<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000910619-08-000008
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20080104
<FILING-DATE>20080107
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20080107
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>MONACO COACH CORP /DE/
<CIK>0000910619
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3711
<IRS-NUMBER>351880244
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1229
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>91320 COBURG INDUSTRIAL WY
<CITY>COBURG
<STATE>OR
<ZIP>97408
<PHONE>5416868011
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>91320 COBURG INDUSTRIAL WAY
<CITY>COBURG
<STATE>OR
<ZIP>97408
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>BOND RICHARD E
<CIK>0001213092
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-14725
<FILM-NUMBER>08514336
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O MONACO COACH CORP
<STREET2>91320 COBURG INDUSRRIEAL WAY
<CITY>COBURG
<STATE>OR
<ZIP>974087
<PHONE>5416868011
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>91320 COBURG INDUSTRIAL WAY
<CITY>COBURG
<STATE>OR
<ZIP>97408
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-01-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000910619</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MONACO COACH CORP /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>mnc</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001213092</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BOND RICHARD E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>91320 COBURG INDUSTRIAL WAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>COBURG</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>97408</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP/Chief Admin. Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-01-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>11167</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>11167</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11167</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of MNC stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The restricted stock units vest in four equal annual installments beginning January 4, 2009.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>P. Martin Daley, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-01-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
