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Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: H3-45 on October 29, 2011, 01:47:51 PM

Title: Prevost Factory Slides
Post by: H3-45 on October 29, 2011, 01:47:51 PM
Anybody have any experience with Prevost Factory Slides, Good or Bad ?


Thanks,

Robert
Title: Re: Prevost Factory Slides
Post by: Joe Camper on October 29, 2011, 02:05:56 PM
They went thru a great deal of changes over their progression to the current slides that are much better than the previous based on opinions I get from folks who have had more than 1 slide coach.

They seal with an airbag that have had some issues. I believe altitude was causing regulated pressure problems but that may have been resolved.

all the rest of the slide compramises or benifits apply.
Title: Re: Prevost Factory Slides
Post by: Joe Camper on October 29, 2011, 02:10:17 PM
The 2 bays directly under the living room slide have HUGE trusses across the top of those bays right inside the door.

They take over 1/3 of those openings away.

1 coach I worked on had 2 trace inverters on the floor of 1 of those bays and I had just enough room to slide my torso in there to work and I am a skinny guy.
Title: Re: Prevost Factory Slides
Post by: Joe Camper on October 29, 2011, 02:30:28 PM
I did some stuff on a Legendary that had the generator still in the second bay back drivers side on an XLII D-S.

Never saw that almost always the gen goes to the passanger side with a slide.

Oh by the way Liberty has the generators in the plumbing bay that is very unique to them.

With that truss replacing the gen belt on that Legandary was a 2 day job.
Title: Re: Prevost Factory Slides
Post by: H3-45 on October 29, 2011, 02:34:06 PM
Thanks for the info. Joe


Robert ;D
Title: Re: Prevost Factory Slides
Post by: Joe Camper on October 29, 2011, 02:39:25 PM
Ace as Im posting this we are northbound on the Fla turnpike we are on are way back to Chicago.

I just spent some time in Ft Lauderdale  with a 97 Vantare H3-45. Guy just bought it from a private owner with no manualls and no prior experiance and no seller instructions. LOL

22,000 original miles on a 97 and that is not a typo.
Title: Re: Prevost Factory Slides
Post by: Ace on October 29, 2011, 03:40:49 PM
I maybe wrong but I did not think prevost had factory installed slides! I was under the assumption that they contract  it out to places like h w h

Title: Re: Prevost Factory Slides
Post by: luvrbus on October 29, 2011, 03:58:07 PM
2001/2002 was the first Prevost with factory slides and they were a problem for Prevost lol now all slide shells have a beam on both sides of the coach for slides saw those at the factory a few years back 2007,any slides before 2001/2002 were add on the ones I saw and most where HWH

good luck
Title: Re: Prevost Factory Slides
Post by: Zeroclearance on October 29, 2011, 04:02:54 PM
My '03 has factory installed slides.  HWH subcontracted the electronics and slide running gear.   I have a dead seal.  I have to tear it apart this winter at $1300 a wack..
Title: Re: Prevost Factory Slides
Post by: H3-45 on October 29, 2011, 04:45:08 PM
according to the Liberty coach salesman they are factory installed, I had a HWH before and didn't care for it {sealing problems}. Liberty will be offering the Quad slide after the February when Prevost up grades there front axle to a 20,000# one, That is what the salesman is saying I don't Know anything other than what I am told.


Thanks for all the replies

Robert ;D
Title: Re: Prevost Factory Slides
Post by: Joe Camper on October 29, 2011, 05:51:41 PM
You will be tipping the scales at right at or around 54000 ::)

The 365s sure gonna look good on the steers and the tag, I want that for ours but no winning numbers as of yet.

