[Bill]

I am running into the same issue with ordering brake chambers from Prevost as well. Elgin quoted me for Type 36 service brake chamber to lift the tag $455.33 I used a MGM number that Ron Walker posted above, and called MGM to see if their Type 36 chamber ( MGM1436018) had anything special to iot. The gal on the other end at MGM in California said NO. So I put in a call to Guillame Charron in Quebec to see who he can direct me. I am wanting to know if the $455 dollar price, according to Elgin, is from the Pricing Dept is a typo.

[Bill]

I have to jump in here with my experience with “other brand” (not Lifeline) batteries…. when we purchased our coach it had Deka batteries installed… we were new to prevost and knew nothing…didn’t even know there were any Prevost sites for help. We “thought” the batteries were fairly new, just a couple of years old we were told.

Long story short we had numerous problems popping up every trip and after a visit to a Prevost service center we were told the batteries were shot so we replaced them with new Deka batteries… BIG mistake… they barely made it 30 months… they were maintained properly… chargers were good…inverters set correctly.

We had learned in the meantime that “Lifeline” was the only way to go, so we contacted Tom & they were delivered in 2 days nicely wrapped on a pallette ready to install. Can’t beat that for service and his price was cheaper than any other “lifeline” price to be found…. awesome service !!

Yes, we saved money on the Deka batteries, no they didn’t last, then we had the expense & hassle of changing them out at $70 per hour…

At the end of the day, we didn’t save a cent …. in fact all said and done the Deka’s cost us more !!!

You do get what you pay for…. can’t argue with that… gotta look at the “big” picture !!

Cheers,

Diane

[Bill]

Al,

Here’s a great resource for determining what antenna to use at your house: http://www.antennaweb.org/

Bill, I did look at the RV.net article. The only surprise was just how directional the Jack antenna is in the UHF band. Too bad they didn’t also compare an omini directional antenna.

As I’ve said before, you need a batwing antenna to draw in VHF channels if you’re even a realatively short distance from the broadcast antenna, especially low VHF. Keep in mind that few channels are in the VHF spectrum and it will be even fewer in the future. Older antennas sucked at bringing in the UHF channels as few ever watched them. Today, that’s were most digital channels reside. FYI, in the old days your rabbit ears antenna was for VHF and the loop antenna was for UHF. How many of yoy actually used the loop antenna; probably not many that were in VHF range.

The million dollar question is how much antenna is enough antenna? Can you be happy with an antenna that doesn’t have to be raised? Do you want a directional antenna? Keep in mind you might be sitting right between two broadcast areas and a directional antenna may require you to adjust the antenna direction with your channel changing. From Florida to Alaska there were few locations we couldn’t bring in something with this small omni. Of course, there were places that simply didn’t have over the air broadcasts, some because of how rural they were others for what seemed to be a way to promote the purchase of cable services.

BTW, it seems like almost all CGs, even smaller older parks, have cable service provided via a physical cable or locally broadcasted.

[Bill]

Okay, what’s the point(s) of confusion?

• Bigger almost always equals higher gain.
• Directional is always more selective than a similar omni directional antenna.

Neither of the above points matter if you can get the channels you want with a smaller antenna. Although I haven’t verified this, my gut feel is few if any RV manufacturers are installing the batwing antennas any more. The fact of the matter is that you will get far better reception with ATSC (digital TV) broadcast than you did in the past with NTSC (analog TV).

I have looked at the specifications supplied by King Controls (Jack Antenna), Winegard (Sensars and Omnis), Baker (Braund Concord), Shakespeare (marine omnis), and Glomex (marine omnis) and very little technical data is provided. No one states antenna gain, some state amplifier gain. Most tell you the channels supported and they are roughly the same. Other than the omnis that cover 360 degrees, not of the directionals provided antenna patterns.

Let me just say my only direct comparison data I have is my own. When I replaced my old Concord and replaced it with this smallish omni I didn’t loose any channels. That to is somewhat meaningless other than I was in a rural location when I replaced it so I wasn’t getting all of the available broadcast from either antenna.

If you have an older antenna you NEED improved UHF antenna capability, few channels that anyone watched in the analog days were carried over UHF. If you have a new antenna, any antenna, enjoy what you have changing it out probably won’t make a big difference unless you want to strap one of these to a mast every time you park.

Still confused? Great…mission accomplished.

