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Topic: Buying a new coach in CA and problems problems pr... (Read 803 times) previous topic - next topic
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Buying a new coach in CA and problems problems pr...

Yahoo Message Number: 11051
Who wrote this note and what is their coach model and number. I read things like this on line and wonder if a Monoco salesman wrote it. I also wonder why you would buy a coach and then let it sit. I also don't think California cares if you can drive the coach or not as long as it is out of state but then I am from florida so what do we know. But I do know our ocean is much warmer and our fuel is cheaper.

Bill G. 05 Magna #6425

Re: Buying a new coach in CA and problems problems pr...

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 11317
I wrote the email about buying outside of CA and having all of the problems. As for the state I did speak to one of their tax specialists and he said that as long as the coach was not put into storage for the 90 days we would be fine. We have documented proof of places we went and that it sat at Beaudry's in Tucson for over a month for major repairs). If you want to go somewhere and stay in your coach for 90 days that is okay - as long as you have the proof. Parking your coach for 90 days isn't good enough. Now you can park it for 6 months as along as you can show proof of "USE" for half that time.
We bought an '04 Intrique Ovation, 42 long. Took possession out of state on March 6 and have had nothing but problems. (i.e. hydraulics leaked, jake brake didn't work, slide cracking tile popping up, shower leaking, shower not draining properly (we were told by CC rep at Beaudry's that the pipes didn't have the correct pitch for drainage), refrigerator/freezer not keeping food/drinks cold, walls pulling apart, rear end noise and all sorts of rattles when driving it; engine smokes excessively leaving black residue on the back of the coach, front door locking mechanism breaking, and the list continues on).
We broke down on hwy 17 40 miles south of Flagstaff AZ, as the engine was overheating and had to be hauled in. There we waited 7 days for them to fix it and another day at another RV center to have our water pump replaced (twice so far). Made it to Ehrenburg, Arizona where we met a driver to take our RV into California and home (my husband has his class b permit but needs a licensed driver with him). The driver took it to Indio and said he didn't feel safe driving the RV and would not take it up the mountains to our home. He wrote a note saying everything that is wrong with the coach, parked us in a lot and said he was sorry but his life was worth a lot more than driving this RV. He has 12 years of truck driving, 10 years of driver's eduction instructor and 5 years of driving RV's for companies for out of state possession. This all happened on August 12th -- it is still in Indio. CC and the company they requested we take it to there are trying to find out all that is wrong and how they can correct it.
Needless to say this has not been a positive RV experience for us. But we'll see what CC does to make this right. I just wondered if we were the only ones that have major problems (March 04 was when we took possession).

Thanks. Rita

Re: Special License to Drive Coach in California?????

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 11319
NEEDS A LICENSED DRIVER WITH HIM?

Do you need a special license to drive a coach in California???? If so, does it include 40 footers???

Bill Harris

03 Allure 1st Ave 30912
.

Quote from: Rita Galicia\[br\
]
..........Made it to Ehrenburg, Arizona where we met a driver to
take our RV into California and home (my husband has his class b
permit but needs a licensed driver with him).............

Re: Special License to Drive Coach in California?????

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 11321
First of all: CA DMV specializes in confusion.

Second: He only has a Class B "permit"? As in "learners permit".... I don't know? Looks like with a CA Class B license he would be okay to drive any 3-axle vehicle in CA. DMV doesn't say anything about length, just weight.
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/dl648/dl648pt2.htm
Third: If the Jake Brake still isn't working, I would have to agree that driving that MH would be very dangerous.

Fourth: Get the thing back to the factory.

Fifth: If it is that bad, the "Lemon Law" applies to the chassis portion of a motorhome.

Sixth: Fulltiming in a brand new MH has a large amount of inherent risk associated with it. These guys that say they are picking up their new rig and headed out on a cross country road trip the next day have another thing coming. These new rigs are so high tech now, you have no choice but to go back to the factory (or a very good dealer) for repair. Remember, "high tech" doesn't mean trouble free. It means "Joe Blow" with a VOM can't trouble shoot and repair anything anymore.

My $0.02
Mike

95 Intrigue 10061

Quote from: Bill Harris

NEEDS A LICENSED DRIVER WITH HIM? > Do you need a special license to drive a coach in California???? > If so, does it include 40 footers??? > Bill Harris

03 Allure 1st Ave 30912
.

[quote author=Rita Galicia

> ..........Made it to Ehrenburg, Arizona where we met a driver

to

Re: Special License to Drive Coach in California?????

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 11325
Mike,

First, You are right about CA and confusion.

