[Dick]

Chad, he lost his franchise for the blow up dolls..

[Clint]

Talk about thread creep … I mean really creepy thread creep!

Just to reinforce what Jon says about the PC Forum being open, not being subject to personal animosities, and suggesting the administrators are not (too) thin skinned … I’m going to disagree with Jon. Watch closely what happens!

Jon said: “There is nobody better qualified to do a pre-purchase inspection than the buyer”

I strongly disagree with that. Especially if you’re a first time Prevost buyer and doubly especially if you’re a first time RV buyer.

I’ve been around GA airplanes, small boats, and race cars over the years. But NONE of that prepared me for a Prevost purchase and ownership like the PC Forum and previous to Geo Prentice telling me about the PC Forum another online Forum that is focused on the care and feeding of Prevosts. And even then, with all the preparation and knowledge base I was awfully “green” when it came to a Prevost coach.

I was fortunate that when we found “our coach” it was only 18 miles from Jeff Rowe at East Tennessee Luxury Coach and he inspected it for us. Jeff’s inspection saved me some money and allowed my to negotiate much harder with the seller who was in denial about deficiencies with the coach which was “impeccably maintained”.

Through Facebook I’ve watched Gil Johnson write about anything related to a Prevost coach and even have had Gil compliment me on the insightfulness of some (but certainly not all) of my thoughts, observations, and posts. (In fairness to Jon and Tom … both of them have also complimented me.)

There is NO substitution for what NASCAR driver Darrel Waltrip calls “sperience”. Whether its driving a race car, flying an airplane, making good decisions at work, or inspecting a Prevost motorcoach … the more one pulls the trigger, the more likely that person is going to be his or her craft. And I think that goes for Gil. He appears to inspect many coaches and apparently is in contact with the buyer after the sale which enhances he experiences.

Mr. YellowJacket comes to Prevost inspection from another direction … converting them. I’m anxious for him to share what he sees in the marketplace.

If we were to buy another coach, I would try to get Gil or Jeff Rowe or YellowJacket or even Tom or Jon or one of the handful of Prevost focused shops around the country to inspect it with me. But absent all those options not being available to me, I’d probably get out I think its Jon’s checklist and go it on my own. But on my own after seven years and many Benjamin’s paying my Prevost tuition bills; a luxury a new to Prevost buyer just doesn’t have.

A first time Prevost or RV buyer just isn’t aware of what he or she doesn’t know. There is lots of stuff to know and understand about a Prevost motorhome. Some things can be readily apparent … like switches that don’t do anything or A/C units that won’t start or put out cold air. But those are just the start. I don’t see it too much on the PC Forum but on the Facebook Prevost pages there appears to be people buying Prevost coaches from private owners (and owners who don’t much about the the caoches either!) and don’t get much training and indoctrination to their coach. I can only speculate what their “pre-purchase inspection” was like.

I strongly recommend a thorough inspection by a good inspector. If that’s not available to you, another Prevost owner is better than going it on your own. I’ve offered to look at coaches for prospective buyers in my neighborhood and I think other current and past owners would do the same.

Good luck to Dr. Gary in his search.

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Clint & Tammy Summers
2000 XL 45 Country Coach (rivets)
1977 FC31 Bluebird Wanderlodge (more rivets)
Vonore TN

[Liam]

I am not going to share emails with inspection advice to members because we discuss some things best kept from public view, but I want to amend something Dick suggests as my advice.

I am steadfast in urging buyers to use Prevost for chassis inspection, and the engine / transmission dealers to review coach history and codes. But the best inspector of the conversion is the buyer because the buyer is not going to make assumptions. By systematically pushing every button, turning every knob and otherwise operating every device, system and appliance that inspection if complete shows what works, and how and the inspection also becomes the training.

When an inspector (not a buyer) goes through the conversion the buyer loses the opportunity to get the detailed training.

[David]

I hired Gil to do the inspection of my Marathon shortly before expiration of the CPO warranty. He found some issues that ultimately saved me thousands of $’s. I’m a satisfied customer!

[Jeff]

That is GREAT news, Mark – Gotta take advantage of any warranty!

Thank you for sharing!

[Archived]

My wife and I are starting our homework on the Coach for us. I have see a lot of Andrew Steele’s videos and like some and don’t like others. He is a youtuber and has never owned a Prevost, Neither have we but that is about to change. I am now looking into a good inspection person along with storage options like NIRV center. I will be around to glein any information I can prior to purchase. Thanks again for being open and available.

[Bernard]

Carol and Tom: Our Prevost is our first RV of any kind. Read all the posts closely, keeping in mind there are a thousand or more Prevost owners on the PC Forum. Many post only when they have a problem.

If you can’t engage one of the expert inspectors to inspect a coach you’re looking at, an experienced Forum member near the subject coach is a possible option for you. Many of us will work for food and cocktails.

Good luck with your search! Keep us posted.