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Tow it or Rent it
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At this point, the two converters that I’ve read any significant information on are Marathon and Millennium (both have + and -). I’ve toyed with the idea of a Newell or Foretravel but a few more bucks you can have a Prevost.
That got my attention…………….While there is no doubt the two RVs mentioned are fine vehicles, I cannot believe they or others like them can possibly have the quality or durability of a Prevost chassis that not only has a design that has evolved over a long time, but has been refined based on millions and millions of miles of commercial experience. The same holds true to the house portions of the total product, with highly experienced converters who can focus on providing the best quality and most reliability and not worry about shaving dollars from production costs. I strongly suspect that while price is always going to be a consideration, folks that buy a new Prevost conversion want what they want and are willing to accept that there is a cost associated with the quality we have. Until about a year ago I had zero experience with other than a Prevost RV. I had an opportunity to drive a very high end motor home. It had all the specs, size, and powertrain we would expect of a Prevost. After 15 miles I turned the driving back over to the owner. There was no way I could consider the coach over a Prevost.
If I was sitting on the fence today worrying about where to spend serious money, the place I would start would be to go to converters I am considering, and instead looking first at current production, I would look at the oldest coaches in their inventory. Then I would do the same with the Newell and Foretravel coaches to see how they compare. Time has a way of revealing weak points.
Then I would ask owners of what I am considering what their next coach might be. I strongly suspect there is going to be brand loyalty, but I would wager owners of non-Prevost coaches would include a Prevost in their list of coaches they would consider. I would also wager few if any Prevost owners would consider non-Prevost coaches.
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You can talk about different convertors but you don’t have any idea what your buying. You are in a different world comparing the mentioned coaches to a Prevost. If you got 2 million to drop and the convertors knew that, they all have late model buses on the lot. I would ask them to give me one for a week and go put a thousand miles on it. For what they are asking for a new one, I don’t think that is a reach.
Later
bv
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I have to agree with Jon, I would not consider anything but a Prevost and, not so much the converter, but rather the chassis, at the end of the day they are bulletproof. I also would have difficulty saying that “this will be my last rv”, as many of us have said that before. I have only purchased but one new coach, a Country Coach Intrigue…brand new, factory delivery and the only thing running good on it was the paint. Not that it was crummy but rather, especially on that unit, it was simply a collection of assorted parts moving together in loose formation. It had the all new this and the all new that when, in reality, the components did not necessarily meld together in a manner that was, shall I say, user friendly. Many trips to the factory and finally the bugs were gone; while I would not expect that from most converters, I think it is safe to say that there are “some” factory visits required with nearly every new conversion. Most of that agony is gone when buying a used coach.
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I have a JCW Mini Cooper S that I thought would be the ideal tow, unfortunately I needed to use a tow dolly because there was no place to install the “stuff” for towing. That lasted one short trip as the tow dolly taint for me!
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Jon, et al,
I’m going off topic here but the only reason I have considered the other non-Prevost coaches is that they are using the Cummins engine. Since I currently have a Cummins engine I’m used to their facilities and locations. I also like the 600 hp option offered in the Newell and Foretravel. That’s where my train of thought was coming from while considering those coaches.
The Volvo set-up will be new to me and finding their service centers shouldn’t be a major issue, I just have no idea where they are located. There is a Prevost service center 200 miles from my home in TN and less than that from my home in CA. As I delve deeper into this purchase, all the cards will fall into place I’m sure.
I see that on the Prevost chassis they have relocated the DEF tank filler on the driver’s side. On other coaches, it’s on the passenger side (probably will change in the future). Now that the fuel stations have DEF pumps next to the diesel pumps, that’s important. I would rather fill up using the pump than worrying about carrying several gallons of DEF in the storage bay.
Safe travels,
MM.
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DEF is on the driver’s side on new shells.
Are you really serious about making a decision just because you know where to find a Cummins dealer?
In 23 years of Prevost / Detroit Diesel ownership I have been in a Detroit dealer’s shop for service twice. Do you really think that frequency of Detroit (or Volvo) service would amount to anything that had an influence on my decision to buy a coach?
Are you pulling our chain?
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Well, at the risk of offendeing Newell owners, if you could order it with 1000 HP and 3000 lbs of torque it might be better, the term lead sled comes to mind! While the are finished off fairly nice inside, that long trek from the side entry door to the drivers seat after topping off at a truck stop, well, it can get messy on that high/low cut pile, floral inlaid wool carpeting that they love so much. As Jon suggested look at an older one, the late 80’s early 90’s Newell’s would make a freight train turn up a dirt road, they are just ugly. Not to offend folks, but every Newell that I have been in smells like old people and dogs! Foretravel, nice fiberglass coach but have a look at their older models; I especially enjoy that one with the little windshields that all in the world looks like a 1950ish locomotive, a diesel-electric streamliner wannabe. Aside from that, foretravel is very proud of their coaches, your Dynasty would rival one of those plus you already own it. Cummins “wait to start” builds a good engine but I certainly would never use their service centers as a deciding factor on a coach purchase. Just an opinion…….