Second, Looking at your link, it gives the License classes. Under class C it lists three bulleted descriptions of "vehicles" which are allowed to be driven with a class C license. You may want to take note of the last page in that DMV publication (http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/dl648/dl648pt13.htm). It defines "house car" which is the third description.
I think he can currently drive his coach under that definition. The first two descriptions do not fit.
I think CA is in the process of trying to "tighten" up those regulations and will soon require an endorsement for anything over 40'.

Someone here might be able to update that, I think it has passed and is waiting for the Governors signature. Maybe he has already signed it and the effective date is looming. I'm unsure.
Third, I'm always amazed at the reliance on "Jake Brakes" or "Engine Brakes". I agree 100% with the value in engine / exhaust brakes.
However what did we ever do before that ?? WE WENT SLOWER DOWN HILLS. I started in the late 70's driving trucks with no "jake brakes". I'm pretty sure I have been up and down about every serious grade in the US highway system in most weather conditions. Go slower. The old rule of thumb was go down a hill no faster than you went up that hill. BUT not having an engine / exhaust brake does not make a vehicle unsafe to drive.

Fourth, I agree.

Fifth, Sounds good to me.

Sixth, So true.

I hope I did not upset anyone. That was not my intent.

If that guys wants his coach driven up to his house, I'm not that far away, I'd do it for him (well within reason :-) ).

Michael

Quote
First of all: CA DMV specializes in confusion.

Second: He only has a Class B "permit"? As in "learners > permit".... I don't know? Looks like with a CA Class B license he > would be okay to drive any 3-axle vehicle in CA. DMV doesn't say > anything about length, just weight.
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/dl648/dl648pt2.htm >

Third: If the Jake Brake still isn't working, I would have to

agree

Quote
that driving that MH would be very dangerous.

Fourth: Get the thing back to the factory.

Fifth: If it is that bad, the "Lemon Law" applies to the chassis > portion of a motorhome.

Sixth: Fulltiming in a brand new MH has a large amount of

inherent

Quote
risk associated with it. These guys that say they are picking up > their new rig and headed out on a cross country road trip the next > day have another thing coming. These new rigs are so high tech

now,

Quote
you have no choice but to go back to the factory (or a very good > dealer) for repair. Remember, "high tech" doesn't mean trouble > free. It means "Joe Blow" with a VOM can't trouble shoot and

repair

Quote
anything anymore.

My $0.02

Mike

95 Intrigue 10061

[quote author=Bill Harris"

> NEEDS A LICENSED DRIVER WITH HIM? > > Do you need a special license to drive a coach in California???? > > If so, does it include 40 footers??? > > Bill Harris

> 03 Allure 1st Ave 30912
> .
>

[quote author=Rita Galicia
>]
> > ..........Made it to Ehrenburg, Arizona where we met a driver > to

> take our RV into California and home (my husband has his class b > > permit but needs a licensed driver with him).............
> > Thanks. Rita
> >
> >
> >

> > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection

around

Re: Special License to Drive Coach in California?????

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 11326
If you are a CA resident you need a special license to drive a motorhome greater than 40' in length. If you are not a CA resident, CA will honor your States license and allow you to drive.
There is a map that shows the roads you can drive on if you are greater than 40. Sorry I do not have that link. Most of the roads are the Interstate and roads coming off them within 1 or 1 1/2 miles.
When I first got our RV, I noticed that the DMV's in my area were not on the approved roads. I called the DMV and they couldn't tell me how to get to them. They suggested I called back in a few months :-) I am about to make SD my domicile, so I haven't followed up on it.

Steve Harrie

(Travel Nursing in SOB)

Re: Special License to Drive Coach in California?????

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 11327
The story goes that .....over 40' MHs require a special license that also has a medical exam associated with it. In addition there are some roads you can't take a 40' MH on. If you are from out of state, the licensing rules don't apply due to reciprocal agreements between states. Class B license can have different requirements behind it for different states.

Skip
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NEEDS A LICENSED DRIVER WITH HIM? Do you need a special license to drive a coach in California???? If so, does it include 40 footers??? Bill Harris 03 Allure 1st Ave 30912
----------
.........Made it to Ehrenburg, Arizona where we met a driver to take our RV into California and home (my husband has his class b permit but needs a licensed driver with him)............. Thanks. Rita
 

Re: Special License to Drive Coach in California?????

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 11328
Here's the link that shows the requirements for a "noncommercial Class B license" in CA

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/dl/dl_info.htm#CDL
and the link that has the good maps of roads that you CAN and CANNOT drive in CA with an RV that is more than 40' at this time
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/trucks/bus-mh/fs-motorhms.htm
Of course, the road to the Outdoor Resorts in Aquanga (as well as to the Escapees Jojoba Hills) is on the restricted route...but I haven't noticed that all the motorhomes in the OR are 40' or less!

Jan McNeill, Fulltimer
2001 Intrigue 11320