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Non Slide vs Slides
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Harry
Good question about our shift in years of buses
The 2002 Marathon XL II single slide was nice. Several things. Marathon 740 had panel delay before it was in vogue. Prevost Mira Loma kept gluing us back together
That coach slide room left us hanging several times, including once in Yellowstone
it also had one of the swing down TVs. Never again. Locked up twice requiring two trips back to Marathon (Dallas once and Coburg)
dropping from 2002 to a200 H3-45, simple no stainless delam yet kept most of the technological goodies the XLII had that came on an earlier H3-45, dual pane windows, disc brakes etc
Going from 2000 H to 1992. Well, a prevost is a prevost regardless of year. And there are fewer 40’s for sale. And the Beaver bus was a nice coach
The current Marathon coach checked all of our boxes, otherwise we wouldn’t have sold Beaver 34. When you buy used, getting more than one of your boxes checked is a feat
And we aren’t flipping buses to “make” money. It’s a loosing cause. If we had a do over, we would have a 1998 Country Coach XL 40 with a single Rogue Coach slide technology we saw in 2000 when we were consummating the deal on our2000 Affinity. We still talk about that bus today, and have never seen it again. And we would have been money ahead. We have learned you only need one prevost in your lifetime. Trouble is finding it, and we found that one years ago and didn’t act
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Thanks Jim,
It’s rather interesting the number of people who no longer own their favorite coach. Although I do understand you don’t really get a feeling for your coach until time is spent with it.
One more question Jim, Did your move from 92 bus having anything to do with it having a 8V92TA?
Please excuse me Steve, I don’t mean to get your thread wondering off in the wrong direction.
Harry
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Nope Harry the motor had nothing to do with our decision. I miss the less complicated 8V-92. We changed exhaust gaskets and manifolds ourselves. I also miss the solid beam front axle less tire wear!
Here are items that checked the boxes:
Box 1. All five side windows unobstructed view. The Beaver Bus only had three Le Mirage windows in living room
Box 2 From the first time we saw “Bronze Ribbon Mahogany laminate we loved it
Box 3. Generator exhaust thru roof
Box4. Had true Tech Link electrical that Techlon in PA would work on. No crestron Although we miss the switches and relays of the Beaver I was trying to find amid nineties Marathon that had no computer
Box 5. Cruise airs had heat pumps, no rooftop units for us
Box6. Larger water tanks than Beaver, plus twin hotwater heaters
Box 6 Generator on airbags
Box 7 Single sheet metal roof
Box 8. Awning tip out windows
Box 9 40 footer and no slides, rivets only
Box 10. Floorplan
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Pam & I are happy in our non slide XL. It’s our home for the next 5 years. The only negative we have is the loss of our king bed.
If (big if) we were to get another bus, I am inclined to look at a H3 with a king bed and slide. Pam wants the king bed & I would like the extra storage an H has.
For now, I am a happy non slide, stainless, non def, rivet bus owner.
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A couple things have surprised me… First is the number of people who know the 8V92 engine and say something like “best diesel ever made” and “nothing beats the sound of an 8V92”!
And then the number of people who have never been in a slide-less coach. I know when I was looking at plastic coaches I’d not have considered a coach without slides. When I saw my first Prevost without slides I was surprised at the space. I was thinking of the other coaches I’d seen with the slides in and you’re lucky to have 18 inches of walk space.
I like my No Slide Bus… I’ll be spending 4 to 5 months in it this summer so I’ll know for sure then right?
Harry
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Harry,
Non-slide coaches are made for maneuverability. I, too, have been in several non-slide Prevost coaches and they are roomy! You probably won’t have drawers across from the bed if you have an ‘east-west’ bed location as that will be needed for walking space but all the space is managed.
Yes, a slide opens up the space but pulling into a RV spot and knowing that the space you have is what you get can be comforting (no guessing).
We have had to dodge a tree, fence post and/or an electric box (if high). That is the very reason I wouldn’t want a full-wall slide as it would give you less options in a tight space (on plastic coaches anyway).
Personally, I only wanted Prevost installed slides that move in and out only, no pivoting. To me, it’s less of a chance of misalignment (I could be wrong). The one slide that shows a step at our booth is fine with me (and the bedroom too but very minor). Actually, I sit on the bedroom step to put my shoes on.
Everyone, enjoy your Prevost! See you down the road!
Mark
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We are slide folks. However, we have on occasion left the slides in to stay the night in tight quarters for one night, rather than take a chance on a “professional” driver backing into the slides because he didn’t see it.
You must have a floor plan that will work with the slides either way. In or out.
I will never forget a Rally in Branson, Mo. parked next to George and Cory in their XL after a driver had backed into the passenger side of their bus at a Truck stop. Broke my heart seeing an XL banged up like that. Next time I saw them they were driving an H3.
Can’t be too careful.
I
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I’m curious,
Never seeing the inside of a Prevost Bus with the slides in (or out for that matter). As I said in an earlier post, my only knowledge of seeing slides in, is on a plastic coach with apposing slides. The coach I had on order had a full wall slide on the patio side containing the dinette, couch, bunk beds and master bedroom dresser. The opposing slide had the kitchen, including the refrig. I wasn’t wild about the refrig on the slide but that’s the way it was. It was a bath and a half and at the widest point just under 18″. Getting to the full bath required climbing over the king bed or a pole vaulting stick.
Is the isle amount about the same in your Prevost, about 18 inches?
Harry
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Harry,
One of the aspects that drew me to my coach was that with the sides in, I can easily get through the coach with no problems. The only section that requires a “pole vault” is the rear closet and that’s where the A/V components and washer/dryer is located. No need to access those areas when in transit or when dry camping in a parking lot. When I’m at a rest stop, I have full and easy access to the galley, head, dinette, sofa and just about everything you would need. Since it has bunks, when doing an overnight, it can easily sleep quite a few people with the slides-in…you’ll just need to climb over the big bed vs walking around it.
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Harry,
I have to ask since you mentioned it in your post above. You never have seen a Prevost coach with slides? When you found your coach, you didn’t even peek at a Prevost ‘slide’ coach?
You said that you had a coach on order with slides, did you not take delivery? Just wondering.
I’m not at the coach as I’m in Manzanillo, MX, with a group of friends for a week. I think the hallway in our coach is larger than 18″ as that’s only a foot and a half. Our half bath is across from the kitchen (no slide area) and we certainly have had more than one person passing by using the hallway. I’ll measure when I get back.
We can certainly manage with the slides in but our full bath is in the back with the half bath in the middle. We would have to go over the bad to use the shower but doable if needed.
Anytime we park we put all the slides out as that’s what they are for.
Safe travels,
Mark -
Hi Mark,
No I didn’t take delivery of the plastic coach. The day before I was going to pick it up a 10 year old boy ran into it with a golf cart. Running into it was one thing, but he kept going and the roof of the golf cart made a huge gash on the full wall slide. I obviously decided against that coach. It wasn’t much later I saw my first Prevost and it was love at first sight.
I didn’t go into a coach with slides because they didn’t have them on the Years I was looking for. Plus, the bus I saw was a 40’ with no slides and I really liked it. I liked that I’d have the same floor space on and off the road.
Always good to hear from you Mark,
Harry
PS. Hey Andy, Never take a good “pole vault” for granted! Are you all moved in now?
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