[Jerry]

Tom is right here and has a good way of looking at it. In my purchase decision I knew I wanted to zero out the coach so I looked at coaches that fit our “style” AND left me enough meat on the bone to zero it out. We spent 3 months just researching converters (past and present one’s) pro’s and con’s ect….then we started seeing what they are listed for and in a few lucky cases I found out what they sold for…..

I also dealt with a dealer that I and others felt had a great reputation and integrity (Legacy Coach).

For now though, I cant imagine that regular “maintenance” will exceed 5K per year based on our use but like everything else, I have that RAINY DAY BUS FUND started so if and when something breaks I’m prepared. Being a prevost novice is another reason I wanted to start with a Royale known for it’s ease of use. That’s why I was happy to see Emerald making coaches and supposedly using the same keep it simple philosophy.

[Larry & Diane]

A
point I didn’t mention is I include the cost to get the bus up to
my standards in the buying price. I then know exactly what I have in
the bus that’s ready to hit the road. Then going forward, the rest is
preventative, normal service and the odds and ends that pop up from
time to time.

Then
when I decide to sell, anything above the original purchase price
(including all those items needed in the beginning) is a plus. You
make your money on the buy, not the sell. Also, my labor factor is
not included in any of those costs, I view it as a hobby. There are
things I can’t do anymore because of age and that will eventually
push up the 5K number as I get older.

So
that’s where my 5K a year comes up and of course insurance and fuel
is a separate number.

For
those considering a Prevost, I hope some of this helps. If you buy it
right, can do a lot of your own repairs and maintenance, the cost of
ownership is reasonable compared to other high end brands. If you’re
not able to do any of your own work, then your annual expense will be
higher.

[Greg]

My last 2 coaches were “zeroed” out. I went completely through my 97 and changed every drop of fluids, all filters, all belts, all air bags, all brake chambers, all batteries, all Norgren valves, etc. It took just under a year to get it all done. With the exception of new brake chambers at 5 years of ownership, and new batteries also at 5 years from date of install my entire needed maintenance was essentially fluids and filters. I had a few unexpected repairs such as a refrigerator replacement and a replacement for a failed water pump, but my 8 plus years of ownership was uneventful and pretty cheap.

Liberty zeroed out what was needed on my current coach. My service requirements in the 2 plus years of ownership have been fluids and filters and one CAC. No surprises, and pretty reliable.

The bottom line is I don’t like to wait for something to break. If I step out ahead of a needed repair I am doing the repair such as changing air bags, on my schedule under conditions I control. I replace components on my schedule, and I am not at the mercy of a mechanic in a remote location who has never had his hands on a Prevost. But what works for me may not work for others. Each owner has to decide how he wants to manage the maintenance on his coach. The only wrong way is to fail to follow the sheduled maintenance requirements of Prevost or the manufacturers recommendations of other items that also need service, such as the generator. When maintenance is ignored then the cost of maintenance is going to be very high, if not in the repair of major components, then when the selling price ends up far below what it could have been if the coach had been properly maintained.

[Andre]

Make sure the coach is right on the day of purchase, or the cost to get it right is built into the buy-price, then likely $5-12k per year maint costs. I can live with that.

Andy.

[Archived]

This thread got me to finally go thru all my reciepts and put them into spreadsheet.

I listed all the items I had reciepts for except the nickel and dime stuff like nuts, bolts, wire, things like that.

Over 10 year period I can show a total of $45,285.00 or $4500 a year. Add in a little for the small things and it is right at $5000 a year.

Now this is for all normal yearly maintainence and quite a few upgrades. Some work was done in shops where I paid to have it done, and some of the work I did my self.

Based on what others have posted, it sure looks like if you can “zero out” the coach when you buy it, then $5000 a year shouls be more then enough to take care of it from that point on, minus unforseen disaster type problems.

I am a perfect example of how it should not be done. I stretched my budget to buy the bus and did not budget for or understand at the time of purchace the need to “zero out” all the items that have been discussed in ths thread. So I have been behind the power curve and playing catch up. But I finally feel like I have it under control. Plus I have 10 years of pure joy using the bus. It has never left me on the side of the road (knocking on a big piece of wood).

Based on what I hear about boats and airplane costs, Prevost cost may not be so bad.