[Kirby]

H J – Do you not see the big blue button with instructions to the right?

[Kirby]

I really don’t belong in this conversation because I don’t want anyone thinking I am selling stainless steel tanks because my daughter’s company is making them. But everyone should be aware that if you are not going to use your existing tank as the model then you absolutely need to at least speak to Jeff because there are expensive pitfalls that could be encountered if you make them from drawings supplied by anyone in the original supply chain.

Some tanks in use are not made to drawngs completely. Some holes have been relocated or modified and you should be aware of what potential changes you might encounter.

Regardless of who makes a replacement tank, make certain all bottom and vertical welds are done on both the inside and outside and whatever you do make sure nobody grinds and polishes the welds, The only weld joint that does not need two side welding is the top of the tank.

[Kirby]

Perhaps this information will assist in this discussion:

Beasley Tire (here in Houston) is one of the largest Michelin distributors in the USA having just acquired their two largest competitors on the entire Gulf Coast. They are the company through whom I have purchased four sets of tires and they maintain a huge inventory of tires that normally experience summer shortages (that we have discussed in the past). They are participants in the Michelin Tire program…. and handle B F Goodrich tires as well. They have a huge trucking tire operation with 50 mobile service units capable of changing a Prevost tire roadside…. so I listen to what they say about tires.

Their initial explanation of the differences between MIchelin and BF Goodrich:

Jon is absolutely correct that the tires are built side by side and that BF Goodrich is wholly owned by Michelin. The tires differ, however, because all new research and technology originally goes into the Michelin product and the older technology is then rolled into the BF Goodrich product line. This includes tread pattern and compound technology as well as other developments.

It does not imply that BF Goodrich is a low quality tire… it implies it does not have the latest technology available.

It is, therefore, very understandable that BF Goodrich products should perform well…

In 2018, Beasley reports that BF Goodrich will be revamping their product line due to this evolutionary process because the Michelin technology, itself, is being revamped …..and the past pre-2018 Michelin technology will be thereafter applied to BF Goodrich products.

For further discussions on this, Bob Beasley’s son, Michael Beasley…can be reached at 281 449 2365. They are very aware of Prevost Community.

Hopes this helps.

Pres

[Kirby]

Jon,

From your experience, what’s been the life expectancy of your water pumps? I would think they should last around 10 years.

[Kirby]

we just stayed at the KOA north in Nashville. Good access and no issues with space. Have driven thru Yogi Bear park. It looks to accommodate smaller rigs, but I was only driving they for their Christmas light extravaganza.

[Kirby]

… Looks like KOA NORTH recently did a “remodel” of the park, and all the “delux” sites are now PAVED (vs. gravel etc…

That could be a great option!

Thanks, Again!

[Kirby]

H.J.: We bought our 1999 Prevost Liberty conversion in April of 2014, it was 15 years old. It is almost 20 years old today. This is the very first motorhome of any kind we’ve ever bought and unlike Tom Chilcotte I expect this will be the very last motorhome we ever buy.

I second and third all what has been stated before me. From my experience, they are very accurate. Before ever driving our coach (the seller took it to Jeff Rowe’s ETLC shop once we agreed on a price) I spent $10,000 on eight new tires and batteries (house, chassis, generator, computer) and another $20,000 to perform a comprehensive zero-out of the coach (fluids, hoses, belts, air bags, brake chambers, odds and ends that Jeff found and said should be replaced now). Since then I’ve probably spend another $12,000 to maybe $15,000 (I should add it up) with Jeff, Prevost Jacksonville, and a local RV shop. With the exception of integrating two or three flat screen TVs into the coach, probably replacing the 2008 vintage navigation system, maybe doing something with the TV antenna/dish, and converting all the lights inside and out to LEDs … our coach is the way we like it. OK, OK … replace the 1999 carpet with wood or luxury vinyl.

Jon’s recommendation to pay $120,000 for a Prevost and hold back $40,000 in dry powder for zero-out and upgrades I think is very, very good advice.

You’re posing what I think is a very, very interesting quesiton: Should I spend $160,000 on an entry level diesel pusher or $160,000 (all-in) on a Prevost conversion?

What do you get for $160K on a new diesel pusher?

