[CHIP]

Buy one cheap, running good, low mileage with records, and checked out by a reputable shop and fix inside (house) what you want. Save a ton like that.

[Archived]

I’ve bought from a private individual, a dealer, and a converter (Liberty).

All experiences were very good. The first was a private sale, the coach was so new that Prevost was still standing behind it although it did not need anything. But knowing nothing I was able to have Don Hoffman (a converter) do a pre-purchase inspection for me. I followed him every step of the way and that inspection also became my training. Lesson learned: Unless you are capable of doing your own inspection have it done by a professional who has no conflict of interest. Plan on it taking a lot of hours.

The second was from a dealer. At the time of that purchase I had owned my first Liberty 14 years and the coach I was buying was a Liberty. I was familiar with Liberty systems, the chassis, and confident I could do my own inspection especially since the dealer was willing to allow me ot have the coach over my pit in my garage. The dealer had already gone over the coach, found some minor things to address and took care of them. I was able to do a systematic inspection in my garage and while there were no records (none of my coaches had any records) there was evidence galore of regular service, and my operation of every switch and knob and control showed everything worked as intended.

The current coach was purchased from Liberty. It was a 2006 in 2012 so it like the two previous ones was unlikely to need things like air bag replacement, so I prepared a 4 page list of the inspection procedure I was going to follow when I picked up the coach and it was clear Liberty followed that in getting the coach ready. This coach had a lot of things new to me along with some older Liberty features so I asked for and got great assistance in inspecting and training. As an example I not only wanted to know how to operate the slides, I wanted to get into the specific procedures for opening or closing the slides when the normal process failed. It took two days of inspecting / training while we lived in it to get used to operating the systems and devices. During the inspection one Cruisair wasn’t operating up to standards (I tested temperatures), and it was replaced but apart from that, like the previous coaches the rig was trouble free.

My XLII is the model that when bought requires a delamination inspection by Prevost. When I first learned the coach was for sale I tried to make an appointment to view it and it never happened because Liberty found issues and had it sent to Prevost for repairs. I bought it upon completion of the repairs. They were extensive and the coach required all new skins. The final cost which Prevost absorbed was around $60,000. The point is when looking at a coach make certain EVERYTHING is included.

I have a DDEC reader, I rely on my infrared heat gun, and if I do not have the ability or records required I get the experts with the knowledge to verify what I cannot do.

But all buyers need to be cynics. There are things that can get very expensive very fast. Delamination is one if the coach is of the model and vintage where that might be an issue. Only Prevost is equipped and capable of doing that inspection. But even if you do get all the right things done, a coach without service history records is a risk. Diesel engines with sleeved cylinders as all Prevost coaches are, require coolant maintenance. But if an owner places more value in tire shine than needed maintenance, especially that which cannot be checked, it can really get expensive. Cylinder liners that are impacted by poor coolant maintenance can suffer cavitation (porosity) and the net result is a destroyed engine.

Similarly, if a coach has relatively new tires, but one or more than one were run at a low pressure the tire could have suffered the type of damage that causes what is called a zipper failure in which the tire failure is sudden and catastrophic. Loss of control of the coach, or personal injury just from airing up tires can happen.

So approach any purchase with the seriousness it deserves. Regardless of they type of sale you the purchaser has to bear the responsibility for verifying the coach is in the condition you expect. This is serious business.

[Bernie]

[Archived]

I think anyone looking to buy a coach can expect owners of a specific conversion to recommend that conversion. Based on years and years of reading comments on Prevost forums going all the way back to when the first one came on line in late 90’s I am of the opinion all are well build and each converter has a niche in the market.

Today we are fortunate in that they all share the Prevost chassis so that levels the playing field significantly, and each converter may have different ways of doing things compared to the next guy, I cannot remember any single converter getting bad marks for their product.

[Archived]

Jon:

Based on your years of being involved with Prevost and reading the different forms, what are the specific niche’s per individual converter in your opinion?

I chose a early 2000’s Featherlite because I felt it was the most basic electric, & mechanical systems (on the converter side) for a first time Prevost owner to learn & live with, most things I could tackle myself. We loved the Marathon interiors but didn’t like Marathons proprietary systems, meaning Marathon HAD TO be involved in repairing most things. Pretty much the same for Liberty, IMHO Liberty are the cream of the crop. Just to much to learn and live with for a first time (do most of it yourself) Prevost owner.

Chuck

[Archived]

Of all of the Converters which Coach has the simplest systems for a first time buyer?

[Davy]

Royale, probably your best bet, interior 1/2 wood, mostly cherry.

Really nothing you can’t fix on your own. I have a 2000 Royale,

first Prevost, had BlueBirds and about everything else.

I believe a Royale is the only way to go for guys like us.

I’ve had this one over 10 years, don’t think there’s anything on the Prevost

side I haven’t replaced, nothing on the Royale side.

[Bernie]

I agree with Dick regarding Royale, but the Liberty Classic is also a simple but robust coach. Either one would be relatively easy to work on.

[Art]

Hello Dick , funny prior to you answer i was going to say Royal based on when we met at Parliament . Hope your well old Blue Bird Brother 🙂

[Jim/Chris]

I purchased my 06 XL2 from Marathon and received a 6 month CPO warranty. I had Gil go through the coach a second time prior to warranty expiration. He picked up a couple items that weren’t causing any obvious issues that I was aware of, saving me a few thousand $’s. Marathon was great during the CPO period, taking care of the issues I discovered during the numerous trips I took.