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Newbie Looking to Purchase a Prevost Coach
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I can’t answer for Glen, but I can say bus ownership and maintenance is significantly more complex than a house.
To start with the basis is a motor vehicle. While we can all relate to automobile maintenance, we also know our Prevost chassis is far more demanding. On a car today’s maintenance for at least the first 100,000 miles is changing the oil and putting air in the tires. OK, maybe there is a little more to it than that, but not much.
A car doesn’t have air brakes and all the complexity of an air brake system and the maintenance that entails. Air brakes are what all large vehicles have and there are a lot of small and not so small maintenance tasks depending on vintage. Because the coach has air systems both Prevost and the converter make use of air for the suspension, converter features such as sliding doors, bed lifts, door locks, belt tensioners, etc. There are hundreds of fittings and connections and valves and other devices, all of which may be sources of air leaks.
A bus has a lot of lights. A lot of filters. A lot of belts and hoses. Our buses have a lot of expensive tires and a whole lot of batteries. We have a generator. Our coaches in the house have heating and air conditioning systems, some for the entire bus while in motion or 3 or 4 for the house when it is parked.
The electrical system is complex. Most coaches have 12 and 24 volt DC power as well as 120 and 240 volt AC power. My point is the typical coach has a lot of moving parts, significantly more complex than the average house and then as we drive it down the road our highways are trying to shake it all apart.
As negative as all that sounds when a bus has been well maintained and maybe even zeroed out Prevost conversions are pretty reliable. If an owner tackles some of the maintenance himself the actual cost of ownership, in order of expense is depreciation, insurance, and then maintenance which has to include things like tires, batteries, fluid and filter changes, air bags, brake chambers, plus occasional repairs. At today’s prices fuel is $.30 per mile.
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Hi Jon
The complexity of a Prevost Coach is apparent especially since no two Coaches are alike. I believe I could do most of the work myself other than heavy mechanics.
I expect that when I buy the Coach, whatever investment I make is basically (as a boat is said to be) throwing money into a deep hole. What I’m trying to say is I don’t expect a return on my money, but I am looking to enjoy the Coach and it’s ownership; even looking forward to it’s care and upkeep.
Yourself being a long-time Prevost Coach owner, you probably understand exactly what I’m talking about .
As far as time goes, I have a lot on my hands (God willing).
Now that being said, all I have to do is figure out how to pick the right coach. That is my biggest concern where I may make a tremendous blunder. Not knowing what to look for and where to look is a definite negative on my part .
That said, I will appreciate any and all advice I get even if it’s advice that I may not like.
I guess if I would get discouraged at this point by the things that are said and the expenses that are presented to me regarding Prevost ownership, I shouldn’t be buying a Prevost Coach at all.
That said, here’s a question that will definitely help me in my journey to pick a used Prevost Coach:
How do I assure the air brake system and other various systems on a used Coach has been properly maintained besides the obvious maintenance records?
Are there clues that you look for that would show poor maintenance / upkeep
Are there specific red flags that I should look for regarding a used Coach?
As time goes on, I will surely have so many more questions to ask that I will bring to this forum to hopefully get answers from those that know through their experiences.
Let me take this time to thank you (and others) in advance for the knowledge that I hope you will bestow upon me through your vast experience of Prevost Coach ownership .
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If you understand that the owners of this forum finally gave up and bought something other than a Prevost you will have all of the answers you need.
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After owning 7 Prevosts …. time for a change ?
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GI Joe I love the coach and even at 29 almost 30 years old mine gets raves at the campsites we have stayed in. Prevost Paint looks almost factory new. Always inside when not in use. I keep mine “Prevost” maintained on the Coach side with a Level 3 once a year and I don’t put a lot of miles a year on it, less since this Covid Crap came about. The 10 years we have owned have put about 55,000 miles on it. Just stay in Texas and 2 to 300 hundred miles to Gulf or Granddaughters. Since the oil change period on these are 7500 to 10,000 miles I probably overdo service (if’s there’s such a thing) they have found a few things over the years , wheel seal leak, powersteering pump leak and a few other minor things they have fixed as the Level 3’s are the only way to go. The Tech’s are like little Rat’s all over and under it. Both Centers are 3 hours plus away from us here in Central Texas, Forth Worth or Houston. Have tried Texas Custom Coach down South (Pipecreek Tx.) but found them, on this one, not so bueno on house systems. Good luck on your search. Prevost Houston pic up on the lifts. The one with the Lonestar Beer, here.
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Jon, according to Bill you bought something other than a Prevost?
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David, I am 76 but look only 89 so don’t let youth keep you from a great experience. Not only the coach, but also the friendship you will develop with some, not all, of the members of this forum. Sorry about the “not all” Tom and Jon, but you know who you are. You mentioned a budget. You will need to budget about $700 a month, not including fuel, for “stuff” like tires, oil, batteries, service, insurance and miscellaneous breakage. Like an airplane where you charge yourself $40 per flight hour for maintenance, this is a savings account for the sometimes large expenses, i.e. tires, batteries, insurance, etc.
To aid in your search, decide what items you want. What things, like no enclosed toilet, are deal breakers. Do you want Over The Road AC, or do you want an extra bay at the expense of possibly running your generator for AC when traveling. Do you want unlimited hot water, then probably an AquaHot full bus heater. The Prevost side is mostly the same with upgrades in later models resulting in more up front cost. Do you want to operate your house side with your iPhone, then look at a later model.
