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  • Pdi inspection

    Posted by Greg on February 23, 2014 at 1:57 am

    I am looking at a 2001 Vantare featherlite xl2 dbl slide with 112k miles. I am having a pdi inspection. Any insites to this particular coach. I know that Vantare in this year and model, did not build these xl2 coaches like they did the h345, and there are differences in that alone, but has anyone had one like this to give any advice?

    It has been upgrades to the 365 tires on the steering and tags. It has the air assist awning. Batteries are 6mo and tires are dated 4607 steering 365 and drives are 3009 315 and the tag tire dates are on the backside, but I am assuming they are the sae as the steering for they are 365 as well. Upon visual inspection, there is no checking.

    The coach is scheduled for a 10 hour inspection and will go on a lift to inspect the underbelly. I have never owned an xl2 and just wanted feedback. I have already checked the ss panels and they are secured very tight. Prevost slides.

    The exterior colors are very good, but I am going to do some remodeling inside due to the Vantare xl2 interior (vogue) look.

    Kevin replied 12 years, 6 months ago 8 Members · 11 Replies
  • 11 Replies
  • Archived

    Member
    February 23, 2014 at 6:53 am

    I would try to get Donny Myers or Ben Cummins to do your PDI. Based on feedback from owners of an XLII Vantare with slides I would suggest you get your axle weights and if the coach is empty when you weigh it, try to estimate how much you will add when you load it with your stuff.

  • Peter

    Member
    February 23, 2014 at 7:47 am

    hello Gregg,

    I see you currently have an h-3 and looking at going to an XLII, if possible can you provide some feedback as to your thouhghts why you are going to an XL after having a H-3, positives & negatives for each type of coach.

    Thanks.

  • AL

    Member
    February 23, 2014 at 8:11 am

    Gregg,

    Do yourself a favor and run it up to Jax and have Prevost inspect the panels.

    I too would like to hear your feedback of going from an H to an XLII.

  • gary

    Member
    February 23, 2014 at 8:17 am

    hello Tom,

    I think Gregg is looking at going from double slide to double slide. Is there a difference in slides from H-3 to XL.

    Another slide concern to get a better understanding with current owners. I lean towards Prevost factory only but have been told that Valid’s are “autohorized’ by Prevost. Not sure how to take that statement ?

    when I was looking at a coach and talked to Prevost in New Jersey, the guy at Prevost said there were 2 types of inspections. One approx $5000, and then one approx $1,1000. His suggestion was the $5000 inspection was the better value and would cover what I wanted to verify. How do experienced owners feel about that suggestion?

  • Archived

    Member
    February 23, 2014 at 8:37 am

    I would do a DMI not PDI

  • Peter

    Member
    February 23, 2014 at 8:50 am

    There is nothing expensive that a Prevost inspection is going to reveal. That’s a relative term. Specifically you don’t need Prevost to tell you you have hub seal leaks, They cannot tell you if the coolant was changed per schedule, they are unlikely to check the date on the air bags, and unless the coach is left with them for several days with instructions to evaluate it for air leaks and the leans you won’t get that information. They have a lot of boxes to check on the form, but almost all of the check marks come from a visual inspection so only after you buy a coach do you realize you need shocks or air bags, or that coolant has never been changed.

    The most valuable thing you can get in evaluating a coach is copies of the service history, and I mean the entire service history. Oil changes, lubes, Transynd changes, repairs, are all part of the character of a coach and unless the seller can present that level of detail most PDIs that you pay for are superficial. The best PDI is service history combined with spending a couple of days with the coach operating every single button, knob and switch to verify everything functions as it is supposed to, combined with a good visual inspection of the underside and a satisfactory report from Detroit / Allison

    I would however have a delam inspection done.

    We beat on this theme endlessly and it is priceless when you can buy a coach that has full documentation along with a complete service history. Absent that information you are rolling the dice. Based on the age of the coach unless someone could prove otherwise I would mentally deduct the cost of a total and complete replacement of all fluids, filters, belts, hoses, etc. along with all Norgrens, air bags, shocks etc. The fluids, filters, etc. is to zero out the routine service so you have a starting point, the suspension stuff is because at that age it is past due.

  • Bill

    Member
    February 23, 2014 at 8:56 am

    I agree Jon you got it right just boxes with a check mark next to it , history and use it is the best.

  • Archived

    Member
    February 26, 2014 at 10:10 pm

    As Jon said, the PDI may not answer the questions you should be asking. I had one done prior to purchase -no mention of several things that they later said needed repair 6 months later. They had forgotten that I had the PDI. Kind of embarrassing for them and instructive for me.

    Wave

  • Rick

    Member
    February 27, 2014 at 7:39 pm

    What prevost shop did the PDI Wave ???

  • Archived

    Member
    February 27, 2014 at 8:12 pm

    Dallas/Ft. Worth

  • Kevin

    Member
    February 27, 2014 at 9:26 pm

    Thanks very much

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