by
Dave Bessmer
Like Bob Dole, sometimes I feel that I just can’t win. And while I hope I don’t acquire any of the Senator’s other highly publicized problems, I may have to just give up on the idea of trying to combine fishing with test-driving Windsor motorhomes. You might remember that the last time I reviewed a Windsor motorhome in these pages, I had been hoping to work in a salmon-fishing trip on a Michigan river as part of the deal, but was thwarted by time constraints. This time I thought I’d keep it simple. While scouting photo locations last year, I had found a little park on the banks of the Elkhart River a few miles from Monaco’s Wakarusa, Indiana plant. So I thought maybe I’d cruise over there while test driving a new 2002 Windsor recently and see if the river held any smallmouth bass. I may never know. Just as I was getting ready to go, a huge black cloud rolled in from the west and dumped its cargo all over Wakarusa. I spent the rest of the afternoon inside the coach wondering how many pairs of animals I could fit in there with me if the rain didn’t let up. A test drive in the rain Fortunately it didn’t rain for forty days and forty nights; even the 40-foot Windsor they issued me wouldn’t have held very many species—not to mention all the newspaper I would have needed. Forty feet is well short of 300 cubits, but it’s a ton of room for a couple of people who want to travel by themselves on dry land. The extra length over a 36- or 38-foot coach allowed the Monaco designers to add some nifty features, which I’ll get to presently. It was still raining pretty briskly when I took the big coach out for a test drive. I traveled down some narrow, potholed and patched Elkhart County back roads, up a busy rural two-lane between Wakarusa and Elkhart, and then took her out for a cruise on a nearby freeway. Monaco engineers increased the size of the air bags used on the 2002 Windsor, and there does seem to be a noticeable payoff. You feel the road most in this coach when you’re the driver—you’re seated right over the front wheels—and I can tell you this is a very smooth ride. It’s also extremely stable. The squall that had moved in was producing some gusty crosswinds. I also played a bit of leapfrog with a semi, passing it to test acceleration and tracking in the dirty air the truck produced, then letting the semi pass me as I slowed down to exit the freeway. In all cases, it felt like driving a sedan on a calm day. Acceleration in this biggest Windsor is adequate. There isn’t much of a hole shot, but where you need it—such as passing that semi—the Cummins 350 ISC engine provides a steady surge of power that gets you into and out of the passing lane quickly and surely. The air braking system performed great as well. It gives you a lot of confidence to be able to brake down on an off ramp almost as if you were driving a car. The Windsor also has an exhaust Pac brake system that lets you use the engine for braking on long downgrades while keeping your brakes cool and ready for emergency action. “Wandering” is a term that should apply to your travel plans, not the way your coach actually steers. With the help of special steering geometry, this motorhome tracks straight and steers precisely. Also, its turning radius is very tight for a big rig – I found it very easy to maneuver the coach in close quarters on the Monaco property. A bit of intelligence: Monaco is introducing a new performance option for Windsor, an auto-traction system that supplies positive traction much like the limited-slip differential in some performance cars. My rig didn’t have this feature, and it would have been a good day to test it. I hope to have a coach and a muddy road to test this feature with next time I’m in Wakarusa. In the driver’s seat The driver’s station hasn’t changed in any major way from last year, but it’s hard to improve on perfection. The six way power driver’s seat (co-pilot, too), tilt-telescope wheel and push button-adjustable brake and accelerator pedals let you find the perfect driving position in seconds. There is one new switch – for the now-standard generator power slideout. The instrument cluster is still high-visibility, with the rear video monitor just to the right of the steering wheel. The heater-A/C controls and the stereo unit are in the center console where both pilot and copilot can reach them. The other new feature up front is, of course, the one-piece wrap-around windshield. It’s one of several upgrades that are pushing the Windsor line into new territory value-wise. This coach has a great many items at the driver’s control, and they’ve done a nice job of making it simple for you. Less-used switches are located on the lower left of the dash panel. These include the master headlight switch (high beam control is on the steering wheel), fog lights, docking lights, auxiliary start, idle control, the Cummins engine diagnostic system and the air dump that lets you lower the coach’s suspension several inches when parked so that your leveling jacks have a greater effective range of travel. On a side console at your left hand are the electronic shift buttons, including the economy mode switch for the six-speed Allison transmission. Rocker switches control electric driver and passenger sun shades, power pedal position adjustment, engine block heater, heated mirrors, the step well cover, generator slideout, mirror position and leveling jacks. The generator on-off switch is on the center console where it’s easier to reach from the salon or the doorway. Upgraded sights and sounds Entertainment is at a premium level in the new Windsor. Right inside the front door a now-standard 25-inch TV is mounted in a cabinet above the windshield. You may need to learn to duck a bit when moving to the driver’s seat. I learned this, uh, very quickly, but the cabinet is softly radiused and the knot on my head receded quickly. In cabinets flanking the big TV are a VCR and a DVD player, both standard. A cabinet further left held an optional 10-CD changer (if you don’t order this option, the stereo unit in the center console will have a CD player.) Three of the home-theater speakers are suspended above the windshield as well. The bedroom has a standard 20-inch TV and stereo speakers. A very cool new feature: on a cabinet next to the bed is mounted a control pod for the stereo and CD changer, so you can enjoy music without having to trek up front to turn it on and off. A soft inner light lets you locate this control