Don’t let mileage scare you. Buses have a lot of rubber parts and if rubber is not exercised, it gets stiff and brittle. A high mileage coach is usually well maintained. Look for a log of maintenance, don’t always go by what the salesman tells you. Have it in writing. Have an experienced person look the bus over for you, or have a Pre delivery Inspection done by Prevost, about $600. Push every button, flip every switch, activate every part. Before you exchange money, preferably video a complete walk through checking what each and every item does and how to operate it. As Jon says, the information is like trying to drink water from a fire hose. You will not be able to remember all of it and then will wonder why X doesn’t work while on the road.
Remember that each converter is different, so if you decide on one particular conversion, ask those owners and they will be able to walk you through.
I had a Windy-Begger Vectra coach that was top heavy and I would get tired of side wind, trucks passing and fighting to keep it in the lane and would be able to drive about 3 hours before I needed a well deserved rest for my arms and shoulders. With the Prevost, that was designed to roll down the road, I can easily drive 8 hours with only a potty stop and still feel rested. You cannot go wrong with the Prevost chassis.
Feel free to ask any questions of members on this forum and you will a few correct answers.:o)
Oh, as a retired LEO you might be interested in this site: Police1.com, you will need to be verified to comment.
Good hunting
Fred
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Full time Bill……….I still have my Prevost and have no intention of getting anything else.
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Sorry, I thought the folks who bought the Super C were also partners in this site.
My bad!
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My 2 cents is buy a coach that runs good at a reasonable price and redo the rest as you see fit. Would think Prevost or anybody else that works on these keeps all in a data base that you can see if maintained by them. These Coaches aren’t for the faint of Heart or shallow of Pocketbooks. I change my tires out every 5 years even if only a few thousand miles on them. Heck just spent almost 5 G’s on them last fall. $500 on chassis Napa Batteries. Do that every 3 years. Had a top of the line Holliday Rambler Motorhome before this and no comparison the way it handled.
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That would be me Bill and yes, after 7 Prevost’s I moved to the dark side and have no regrets. But, no question, the best of the best is a Prevost and anyone one wanting the top dog, Prevost is the way to go.
We got to the point in our lives where I wanted simplicity, ease of maintenance and operating systems. We chose the Renegade Super C due to a truck chassis, Freightliner, multiplex, 3 slides, all electric, 12v, 150 gallon water, 75/75 holding tanks and a new coach warranty. There’s a Freightliner dealer in about every town if needed and nothing more simple than opening the hood for service. In my opinion, this Super C is much safer than a sticks and staple class A in a front collision, nice to have that motor out front. Once you’re used to 3 entry doors, kind of spoils ya..
As we get closer in age to the eventual time when we hang up the RV keys, less complex and simple systems are attractive to us. Besides, hanging out with all you bus guys gets me special goat parking at functions thanks to Jeff and Jon.
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Dave:
Welcome! I’m 68, married, wife has two grown children. I’m not “rich” in my eyes, but was able to keep a accumulate a few nickles over my lifetime.
Your budget will largely dictate what era of coach you should be looking at. Your budget should be divided into three parts: initial purchase, immediate expense to deal with any differed issues (including a possible “zero out”, and then dry powder for updates and unanticipated expenses down the road.
I divide Prevost motorhome conversions into “eras”:
Pre-1990. Detroit Diesel 8V92 w/Allison trans. Straight front axle. Only 40′ XL (stainless steel sides w/rivets) I think. Some to many of the conversions had propane stove, oven, and sometimes refrigerator. Prices typically less than $100,000
Early 1990’s. Still DD 8V92 w/Allison. As you moved to the mid 90’s the 45′ chassis was introduced, along with the DD Series 60 engine. Most if not all the coaches were all electric … no propane anymore. At some time in the mid-90’s the independent front suspension was introduced. Price typically under or at $150,000. XL-40 and XL-45. Stainless steel with rivets.
Late 1990’s. Still the DD Series 60, IFS, all electric. Prices typically under $200,000. XL-40 and XL-45. Stainless steel with rivets.
2000’s. In about 2000/2001 Prevost introduced the XII chassis. Still stainless steel, but without rivets. Prevost used an adhesive to bond the SS panels to the coach framework, but they were susceptible to delamination. Prevost has a fix for it, its expensive, many coaches were fixed by Prevost, the coach needs to be tested by Prevost to make sure delamination isn’t occurring. Prices are usually north of $200,000 and move into the $300’s, $400’s, and higher as you move towards 2010.
I think some of the best values in RVing period are the early 1990’s with 8V92 motors. The engine is an older two cycle technology, uses more fuel than the S-60, and has a (possibly undeserved) reputation for using and dripping oil. But the owners who have them seem to be very happy with their coaches.
I’ll let the guys who know more than I make the corrections and fill in the holes I might have left.
The next seven chapters could be a discussion of the various converters.
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Bill, You know if I were driving a 32 year old coach, I might consider something else to.
I would keep my negative comments to myself.
Save those kind of comments for another site.
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Glad we clarified that: (… owners of this forum finally gave up and bought something other than a Prevost …)
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Thanks for all the great advice Fred! Much appreciated and it will be heeded!
I am a long time member of Police1.com, but thank you for the “Heads-Up”.
Are you a retired LEO … or maybe an active undercover LEO in the Prevost group (Just kidding).
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