Who has Prevost slides?

[Petervs]

Hi Tuga,

Sure was a good idea for you to post this thread so we can get some real world experience tales on slides. I am still very satisfied with my no slide coach!

I did want to add a bit of technical design info. Most plastic coaches have a very heavy and strong C channel frame that makes up the backbone of the chassis. The 'house' is built up on top of this structure. If slides are installed holes are cut in the sides and mechanisms are installed to operate the slide which "push" against the chassis when they are opened and closed. Some kind of seal is added so the weather stays out when the slides are both in or out.

Now, on a Prevost shell, the structure is completely different. The body of a Prevost is a truss like structure made up of many smaller members and without the heavy channel frame. If you were to cut a large hole in the side of this for a salon slide, you would severely weaken the structural integrity of the shell. This is why Prevost resisted doing it for so many years when the rest of the industry was installing slides in everything. And when they finally did build slides, they incorporated the huge multi pin locking devices when the slides are closed. These pins reinforce the shell to gain back the integrity lost by cutting the hole. You will not see this type of design in plastic coaches because they do not need it.

See the picture which I have posted before for details on the truss design.

http://www.prevostcar.com/DB/gallery...ructure_1l.jpg

I would really like to see the engineering behind the Valid or other slide designs to see how they maintain shell integrity.

So, aside from the above, my preference is for no slides for the following reasons:

A non slide is plenty big for 2 people
We often stay in places where opening the slide is not practical
While on the road, with slides closed the inside is often cramped
Less weight
Less mechanical issues to worry about
Less likelihood of squeaks and rattles developing
Never need to climb on the roof to remove snow, leaves, etc.
Less first cost

[Jon Wehrenberg]

The debate on slides can rage on, but the buyers of new conversions are voting with their wallets.

I am in full agreement with Peter and I am very curious about the long term history of a slide coach. I believe the current Prevost slide shells are built with the truss that used to sit atop the axle frame sub assemblies now being between the axle sub assemblies. This of course keeps the structure that supports the coach lengthwise between the wheels and allows slides to be added without compromising the frame member. The downside is that access to and useable storage becomes an issue.

But we have many slide coaches now on the road, many versions, including the four thus far from Prevost, and as the shells age and get miles on them it can be expected that the maintenance costs will soon become an issue. Unspoken is how a Prevost that has been in an accident is restored to its original strength and condition, particularly when you consider the original frame is jig welded for the highes possible dimensional accuracy.

So far I am underwhelmed with the reliability particularly when one considers the high price of admission to a new conversion with slides. A coach costing what a Prevost does should be trouble free, and when I hear of owners making multiple visits to Camp Prevost for adjustments and repairs and upgrades my willingness to buy one with slides is zip.

[Loc]

Tuga,

So far, I am very pleased with the slides. They don't make noise like I had expected (our Fleetwood sounded like a bowl of breakfast cereal with its slide out constantly going snap, crackle and pop). The bus drives great even on very rough roads (you are familiar with those living in Louisiana). I have only had one incident so far. Right after I got the bus (three days after driving it home from New Hampshire), I took it to Prevost in Dallas for some work (met Hector there). After spending the night in the parking lot, I was preparing to bring the coach into the repair facility for work when I could not get the front slide to come in. I immediately got a sinking feeling in my stomach with a vision of $$$$$$$'s in my head for the repair! The green light that illuminates when the slide is being retracted or extended would only flash. After a minute, I realized that the level low switch wasn't in the DRIVE position. After placing the switch in the DRIVE position, all was fine and the slide retracted.

Loc

[Denny]

Peter,

At the risk of starting a POG war, I agree with you, and many others, about slides. My previous coach was Foretravel U320, one of the better upper line plastic coaches, and I had nothing but problems with the HWH slide. Foretravel's structure is very similar to Prevost and they were one of the last major players to add a slide to their units, much like Prevost, because the structural integrity was sacrificed.

Well, after four visits to Foretravel and three trips to Iowa to the HWH factory, I became convinced that a slide is not necessary. What do you gain? A little more wasted floor space. These vehicles were designed for transportation not ballroom dancing.

After six years of owning a slide coach, I now own a non slide Prevost and do not miss the slide at all. To me, there are two types of slide owners - those that have had trouble and those that will have trouble.

If I wanted the extra wasted space that slides provide I would buy a 5th wheel.

Denny

[Jon Wehrenberg]

I can easily answer why a slide coach has merit as long as maintenance does not become an issue.

When we were using our coach for trade shows and seminars a slide made little sense. We weren't in one place long enough to justify having slides, and except for weekends in a campground, we were only parked long enough to present a seminar or do a trade show, and then we were on to the next stop.

But our use now is different. When we do go somewhere we are there for several days and sometimes even a week. A slide will not give us more seating, more storage or more furnishings, but it will give us a little more space. It is not much, but the coaches we have been in with slides just feel like you are getting more.

For us there are still not enough benefits to justify a slide, but slides are clearly here to stay. Those that have slides however just have to want to have the extra space in exchange for the maintenance and loss of storage and extra weight.

[garyde]

I have had several problems with my slide, but having had several Coaches with slides previously, I feel it just comes with the territory. Prevost slides are now in their 4th generation. With each generation, they are simpler and less trouble.
When it comes to storage, it is a 45 foot Coach!, I just don't understand.
The weight is an engineering issue, and if you are concerned, choose a convertor who addresses these issues.