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Millennium vs. Marathon
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Those joey beds or sliding trays in the bay beneath the slide rooms don’t do a damn thing for you. How do you get your head down there to release the latch and slide them out without crawling under the slide?
I’ve gotten real good crawling around under the slides to get at stuff and I’m just glad it only affects the bays on one side of the coach.
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Jon,
The H3 chassis has very tall bays, so I shouldn’t have to duck too low. We currently have one sliding tray and I don’t have an issue reaching for the latch and pulling the tray out. But, I’m pretty limber. I would think it would be even easier with an H3 and I would also think they would have electrically operated trays.
Mark
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The trays are electrically operated on our 06 Signature. Not a problem.
We have show dogs that lie on the floor and make a “puddle” or cords. We went from a 2 slide Dynasty to the 4 slide Signature and can now never go back. The floor space is significant – could hold a dance – assuming you could get the dogs to move…
A two slide Prevo conversion is very doable for us financially, but I don’t have the final say. The boss insists on 4 slides. And remember, “The last decision a man ever makes it to get married”.
And addressing the travel issue, we put between 15-20K miles a year on the coach and rarely get to stay somewhere with full hookups. I always drive so I’ve never experienced over the road cramped conditions of a 4 slide coach. I did demand some things, like 600 HP, Vorad smart cruise and collision advoidance, all-electric, AquaHot, generator big enough to provide full 50 amp/240 volt power, 4 solar panels, etc.
The piece I’m missing is the Prevost chassis.
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I have seen many coaches that have slides that are 12-20 inches deep,the Prevost front slide is 30 and the bedrom i 24 inches deep.
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You’re certainly right about the 31 flavors, Mark. It still surprises me that Vanilla is the favorite overall. Maybe that’s why we still have plastic coaches? 😉
I like to be outside when I can, and it always seems that there is something that needs to come out of the bay. Yes, an H would give more room. I thought that is what we would get, but the XL II was “the one”.
Electric bay slides are THE answer I would like if I were to have 4 slides, though I am sure that Jon would just as soon have the electric connected to his nipples as add another complicated, non-manual device to his bus.
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Now you are just getting me excited.
Two slides are plenty for us. We made far too many compromises just to get the two slides. Cannot imagine what else we have to lose with four slides, especially now that the emissions system eats up a lot of real estate in the rear.
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Jon et al,
You know, I haven’t ever driven a Prevost. I have ridden in their new buses a couple of times as they were part of a tour I was on while in Canada back in May.
Jon, you keep mentioning ‘giving up’ things when you have an additional slide. I know that the slides do take up some inside room because of the ‘slide’ walls. But the extra space on the inside once opened is really nice.
The H3-45 chassis has such tall bays that any space that’s taken up should be minimal. Since we have a four slide coach already, I don’t think we’ll be giving up much with a new four slide coach. I have two large pass-through bays of which one has a slide-out tray. I still have extra space so you must be carrying everything including the kitchen sink! LOL!
I carry 6 folding chairs, a folding table, a small tool container, a Trek bike, a container tub with all of my liquids (oil, antifreeze, windshield washer fluild, brake fluid, etc.). The tubs I’m referring to came from Costco, the type that are milky white with a zig-zag interlocking black lids on top. Another tub has jumper cables, TV cable wiring (30 ft.), I also carry two hoses (grey hose and a white for fresh water), three bright orange cones in case of emergency.
I keep our sewer hose and hose caddy in one tub, in another I have the typical string lights (if I get adventurous and put them up), bug candles and a bug zapper. I have a full size pancake compressor, a 6 foot folding ladder and a 2.5 ft. folding ladder. Also an electric round grill.
I still have room for a few additional items and we don’t use all the cabinets inside the coach (most, but not all).
Mark
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Mark,
You indicated that you were into fine design, perhaps you should look at the Teschner Coach. Now I do not know if they are still importing them however, a Prevost Shell was shipped to Hamburg then put on a train for the conversion at their factory somewhere in Bavaria. The processed was reversed and they sold coaches out of the showroom in Las Vegas.
I looked at one with Jon several years ago and say what you will the fit and finish was amongst the best that I have ever seen.
Have a look, google it and there is a 5 minute video on you tube.
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Fly, good video on the Teschner. Paint job was a eye catching! I do like the ‘single’ level of the XL chassis.
I have found two used coaches that look really good, a 2012 Liberty 3 slide ‘Elegant Lady’ #765 A (great looking interior, has a center bath) althought it doesn’t have the couch-type booth dinette and the other is a 2010 Marathon H3 #1187 four slide with a very tasteful interior except for the weird bedspread (has center bath).
Lots to think about.
Mark
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MM,
You have to put things in context. I have no idea how your current RV is configured, how the structure intrudes on space or what your objective is. When I say I sacrificed to get slides that means I gave up space, both in the bays and upstairs. You recognize slides steal interior wall space that can be used for an additional closet, a larger shower or more room in the pantry. But what you may not recognize is the structure required for the slides impacts bay space. In your situation you may be gaining some, but going from a non-slide XL to a 2 slide XLII I lost the space I needed to store my 2 full size bicycles. I lost the convenience of opening a bay door and not slamming my head on an extended slide. I gave up 90 gallons of fuel going from 298 down to 208.
Because you are going from an RV to an H3 you may not have to give up anything. In fact because the H3 is taller than most RVs, almost all of which is in the bays it may seem you haven’t given up a thing, and may have gained something.
While I am not giving up my slides I would like the lighter weight of the coach without slides. I will do my own service, but could easily do without the added service slides require. Adding two more is doubling that added maintenance I have now. If I were to add two more slides I would have to give up my Cruiseairs. Space is at such a premium in four slide coaches your new 4 slide coach is going to have the AC on the roof. That should not affect you because you have them up there now. I would never give up my OTR, but since you have never had a system as good as the real Prevost OTR system you won’t miss it. You will lose some additional space because now you and the passenger are on the same plane as the living space. In that new H3 you lose living space to the two front seats on a different plane. You can no longer turn the passenger seat to become a part of the living room furnishings.