pod in the dark. The Monaco people said that my rig was in one of the most popular décor themes (Taupe Twilight with Natural Cherry cabinetry), and I can believe it. The combination of bold patterns and rich, yet understated color is just right for me, anyway. The new carpet is richly sculpted. I was impressed with the lighting in this coach. In addition to the decorative sconce and ceiling lamps, there is a row of fluorescent ceiling lights the length of the coach, with a switch right inside the entry door. Also, the overhead cabinets in the living room and bedroom have recessed lights with dimmer switches that let you set just the right mood. There are also nightlights at floor level under the kitchen counter and bath vanity. The model I tested was a 40PWD, a double slide-out with a big, roomy bed-and-bath suite. The driver-side slideout houses, as usual, the sofa and kitchen. There are several options for the curb-side furniture; mine had a leather J-lounge and a dinette table with free-standing chairs, including two optional folding chairs that match the standard ones. The table is legless – a great new feature that lets you get in and out of your chair comfortably. The tabletop is a solid slab of the stone-like material that is used on all the countertops as well. It slides a few inches out from the cabinet unit in which it is anchored for additional surface area. The cabinet contains a good deal of space for dishes and glassware, plus the home theater system’s subwoofer. Overhead cabinets in the living area and kitchen have been made deeper for 2002, adding to Windsor’s excellent storage space. Kitchen magic There’s added storage and work space in the kitchen, too: deeper overhead cabinets and an “L” configuration on the forward part of the counter with deeper drawers beneath. And at the aft end of the counter is a section of counter recessed into the bulkhead (not part of the slideout) that serves as extra work space, or a buffet or bar. This area, like the range area just forward (right), has an elegant beveled mirror backsplash. Next to this is the recessed three-burner range with counter-material covers. Windsor now has lift-off covers for ranges rather than the bi-fold cover, which can be rather heavy with solid-surface counter material. The lift-off covers can double as serving trays. Above the range is a large convection-and-microwave oven that lets the designers devote the space below the range to storage so you can take more of those Ron Popeil cooking gadgets with you. Needless to say, all the kitchen storage cabinets are carpeted. The double stainless-steel sink has a Moen single handle faucet with integral sprayer. My rig had the optional four-door fridge with icemaker. They now have attractive wooden louvers over the vent below the fridge. The kitchen floor is ceramic tile, and I noticed they threw in several extra tiles in a bundle under the sink in case you should crack one. Sweet suite If this rig’s 40-foot length allows extra work area in the kitchen, it really pays off in the bath. There’s room for a sink and medicine cabinet in the water closet, and there is a second sink with large counter area and two medicine cabinets that is actually in the bedroom, aft of the pocket doors that separate bath from bedroom. I could tell you how valuable this arrangement would be for my wife and me, but she sometimes reads these articles, so I will omit mention of how much time she spends at her toilette prior to, say, a night on the town or even going fishing, for Pete’s sake. The shower is the standard angled model, very roomy with a seat. I notice the glass is now clear, something I would enjoy a lot more than my wife would. Suffice it to say, this bed-and-bath suite is exceptionally spacious when you want it to be, and quite private with the solid six-panel pocket doors closed. The slideout bedroom is beautifully engineered for living. The queen size bed has rounded corners at the foot and overhangs its base so that it is easy to move around. The dresser and the vanity are recessed at floor level for extra foot room as well. There is a six-drawer dresser under a large counter. Along the rear wall are a large cabinet that would house the optional washer-dryer unit, and a sliding-door closet about six-by-three feet in size. Cabinets over the bed and nightstand drawers are extremely deep. There is a tall shirt closet between the shower and the forward nightstand with two deep drawers below.
Great outdoors The 2002 Windsor now comes with full body paint standard, and the design is a knockout. The paint job consists of a hand-sprayed polyurethane base coat, three color coats and five coats of UV-resistant clear coat baked on at 155¡F. My coach also had the optional 3M front film mask. This is a great way to protect your paint job without having to strap a huge piece of black vinyl automotive lingerie onto the front of your rig. Exterior storage is, as expected, cavernous, and I’d recommend the optional roll-out tray for at least one of your basement pass-throughs. Another Windsor 2002 upgrade is a keyless entry system for the entry door and the storage trunk doors. Livability and convenience extend even to the exterior of this coach. ’Round back you’ll find a lighted water-service bay that houses holding tank valves, freshwater hookup, a hot-and-cold handheld shower, a liquid-soap dispenser, a paper towel rack and, for 2002, a 12-volt heater to keep it all from freezing up in cold weather. (Also a nice feature if you’re showering up back here, although, if you have neighbors, you should turn off the light.) My rig was also equipped with the optional Carefree One Touch power-operated awning. I would have loved this if I’d had the awning out when the squall moved in: stay dry inside while you retract the awning in less than half a minute. In general, Windsor is a significantly upgraded coach for 2002. Monaco’s National Sales Manager, Mark Kealoha, said he saw several owners of late-model Dynasty coaches looking to trade for Windsor models at a recent show. I may not be able to win when it comes to fishing, but it looks like Monaco has brought in a winner in the 2002 Windsor. Dave Bessmer is a freelance writer living in East Grand Rapids, Michigan. He has spent 25 years in the RV business. He has authored several features for Lifestyles magazine. |
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View 2002 Windsor Photo Gallery
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