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New To Us Bus
Hello all,
Some weeks ago we purchased (picked up) our first Prevost conversion coach. It is a 2001 Marathon with no slides.
We had been to look at the coach twice. The second time (the first week of October) we did our own extensive detailed inspection of every nook and cranny that we could get to. After not finding any show stoppers, well maybe one that we’ll get to in a bit, we expressed a more serious interest and requested a Prevost DMI. The DMI was promptly scheduled and we stuck around in the area long enough for us to inspect the bottom of he coach while it was on the lift at Prevost Service for the DMI. We found no serious issues underneath, considering the age and mileage of the coach, that we could detect.
Now back to the “well maybe one” issue mentioned above. Lets just say that the interior upholstery was not to our taste. With that said, made a deal pending the outcome of the Prevost DMI and the fix or repair punch list items that we found during our inspection and the re-upholstery of the entire interior. With the dealers help we got to pick out all new leather and fabric for the interior and and got to decided what went where.
With the selection of interior leather and fabric done and the DMI results not yet available we returned to Colorado to await the result of the DMI. A few days later the DMI results were sent to us for review. There were a few significant items and some the were less so. After some discussion it was to agreed that all of the items that we consider significant we be repaired or replaced and to go-ahead with the re-upholstery project.
We got to pick our coach up on November 13, 2017. We stayed a couple days onsite to familiarize ourselves with the coach, otherwise known as “Prevost and Marathon lessons” from a fire hose. The next 3 days we slowly made our way back to Colorado.
We’ve started doing some of our maintenance projects. I’ll start a new thread if we think we have anything to share or have questions.
Do you think a newbie will have any questions?
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22 Replies
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Congratulations, the fun now begins. We have lots of Marathon owners here at PC, so let the questions fly…
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Congratulations. Always nice to add to Colorado marathon population. Did your coach have sort of snake skin looking front seats? Where in colorado
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Yes to the “snake skin looking” seats…but no longer. Replaced front seats, couch, dinette, and window valence upholstery.
Longmont, Colorado.
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Congratulations! Sounds like you did all the right things. Your post should serve as a lesson to others looking for a Prevost coach, especially their first coach.
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Congrats Tim & Jill!
My coach is close to yours and will have many of the same components, despite mine being an “H”.
Will you have questions … just look at the hundreds I asked in my first year of ownership.
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Congratulations. As to a “newbie” asking questions, fire away. We can assure you every single question will be answered and on rare occasions the answer may actually be correct.
You certainly started out on the right path with the inspection and taking the time to get some training. That is going to pay huge dividends because you are unlikely to encounter expensive surprises.
We have more than 3300 registered members and over 1000 different members visit the site daily so the collective knowledge is unmatched on any other forum so you certainly came to the right place to ask questions. Never hesitate to ask questions because you think they are too basic or dumb. Remember there is not a single Prevost conversion owner that started out knowing a damn thing, and on our first coach and usually subsequent coaches we all were thinking we were drinking from that fire hose. We did not even know what we did not know so we can fully understand the need for answers.
One caution that you likely already know…..we might be able to help with questions related to the Prevost chassis but when you have converter specific questions the most accurate answers will come from those with or who have had a Marathon conversion. Each converter has their own way of doing things so the Marathon owners will provide the best answers.
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Thanks everyone for the kind words.
I’ve been lurking here for about 2 years trying to soak up some information prior to purchasing a Prevost conversion coach. Thanks to what I learned here, I wouldn’t buy a coach of this vintage without a Prevosr Service DMI. Prior to making an offer on our coach we went to a Prevost Service center and a Marathon location, took a tour and then spent some time talking to Service Managers at both. They both explained the things that they would service and wouldn’t. That was time well spent…in my opinion.
I’m sure we will need some help as we go along.
Thanks again.
Jeff and Lindsay
91 Marathon XL -
Congrats Tim, we looked at that bus also. With what you’re doing upgrading the leather is s great idea. We’re going to be in Loveland the 20th thru the 26th, if you want to talk buses let me know.
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Cool. Your coach originally had upholstery thin gold and cream checked couch fabric interior like our long previous coach a 2002, Marathon #740 single slide. Owner after us wrecked it. It had written on its build order interior like 670. I’ll have to scare up a photo.
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Congratulations on your purchase. Our 2003 is #782 and a non-slide XLii as well. We bought it in 2007 and are still happy with it today. Look forward to seeing yours.
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Since picking up our coach mid November we have been busy doing maintenance and repairs. We really didn’t think it would take as long as it has…but a least we are making progress.
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Fixing lots of air leaks. I was keeping track of how many air leaks we have fixed but after I got to a certain number it just sounded like an exaggeration in print. Suffice it to say “a lot”. We have replace a lot of air fittings, drain valves, and air line tubing.
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Replaced the Marathon “AUX” air tank, replaced the pressure switch, replaced air filter for Marathon AUX air system, and rebuilt Norgren filter in the maintenance bay.
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Rebuilt the generator air bag distribution valve manifold including check valve.
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Replaced the generator bay ceiling insulation. (no photo)
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Made and installed a “doggie deflector” for switch panel behind drivers seat.
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Replaced the bed lift gas springs, pneumatic actuators, and MAC valve for the bed lift. (no photo)
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Rebuilt the WABCO 1200 air dryer.
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Replaced the pneumatic actuator for the bathroom door. (no photo)
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Replaced all 5 pneumatic actuators for the awning windows. (no photo)
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Replaced the Bendix E-10P foot brake valve.
I believe we are nearing the end of the end of the first round of maintenance items. Looking forward to using the coach and meeting some of you folks.
Thanks all.
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WOW…you have earned the air leak finder of the month..
All kidding aside congratulations on all your success in finding air leaks and upgrading and a great post on PC
Arrow at Norgren valve shows I think an add on …you upgraded. Usually line runs directly to tank ..thus tank catches wet air. Now you have a pre filter drain plus a tank drain. Nice.
Keep eye on your daisy wheel drain valve…they are fine new. After a couple of years the inside ball will not 100% seal against cup face.
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Nice job Tim…
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That looks great Tim. When you finish, you can come work on mine :o)
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Very Nice!
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