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Welcome. Your questions are good ones and since a lot of Prevost owners had previous motor home experience you should get some answers that are to the point.

I can address a couple of things. The most important speaks to your concerns about system complexity and price. As coaches have gotten newer the converters have also done some sophisticated high tech things. So has Prevost. But in the vintage you mentioned the degree of complexity, especially in some models, is still relatively simple. You will never compare that simplicity with that of a 5th wheel trailer, but compared to current conversions the coach is likely to be owner serviced without a lot of grief.

To give a specific example, Liberty made two distinct versions at that time, one being called an Elegant Lady, and the other a Classic. The two could have the same floor plan but the Elegant Lady (often called a 24 volt coach) would send a lot of the switch commands through a bank of PLCs which in turn actuated relays to accomplish the task, such as turning on a light. The Classic by comparison (called a 12 volt coach) was simple by comparison, with a switch handling the tasks directly. When you flicked the switch for lights, the circuit was closed and the lights turned on.

I have had both systems and while the 24 volt seemed initially more complex and possibly less reliable the reverse was actually true. The more complex Elegant Lady in the 10 years I have had them now has been pretty bulletproof.

So if you truly are seeking simplicity you can find it if you look for the models of coaches that tend towards less complex. There might be others, but I think the Liberty Classic and Royale coaches would meet that description, but I would suggest you poll the membership about their reliability and service experiences. Personally I prefer the simple approach, but not because the more complex systems are unreliable. We rarely hear of problems with the converter’s proprietary control systems.

Your budget should be on target for what you describe. I guarantee you will find there is no comparison between a Prevost conversion and a high end motorhome. The systems are much more durable. Everything is done to meet the quality expectations of a buyer who lays out a lot of money and has high expectations. You will find multiple inverters, large diesel generators, large holding tank capacities, lots of battery power, high quality components and devices from faucets to wiring to lights, etc. Usually the interior materials are durable and long lasting. But what will be the deciding factor will be when you slide behind the wheel. My only motorhome driving experience was in fact a HR Navigator and after 15 miles I returned the driving to the owner. I literally was working hard to keep it in my lane on the highway. When I was driving any of my three Prevost coaches they went where I pointed, did not wander, were not a symphony of noises, and the cabinets did not shake at every bridge expansion joint. 700 mile days are not uncommon for me and I cannot imagine trying to drive that HR the same distance. I would be worn out.

Compare driving a 172 in turbulance by hand for 4 hours trying to stay within 5 degrees of heading and 100 feet of altitude to pushing buttons in a 767 for the same flight. That’s the difference you can expect in stepping up to a Prevost.

While you may be doing a lot of your own maintenance and repairs there will be some differences in a Prevost, enough such that you will need to do a very complete inspection on one before money changes hands. At the age you are looking at there is likely very little that can be “wrong”, but there can be a significant list of needs. Age takes a toll on our air systems so air leaks, aging air bags and suspension valves might be due for replacement. Same with shocks, as well as converter installed hoses. But for the most part it is unlikely there will be expensive issues but possibly small ones. That is why the coaches that now approach $2,000,000 can be bought for close to 10% of their current price when they are 10 years old.

You set a budget, now you need to define how you use the coach because they have different systems and features. Each converter has their own way of doing things so there are going to be differences between them. You have to decide what features are important to you. Do you want two sofas or a sofa and a chair or two? Do you want a booth, a J booth or a table and 2 chairs? Open bath or private toilet? Over the road air or just driver’s air? Roof air conditioners or Cruiseairs?

Have fun looking.

[Archived]

Thanks Jon,

That was a very sincere reply and of course very comprehensive.

With respect to handling I always thought that my HR was well behaved on the road. Undoubtedly our roadmaster chassis is a aged design – but I guess I can only compare to designs of lower value. I have passed gas powered RV’s and often wondered how they keep them on the road in crosswinds or their teeth in their mouth on Michigan or Quebec roads! I truly had no idea that I would find that much of a difference in the Prevost ride and handling.

Your comments about systems were great. I had thought that I would fly one of my local mechanics with me for a inspection before purchasing, the engine,transmission and driveling. But in all reality I guess I would need to consider finding someone who is fluent in specific convertor knowledge.

Jon, could you direct me to a web resource that I could read about chassis design/differences for coaches in the age category that I would be considering? (For example- model design, IFS versus I-Beam etc and or levelling systems, brakes and so on).

With the risk of looking like a idiot I will admit that the AC configurations seem overwhelming at first glance. My uneducated thoughts were roof and driver airs because we camp alot for a week at a time then do a short drive and camp some more with the kids. But those were just our first thoughts…..

