Can you remember as a kid how excited everyone would get around September when all of the automobile manufacturers would release their new models at the same time? The auto-carriers would roll down the highway with each vehicle covered so that you could not see the latest designs before the grand unveiling at the dealer’s showroom. Did you ever try to sneak a peek under the shroud so you could be the first kid on the block to have seen one? I did!

Tiffin Motorhomes
Today, both the automobile and RV industries have abandoned this “common” model year introduction time frame and it is not unusual to see next year’s models on the road as early in the year as April. As we speak, numerous 2008 models are arriving weekly at Lazydays with many more scheduled to arrive over the next few months. More exciting than their early arrival is the fact that the 2008 models are packed with ample innovative upgrades.

One of the most stunning motor coaches is the all-new 2008 Country Coach Rhapsody 900. Breathtakingly elegant is the only way to describe the latest creation from one of the industry’s most respected manufacturers of luxury motor coaches. This unique motor coach is powered by a Caterpillar® C-15 625hp diesel engine with 2,050 pounds of torque. No coach is more powerful. The engine is teamed with a Country Coach exclusive, a Caterpillar CX series six-speed automatic transmission. With a GVWR of 54,000 pounds and a hitch rating of 20,000 pounds, there is very little that will need to be left behind. The beautiful exterior paint scheme on this rolling mansion will undoubtedly turn heads anywhere it goes.

2008 Winnebago View
2008 Winnebago View
What else is new and exciting? There’s a lot of talk surrounding the introduction of the Winnebago Destination and Itasca Latitude which are being built on the all-new Workhorse UFO chassis. I test drove both of these new 2008s at the FMCA Winter Convention in Perry, Georgia this past March and what incredible motor homes they are! The Latitude that I drove had a Vortec 8.1L 340hp gas rear-engine with 455 pounds of torque at 3,200 RPM and you could have heard a pin drop on the flat floor in the front cabin area. The rear engine purred so quietly that I had to check the dashboard instrument panel to be sure that the engine was running. With its all-new HPB Quadraulic four-wheel disc brake system, you experience more dynamic control when stopping. It is probably like nothing you have ever driven before, but something you will want to own once you get to drive it.

If you prefer something smaller and more fuel-efficient, you will love the 2008 Itasca Navion or Winnebago View with 17–19 MPG. Both are being built on the new Dodge Sprinter chassis and offer a longer wheel base and larger floor plans. They are equipped with a Mercedes-Benz® 3L, six cylinder turbo-diesel engine, five-speed automatic transmission and independent front suspension.  

2008 Monaco Executive Interior
2008 Monaco Executive Interior
Available at Lazydays right now are the early introductions for Monaco’s 2008 line-up which include two new floor plans for the Dynasty and three for the Executive, all of which feature four slide outs. The all new Dynasty is powered by a 425hp Cummins ISL 8.8L for increased power and features a striking new exterior with five color fades. It also sports new high-gloss Corian countertops throughout as well as two new standard interior colors and one new Ralph Lauren brand color. Due to popular demand, a Cummins ISX engine, in-motion satellite system with two HD receivers and 26-inch bedroom LCD are now standard in the Executive. Additionally, full tile is now available throughout, giving the coach an added touch of elegance while at the same time making it easy to keep clean. It too has new five color exterior graphics and also twelve color choices for its hard wood cabinetry.      

2008 Monaco Executive
2008 Monaco Executive
Lazydays is also the first dealer to showcase the 2008 Monaco LaPalma rear-engine gas motor home which is built on a Workhorse UFO chassis. It features a rear lounge area in the bedroom and like a diesel motor home the entry door is in the front by the passenger which allows space for two sofas and a dinette, which you couldn’t get in the traditional gas motor home. Its 55-degree wheel cut allows for easy maneuvering in and out of tight spaces and with the engine in the rear there is no need to shout over the noise of a traditional front engine gas motor home. Also, the new LaPalma diesel boasts increased engine horsepower, from 300hp to 325hp, new exterior full-body paint and 84-inch interior ceiling height for increased head room.   

One of the distinguishing features of the Beaver Marquis has always been the incredible detail of its craftsmanship. Beaver continues this tradition by offering handcrafted cabinetry with rich, vibrant woods crafted by experienced artisans in its 2008 Marquis so that each coach has its own unique distinction. The interior is further defined with rich granite tile flooring in the cockpit, galley and bath area and high gloss Hudson countertops throughout. Options include a See-Vision camera integrated into the exterior mirror glass and an in-motion digital satellite system with two HD King Dome receivers.

Fleetwood’s 2008 Discovery and Excursion diesel pushers feature a brand new floor plan (39R) that is the first of its kind. It is powered by the Cummins ISB 350hp engine and boasts a roadside full-wall slide plus two additional curbside slides. The slide up-front, coupled with the full-wall slide, creates a huge living area. Also, a wardrobe extends the width of the rear of the coach and can include an optional washer/dryer combination. Chrome mirrors and a keyless entry system are now standard on the Discovery.

The innovations and features of the new 2008 models are so exciting that they will rekindle the excitement of your youth when you saw that first car sporting its new model year body style while out and about.