[Archived]

Why not take yours to Cummins and have it turned up to the 500 hp RV rating and give it try to see how much difference between the 425 and 500 hp just thinking out loud

[Alvie]

Peter C said……”Like I said its toqure that gets you up the hill not horsepower , but if you find yourself behind a truck or in the slow lane it’s poor planning on your part most of the time”.

Peter, I keep using the wrong word (hp vs. torque). Your ‘poor’ planning comment happened to me yesterday.

I didn’t plan enough time to go around several slow trucks as traffic was extremely heavy. We were going downhill, not up hill. The huge decline going towards San Bernadino on the I-15 from Las Vegas, the truck speed is 45 mph, it doesn’t take long for the coach to want to pass 75 mph.

It was probably around 3 PM and traffic was heavy. There were no openings for me to pop into even though power would not have been a problem (going downhill). Our two stage engine brake works like a jewel.

I really do like our current coach and can live with the lack of HP on long inclines. We get to where ever we are going and we are generally not in a rush. Our coach did not have the upgrade option to 500 hp with the floorplan that we chose.

Now at 7 yrs. of ownership, I feel like we are at a cross road. Our coach is young enough to still be able to get a loan if someone wants to purchase it without paying cash and still has a reasonable value. I know that there is a certain time period where it’s difficult to get a loan (not sure of the cut-off) and coach values seem to fall after that point. Our coach still looks almost new as I take excellent care of it.

So, I thought if we go for one more coach, I want it to be as perfect as possible (in my eyes).

Mark

[Bill]

Jon,

I don’t know if the Volvo is adequate or not, I just questioned it because of the weight of the coach compared to the ‘torque’. It may be absolutely perfect as I’ve never driven one.

My whole post started as to why there was not an engine option, not to dog Prevost.

The center post comment was just an observation. In the picture that someone posted made it look so thick. We currently have a one piece windshield with the TV above. I’m sure there are many wires going up but obviously along the sides.

I really don’t mind the two piece windshield as it’s half the cost of replacement if a rock hits it. I just thought the center post on the inside could be made smaller (maybe it can or maybe there is a good reason for it’s size).

I know that you guys are Prevost enthusiasts and I respect that. I value all of you guys opinions, it really helps me even when my thoughts are criticized.

Mark

[Archived]

Mr. Mark,

I don’t think any of us are ever “criticizing” your thoughts, we all come together with our “opinions” so now i will give you mine.

We went from a 2001 Holiday Rambler Navigator with a 500 Cummins to a 2005 Navigator with a Series 60 525hp…the Cummins 500 woud leave the series 60 for dead.. I have no idea why other than the torque perhaps, and 2 slide difference.

We “upgraded” to a 1998 H3-45 with 2 slides and a 500hp Series 60…. and trust me I meant “upgrade”. Going from 4 slides to 2 slides was not the transition I expected… I honestly thought I would hate it, but I was totally amazed at how spacious the H is inside, it feels much bigger than it is because of the huge windshields and with the slides out in a park I really have never missed the other 2 slides, visibilty in the H with the huge windows and sitting up high is a “plus” that you just have to experience.

Of course driving and handling is another story in itself, but in one word SUPERB would be it. A plastic coach will feel dangerous to you after driving a Prevost…. and I don’t mean just going out for a spin or test drive I mean on trips over 100 mile away and back where you encounter many situations on the road !!

We drove ours numerous times while it was on the market after having the H and it actually scared me as I used to drive way too fast…. and still encountered tough conditions wanting to pass when I didn’t have the power to do so…now I have slowed down and enjoy the trip so much more. It is what it is…so I try to enjoy every minute of it and feel blessed to be out there seeing this beautiful country, instead of sitting at home just wishing I was out there.

We have owned 2 Newell coaches in the past back in the 70s and loved them both.

Having said all of that I, do think Prevost is in a class of its own but you are the man with the money and hopefully you will find what meets your needs…. to each his own and you are very smart to be researching your options and I know for a fact that the comments on here are just our “opinions” that we share with you and our personal experiences.

We all wish the best for you and hope you do end up with the coach of your dreams whatever your final choice may be.

Good luck Mr Mark,

Cheers, Diane

[Archived]

“My whole post started as to why there was not an engine option, not to dog Prevost.”

