[Archived]

Fred, I saw that video when Alvie posted the other link. While it is an artificially induced crash and it is an MCI bus, you can see how the back end of the bus crushed down to the floor. In the staged Prevost crash, where the bus falls from about 3 feet, the sidewall bends to perhaps a 30 degree angle at the floor line–not very confidence-inspiring. Frankly, I think we are fooling ourselves thinking our coaches will do much to protect us in a crash. Even if the shell would hold together, consider everything inside is screwed in place; cabinets, couches, easy chairs sitting loose on the floor, etc. In a severe rollover, everything inside the coach wil become flying missiles, and chances of survival will not be much better than a “sticks and staples” coach. Will slides even stay in place in a severe crash?

I believe safety is 100% invested in the driver. I drove a box on a truck frame for ten years, and a better built Country Coach for another 15 years, but at no time was the structural integrity a big worry. I just enjoy our Prevost for what it is, enjoy the ride, enjoy being able to get it fixed, enjoy having Prevost and Marathon close by. Don’t enjoy Jeff being so far away!

[Archived]

Per, I will freely admit in all likelihood there is no one on the forum with less knowledge than me when it comes to motorhomes in general and Prevost in particular. And with that said I couldn’t disagree with you more!

My first experience with my bus was driving it 1100 miles in very poor weather conditions. Rain, wind and did you know it’s dark at night? And this night was pitch black. As I sat there in the pilots seat I was thinking “man what a coach”! It handled the weather and 18 wheelers like it was made for it. I’m sure I’m not the only one who ever thought that?

After seeing this video and others I’ve seen with plastic coaches there’s just not a comparison of any kind that I’ve seen. Is stuff flying around inside the coach with a rollover, of course? But to say that a Prevost would not make a difference and a huge one, I just don’t understand! And did you notice the driver and passenger positions? They are virtually intact… Ok a pillow flew up and smacked the driver on the side of the head. But who ever died from a good pillow fight?

But as I said above, what do I know?

Harry

[Gerald]

Harry,

One thing I would tell you is that in my estimation as a structural engineer, your coach with it’s riveted costruction is by far the strongest shell out of the Prevost line.

[Archived]

Thanks Per, I didn’t know the coach being riveted would actually make it stronger! That’s great news and would you elaborate? This kind of thing fascinates me if you didn’t mind helping in my education? I was 3rd in my class but there were only 4 in my class and one was a chimp. Ok ok and one was a large picture of Lincoln, man this is a tough crowd!

Andy I don’t mean to hijack your thread…

Harry

[Archived]

Per,

Just because I have driven past several motor home accidents and seen several motor home construction videos I am not qualified to quantify the merits of motorhome construction versus a commercial coach construction.

But I do know what I have seen. In the motor home accidents every single class A had the house structure separate from the floor. The walls and roof were not attached to the chassis or floor when all the pieces stopped moving. Leading up to the place where the big pieces stopped was a debris field. We have seen three with two ending up in the median and one over an embankment on the shoulder side of the road. I have no idea if there were injuries or fatalities but I know whoever was in the motor homes was out in the open or under something when the pieces stopped flying.

I have never seen a motor home conversion wreck on the highway, but over the years guys have posted videos and photos of bus wrecks. Pieces also go flying in a rollover, inside and out. But in a roll over the stuff inside our conversions may be coming apart but it may not be flying forward striking the driver and passenger in the back as a 300 year old oak is smacking them from the front. There have been numerous entertainer coach wrecks posted since we bought our first coach, with several being the coach running hard into the rear of a truck. Other than one driver fatality I cannot recall any other fatalities.

Bottom line is for once I am going to agree with Harry. I will never feel as secure in a motorhome as i do in my coach.

[Larry]

Another thing to consider are the new safety features on Prevosts today.

Speed adjusting Cruise

Crash Avoidance System

Distance Warning

Stability Control

Anti-lock brakes

Many of these features should prevent the coach from leaving the ground (at least I hope so).

