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Newbie…..HELP!
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Great to have another poster here on PC. Agree or disagree there is no lack of opinions here. It does’nt hurt to at least think about some other ideas.
Keep use all up to date, like Truk4u say’s above… we’ll enjoy listening to you spend the moola.
Many Prevost owners have come out of boats, planes, hot rods, and other RV’s before landing on Prevost.
To the question of lobster or stone crab ? ….stone crab
AL
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Hi Al,
Thanks, I feel blessed to have found this site. You don’t know what a relief it is to have people like you to help guide me through this process. I feel like a school kid cramming for a final! And I applaud your tastes…don’t get me wrong…I do love Lobster, Maine or Florida…but I would freeze them in order to keep my Stone Crab claws cold! Oh and by the way…you’re invited to the crab fest! Thanks again.
Brian
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There are many satisified CC owners, so I wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss a CC or Royal or any other coach for that matter. It’s always good to know there is continued support from a still existing converter. It’s just as comforting to know that many that built coaches for converters that are no longer in business are in business themselves. One of the most knowledgable being Rick May at Parliment Coach in Clearwater, FL.
What’s more important is to know you can get parts. Regardless of whether the converter is still in business or not, getting like parts or at least parts that can plug and play with older parts is critical. Yes, there are some jealous of the early advancements Country Coach made with their glass dash or early multiplex system. The fact of the matter is that even the mid 90’s PC based glass dash that is still going strong in many coaches can be replaced in less than a day with a very state of the art purpose built glass dash like many found in the automotive industry. The early multiplex system has some relatively simple and robust control boards and they can be repaired or replaced. Miles Circo bought all existing stock when CC went under.
The areas where converters tended to vary in their level of complexity is the electrical systems and air systems. Some require air to use while stopped for such things as door closing, opening and closing the main awning, and toliet flushing. Others only need air to maintain level or keep the slide seals inflated. These can get by for days without the need to start the air compressor.
In my opinion, I have yet to see a conversion that wouldn’t require me to make some compromises. There all great conversions, some just better than others. Some strive for functionality above bling, others appears to win buyers over first by the bling factor.
Look at what’s available in your budget and see what you and your wife like best from one coach to the next. This is a much better way of shopping than shopping by the converter badge on the coach.
BTW, most trailers are 3 or more feet longer than their advertised size to account for the tongue. So, that 20-footer will put you past the 65-foot limit recognized by most states. Keep in mind, as a RV the law enforcement folks seldom target us. Of course, the exception being California. You may also want to consider maximum tow capacity. Prevosts, unlike most vehicles, aren’t attaching the hitch to the frame. The hitch is attached to the engine cradle. Although very robust, the factory limit on most Xs is 10,000 pounds and they have a factory option for a more substantial engine cradle that increases the tow capabaility to 20,000 pounds.
Enjoy your search,
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Hi Gil,
Thanks for the information….I had forgotten about the tounge length! I just have this weird vision in my head about flat towing a vehicle behind me and the car being subject to rocks, trash, etc. being thrown up to the car from the rear tires. Along that same line….I picture one of the tires on the car getting punctured or blown out at highway speed and the car start twisting like an alligator doing a death roll…I doubt that any tow vehicle could flip over a 50,000 lb. Coach….but I’m thinkin’ it could do considerible damage to the stern of my home! Maybe I’m being stupid with that observation…but everytime I see a coach flat towing, those thoughts enter my mind. And don’t get me wrong…the first time I went to an RV show in Central Florida…my favorite conversion was the Country Coach….they did beautiful work, and their engineering amazed me….for instance, they housed the genset up in the front of the coach with the exhaust there as well…you could push a button and the genset would slide out for servicing, plus you didn’t hear any noise while sleeping! There’s actually a CC listed on Prevost-Stuff that I really like, except that the cabinets and panels are gold with black specs laminate….reminds me of a throw-back to the disco days….which is why I spoke with Don Wolf at Panterra to inquire how much a new interior would run…Answer? About 30 grand ballpark. So here I sit thinking….O.K. new interior 30, new tires, 10, zeroed out, 35 etc. Now my 400, 000 dollar coach is 500 grand. But thanks to all of you at PC the glass ball is starting to uncloud! I laugh at myself all the time…while gaining knowledge about all the variables with these conversions…I keep going back to an old saying….”If you can’t run with the big dogs…keep your puppy ass on the porch” And I understand that a Prevost is like anything else, boat, plane, etc. You can’t justify the purchase…you just have to want it. And I want a Prevost! So I’m going to go with my gut, try to pick out the best equipped, and best maintained, coach I can find in my budget, and then pony up to make it “mine”. Never the less…before I start writing checks, I am going to be in Branson if at all possible!