I didn’t get that feeling after rereading the posts. But I can fully understand if I were going to drop a couple of million dollars I would want the coach as perfect as possible. My experience with my coaches and from what I have seen of others however suggests we are all driving compromises. None of us has checked all the boxes. We can’t because no matter what we want in a new coach, it is usually at the expense of something else.

With a very short opportunity to drive a very expensive conventional motorhome I learned a few things. The first is as Diane said, the driving experience between a motorhome and a Prevost is night and day. I worked to keep it in lane. Everything affected its ability to track. Wind, bumps, the crown of the highway and even passing trucks. I never realized how good a Prevost drove until the 15 mile drive which I couldn’t wait to end. I have not driven a Newell. Which all leads me to believe having unlimited power seems so unnecessary when it is so enjoyable to be behind the wheel. Yesterday I drove 848 miles. And then after getting home after all that driving I stayed up for hours since I was not so worn out from driving that I couldn’t savor the opportunity to relax a little before going to bed. I can assure you if I had to drive the motorhome I drove I would have not lasted half the time. Just watching the overhead cabinets shake on every bridge expansion joint would be enough to make me park the coach.

As to the other issues you raise, you and only you can set priorities, but I do know that most if not all converters can only do so much within the space constraints so you cannot expect any to start creating special floor plans so in your search your final manufacturer is going to be the one that most closely meets your desired floor plan. Everything else, including how they design the systems is likely going to be their standard or as close to it as possible. So worrying about stuff you cannot change, even though you don’t like it isn’t going to do you much good. You may end up with a Newell or even another motorhome. Converting a bus is not going to allow some things that only a scratch built motorhome can offer because our motorhomes are built on a chassis primarily designed for another purpose.

[Mike]

I have an appt. tomorrow to see a new Prevost Marathon Coach 1212 (H-3).

I’ll let you guys know what I think of it. It’s a three slide.

MM.

[Peter]

Mr Mark,

Marathon coach 1212 is being displayed at Indio, CA.

If you have a chance come over to MCC site #148 after you do the tour.

AL

[Peter]

My appt. is at 2:00 pm, we’ll stop by if you are there.

MM.

[glen]

Mr Mark

I hope you have the oportunity to stop by and visit with Al while in the area as he knows the Prevosts and the differences between Prevost and motorhomes as he too has been there and done that.

Can’t wait to hear how you like the H3-45. It will be a lot to absorb in a short run so give it a chance.

You will enjoy your visit with him.

Cheers, Diane

[Archived]

I had a long post about safety and longevity and my ipad crashed before I could hit send. Bottom line is in industries where longevity is key, like the music business, you don’t find Newells. You find Prevosts. And these pictures tell me which one is safer. Prevost, Eagle, MCI, and other buses have a steel cage frame. Newell’s and other RVs have an aluminum and fiberglass box sitting on top of a frame. I know which one I want to trust my life to.

i would have been bothers by the ‘coach/bus’ sales tactic of the Newell salesman. A ‘coach’ describes the interior design and use of a motor vehicle, not it’s construction. He would have lost me at that moment because of that tactic.

[Bill]

Hello Songman,

Just to be clear, the Newell salesman never compared a Prevost to a Newell or vise versa. The only time the salesman mentioned Prevost was when I asked him what kind of generator Newell uses and he said ‘Martin’. He then said, ‘Prevost also uses Martin’.

He then continued on talking about how a Martin generator was a very respected well built unit in the industry. The only comparisons between a Newell and Prevost were from me to him.

MM.

[Archived]

In all my years I have only saw 1 Newell that was a total from a wreck it rolled down a mountian it belonged to 1 of Dick Wrights guys ,Dale those are not a plastic box setting on a frame the H series has a lot more fiberglass than a Newell,the Newell has more roof ribs than Prevost or Eagle fwiw

You smack a bus in the front most of the time it is a total,smack a Newell the same way they install a new frame rail like they do with truck and you are back on the road

I know Prevost cuts people like Hemphill and Star some deals to keep their hold on that market you have someone like Hemphill and Star leading the rest follow the leader plus Prevost financing is the best around for that group with Blade at Newell it is cash and carry

good luck

[Bill]

Prevost does not use any generators.

All generators found in Prevost conversions are converter installed. Power Tech and Kohler seem to be the most widely used. 20KW also seems to be the most common size used now.

[Peter]

That is true Jon converters buy the generators but you do see a ton of Martins in the entertainers I think it is prefered in the entertainers for some reason

[Chas]

That is likely true, but in the motorhome conversions the ones I mentioned seem the most common.