Matt_in_AZ
04-13-2016, 09:15 PM
Hello POG Members,
I have "trolled" and perused the forum archives with persistence the past few months learning as much as I could before purchasing our family's first motor coach. Tomorrow I pick up our 1997 Marathon XLV to enjoy as our family motor coach with my wife, son (8), and daughter (almost 6). Being a new owner and only 42 years young I feel a bit like the new kid on the block. I have a friend who has owned a 1992 Royale and now a 2000 Marathon with whom I have travelled across the county (and driven his coach for approximately 50 hours) in recent years. He was instrumental in the pre-puchase inspection.
I will post some photos after taking delivery. We are planning our first trip to Zion National Park staying at Zion River Resort in about 10 days. In the meantime I will be "camping" in front of our home in AZ this weekend while reading through manual after manual. I am sure I may have some questions.
This coach has low miles and has new tires (as of Monday) with a recent service so it is ready to enjoy after a quick recharge of R-22. My first project will be upgrading lighting on the front (I don't like out-running my headlights - all of my vehicles have HID or LED headlights). My next project will be upgrading displays (front salon, MBR, and entertainment bay). I am torn between "great" HDTV from DIRECTV (currently a customer) when parked using the Winegard Trav'ler or sticking with SDTV and having in-motion. I plan to use Apple TV and a small server that will have lots of programming for kids to watch while in motion and then having something exactly like I am accustomed to when parked (different channels on different displays simultaneously, HDTV, DVR). I am in the low voltage systems industry so I know how to design and build multi-million dollar entertainment systems in commercial applications; however, I don't plan to do major coach surgery (a 24-26" display will be fine for the front in lieu of relocating the cruise-air to support a 32" display). Once I can spend some time in the coach with the family I am sure we will figure out what works best for us.
I should mention that my wife and I have set a goal of taking out kids to all 50 states (sorry - no Prevost to HI) via the Prevost before they graduate from high school. I have 10 years to make that a reality. Time to kick the tires and light the fires!
I have "trolled" and perused the forum archives with persistence the past few months learning as much as I could before purchasing our family's first motor coach. Tomorrow I pick up our 1997 Marathon XLV to enjoy as our family motor coach with my wife, son (8), and daughter (almost 6). Being a new owner and only 42 years young I feel a bit like the new kid on the block. I have a friend who has owned a 1992 Royale and now a 2000 Marathon with whom I have travelled across the county (and driven his coach for approximately 50 hours) in recent years. He was instrumental in the pre-puchase inspection.
I will post some photos after taking delivery. We are planning our first trip to Zion National Park staying at Zion River Resort in about 10 days. In the meantime I will be "camping" in front of our home in AZ this weekend while reading through manual after manual. I am sure I may have some questions.
This coach has low miles and has new tires (as of Monday) with a recent service so it is ready to enjoy after a quick recharge of R-22. My first project will be upgrading lighting on the front (I don't like out-running my headlights - all of my vehicles have HID or LED headlights). My next project will be upgrading displays (front salon, MBR, and entertainment bay). I am torn between "great" HDTV from DIRECTV (currently a customer) when parked using the Winegard Trav'ler or sticking with SDTV and having in-motion. I plan to use Apple TV and a small server that will have lots of programming for kids to watch while in motion and then having something exactly like I am accustomed to when parked (different channels on different displays simultaneously, HDTV, DVR). I am in the low voltage systems industry so I know how to design and build multi-million dollar entertainment systems in commercial applications; however, I don't plan to do major coach surgery (a 24-26" display will be fine for the front in lieu of relocating the cruise-air to support a 32" display). Once I can spend some time in the coach with the family I am sure we will figure out what works best for us.
I should mention that my wife and I have set a goal of taking out kids to all 50 states (sorry - no Prevost to HI) via the Prevost before they graduate from high school. I have 10 years to make that a reality. Time to kick the tires and light the fires!