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New member – Looking for Information
Hello experienced Prevost owners. We have been long time admirers of Prevost conversions. We sold our Monaco DP motorhome last year but are now looking around for another coach.
There is a Prevost conversion about a 12 hour drive from us that we’re interested in. I’m looking for input from any of you on this particular coach. I did just read the article “Prevost Purchase Rant” as well. Interesting!
Details:
1986 Prevost 40′ (Rainbow Coach Conversion – Armstrong BC, Canada) 2003 Current owners purchased coach in 2003 and had it converted – it was previously a passenger bus. Painted in 2004 8v92 Engine 740 Allison – 4 speed (Rebuilt 2018) Coach has 300,000 miles Propane generator – 20 hrs Propane boiler for heat and hot water Propane tank: 60 gals Solar panels Trace 2500 Watt Inverter New front brakes – New Tag Brakes – Drive brakes 50% New air bags House and engine batteries: Two years old Tires replaced in 2018 Two roof air conditioners Stainless steel holding tanks The owner has done all the maintenance and repairs himself as he has the skills and the facility. He owns a trucking company. He has NOT kept much for records. Asking price: $65,000 (Canadian) $52,000 (US)
It has no cruise control, that is disappointing. Is it even economical and mechanically possible to add a cruise control and at what cost?
At first glance from you experienced Prevost owners, what do you think?
Does this coach seem worthy of consideration or should we run away?
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24 Replies
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opinions: to old–titled in canada? bring to us? ck for something mid 1990’s in usa.With 60 series detroit pre egr(about 2001) Prefer factory conversion. reasons import fees—diffucult putting plates on it? mileage much better on 60 series as well as people who will work on them. Canada= salt and hidden damage. Where did coach come from passenger service? probably add a million miles to stated knowledge.. My opinions only!!!! Bob
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Hello Bob,
I’m Canadian. It has been in Canada since 2003 when it was imported from California. The owners have been spending the winters in it in Arizona since it was converted.
Why do you think it would have more than the stated miles on it?
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I would not even consider looking at it.
If that is your budget be patient. Stick with conversions on a new chassis. Try to use a converter that has a history of producing a lot of motor homes.
At that model year the price is not unrealistic, and it is likely you can find one that has been nicely done, has a lot of coaches of similar years so you can get support from owners and possibly the converter and that was never in commercial service.
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If your canadian your title etc are a non factor. One would assume it was in revenue service before conversion, if they only put 300,000 on it since new it did not earn its own keep. You were referring to rebuilt When I was around 8V-92 we ran them 300,000 replaced crank bearings,ran to about 500,000 and did a complete out of frame. As far as trans(allison) about 750,000 was normal.Date code on tires 2018 installed or date of mfg. big differance. This wasn’t a tar sand bus? Not trying to be rude. at all! Bob
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prevostcar.com You will need last letter in serial number = year the next 3 numbers will= width the last 4 numbers= unit number.. mine is W=1999 -102= width-last 4 is unit number 6553… What you need to get info from prevost in my case is W-6553(example)
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Thank you all for the great info!
No it wasn’t a tar sand bus…Lol it was purchased in California.
It has 300,000 original miles on it.
I think we’re going to steer clear of it.
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I should have answered the question about why the mileage might not be accurate.
Coaches of that vintage and into the mid 90’s used a speedometer/odometer that had a poor reliability. I replaced them on both my 87 and 97. I retained maintenance logs so purchasers could see the indicated miles when I put in the new speedos and add that mileage to the one shown. If that were a DDEC version coach you could read the true miles, but it is not so you have to have some other way to determine if the reported mileage is correct.
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Jon, thank you for the confirmation! That just solidifies our decision to steer clear of that coach.
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Scotsman,
Glad that you found this site…… you will not be disappointed! There is more information here and it will take you at least 10 yrs. to read! LOL!
Safe travels and good luck on your search,
Mark
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Thank you Mark…this is a great site!
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It turns out the coach has 591,000 miles on the engine and chassis. It had 538,000 miles on it when the current owners purchased it from the bus company in 2003. The conversion is really nice. All cabinetry is oak. Has a bathtub/shower. The dash and driver area were also re-done by the conversion company as well. The owners said the engine has “80 injectors which are economy injectors for better fuel mileage of 6 to 7 miles per gallon”. Anyone heard of that upgrade?
So would 591,000 miles be a nearly worn out engine and chassis?
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Engine? Yes. Chassis, Maybe! Much depends upon how and where is was used. Lots of winter travel would likely mean the chassis is in for some major issues, very, very soon. Not sure why you are looking at a 500,000 mile coach when so many other excellent options are available.
We just bought a 24 YO coach with less than 100,000 miles (not always good, but in this case, good).
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Scotsman: For $52,000US I think you might be able to find a coach with much less mileage.
Call American Fleet in Springfield Missouri and ask them what they think the useful life of the engine and the transmission is, I suspect not much longer. There is a Facebook page for Detroit Diesel users and those folks over could give you first hand experience with an older high mileage 8V92.
I’m just guessing, but if the chassis components on the coach are original or close to original, you could probably drop $10,000 on chassis parts and labor (I wish that Prevost would assign someone from one of its service centers to monitor the Forum and be able to say “for a coach like Scotsman is looking at, to replace the chassis components that would typically wear out would llikely cost $xxxxx for parts and labor”.).
Lots of seated coach mileage, how much underside salt damage is there (do they salt roads in Canada like they do in Wisconsin?)
I don’t like propane; that would be a deal killer for me. I think it can be dangerous (I’ve had friends with traditional RVs who’ve had catastrophic experiences.) and keeping the tank(s) full is just one more thing to worry about with a coach.
Keep looking. I’ve said for a couple of years that a late 80’s/early 90’s Prevost conversion is one of the best values in RV’ing today. Good luck!
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scotsman,
In your profile, turn on your email notification so that other PC members can contact you directly.
Ron
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Okay thank you all. You’ve created great insight for me. I’m definitely not going to pursue this coach.
As for salt issues up here in Western Canada. There is some salting but not as much as there once was. I don’t think this coach would have seen salt as it always wintered in Arizona.
There’s a 1990 40′ Prevost not far from me that looks really nice but it has the 8V92 engine as well. 229,000 miles. Doesnt say who converted it. Asking price $130,000. Just not what I’m wanting to spend yet
Another one nearby that is a 1997 Liberty Classic 40′,186,000 miles on a D series. Asking price $175,000.
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