mwsjr

[MWSHAWJR]

Considering 2004 h3 with less than 100k miles, looks great and in top condition all the way around and will be my first Prevost. Wondering if I should look for a newer model year or does age make that much difference?:

[Dany]

I recently purchased a 2001 H345 83000 miles well maintained great coach Danny Marathon conversion

[dale farley]

As a general rule, "Condition" is more important than Age.

[jack14r]

A 2004 is usually a 2003 Prevost chassis,there is a real difference in a 2004 chassis verses a 2003 chassis.In 2004 the front axle was increased to 18,000 pounds and the front tires were increased to 365s from 315s.Another area that is very important is that in 2004 the structure in the bays for the slides was increased and also the slides were updated some call these slides version 3 and they are considered almost bulletproof.I would really want 1 year newer if I cold find it at a similar price.You can identify the chassis year by looking in the drivers windshield at the Prevost serial plate,count from the rear 8 letters or numbers and that will be the chassis year.

[garyde]

Its all somewhat subjective. Purchasing a Prevost is already a huge step up. Owners with older coaches are quite happy with their coaches.
Price point is as relevant as anything.

[Gil_J]

Buy what you like, that meets your finicial target, and that has been well maintained. One thing that is for certain is that these are very complex systems that differ by converter. If I was buying again, especially at the price you're looking at, I'd probably hire someone to perform a detailed inspection. I know there are folks like Rick May at Coach Worx that will travel to perform a PDI and suspect the converters may offer a similiar field service. I would also cponsider having the coach inspected by Prevost. Of course, the challenge there is they may be too far away. There are many other chassis focused shops that have Prevost experience that put the coach on a lift and chrck it out. You can otherwise estimate the cost of what you haven't discovered on your own. Having gone down this last path myself I can tell you my estimate was too low.

The coach is 10 years old and has 100K miles. The tires may be over 7 years old; an age requiring routine inspections or consideration for replacement. How old are the batteries, even if newer, make sure the house batteries are what you expect. Some may have replaced AGM or gels with wet cells when the placed they're located isn't suitable for wet cells. Some replace the house batteries with smaller batteries, i.e. 4D when the battery supports are designed for 8Ds. Some may have put fewer batteries in the bank. Depending on your use, this may be a problem. If the coach was stored outside, rubber components may be nearing the end of their useful life, like air bags and belts.

If you like the floor plan and colors used inside an out, you're in the right place. If you sense the systems are all functional, you're still in the right place. If you can get a PDI done or want to accept some hidden cost, you're still in the right place.

[cthalfman]

Gil, 4D's in 8D slots and wet cells where AGM's used to be. I wonder where you might have seen such a thing?

I agree with Gil here. A good set of house batteries can run as much or more than a complete set of tires. Our coach "originally" had eight group 8D AGM's.

[MWSHAWJR]

Thanks for the info, the 2004 Featherlite I bought has 365s but could have been updated to those. Also it has 3 slides. Just wondering if I am lucky enough to have the bulletproof slides you mentioned. Looking for encouragement, I guess.. Think this was one of the first few triple slides built by Featherlite.

[garyde]

Featherlite developed their own slides. So, yours may not be Prevost slides. As I understand the history, Featherlite started engineering slides early before Prevost began. If it is 2004 Conversion then its a 2003 Prevost. I do not think Prevost was doing 3 slides at that time.
Prevosts are a motor driven , air pins, inflatable seal, cog driven system. They are also a raised floor as opposed to a flat floor slide.
Other Converters have used hydraulic , chain, screw drive, and so on.

HWH Corp.: http://www.hwh.com/abovefloor3.html

Valid Co. : http://www.validmanufacturing.com/index.php?pid=2

[jack14r]

Gary,I was told that Featherlite used a compression seal and not a inflatable seal.I don't know if that person really knew just looking for someone who knows.