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Apples to Apples
In anything on a Prevost conversion you must compare apples to apples….for example, anything on a Prevost shell is a good thing. However just like the differant convertors and the way they do things from wiring….solid residential type 120 volt wiring to marine multi stranded wire. There is also a huge differance on who built the slide out…Is it a Prevost slide,HWH slide,Valid slide, Featherlite slide, Rogue slide…all of these have differant ways of operating the room, as well as the repair/replacement parts available for them. Although many coaches are considered orphined, most of the systems are able to be repaired or upgraded with out much of a problem. Yet with all the talk about value of coaches there must be some value attached to these differances. That is like the transmission retarder vs jake brake, bus air vs dash air. At the time of purchase of these shells these factor in a large price differance.
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63 Replies
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I would assume most folks who stumble across the Prevost Community Website like I did when I was trying to decide if I wanted a Prevost know very little about the bus its self let alone the converters. Most of the time the posts on here about which converters are the best, have the best products, support their coaches and such are personal opinions. The guys here like yourself “Jeff” are not going to beat up any converter because you work on them all and our own Prevost Community Gods don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings with their take on which converter is he best.
So…. How do we as greenhorns know which ones have the most value or has the best componets. How do we know what is Apples for Apples????? -
Excellent question Steve,
I primarily am buying a Prevost for its chassis. I would like to purchase a coach whose converter is still in business, but as Jeff points out, parts can be mostly purchased for these converters. Since I’m looking for a coach with OTR, that basically limits me to Liberty or Featherlite (’99-’02).
I certainly see value across the various converters, but I’m so new to the process I look at it somewhat like, “Is there value in high-end plumbing fixtures vs. standard plumbing fixtures”? Probably, to the right buyer. But just like buying a home, there are better values from the various builders. I guess each buyer just has to decide what’s important to them.
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Steve,
My two cents here. It really all depends on how you are going to use the coach and what is important. That will drive most of the decisions… then after that it’s personal preference. Lot’s of posts here about OTR and that will lead you one way if that is an important feature for you. It wasn’t at all important for us. But Bunk Beds were a big deal so that lead us to Marathon which I think has converted more bunk coaches than just about anyone.
I have been on this forum for about 3 years and my sense is your not going to end up with a crap conversion with any of them. But they each have their own ways of dong things. Some good some not so good.
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Bill & Lauren,
I guess the only way is to do your research and plenty of it. I now know exactly what I like but when I started looking I had no Idea. My buddy Tim had a 1996 Marathon and he loved it and the OTR Air was one of the things he liked most. Now he has a Liberty and I am not sure he is a Liberty guy yet. I like my Liberty but I can not find the switch for the rose petal dispenser. Mine is not an Elegant Lady so I know it is not an Automatic dispenser but I just can not find the switch!!
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Some things like the slide out windows on non-Prevost slides are not able to just be purchased off the shelf available, they however can be measured and made…the way they are installed also you may be surprising, they are just sitting in the opening or have to remove exterior panel to access….this is just one point of the coaches….
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Steve,
I think the rose petal dispenser is run off the aux air system and requires a 100% air tight system to operate at all. Even if you do find it, chances are it wont work 🙁
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Charles & Tamara,
I have good intentions to have a leak free coach but what what I read here, that might take Montgomery Scott to make that happen….. Till then, I am going to keep looking for that switch.. or since my Liberty is a “Class B” model a pull rope!!
Steve
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Steve,
Don’t listen to Tim, instead pay close attention to what Rita says.:)
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Tom,
Sounds like you know the drill with the Williams group!!
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Interesting thread. Heres a non Liberty take. I have owned 10 Prevost’s over the years. Some had OTR and some not. I live in Florida and spend my summers in the west. I prefer not to have OTR. I have no problem cooling my coach adequately without OTR. I much prefer having the additional bay space that an OTR would take up. Further it is just one more system to have problems with.
Also reading about all of the problems people have had with inflatable slide seals I really like Featherlite’s decision not to use inflatible seals. One less major problem to deal with.
Also, the way we use our coach having separate gray and black tanks is really important to me. I would not like having a combined tank.
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Hey Dave,
Tell me what you like about the seperate tanks?
Steve
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For one thing, the chances of both leaking at the same time is nil. Geo.
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Our first coach (Monaco Dyansty) had separate tanks which worked fine. The problem, which is minor, is that you cannot take each tank to capacity (you could, but it would drive you crazy).
The moment that you see it approaching full, you run out and release. With just one tank, you can reach closer to full than two separate tanks (just my opinion).
And the comment about a tank leaking, if a tank is leaking it will need to be fixed or replaced whether you have one or two.
But, like they say in the car business, there is a butt for every seat. Buy and drive what YOU like.
Mark
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The question has been asked why one would want two tanks. If you stay in an RV park long term there would be no need. However, if you occasionally dry camp the ability to discretely drop some gray water when you choose makes ones life much easier. Not saying I would ever do this but the opportunity would exist if you had separate tanks.
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Carguy,
You know, that the ‘one tank’ holding units have a grey water by-pass. You can hook up a hose to the connector and run the hose where ever you want to release the water (flower bed, etc.). It’s a nice feature.
Mark
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