[Archived]

David,

That coach was built with the 18,000 pound steer axle and it came from the factory with the 365 on the steer and tag. The reason a later coach had 315 is because the shell may have been manufactured prior to the one shown and did not have the 18,000 lb axle or the 365 tires were an option.

Regardless the data plate is not changed if a coach has aftermarket upgrades.

I think any time Prevost has built a coach with 365 steers the tag also gets 365. I think the reason is the 365 tires are hard to get so if there is a steer tire failure on the road, you have the option of putting a tag wheel and tire on the steer and using a readily available tire such as a 315 on the larger wheel to get you going.

[Archived]

Thanks Jon,

The placard above shows axle ratings of 18K/22.5K/14K for steer/drive/tag. If an ’03 H3 chassis has 315’s from the factory, does anyone know what the axle ratings will be?

Are Vantare’s heavy? Can someone who weighed each axle share their results with us? Thanks!

[Archived]

David,

When you discuss the model year of a coach one thing to remember is the shell can be as much as 4 years different from the model year on the title. I have seen conversions with a Prevost model year (the VIN code determines that) as much as 4 years prior to the year assigned by the converter, and the engine build date 5 years prior to that date.

So when trying to sort out axle weight limits make sure you are dealing solely with Prevost chassis model years based on the VIN. I suspect that is why the coach you questioned has 315 tires, because the chassis preceded the date on the one shown on the data plate on your post.

I have heard of some Vantares front axle weight ratings being exceeded, however in defense of all conversions whose weight ratings are being exceeded they and Prevost have no control over what an owner puts in the bays. I weigh my coaches as soon as I have loaded all my stuff in them and so far all three have been under the Prevost axle ratings. But I have seen H3 coaches carrying a Harley or a heavy golf cart in the first bay and those can put a coach over the limit. It is not a bad idea to get empty weights if you are concerned so you know if you are going to have an issue when you load it with your stuff.

[Debi]

I couldn’t agree more Jon. I’m very cognizant of the registration date versus the chassis date as recorded in the VIN. Typically one would see a registration date of just one year greater than the VIN chassis date, and on occasion you’ll find the registration date and the VIN to be the same, but there are coaches out there where the two dates vary greatly – definitely something to keep an eye on and a worthwile bargaining point to help negotiate a better purchase price.

I’m really focused in on the ’03 chassis year as indicated by the VIN. I’ll go newer but I really don’t want to go older, mostly because I want the big tires and the axle weight ratings. The coaches that I mentioned earlier with the 315 steers were ’03 chassis as documented in the VIN. It seems that for the H3, VIN year 2003 was a transition year with H3’s produced closer to the beginning of the year adorned with 315’s and those produced towards the latter portion of the year dressed out in 365’s, and I don’t necessarily mean calender year. As we can see on the placard I posted early this particular 2003 VIN H3 was built in October of 2002.

Here’s an H3 VIN I’ve collected, 2PCV3349331014569, that has 315’s and presumably the lighter GAWR’s. The VIN I posted above, 2PCV3349X31014620, has 365’s and the heavier GAWR’s. So, any bus number greater than 4620 should have the 365’s and 18K steer axle; while, any produced before 4569 should have the 315’s and the 17.2K (guessing) GAWR. Somewhere between there was a transition.

I’m curious what the axle ratings would be for those 2003 VIN H3 coaches built with 315 tires. Another question I have is whether the 18K steer axle is the second generation IFS or is it simple an uprating of gen one? I know that at some point there was significant rework to the IFS. I suspect, but I’m not sure, that the H3 got these suspension upgrades before the XLII. Maybe not, maybe the 365’s and the second gen IFS were rolled out in an identical way for the XLII???

[AL]

From research–call Prevost By serial ## I think that is a original temp build tag and that coach was built in 99 that is what the X stands for on the temp tags (1999) The 1 on the X31014620 is Built in St Claire the 0 is neutral # the next 1 stands for H series the remaing 4#### are the unit number…FWIW You can download this info on the prevostcar.com website..

[Archived]

I was checking out our friends new X3-45 I see it has a 19,000# front axle with the 365 tires,I don’t think Alcoa makes a 22.5 wheel for the 315 that would carry 19,000# most of those are in the 8000# range so 18,000 would be pushing the limit what say the experts

[Peter]

Thanks Robert, I appreciate it.

Luvrbus, It looks like the Alcoa 10.5″x22.5″ wheel supports 10,500lb which is the same as the 365’s tire rating at max pressure of 125psi. I think they’re okay on their 19K IFS.