Finally while its only the fluffy stuff so many of the early 2000 age coaches are just so dated with respect to interior design and colours. That will be a hard sell for my wife and a area where a huge amount of money can be eaten up trying to freshen up living spaces.

I will continue my search, hopefully some other owners will respond and throw some light on my options and the reality of a change like I am considering.

Thank you again.

Adam

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Adam,

Your questions regarding the suspension and leveling are academic. The vintage coaches you are likely going to focus on are all using IFS, all use the Prevost level low system for leveling, some modified by the converter to provide automatic leveling.

You have to decide on a lot of other things however such as do you want an H3 or XLII?

As to taking a mechanic, don’t. First decide what you want and narrow your search. When you have the candidates, go look at them. In fact every chance you get you need to go look at coaches. Pictures do not convey how a coach feels to you. Colors are usually not true in photos. The details relating to wear and tear never show up on photos. You cannot smell a photo.

At some point you will know the conversion and floor plan you prefer and then it is a matter of picking the one for you.. You should have that “eureka” moment when you step up into that coach. Really.

Along the way you will become a proficient buyer. All that is necessary when you do find your coach is to do the inspection, but I would urge you to be the inspector. A detailed, time consuming inspection accompanied by the seller who should be able to demonstrate the operation of everything serves as your inspection and training. If the seller is not qualified then seek a knowledgible person for that particular conversion. Instead of a mechanic, have the nearest Prevost facility, Detroit Diesel and or Allison dealer do a pre-buy inspection. They can run the codes. Prevost can evaluate the air bags, brakes, and working chassis components. You should be the one to inspect and learn the slides, the operation of all the house devices and systems. You can sort out the big stuff with little more than working the system and doing some basic checking such as measuring AC temps with an IR temperature gun.

If you can, drive a few coaches. Or at least ride in them. And read the articles on this web site. There is a lot of good information and guidance in them. Look at the ads here and other places on the internet. Learn the lingo and the differences between converters. Decide if you want to buy from a private party, a dealer or the converter. Have fun.

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Adam,

I went from a 42-foot tag axle 2008 Beaver on a RR10 chassis and can tell you the ride is noticably better on my 99 Country Coach on a 98 chassis. If you didn’t already know, in almost every case the Prevost chassis is a model year or more older than the model year used by the converter.

You’re coming from roof air and likely think it’s okay. Going forward with almost all converters they will rely on roof air. Some will require you to run the generator like you do today, while others will run the roof airs off the inverters and engine mounted alternator when you are driving. FWIW, our generators are far quiter than the unit you.

[Archived]

Adam,

You came to the right site for answers… The info you will get here will blow you away at first, but the learning curve never ends!

We too had a HR Navigator (2005) quad slide with ALL the bells and whistles… had no trouble keeping it on the road as we drove accordingly. NO comparison to a Prevost I must say !! When you drive one it will be self explanitary.

You will have no trouble finding a coach you like in your price range if you shop around… they are out there with 2 slides and OTR in your price range… just be sure you do your homework and ask lots of questions…. you will “sacrifice” some bells and whistles… but it will be well worth it… the safety alone is a huge factor… a plastic coach feels a bit scary after the quality feel in a Prevost. As far as dated interiors go, you can make changes if the basics are something you like… upholstery, flooring, bedding, appliances, new faucets… just like in your home … not a big deal. Finding the coach you can live with is the key… all the rest is easy ($$$$) !

Shop around and ask lots of questions, no such thing as a “dumb” question around here !!

Good luck and have fun.

Diane

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Welcome aboard Adam, you shouldn’t have any problem finding a bus in your price range. Regardless what you hear from the fiberglass crowd, there is no comparison beween sticks and staples and a bus.

I’m on my 5th Prevost and my current Liberty has OTR. I wouldn’t be without Prevost OTR ever again. I’ve had both cruiseairs and roof airs. I wouldn’t be without OTR if I had a cruiseair bus because if you need the A/C’s while driving in hot temps, the cruiseairs will shut down due to heat and you’ll be left with dash air and 45′ feet of sauna. In my opinion, if no OTR, roof airs would be a must.

This will for sure get the boy’s fired up, so hang on.:)

[Archived]

Adam we are new to Prevost ownership and even after our short time I could not go back to any other coach. We owned a Foretravel and thought nothing could be better until one very short test drive. Our search lasted about a year during which time I attempted to educate myself. Coaches in your price range are definitely available and we purchased a coach in a price range that allowed a complete remodel including electronics and some additions not originally in the coach. Panterra did an incredible job on our remodel and they along with other Sponsors on PC can help you get a handle on the costs if you go that direction. Check out Stitches in the advertisers section of PC. Jon,Tom, Gil, Diane ……………… and so many others on PC are invaluable for information and education. The fellowship is awesome and the coaches true wonders. You will never regret the upgrade. The advice the veterans on this site give you will definitely get you off to a good start.