My point is we are coming at this discussion from different perspectives.
We have had most of the uses of a coach an owner could have. We dry camped a lot when we were parking next to warehouses or doing trade shows. We drove it a lot being in a different city each day. Now we tend to stay in one spot in an RV park for longer periods. None of our coaches was ideal for everything. Each had advantages over the others. If a big open area is important to you such that you need four slides I can understand because how you use your coach may not be how we use ours.
I do know one thing for sure…..we never fully appreciate a coach’s advantages and disadvantages until we have spent a lot of time and miles in one. I just know we really like the one we have, and each one that preceded it because the converter did such a good job in dealing with the compromises in each coach.
What I never hear you talk about are the systems and the basic engineering. While finding room for the coffee table in the middle of the floor may seem important, when you get right down to the nitty-gritty, easpecially on a four slide coach you should include serious questions such as how reliable are the systems and when something breaks (everything does eventually) is it repairable and easily accessed? Are the axle weigths within limits even after the coach is loaded? How technical is the system controls and can you change a TV (for example) without having to reprogram the system? Is the integration of the converter’s systems and controls separate from the Prevost systems or is the line between them blurred allowing for a lot of finger pointing? Will the converter simplify the coach so you are not dependent upon a single source of service for a proprietary control system? Did I mention axle weights?
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Whether it’s 2 slides, 3 slides or even 4 slides, you don’t gain a square inch of additional seating or storage capacity over a non-slide coach. In fact, as Jon points out, you lose space, and add both weight and complexity. The question becomes, how much of that extra volume that’s only available when parked is worth the trade?
Personally, if my primary concern was how many slides I could get and how much living space I could create when parked, I’d get a …..fifth wheel.
I chose a Liberty Coach Prevost bus because I wanted real bus OTR heat and air conditioning, no roof air conditioning units and a floor plan that had such an exceptional use of interior space that slide outs were not necessary to be comfortable.
I wanted commercial quality and system redundancy.
Otherwise, I would have bought a Winnebago .
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Just a quick question;
How much does a slide cost ? It would seem to me that the salon slide would be the biggy,
Does anyone know the cost on Prevost slide compared to Valid slides ?
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Lots of good info to digest, thanks folks.
When I was speaking to a representative about using Prevost slides vs. any other brand, he told me that Prevost slides are the least troublesome as they do not match the level of the floor. They just move in and out, which to me, is just fine as it makes it simple with less adjustment. The guy told me if I wanted a Valid slide that will extend and then lower to match the existing floor level that it would be $60,000. I’ve always heard that Prevost slides are $50,000 each but that was not confirmed when speaking about the Valid slide.
I currently have one slide in the living room on the passenger side that extends and lowers to match the level of the floor (it may be a Valid slide) and that’s the one I have had to have adjusted as it has to make several pivot points of movement to match the floor level. My other three slides just move in and out as they don’t need to match the level of the floor since they have furniture attached. To me, the Prevost slides would add a level of simplicity (if that word can be used with slides).
I never mention much about the serviceability of the systems because it seems that most of the top-of-the-line converters claim that they have that covered. One representative mentioned that the roof airs are the easiest to service and replace vs. cruise-air. But, since I want four slides that’s not an issue as I would have to have all of them on the roof anyway. He also mentioned that ‘air condition units’ like to have a lot of air movement and having them on the roof is the best place, putting them in a compartment limits air flow.
I will not be servicing anything myself (didn’t get that gene), one particular converter said that they can take care of everything in house. The Crestron system has to be reprogramed if you get a new TV. I’m not sure if that can be done over the phone or not but a new TV will have to be entered into the system. When you think about it, TV’s last a very long time. Mine are 6.5 yrs. old and work great as of today.
As mentioned, the H3-45 has the lower seating for the driver and co-pilot. That’s why I want two euro seats attached to the Prevost slide across from the sofa. Most will have one euro seat with a large computer table. I think there is enough room to attach two chairs with a small built-in reversed ‘V’ shaped table inbetween. Having this chassis is also the reason I want the ‘sofa-type’ dinette with the adjusting table so people can sit there and be part of the group. That would give me seating for 8 or 9 people (which rarely happens), 5 or 6 is normal.
MM.
PS. If my train of thought appears to be all-over-the-place, I’m doing a lot of ‘thinking out loud’ as I’m learning, researching, thinking of the expenditures, etc.
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To the price of the slide from Prevost, be sure to add in the extra cost the converter incurs dealing with the slide. Kind of academic however as long as your heart is set on four slides.
I note you seem less concerned about axle weights. Don’t be. Your safety depends on those limits.
Also, there is one area I think all coaches need improvement and that is redundancy. Nothing ever breaks when the bus is in the garage. When we travel issues show up. There is nothing that will not fail so now is the time to address what you will do when the xxxxx breaks. Whether the failure is one AC unit or a bad battery or a failed alternator or a failed water pump is there a way to work around the problem?
Are there inverter by-passes? Are there ways to switch things around so something used often can be swapped with one less used such as a receiver or tv without reprogramming the coach?
Do you have a way to identify a problem or do you find out when stuff starts going to hell, such as a failed inverter creating dead batteries?
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Hey Mark here is a simple rule that a friend of mine told me years ago.
6 for cocktails
4 for dinner
2 for sleeping
This makes for a happy times
Mark I have Valid slides in my coach and so far the only thing was a display screen. They are great to work with and are very patient with the customer. Even told me to cool down and have an ice tea and he would stay on the line.
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