[Robert]

Please post your coach search info and signature preferably with location.

That way people can give more relevant suggestions to your questions in the future.

This forum has a vast amount of information from other owners who have had or own a coach similar to your search.

The converters and year of chassis vary in the content that someone can give your question a response that is applicable.

There is a lot of basic ideas on what to look for before starting out.

Me I make sure the shore cord is unplugged and stowed. all compartment doors closed.

Engine oil,antifreeze, and battery water level if you have flood type batteries. Check air filter and fuel filter date

Generator oil level and antifreeze plus date of air filter & fuel filter change, check start battery water level.

Tire inflation is most important for safe travel.

Do a DOT brake check. Search the forum and you will find it explained in detail.

Definitely check light operation to insure tail, signal & brake are working properly.

If you want to avoid surprises try your air conditioning and heating system depending on time of year and destination.

A good thing to do is turn on refrigerator a day ahead to insure it is cooling properly.

Link to brake check video.

https://www.prevostcom

munity.com/forum/threaddetails.asp?Category=Videos+of+Interest&ThreadID=4393

[Jon]

Thanks for your response, and sharing good information.

Once all the items you’ve mentioned have been checked. I guess I’m looking for the steps to getting going. Check mirrors. Start engine. Do you adjust the height or level or does the bus do that for you? Any other things one should do before releasing the parking brake and moving out?

[James]

The bus should be at drive height if you have a quality air system. I just checked my height after two weeks and each side of rear has dropped 1/4 inch. I put a piece of painters tape on each rear corner and marked a line with a ruler.

Granted if bus sits for an extended period of time it may drop more than that.

My bus has all new airbags with compression fittings. New airlines to the bags and valves and numerous norgen valves.

If bus is depleted in air for ride height it should come to ride height in just a few minutes after your air systems reach full pressure.

Checking mirrors is a good idea as there is chance of them being bumped, set them before hitting the road.

Do you have a budget for your purchase? What specific floor plan items do you desire.

You looking for a 40 foot . 40 foot buses are hard to find if you have specific desires in floor plan. The extra 5 foot gives a lot more options in floor plan and comfort.

[Dan]

Good information. I watched the video you posted the link to. Very helpful! I know the more experienced one gets in owning and driving a bus, the harder it may be to remember that 1st time they sat in the drivers seat and thought, “now what do I do?”

Yes, I’ve learned that some of the features I like are not common, but I have found a bus that meets my needs/wants, and I believe it is the one, so really looking forward to seeing in person.

[Jon]

Prevost Car website has a coach check list, but a pre-trip inspection goes beyond checking the lights. It should include a DOT brake check, it should include the usual fluid levels and tire pressures, but it also needs to include converter and toad specific items. That type of comprehensive check list has to be specific to your coach, conversion and toad.

When you get your coach that is when you need to design one.

[glen]

Hi Luc,

I think we all can remember how daunting it was the first time we sat in the driver’s seat! The pre-start check list will differ depending on the age and converter but will involve something like the following:

1) turn on the aux air compressor to tension the fan drive belts.

2) unhook and secure everything external to the coach – water, sewer, power

3) secure everything inside – doors, refer, drawers, lower sat dish and TV ant., etc.

4) make sure auto level is off (if your converter added such a feature) and manual level (the Prevost “level low”) is set to drive so the air system will bring the coach to proper ride height.

5) start the engine, leave on slow idle, and wait for the engine driven air compressor to first supply enough pressure for the brakes, then enough for the air ride system and then enough for the aux. needs. Your coach may be quite slow at raising the front to ride height so be patient.

6) turn off the aux air compressor.

7) when air pressure indicated goes to around 120 and you hear the air his of the pressure regulator (the “sneeze”) you are ready to hook up the tow car and drive.

this assumes you do all the normal checking of tire pressures, cooling water and oil levels, check the lights, set mirrors, etc. on a routine basis.

In talking with new owners I find most of them are confused by how the air system works including bringing the coach to proper ride height. To do so the Prevost level low system must be in the drive position and not in any of the manual leveling positions. On most older coaches that will mean turning the rotary knob so the short arm is pointed to the rear. If it is in any other position the coach will not come to ride height. If the converter installed an auto level feature that must be off in order for the coach to come to ride height. For some coaches it may take several minutes while air pressure is registering between amount 80 and 120 psi to bring the front to proper ride height. If the engine is on high idle it may pass that psi window too quickly and the coach will come to proper front ride height only while you are driving. That can lead to dragging while you leave a parking spot if you are not yet at front ride height.

once you are in your coach for a while you will develop your own greatly expanded check list, but these are the must do basics,

jerry

[Dick]

Jerry, this is GREAT information!

Thank you!

[Unknown Member]

You need to do a pre-trip DOT brake check.

[DON]

Jon-

Absolutely! I watched the video, great information.

Thanks