[Archived]

Thanks for all of the input everyone. It is much appreciated.

What would the primary chassis differences be between a XL and a XLII?

Are the exterior panels on the above coaches any harder to maintain and keep clean than my painted fiberglass Holiday Rambler is now?

Any issues with a coaah that still has rivets versus a flush or non-riveted panels?

In the early 2000 model years, where could I find the interior dimensions of a XL or XLII product versus the H3 model…. Is there a big difference with height and width. (Assuming no-slides or slides in).

Thak you again.

[AL]

Good question. There are some threads that cover the XLII and the issues surrounding them. But having owned both I can say for sure you want to consider the XLII.

I’ll email you.

[Ben]

A late model XL had just about as many improvements Prevost could engineer. They are over built and with so many of them on the road they have proven to be what is likely the most problem free chassis ever made. The XL-II, like any newer product, has gone through some refinements and fixes. If you go with a XL-II just know what the fixes have been and whether they have been performed on the coach you are looking at. If you want slides, I’d say a XL-II or H would be a better choice. If you don’t mind the lower seating position for the driver and passenger and don’t care for the polished stainless, the H is a great choice. It has much larger storage bays. It is a few inches taller, if that matters. You should make it a point to walk through a few conversions of each Prevost model and see what you like.

[Adam]

Adam,

You already have great responses to your questions, and they are all correct.

The main difference IS, the ride, handling, and quietness of a Prevost. Also, the solid stainless steel chassis, other than the engine cradle, continues to impress me compared to glass coaches. I too, came from a conventional, glass Country Coach, which I thought, (at the time) was the best……………….until, I drove a Prevost!

As far as, H3 vs Stainless, I prefer the classic look of the real bus, as in the XL, XLII’s. My wife, sounds like yours, in that she doesn’t like some of the gaudy, glittery, and gold fixtures in some of the coaches in that price range. Soooo, we ended up with an H3, which SHE says looks “newer and more up to date” than the stainless, I like. We were lucky in finding one without the gold fixtures, and upgraded hard surface flooring, in neutral colors.

The main differences other than the look, are, the H3 driver and pass seats are not on the same level as the rest of the coach, which, hasn’t bothered us at all. The storage bays are taller, but not quite as wide as the XL’s. The height is just a few inches taller, I am 13’4″ to the top of the Sat dome.

Most of the newer coaches are built on H chassis?

OTR air is a must IMO, but , I live and travel in the south, and where you are, it may not be as important. I definitely would not want a coach, with only cruise airs in the south. No airs on the roof, really looks good to me, but not as important as being cool.

[John]

Thank you for all of the responses.

We have many things to consider and everyones input will be included in the discussions that my wife and I have.

We are very thankful for the honest opinions. Its nice to chat with people who are so enthusiastic about the fine units that they own.

Safe travels to everyone. And I will continue to ask for everyones advice as our shopping progresses.

Adam Hunter.

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As others have stated, beware that the H3-45 is quite a bit taller (13′ 4″) than your HR (normally ~12′) and can present problems in certain parts of the USA, low bridges and such. For instance, I moved up from a Bluebird Wanderlodge to an H3-45, and now I can’t get the bus to my house due to its height and the refusal of the home owners and HOA to trim the tress to allow the 13′ 4″ beast to get to my house.

So we have to pack the truck and then go to the shop and pack the RV, what a pain! (keep hoping a bad strom will hit those trees and take out the low limbs).

[Archived]

You need to hire Frankie and give him a chainsaw with a mufler. Then pay him a couple hundred in cash and away go your problems. The nice thing about cash is — it leaves no tracks 🙂

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Adam:

Enable your email as happy to discuss further as we were in a similar position, purchasing a 10 year old coach with full PDI (pre-delivery inspection) from the dealer then modifying with upgrades to floors, furniture, televisions, awnings, etc. with a budget that worked for us. We attended the Prevost show in Tampa (January) and finalized our choice of converter, options, preferences, styles, with a reasonable budget… It was only after this show did it all become clearer for us…. I suggest this would prove invaluable to make the correct decision for you in addition to staying plugged into this website. Jon, Tom, Gil and others have many years of practical experience to draw from including the spirited differences they exhibit between their converters of choice..

Only after i try this for a while, would i commit to a newer more modern version given the cost involved.

Six (6) month results have been good as with 5,000 miles down, a few nights on the phone, working through the learning curve, we have no regrets and have enjoyed this experience!!

You can see we opted for a Liberty single slide XLII with just the right touches to make it our own!!

Regards,