A brand new baby has been born into the Monaco family, weighing 24,000 pounds and measuring a stylish 36'4" from head to toe. The family couldn’t be happier, and like all proud parents, they’re anxious to show her off. Her name is Cayman, and when we were introduced to her for the first time, her Monaco heritage was easy to see. Actually, some of her birth stats as quoted above are a bit deceiving. That’s because even though Cayman always weighs in at 24,000 pounds (GVWR), she is available in four lengths, ranging from 30'11" to 32'4" to 34'4" to 36'4". We met Cayman in her 36PBD form, the most grown-up model, and she won our hearts immediately. Her countenance is bright, and she is dressed in a stylized ribbon of color that circles her waist and then splashes playfully near her hind quarters. She has big beautiful eyes that wrap around so everyone can enjoy a good view. Her pug little nose conceals a power generator, and there’s a cute little dimple in her chin where a license plate will fit perfectly. Cayman is Monaco’s new entry-level diesel motorhome. As such she holds a very important position in the family, because she may be the perfect solution for owners who have been looking for an affordable diesel pusher that offers Monaco quality coachwork and a Roadmaster chassis. There may be some people who couldn’t care less what the chassis is like, but I’m not one of them. To me, a good motorhome begins life as a chassis. This is where the fundamental strength comes from. Not only strength, but stability, control, comfortable ride and ease of handling. If the chassis is deficient, all the fancy coachwork in the world won’t turn a sow’s ear into a silk purse. Cayman is built upon the Roadmaster chassis, which means it has four air bags and four gas shock absorbers in the suspension system. When you’re looking for comfort and stability, nothing beats an air bag suspension. But the good stuff doesn’t stop there. This chassis features anti-lock braking, so you can stop straight and steady every time. It’s this kind of equipment that keeps the white out of your knuckles when the wind kicks up and the rain washes the highway. Which is just what happened during our road test. Somewhere just north of Hilo, the upper air currents began their beeline toward the Pacific Northwest, and they carried with them a load of tropical moisture. Just as baby Cayman was making her debut, Mother Nature decided to celebrate by laying down a steady dose of cold, wet and wind all over the highways we were traveling. And that’s when I fell in love with the Roadmaster chassis all over again. Need to stop? Go ahead, the ABS will do the job. Need to go? Just tromp the throttle and the 275-horsepower Cummins will come alive. And when the stiff wind hits you broadside, the air bag suspension will keep the coach steady on the road. "She (Cayman) holds a very important position in the family, because she may be the perfect solution for owners who have been looking for an affordable diesel pusher that offers Monaco quality coachwork and a Roadmaster chassis." To be honest, when the crosswinds blew really strong, I had to steer slightly into the wind to maintain my lane. But it wasn’t enough to cause concern. Nothing short of a heavier coach could negate the affects of the wind, and the relatively svelte Cayman performed admirably under storm conditions. I had only one complaint about my time in the driver’s seat, and that was related to the side-view mirrors. Actually, the curbside mirror delivered a perfect view down the starboard side of the coach, but the mirror on the driver’s side was in a poor position. The A-pillar blocked the view of the mirror from the driver1s seat, and I had to bob and weave to catch a glimpse of my side of the coach. Although I didn’t spend the time trying to hunt up a hex wrench so I could adjust the mirror’s support arm (which I should have done before hitting the road), I mention all this only to remind drivers to check and adjust such things before heading out. I love driving a rear-engine diesel motorhome, and hearing next to nothing when I depress the accelerator because all the engine noise is left behind. But eventually the day’s drive is over and it’s time to pull into a camping spot. By the time we stopped, the rain had developed into a downpour. This time, rather than flip a coin to see which one of us would have to go outside and connect everything up to the campsite hook-ups, we decided just to wait out the storm. But who needs hook-ups anyway? The Cayman is fully equipped with an Onan 6.5 LP generator. And with 52-gallon gray and black tanks, an 80-gallon freshwater tank, and 38 gallons of propane in the basement, we had nothing to worry about. So we just leveled up the coach, extended the slideout rooms, kicked back and relaxed. Even with the deluge outside, I was comfortable in knowing that both of the slideouts are topped by Carefree of Colorado awnings that come as standard equipment to help deflect the water from off the top of the room extensions. And for days like this one, an optional awning can be ordered to cover the front door entry. By the way, it’s always important to level the coach before extending the slideout rooms, so the Cayman’s manual hydraulic leveling system is a very worthwhile option. So, there we were, sitting out the monsoon in complete comfort. The 36-footer we were testing had a nice 19-inch color TV above the cockpit, and an optional 13-inch TV in the bedroom. We were all set up to watch local programming through the roof antenna, or plop in a video tape from our collection of movies. One of the things I like about the Cayman is that it’s all set up for privacy, so the neighbors won’t know which pajamas I’m wearing. Up front, there’s a nice set of curtains installed on a track that runs just above the windshield. With the curtains closed, the coach becomes your own private world. Living room windows are treated to day/night fabric shades, and the rest of the windows in the coach have aluminum mini-blinds. In the living room, there’s a reclining barrel chair and a convertible sofa, and if you’re entertaining guests, the cockpit seats can be turned to face toward the living room. The sofa quickly converts to a bed for those times when extra sleeping space is needed, and the booth dinette can also be transformed into a bed. Comfortable as they may be, both the sofa and the dinette beds are most suitable for children, because of the limited length of the sleeping surface. "I had to steer slightly into the wind to maintain my lane. But it wasn't enough to cause concern. Nothing short of a heavier coach could negate the affects of the wind, and the svelt Cayman performed admirably under storm conditions." I’m not exactly a whiz in the kitchen, but I know when one has everything it needs, and this one does. This coach was designed with plenty of counter space, so I can spread out my mess when the breakfast burritos are on the menu. There’s a nice 3-burner stove, an optional oven, a Spacesaver microwave (for when I don’t want to wait on the oven), and a double sink. Across the way is a large double-door refrigerator, and one with an icemaker can be ordered as an option. Down the hall is the bathroom, with the main feature being a glassed-in corner shower that sits beneath a domed skylight. The vanity is flanked by a nice countertop that matches the laminate material used in the kitchen. A sizeable mirrored medicine cabinet is topped by a row of lights. Across the way is the private bathroom, with a toilet and an overhead cabinet. And then there’s the big closet behind louvered doors. Actually, the reason for the louvers is that this space is all plumbed and ready to accept an optional laundry center. Without the combination washer/dryer, the closet makes a wonderful place to store linens and the like. With the bedroom slideout extended, there is a lot of space to get around the queen-sized bed, so you can get to the huge wardrobe that stretches across the rear of the coach. The wardrobe is flanked by dresser drawers on each side, providing plenty of storage space for clothing. And beneath the bed is a cavernous space for stowing large items. If you like to carry a lot of stuff on your trips, the Cayman will put a smile on your face. There are large basement storage compartments which are lined with polyethylene, to seal out the elements and for easy cleaning. One pass-through compartment is designed to handle the large items such as skis, with ease. When our time with the Cayman was concluded, we were sad to leave her behind. But we’re pleased with the newest member of the Monaco family, and we’re willing to bet that a lot of other people will be too. Rich Johnson is a freelance writer based in
the Pacific Northwest. He has 23 years experience as a professional
editor with several automotive and RV publications, including TrailerLife
and Motorhome. Rich Johnson is a freelance writer based in the Pacific Northwest. He has 23 years experience as a professional editor with several automotive and RV publcations, including TrailerLife and Motorhome. |
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