams were a feature of the coach manufacturer's part (the bridge).
@@brianb-p6586 This video was produced prior to the XCM chassis was even in production. The Monaco Roadmaster chassis was produced in a plant owned by Monaco and no affiliation with Freightliner. What you read today is on current chassis. The video is for Roadmaster chassis built up to 2010. After that Monaco was under new ownership and used a Navistar chassis and then REV group purchased them and moved to the XCM chassis. I was a dealer for Monaco and have been to the original plants that are not around anymore.
Tit for tat…. Gimme and old school Monaco….they withstand the hands of time…
No “rubber” crappy roofs
7:21 "Instead of taking a truck frame and slicing it, putting it back together, and trying to make it fit right"
What is that nonsense? The chassis suppliers (Ford and previously Workhorse with gas engines; Freightliner and Spartan with diesels) offer a range of wheelbases. RV manufacturers don't cut and splice those frames (they just buy the right wheelbase for the model); did they do that crap back when this video was made? To be fair, in front-engine gas chassis Ford does provide only one rear overhang length, so longer coaches have frame extensions added... but that is very different from cutting the frame within the wheelbase and splicing.
Actually at the time of this video, that did happen, and even today addon pieces are still used to extend frames at the rear.
I have heard that this chassis had a problem in the rear control arms on older versions does anyone have any info on this? Have heard a lot of good things about the Roadmaster Chassis but I am just beginning a search for an older Diesel Pusher “Pre Def” open to all suggestions/recommendations.
My 04 Navigator sure doesnt seem like these in this roadmaster add. Wonder what is different ?
The 04 Navigator does have a S-series Roadmaster chassis, if you think may not ride the same, I would seek out a good dealership that is familiar with the chassis and have it checked.
It's hilarious that Monaco promoted their cheap front beam axle as better than the independent suspension (IFS) of other high-end coaches due to high roll stiffness, even though any desired roll stiffness can be achieved in any suspension with an anti-roll bar, and IFS has inherently higher roll stiffness due to the springs than a beam axle has due to its springs. I suppose you can claim just about anything when your customers don't understand the technology.
This Roadmaster chassis was replaced by a chassis designed and built by Freightliner. In a 2015 brochure for that replacement, the message about IFS changed completely, contradicting the statement in this video.
" *ZF® INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION*
Heavy-duty stabilizer bars and beams widen
the effective load center on the axle, creating
a higher resistance to vehicle roll, while
improving responsiveness and handling for
increased driver comfort."
It’s easy to compare newer technology to old the video was many years before 2015.
@c.a.mcneil7599 independent suspension design hasn't changed in any fundamental way for decades.
😂😂😂😂😂