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Hey Jon,
No, I’m not pulling your chain. I’m looking and considering ALL options, I don’t want to leave a stone un-turned. Maybe I’m blabbing too much about my thought process since it’s so early in the game and it seems crazy to you guys.
I want things to be convenient to ME! And, I’m still thinking how I will use the new coach moving forward. Does it make sense to spend a big chunk of change? Have I already seen what I want to see? Will I be targeted driving a new Prevost Bus as people ‘in the know’ might think there is something valuable on board?
Sometimes when we are in a RV Park, even at 6.5 yrs. old, our coach is the best one there. I don’t want to be a ‘beacon’ but I want quality and durability that is found on the Prevost Chassis, that’s why it’s being considered. A lot of thoughts are running through my head.
You have to realize, you guys already own a Prevost coach, you had to give it in depth thought too, I’m still green.
MM.
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Well as I am on a roll, let me continue. First, no self respecting individual with a 2 million dollar coach would ever pull into a KOA! Don’t need to see the neighbor with his 30 year old Bounder sitting on his foldable step clipping his toenails while his over weight mutt pee’s on my tires! Now I will give certain exceptions to that, Tiger Run, LVMCR and a few others. When I travel I tend to pull into a Hilton or similar, go in and talk to the manager about parking overnight, eat a good meal after a couple of adult beverages and retire to the bus, generator running very quietly. Works every time!
Should I choose to buy a 2 plus million dollar coach, I would absolutely order a 30′ triple axle stacker to match, replete with its own generator, air con and toilet. Whats 100k when I am dropping 2 million. Failing that, you have to lose the Honda (a proletariats car) and at least get a Hummer H1 painted to match the coach or you can stuff the Honda into your new stacker, after all you will have an image to maintain:)!
Finally, these things are not “rigs”, they are coaches. A rig is a 18 foot Terry Trailer with a step ladder on the back and a portable blue potty container nailed on there somewhere with one of those US maps with the colors blotted out for all of the states that have been visited. Less I forget, the Good Sam sticker is firmly affixed to the rig. Without doubt the term rig comes from Jerry Rigged, as it is held together by the handyman’s secret weapon, duct tape; not to mention those plastic do dads on the roof that cover all of the vents! Let your subscription to Motorhome Magazine expire, not to mention your membership in the Presidents Club at Camping World!
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This string is really amusing, and informative. Love to hear your opinions Flyu2there.
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John is off and running. Mr. Mark, except for the traditional ball breaking that comes as we know one another don’t get too upset at the remarks from the peanut gallery.
Our comments and responses are often going to be straight to the point. My remark about knowing where the Cummins shops are was one of them and as a 23 year owner of three Prevost coaches I not only still don’t know where the Detroit dealers are located, I really don’t care. If and when I need one there is an 800 number on the side of the engine.
The engine is likely to be the least of your concerns.
Bottom line is still to compare and make a choice. My extremely limited experience with conventional RVs and even less knowledge of Wanderlodge and Newell coaches has convinced me that a Prevost is the right choice. You need to get past that point before you can really dig into the various issues you apparently want to consider regarding a Prevost Conversion. A Newell for example has configurations and a drivetrain different than a Prevost. Is that what you want? You have to know and understand both coaches before you can begin to focus on one or the other.
My coach buying decisions are based on personal factors as much as practical considerations. I have to rule out a Newell and even an H3 because of their height they will not go into my bus garage. You may have something that automatically rules out a particular coach or model also.
Bottom line, if you expect this group to encourage you to consider a brand new Prevost compared to anything else there is unlikely to be much support for the SOB (some other brand) because a lot of the folks on here have moved up from SOBs and cannot comprehend a serious buyer capable of spending the price for a new Prevost is even thinking about anything else. Even if you do know where the Cummins dealers are located.
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Jon,
I realized the response that I had posted was going way off topic. And, responding to a guy driving a 15 yr. old coach criticizing my tow vehicle would be like conversing with Helen Keller.
I’ll just read and learn and try to stay on topic.
MM.
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Play nice, guys.
I’m a proletariat because we are (or rather were) wage earners, which if it isn’t already, is about to become a minority class in this country.
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Play nice, guys.
I’m a proletariat because we are (or rather were) wage earners, which if it isn’t already, is about to become a minority class in this country.
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