Brian
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Brian, see, one day and you’re already getting(ya just gotta want it)attitude. Hope to see in Branson,you will really help yourself. We’re with you on the stone crab claws. A bunch of us go to Sea Food Fest in Everglades City in Feb and buy em right of the boat and steam em up. Welcome to join in.
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Brian,
You will want to deal with an Insurance company and Agent that understands the bus conversion industry. If and when there is a claim, you don’t want to be dealing with someone who doesn’t know a bus from a Winnebago.
We can help you with that when you’re ready.
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Thanks Tom,
I kinda figured that Allstate wasn’t the company to have insurance with…but I kinda wanted a starting point. I assumed that there were specialty companies that insured Prevost’s ….just didn’t know where to go. Once I get the coach picked out, I’ll reach out to you to get coverage sources. I guess the time to get coverage is the day after I put a deposit down? And I used to think that people who owned big boats were some of the nicest people on the planet…live and learn! You folks are overwhelming me with your kindness.
Brian
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Question…..Is buying a Prevost like buying a used boat? When I bought a boat along with the deposit and signing the contract, I made the notation on the contract that the purchase was contingent upon hauling the boat and having it surveyed from stem to stern. Is this the way it’s done in the used coach business?
Brian
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I have put 30,000 miles in the last 3 years pulling a 25 foot stacker trailer with a 45 foot coach 70 foot bumper to bumper across the USA so far no problem after installing the 20,000 pound hitch 650 miles after purchase.
The previous owners were useing the 10,000 hitch which was an accident ready to happen. It had cracked and was welded time and time again at different places.
I can take a small car, motorcycles, ATV ETC. in a secure enviroment. (to me thats a good thing.)
You need to be aware of where You are going at all times, I mainly stay on interstates with the coach and use the toys for other roads. I use rest areas, truck stops when traveling. Camp grounds when staying for extending time at a given place.
I check a number of books, web pages, maps, road atlas, Google, ETC to make sure I can get to, into and from the campground with this size rig I also call ahead to confirm the above.
I use the feeling if an 18 wheeler should not go there neither should I and with that I leave a little larger buffer for me.
Some truckers pull triples you need to stay in that mind frame you can back out of of most situations they cannot.
Have I found myself in a uncomfortable situation? yes. Was I able to get out? Thankfully yes.
Would I purchase it again? YES.
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Don,
Thank you for the support….I was going to do a Stacker anyway, and if I was wrong…I’d figure out something else…it just makes sense to me. I look at it this way…won’t be the first or last time I’ve been wrong.
Brian
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Brian,
You aren’t going to be wrong no matter what your choices because this will be YOUR coach and YOUR adventure. As long as you stay within the specified weight limits you are doing it right.
And over time you will change and that is perfectly normal. We used to carry enough spare parts to rebuild the coach, but now we carry a cell phone. My point being what works for us isn’t always an inflexible choice.
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Brian,
I was in San Francisco 2012, not with the coach since the engine blew on the way west. I was only in a pick up and if I were you I’d be asking for input from Ray Davis or Kevin Erion, a couple of west coasters that can advise on which parts of the PCH are OK for a coach and which portions are NOT. In your case, I would not even think about it pulling a stacker trailer loaded with an SUV plus whatever else you think you need on the trip. There are places on that highway that are very, no Very, tight curves, some steepish grades and worst of all narrow lanes combined with sharp curves. Oh yeah, certain places are subject to rock slides too. On the other hand, if you make it from end to end and the trip is, well ho-hum, you will have a great tale to tell around the campfire.
Carole and I took almost two years looking at coaches all over the southeast and midwest. Those hunting trips were some of the most fun we have had together. Lots of communications. The coach we finally settled on was her selection which was good.
We will be in Branson come October. Look forward to seeing you there.
Will
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Hi Will, Only having traveled the PCH from San Diego to San Fransisco, the thought never came to mind that the PCH would that twisty! When the time comes I will reach out to the people you mentioned as far a route planning. Thank you for that info! I’m in the middle of two rather large projects currently, and as opposed to driving to Branson…I might just jump on a plane for the weekend. I so want to be there and gather as much intell as I can. The people here on PC have just been nothing short of incredible!
I would so love to bring my Lady down to meet me there to get her input, but she lives in southern PA, and a few months ago lost two of her Golden’s within two weeks of each other, and her third requires surgery on one of her paws that will require the loss of half of her paw. So wild horses couldn’t drag her away. I can’t wait to meet all of you at the Rally….this is going to be fun!
Thanks,
Brian
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