Safe travels,

Mark

[Archived]

Ahhh what? Did Jon just say “Bottom line is for once I am going to agree with Harry.”

Did I just see a pig fly past my window? Way to go Jon, talking about losing all forms of credibility!

Harry (I was right… ME!)

[Archived]

Harry, for what it worth, I also agree with you

[Archived]

The last diesel pusher I drove prior to my bus purchase was a Newmar Douch Star. Newmar is arguably one of the top of the plastic coach makers. It’s steering system was pointed out to me and how it would come back to center which was very cool especially for backing up. I drove it under perfect conditions and thought it handled very well.

Once I drove the Prevost there was simply no further source off comparison. It’s like one was a hamburger steak and the other a filet! I mean no disrespect to Newmar, it’s just simply not a bus. Mine is a 91 but it drives better than a 2017 Newmar with Comfort Drive and all. It simply can’t compeat on the same level as a Prevost Bus, not even a 91… I’m sorry but it doesn’t!

And you know something? The 2017 Newmar Douch Star costs a little more than my Beaver Coach… I WIN!!!

And thank you Victor!

Harry

[Larry & Diane]

Look, all I’m saying is don’t get lulled into a false sense of security thinking the Prevost shell will protect you no matter what. Sure, a Prevost shell is stronger than a production coach, but the videos, as I stated, don’t fill you with that much confidence. The MCI crash was artificially induced, and is pretty severe, but the only reason the rear got crushed rather than the front is because it landed on the rear section first. If the front had hit first, the driver and passenger position would have been crushed like the rear was. And who is to say where your non-secured recliner will end up in a rollover?

Harry, the riveted metal skin becomes part of the structure and provides added strength, like airplane construction. Newer coaches have the skin glued on. Have you heard of the delamination issues plaguing the XLII (2000+) coaches?

Bottom line is, regardless of safety equipment or structural integrity, safety rests with the driver, and when I drive, it requies my concentration. In contrast, we see professional drivers on the cell phone, doing paperwork, and who knows what.

[Archived]

Per,

Don’t underestimate Kevlar, it’s pretty strong stuff.

I’ve posted this before but this Marathon was in a pretty severe accident. The slides stayed intact but the coach was totalled out because of the electrical damage in the front run box.

They say it was a head-on crash with a drunk driver. The driver’s and passengers compartment are totally intact.

Our ‘real’ front and rear bumpers protect us along with the steel cross-bar members just below the windshield (I could see behind the covering). I looked at this coach up close and the structure was amazing compared to our Dynasty as we had nothing protecting us in a frontal crash.

Mark

[Archived]

Crashes rarely end well, but I still think we are driving what is likely the safest motorhome.

As to gluing, versus rivets we need some folks to donate their coaches so we can test.

[Archived]

Jon,

I would agree that we are driving the safest motohome on the road, nevertheless, all we have is anecdotal evidence to support that. Buses have rollover standars, motorhomes, including Prevost conversions, do not. So far I have seen nothing to support the contention that a Prevost conversion with several thousand pounds in the basement and 20,000 pounds of added equipment will take a rollover as well as a bus. Prevost saying that a conversion with slides is as strong structurally as one without slides is anecdotal as well.

Mark,

My coach has all the equipment you list above as well, but except for the ABS, it is inherent in the driver!

I saw two coaches at Prevost Ft Worth with front-end damage as well, and we have seen pictures of the Cowboy’s bus that decimated a van with apparent minor damage to the coach. The Prevost structure are undoubtedly strong, but after seeing the videos above, I’m just not sure how much I would brag about how my coach would fare in a rollover.

[Doug]

Mr Mark

That coach you pictured is Marathon 1137, and was totalled according to its owner. So if it is rebuilt, Marathon will NOT give it any support. They strike totalled coaches from their “family history”.

[AL]

Here’s more…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTZkd2zGdrM