Bill
Forum Replies Created
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Do you plan to convert it into a motorhome? Sounds very interesting!
I went looking for H5-60 conversions again because of this thread and found a couple of entertainer-style coaches, but no motorhomes.
I did come across this. Never seen a wagon-trailer behind a Prevost before.
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Not sure if this will help Ronald but:
I just had the same experience you did with my Prevost Aux air pressure dropping to zero in about ten minutes after shutting down the engine. Overnight the coach stayed level and belts were tight. I cranked up the engine, built up full pressure then did a walk around. I could hear air leaking from the rear slide. I retracted the slides and turned off the air to the slide seals in driver side bay 3. No more pressure drop. I bought some blue outdoor waterproof painters’ tape at Ace and taped around the outside of both slides to keep out rain. We drove a few days and are now in at Prevost Nashville to likely replace the seal tomorrow. $$$.
Our Marathon Aux air is leaking again. The sewer hose air guage keeps dropping and the compressor runs. I have turned off the air compressor breakers and turn them back on when we need pressure until I can get that fixed.
I guess I got ‘lucky’ and found the leaks right away.
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In our bus the Techlon output switches for the lights each support two channels of 4-5 lights. The dim level is set via the light switches and input multiplexers and communicated over the network to the output switches which then simply pulse width modulate the output. There is a fuse per channel and an error LED but I believe that reflects its SW/network status rather than an output error analysis. Pretty sophisticated for late 20th century vintage.
I don’t think a user could easily modify or expand the system without Marathon help. There are some unused light switch positions that probably could be programmed to perform new functions but one would have to add the output modules and program them. My bus even has a (land line) modem that allowed Marathon to dial into the bus to check for errors etc. I was just happy that Marathon did not throw away their refrigerator sized network analyzer for my vintage bus.
My understanding is that Marathon started using their own network design vs Techlon starting sometime in 200x.
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Yes, even our 1999 vintage uses Techlon multiplexed signaling and modules throughout the house. Wires are actually RJ45 ethernet cables. There are input and output modules. Some of the output modules are actually what does the pulse width modulation (PWM) to dim lights. One service connector above the entry door can communicate with the entire house network. Marathon calls it Techlink.
The system is pretty reliable. We only had one instance where a module “forgot” its network ID. Marathon was able to reprogram it with their refrigerator sized portable test box for that vintage bus.
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We bought a 1999 Liberty Elegant Lady (“24 volt coach”, more “complicated coach”) XLV (45’) with “over the road air” in Apr/May of 2104 with 72,000 miles. We couldn’t get maintenance records and both the tires and batteries were aged out. The coach was located 18 miles from East Tennessee Luxury Coach. Jeff Rowe and I worked out a plan to replace the components he felt were likely aged out and address things we knew didn’t work right. I spent $10,000 on Michelin tires and chassis/house (Lifetime) batteries and another $20,000 on the chassis/house stuff.
There are a number reasons I really like about owning a Prevost. (1) The chassis and drivetrain is built like a battleship, designed to last up to a million miles in revenue service. (2) The Liberty conversion (and for the most part most of the conversions) are built with the same battleship quality design and execution. (3) Prevost has chassis service centers across the country and is opening more so chassis service is there if I need it. (4) Prevost coaches are one of the most widely utilized seated coach chassises in the country. Many Prevost seated coach operators big enough to have their own maintenance staff are more than happy to take in outside motorhome work, giving you hundreds of the chassis service options across the country.
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Went with the same LED’s I had in my 02 and they work great. They are dimmable PWM and dim with no problem. Had them in the 02 for 4 years with no issues. About 40 bucks for 50 of them, here’s the EBay link:
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I think a perfect way to frustrate yourself is to buy into someone else’s problems. I do almost 100% of my own work. But I’ll never buy a coach that “just needs a little work”. A coach that has a good working pneumatic system, and recently replaced air bags and valves is going to provide a long number of years of service before you have to consider serious repairs, mostly due to aging rubber.
Consider that as Pres points out our coaches are designed to be bought and used as seated coaches in revenue service. Prevost would be out of business if the coach and its systems was a maintenance hog. Our coaches have a whole lot of miles of refinements to improve the quality and reliability. As I mentioned previously the key to good long reliable service is the service history.
Keep in mind as you read this site and the problems discussed we now have about 3700 members and when issues are posted on the forum they are from the approximately 2000 members who have coaches. When the miles on the coaches, and miles travelled annually are considered the problems being discussed are a relatively small number.
Does it cost a lot to maintain our coaches? You bet. Nothing that is as big, complex, or comprised of as many pieces, parts and systems is going to go without tender loving care. But if you own a boat with similar complexity you already know that. If you own your own tools and are willing to work on your coach the cost of ownership drops a lot. If the coach you purchase is an older model converted by a company that made a relatively simple robust coach it can be expected to provide a lot of trouble free service.
If on the other hand you want computerized controls to open and close doors, move the shades up and down, and you plan on being able to control the operations of the house from long distances on your cell phone you might find service costs have the potential to be higher and problems more about software than nuts and bolts.
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They will hate that change Dave, after dealing with Sun for a year for our MI Rally, finding who’s on first will be an impossible search.
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Hi five on this “refresh” and should be labeled a “rebuild”.
I can count on one hand the guy’s I know that would attempt your project. Your son being involved in a project has memories for ever.
Welcome to PC…..post often
AL
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What happened to the rookie? Nothing. That was the proper action. Whoever let him do it should be under the gun, however!
Prevost claims they have the glass and it is being shipped in from the Dallas shop. I called Dallas and could not get anyone in parts to respond to my request to go to the part and tell me if it was the right color (DCL Dusklite Tint) so I am just hopeful that they know what they are talking about and it matches the other windows. It will then be up to me to find someone to etch the glass and SS says they will pay. I will get that part in writing!
We hope to have the glass by Monday/Tuesday and we will see where it goes from there.
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Lets take this up on the Pneumatic topic.
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I guess the point all Marathon owners need to understand is how slide seals are inflated and make sure they remain inflated when the coach is out in weather. It doesn’t matter if the slides are in or out because water can get past the seals unless they are inflated.
Like Tom I have a slide seal pressure gauge, but I know for certain on my Prevost slides over time my seals deflate if I am not running the coach or aux air compressor. My coach sits in my garage all summer and I do not maintain aany air pressure unless I need it for something I am working on and over time my slide seals will deflate.
I do not believe there is a check valve between the seals and the valve that can be used to deflate the seals such as when manually moving the slide. It sounds like Tom’s seals, all fittings and the selector valve are leak free.
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I can not help myself but the photo here below shows you the perfect cart. The brand name is “legs”. It is environmentally very friendly, does not require special fuel and can be recharged almost indefinitely.
I know that I should expect to be flamed for this post but I simply do not understand why healthy people ride around in golf carts. To me, they are just lazy and dumb.
Unless, you are a certified handicapped person who requires this kind of support, you should walk. It is good for you.
I have always been dumbfounded watching people riding golf carts at Heritage in Orange Beach to go from one end of the park to the other end. About a 1000 feet or so.
Sorry, I just do not get it. To me, this is so wrong.
But, just to repeat this, if you are truly handicapped, then, of course, a cart will help you to get around, out and about.
Except, 9 out of 10 people I see riding carts are lazy and overweight.
End of rant.
Cheers,
Ronald
(Current location withheld for the safely of this poster).
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Ditto what Geo said…
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You guys ease up on Buddy! He is a nice guy. He drove me around when I was recently at Jeff’s, took me to pickup some groceries an helped put them away in the bus.
Come to think of it, I still haven’t found the Beer.