[Bill]

Any RV or Prevost conversion has the potential to experience an on-the-road breakdown. Their chassis are complex and issues relating to everything from the tires to the engine can arise.

Having said that however you control the probability. The greater your care of the vehicle the smaller the chance you will experience a disabling failure. But there is always a chance and if you are looking for a 100% guarantee you will not find one.

Almost all issues are foreseen but when there is one while we are on the road we have a lot of resources available via phone, this web site, or the internet and access to manuals. There are tow companies that can handle a coach. Prevost has a network of service centers and repair locations they can suggest through their Prevost PASS program.

Keep in mind Prevost conversions are built on a highly developed commercial chassis that is intended for hundreds and hundreds of thousands of miles in harsh commercial service so if it is well maintained it is going to outperform any RV in terms of reliability.

[Doug]

A good towing service like “Coach Net” is your friend.

[Archived]

Rudy,

We have had our bus since 2012 and have traveled to all 49 states including extensive travel in pretty remote parts of Alaska. And we have only stuck on the side of the road once… and sidelined for service one other time. Here are the details. We have Coach Net, have used Prevost Pass but candidly my goto response in any emergency or prevost related situation is to post here on PC. I can’t tell you how many people have called me, offered to come help or send others. While we were traveling in Canada we had some issues and Peter Campbell sent his brother over to make sure we were ok. I am not a hands on guy like Jon or Tom…. I have learned to trust my gut… if some guy is getting ready to tow me ( happened only once) and it doesn’t match the pictures I have from prevost on the correct way…. I saw forget it and spend the night on the side of the road and get it fixed the next day or whatever..

Bus is inspected prior to just about every trip I take or every 4,000 miles by a seated coach company near my house I really trust…

[Archived]

It’s all about PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE. Changing things BEFORE they break.

I’ve had 6 MHs and have driven them all over the USA, including Alaska, and have never been broke down(knock on wood).

[Archived]

Don is 100% correct and one thing I hope everyone is very clear on. A service provider like Coach Net does NOTHING to lessen your chances of ending up on the side of the road.

In fact I am sorry to say I have always felt some people have Coach Net or others like it as an alternative to a good maintenance program. As long as you do as Don suggests the word breakdown will likely not be in your vocabulary.

[Per]

Unlike many others on this forum, I’m not one who ever wants to get underneath my coach. I’ve seen the bottom when it’s on the rack at Prevost and I hope I don’t need to start turning wrenches!

I’m one who decided to go with a Prevost due to having factory service centers scattered throughout the USA as well as one who has a reputation for building a quality product. I’ve visited the service centers in Jacksonville and outside of Nashville and with both locations, I was able to make an appointment and get in and out as promised. These visits, for the most part, were for preventative maintenance. I also visited ETLC before I was a coach owner and was impressed with the operation.

Considering I spent nearly two years shopping for a new Class A motorhome, while some may consider that time wasted (Yes Tom!), it gave me the time to learn and appreciate the quality of a Prevost conversion.

I ended up with a pre-owned Marathon and other than finding a model with the floor plan and features I found desirable (such as the Aware system), I liked the fact that Marathon has three service locations in the USA.

Depending on the issue, should I need roadside assistance, my first call will be either to the Prevost PASS line or to Marathon. The few times I’ve called, a human being was on the other end of the call within minutes. I also have a membership with CoachNet and am enrolled in the AAA RV program. Yes, a bit overkill with the coverage. I’m hoping that it’s like any other type of insurance that if you have it, you probably won’t need it.

Online forums are a great resource and as stated, there’s some great wisdom on this site and while much of it is over my pay grade, it’s a learning experience. I’ve been on this forum just long enough to see how rapidly Members come to the aid of those in need of assistance and that’s a very good thing.

Now that I’ve gone completely off topic, I’ll sat that I have not had a major breakdown or needed emergency assistance. I hope I didn’t jinx myself by typing that!

As a sidebar, I’ve found I’ve most likely avoided situations that may require a service call by going a bit overkill on the preventative maintenance and by having detailed checklists that I go through every (EVERY) time I move the bus from one location to the other.

[David]

You got your wires crossed Andy, I never commented or discussed with you the idea you were wasting your time researching a coach, didn’t happen.

[Archived]

We bought our Prevost more than four years ago and have had a major break down requiring a tow on only occasion. One week after we bought the coach, we left our home in Northern Indiana and headed to our event South of Dallas Texas. With God’s good fortune, we were actually in the town we were traveling to and we were only traveling approximately 20 MPH when the drive axle came completely out of the transmission.

I am a Good Sam member with Roadside Assistance (They have “unlimited distance towing to the nearest service center”). After the call was made to their “assistance”, I spent a great deal of time talking with several tow companies they contacted and I denied their assistance as I could clearly tell they had never towed a bus and mine would not be their first. I spoke with Prevost Ft. Worth and they quickly sent a tow truck. The driver told me he drives all over the country towing Prevost coaches and this is all he did. He knew what he was doing. I believe the total bill was approximately $1200 and my Good Sam policy paid the entire amount.

Although I feared we had a major problem with our new coach, a small pin had come free letting the axle come out. There was no damage done at all and they were able to put it in, secure the pin and all was well. I also felt fortunate that they found that both front brake rotors were cracked all the way through so we averted a future bigger problem as well. I would also add that I have never been treated better by any type of repair shop anywhere at anytime as we did at Prevost Ft. Worth. We have since had similar experiences with Prevost Nashville.

[Archived]

Eric,

Are you talking about the transmission drive shaft or rear end drive axles and what pin?

[David]

Tom, more specifically from the work order: “the drive shaft fell out due to the rear transmission yoke bolt breaking and falling out. Removed and replaced rear transmission yoke with new bolts, installed with blue Loctite on the threads, torqued to specifications. Also replaced hole plug for yolk and a new strap kit. Installed drive line torqued yoke straps and greased.”

[Dave]

My line of defence for breakdowns is as follows. Maintenance, crawling around my coach trying to get to know it, paying attention to sounds that are normal so that I recognize abnormal sounds, Reading Prevost Community, JEFF ROWE, posting on Prevost Community, calling other bus owners and drivers and way down the list as a backstop, if you will, Good Sam Towing.

Many of you have pulled my fat out of the fire on various occasions and I thank God for every one of you.

Davy