I know for $160K all-in on a Prevost your going to probably get a mid to late 1990’s XL (40′) or XLV (45′) with shiny stainless sides or an H model … most likely all without slides. Unless the Prevost was abused by its previous owner(s) and/or the guy doing the zero-out is a moron … the future operating costs and cost to replace the components that inherently wear out over time or mileage or both will probably be a little higher with the Prevost than conventional motorhome.

I firmly expect that the value our late 90’s Prevost will decline at a much slower rate than a conventional motorhome of similar value at the time of our purchase because of a number of things. (1) The Prevost chassis was designed and built to run 750,000 to a million miles; I can’t wear the thing out. The age old cliche “built like a battleship is very appropriate. (2) Practically all the converters (if not all the converters), not just the premiere converter Liberty who converted our Prevost, built a very well designed, well engineered, and very stout motorcoach at the end of the day. The “conversion” just doesn’t wear out (with the exception of stuff that eventually does wear out like water pumps, refrigerators, microwaves, toilets, etc.). For the most part the parts and pieces that the converters did put into their coach were first class, top of the line, and often came from the high end yachting industry.

You asked whether the Detriot Diesel Series 60 engine that Prevost puts in the coaches is a good engine. It is. No question in my mind. The number of engine problems that are posted to the PC Forum are very, very small. If the Series 60 was not a great engine for these coaches, Prevost would have stopped putting them in their buses many, many years ago. The only reason a Detroit Diesel isn’t in a brand new Prevost today is that Volvo bought Prevost a few years ago and started putting Volvo powerplants in the coaches.

As a group, Prevost owners have the benefit of many tens of thousands (maybe a hundred thousand?) of seated coaches and entertainer coaches that Prevost has built of the years.

It would be interesting for some of the guys and gals with Prevosts from the late 80’s and very early 90’s to chime in and tell us their experiences of owning a Prevost motorcoach that is 25 to 30 years old.

[Kirby]

Jon,

Am I reading the chart correctly? Jeff changed by antifreeze to DD power cool, so if need to top off, I can use any brand that is the same formulation and meeting the same spec, or stated another way any thing listed between the bold horizontal lines above and below the power cool entry.

i have not been able to locally source or even find an on-line supply of the power cool. Perhaps I can find another brand, same spec.

[Kirby]

Although I too never had the privilege of meeting Peter in person, I was fortunate to have spoken with him

on the phone. His willingness to help and his genuine concern will be missed. We will remember Peter

and his family in our prayers.

[Kirby]

We numbered about 7 or 8 coaches at the last Lakeland Autofest that were parked where we could run our generators.

If I remember correctly about half of us put a sooty dark spot on the grass and the other half did not. If you find why almost identical generators were exhibiting different exhaust signatures let us know.

[Kirby]

Turns out my coach has the 2″ sump based on inspection – the actual external measure of bottom of pan to bottom of trans case is closer to 1 1/2 inches. Pan is easily visible looking in from either side of the coach. The nominal 4″ sump is actually about 3 1/2 inches from what I found in research. So, my unit takes the 4″ filter. The 6″ filter is for those units with a 4″ sump.

Also found no definitive statement of such but from parts lists and illustrations I encountered in researching this it looks like the determining factor of the deeper 4″ sump is if the Allison unit is equipped with a PTO. Doubt if many coaches have that, unless someone switched out a unit as a replacement at some time in the vehicles life. Or perhaps the OE or converter customer specifies the deeper sump when specing out the drivetrain. Contrary to what I would presume due to the extra fluid capacity of the deeper sump, the prescence or absence of a retarder did not appear to affect the sump depth used.

[Kirby]

Link still comes up as server cannot be found.

[Kirby]

This is anecdotal too, but maybe not directly related.

For no apparent reason, out of the clear blue my copilot will suddenly exclaim: WHAT THE H***! WHY DO YOU HAVE IT SO HOT IN HERE!!!!!! Every time this happens I am perfectly comfortable and I haven’t changed to temp controls for hours. I’ve speculated like Jon above that there is a problem with the sensor.

[Kirby]

Linda…I have Superior coming down Monday, March 27 to Aztec in Margate to do my roof. They will also be in the area this Wednesday, March 15. Again, $750 for a 45′ coach all materials and labor included. They don’t charge for travel to the area. Eric’s email address is emann6572@gmail.com.

[Kirby]

Dorel, it sounds like you purchased the material? Or did they obtain it in order to do your roof treatment? Just curious. Linda