[Bill]

I am currently using the aforementioned offending batteries. Since they are 1/2 the price of the Lifeline batteries I jumped right on them. Mine are currently only about 2 years old but they only need to last 4-5 years for me to break even over the outraveously priced Lifelines. My guess is I will get my monies worth but if not….it won’t be my first mistake. In the meantime, I am very happy and they are preforming exactly as well as my previous Lifelines did. I’m just a working man on a tight budget so the pricing difference was a big deal to me.

[Bill]

At the risk of giving Tom a fat(ter) head I want to poke my nose in this discussion.

Our house batteries are central to making the use of our coaches enjoyable. When they are good, everything works as it is supposed to, and when they are bad, they can create problems and issues that end up driving you crazy.

I’m all for a bargain, but cheap batteries often tunr out to be expensive due to either shorter life, or worse due to the cost of paying a technician to sort out problems that are the result of a failed or failing battery.

Lifeline AGM batteries are not only a proven product in our coaches, but the various reports of support from Tom or the folks at Lifeline show them to be a good choice.

One thing I learned when trading in my last set of used batteries was the Lifeline batteries are significantly heavier than those of their competitors and the battery recycler told me that is the best indicator of quality.

[Bill]

Is that a 2014 Marathon you are pulling? Looks like something Al would drive……

[Bill]

Al,

I did see the video & a couple others.Tks.

My wifes` family owns a moving service with 2 yr old Volvo`s. They have experiened many blowouts on new Michelin & Bridgestones, both truck & trailer. They have run pretty much max air press forever and are real sticklers for safety. With well over a million miles driving they now run nothing but Michelin`s based on experience ! Their front blowout tactic involves geting off the gas, hold the wheel tight, steer straight & keep off the brakes until almost stopped. This i`m sure takes guts !

I appreciate everyones input & can assure all that I`m beginning now to eliminate as much of the problem as possible to get within a reasonably safe tolerance since the converter didn`t. Like others mentioned, even a new coach is no guarantee of safe limits. I hope thru this others will take inventory of their situation too.

[Bill]

For a nice, central location in San Diego, it’s hard to beat Admiral Baker Field. The military campground has recently been opened to the public. It’s off Friers Road, near the stadium and located on a golf course.

[Bill]

Very nice Peter, but I didn’t know Trina got her hair done in the bus….

[Bill]

Tom I would have sent the controller to you with Red but Red left yesterday and I was in Tampa yesterday. I am not sure how to get the box to you to try.

You may want to talk to Rick May at Parliament he may have one on hand to test with without having to buy the test unit or the controller as these controller cost about $500. to $700.

I bought one 4 years ago but found out the coil was bad so I spent $500 for the controller plus the $200. got the coil.

I would say that a test box would be worth cost in my case.

[Bill]

If it was me after all the time and headaches , I would put new engine , Trans and anything else new and be done with it about 40,000 to have a shop do that work about !!!!!! As much time as you have spent that would be what I would do and then you could enjoy your bus!!! And do your business like you said , you use it for your business , then you could move on and start making money , just my thoughts , I would not have that kind of time to screw with it that much!!!!!! Put series 60 in it or what ever you want Cat or Cummings it can be done !!!!!!

[Bill]

Steve,

Whenever you want shoot me an email and we can meet up somewhere for lunch or just coffee. We are on the east side of Knoxville off the 398 exit. You are about 40 minutes from us.

Ben and Rick have been very supportive of all Prevost owners over the years. You also have a new facility opening it doors just down the road from you in Vonore. Jeff Rowe is opening the shop and he also has a lot of experience.

[Bill]

Jim

When you are at Lazy Days in April in Tampa make it point to visit Rick May at Parlimant Coach, he will balance your power loads. Rick May and Ben Commins are great at doing these kind of things.

If you think you need this reblancing sooner and don’t want to go all the way to Clearwater, call Danny M. in Sanford or Tradewinds Coach Deland FL. both of these companies are great in working on Prevost Coaches. I think both Deland and Sanford are less than a 100 miles from St. Augustine. Call me if you need more info.

Hish

[Bill]

Bill,

Confirmed what I thought today. You can go to DDEC III. It requires an ECM, engine harness, a different boost sensor, an intake air temp sensor and in your case it would probably be best to build a new chassis harness. I probably would get a new TPS sensor also. Might also require some new cruise switches.

No reason why your dash gauges won’t work with the upgrade. I put a 2007 DDEC V in my 1988 and my tach and speedo are the only ones that required changing. You won’t even need those.

Ken