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Crazy time to hunt for a coach…
Hey all,
Hope everyone is well. We have been beating the bushes, still looking for a coach. It’s become quite a difficult task with the current situation on the planet. But, like my wife likes to remind me, “first world problems”. Hard to be frustrated about shopping for a coach when folks are having to fend for masks and toilet paper. Very strange times.
We’ve found a couple coaches that are of potential interest, but now we can’t go see them till things “loosen up”. One is a Vision and another is an Outlaw. I’ve seen one Vision in person and the fit and finish was good but the design of that particular coach was pretty Spartan and plain. Have yet to see an Oultaw in person but the design from the pics is appealing and matches our aesthetic.
I know the history of these builders but was curious if anyone has any notion of the build quality?
Thanks always for the input… and of course if anyone knows of a coach that may be for sale please send them our way…
Take care
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12 Replies
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Over 30 years of ownership have indicated to me when a converter is at the level of Prevost conversion it is a high probability the construction of the conversion is going to be of high quality.
Do not interpret that to mean that all conversions are perfect. When we owners get to speaking seriously to one another about our respective conversions it is clear each conversion has some real quality features as well as a couple of really bone headed ideas. The dumb stuff is rarely a deal breaker, and is often either easily tolerated, or easily fixed.
I cannot think of a single feature or reputation by any converter that would chase me away. What does make me focus on a coach is how it is equipped, and if it has certain features we want in a coach. For example I will not own a coach that does not have OTR, and I will not have one that does not have a private toilet. I have other wants and needs but those two are the deal breakers, never the converter.
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When I started looking for a Prevost in 2007 I happened upon a new Foretravel Outlaw at a show that was simply gorgeous and definitely my kind of upscale tree hugger lush style. The real dark wood cabinetry and dark leather throughout. Beautiful. I fell in love with the look and feel.
I remember bragging about the Outlaw to Mark Cascio formally of Marathon and Parliament who then educated me about the safety of Prevosts vs Foretravel.
That was 13 years ago and they’ve been building coaches ever since. Looking at Outlaws now online for the last 30 minutes I can’t imagine anything but a first quality and extremely homey and comfortable coach. So it seems they’re serious about their construction all these years.
Loocho…I see where an Outlaw would fit your travel needs.
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There’s a 2008 XLII non-slide Outlaw for sale.
Be aware it’s a 2004 chassis, know what your buying.
Later
bv
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Thanks for that info.
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A lot of people might be able to help but you have to share enough information to encourage those efforts, such as your budget and if you have to trade in your existing coach or intend to sell it outright, what features or configuration you need such as slides, H model or X model, OTR? Private toilet, roof airs or Cruisairs, floor plan features, amount of bay space? etc.
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Thanks Jon,
Ideally we are looking for a Marathon, Liberty or something of that quality. Would prefer OTR or roof airs or both. Prefer rivet coaches and would love to find a 40′ but realize that’s a tall order. ’97-2000 are also preferred so we get the rivets and the independent front suspension.
Tend to like warm interiors with dark or wood tones. Like the north/south master beds as well. The less overt “swirl” on the paint job the better.
I’ve found a couple XL2’s that we like and may go that way but the “de-lam” issue still worries me. I have a buddy who has a 2001 Marathon that we very much like but it has no OTR and we do travel and spend a lot of time in the heat of Vegas, Phoenix, Texas, etc. in the summer.
Our coach has most of these features but is an 8V92 bus. We love her and have toyed with the idea of repowering with an American Fleet rebuild but really would like to get a coach with the Series 60/World combo.
None of this is etched in stone. More than anything we just want something that fits our aesthetic and taste.
Anyhow, as always, I appreciate the info and guidance.
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You have already narrowed the field based on what I read in your response.
I am not someone who relies on my coach for commercial reasons, but if I did I think your focus on late model XL rivet coaches is a number one priority. If you are concerned about OTR I would urge you to step back and look at the numbers and I think you will have your decision.
Roof A/C units or Cruisairs deliver about 13,000 to as much as 15,000 BTU of cooling. In a 45 foot coach it is almost imperative to not settle for less than 4 because an XL has single pane windows and especially if you are moving there is going to be a lot of heat gain through the glass.
OTR of that vintage is at least 90,000 BTU so at worst it provides twice the cooling power. It works on the hottest days so when traveling it is the primary source and the house roof or Cruisairs are your back up.
If I had to rely on my coach I want back up for everything and I can tell you if you lose a front or rear A/C life will suck if you do not have OTR. When parked and you do not have the wind from driving sucking the cold out of the coach almost all the time 2 house A/Cs are going to do the job.
If you do not have OTR plan on running the generator when A/C is needed while driving so you are protecting the alternator or inverters from the heat of supplying power to A/C units.
If you think my remarks are valid it almost isolates a Liberty as the most likely coach for you. I wouldn’t give a penny more for IFS and I think a solid axle is more reliable so that puts the coach in the late 96 or early 97 range. But if you feel IFS is important it broadens your options.
40 foot? Slim chance.
But what you described is the most bullet proof chassis, the most economical engine, a relatively simple coach far easier to work on than later models and prices that are now far less than it would cost to duplicate the coach. In fact I bet any coach on the market could have the reliability of a new one with a $50,000 expenditure and it likely would have at least 5 years if not more where the maintenance and repairs was limited to changing oil and filters.
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What are you specifically looking for?
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Ignore my previous reply – I guess it was hung up in cyberspace
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Les,
When we were looking I talked with the people at Outlaw several times and they were very informative. Bought a 07 Marathon XLII that had the panels fixed. There is a 2010 Outlaw XLII at Motorhomes of Texas in Nacogdoches, TX. The asking price seems to be extremely reasonable.
Reese Cantrell
2007 Marathon XLII #1025
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If a convertor is out of business —-that might be a clue.
Stay with a brand still in business as this includes tech support.
If you have time to research every little problem on a out of production bus with no records, zero support, zero information on parts suppliers, turned down by repair shops that don’t want to be involved in the guess work.
Your only support boils down to some other owner with a bus like yours.
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