What will come of the current camper. Kicking it to the curb. Dont let it sit too long and find it a good home. :)
Title: Re: Prevost Factory Slides
Post by: H3-45 on October 29, 2011, 06:00:28 PM
That weight sounds about right, The reason Liberty wont build a quad is front axle weight, So we Have to wait until Prevost catches up. From what I understand Marathon is already offering a quad but they are after market slides.I want a Prevost installed slide this time. Funny thing had to sell the 40' Prevost{divorce after 20 years} then hit the lotto. Like winning twice LOL


Robert

P.S. Joe thanks for talking to a newbie and all your advice and comments.
Title: Re: Prevost Factory Slides
Post by: Joe Camper on October 29, 2011, 06:02:19 PM
On many to make a replacement of that air bladder you have to completely remove the slide from the shell to do it.

I'm pretty sure Prevoman has done that project with a friend hopefully he will chime in when he reads this.


Yes Ace they are factory slides and that beam luverbus is referring to is one in the same as the truss I describedat the top of the bayat the door.

The beam or truss in the H will not be as drastically in the way for the taller bays than the XL so it will be less of a factor in that aspect.
Title: Re: Prevost Factory Slides
Post by: H3-45 on October 29, 2011, 06:10:59 PM
Joe,

That is what we had to do on the MCI I had with the HWH slide it was a pain.I have always wanted a H3-45 for the bays and interior height. If anything has to be repaired in tight spaces it will have to go to the shop as my 49 year old 6'4" 335lb. body don't bend like it used to.LOL


Robert
Title: Re: Prevost Factory Slides
Post by: luvrbus on October 29, 2011, 06:46:44 PM
I think your salesman is blowing smoke at you both Amadas and Marathon have factory quad slides on their H-45 with the 16,500 front end and they are electric not the HWH hydraulic

 I know this my doctor has a 2011 Marathon and it shows the slide parts in his parts manual for sure made by Prevost

good luck
Title: Re: Prevost Factory Slides
Post by: H3-45 on October 29, 2011, 07:31:56 PM
luvrbus,

That's why I am asking all the questions,so as not to have to rely only on what he says.Thanks for all your help!


Robert
Title: Re: Prevost Factory Slides
Post by: luvrbus on October 29, 2011, 07:40:29 PM
Robert, I question that because right now there is not a high speed tire to carry 20,000 on a single tire the Prevost H-45 is so heavy on the front they are using the concrete truck tires on the front now and the 315's are using 120 lbs of air to carry the front end weight that would be my biggest concern

good luck
Title: Re: Prevost Factory Slides
Post by: Joe Camper on October 29, 2011, 08:08:39 PM
365s not 315s that is what it will have those will carry the weight. At least that is what the XLIIs are coming with.
Title: Re: Prevost Factory Slides
Post by: Ace on October 29, 2011, 08:19:43 PM
Not that this matters much but the height of bays was previously mentioned and with that said keep in mind that from my understanding Prevost made/makes two model shells. One a seated shell and one a conversion shell. The conversion shell has a lowered floor to allow for a taller ceiling where as the seated shell has a raised floor or higher than the conversion shell to allow for taller bays. Taller bays in a seated coach means more luggage room where as you wouldn't need taller bays in a conversion but a higher ceiling is almost always wanted.
Again... FWIW
Title: Re: Prevost Factory Slides
Post by: Zeroclearance on October 29, 2011, 08:22:55 PM
Ace, my VIP 45, used for conversions and Entertainers have the higher bays AND higher roofline for the added headroom.

Title: Re: Prevost Factory Slides
Post by: luvrbus on October 30, 2011, 06:15:17 AM
Joe,365's concrete truck tire I call those have been a option for years on Prevost for tag and steers nothing new there and I haven't checked the speed rating lately but the 365  Michelins on my Prevost were 65mph tires max 
Title: Re: Prevost Factory Slides
Post by: robertglines1 on October 30, 2011, 06:47:28 AM
One comment:: Sounds like this belongs on Prevost Proud web site.   Well out of my $ 70,000 per slide (more than most of our conversions) price range.  Sort of makes me feel looked down upon.   Proud to be a do it you self /poor bus nut.   I build my own slides.  About $600 each !  They don't leak!  Bob       
Title: Re: Prevost Factory Slides
Post by: luvrbus on October 30, 2011, 07:00:45 AM
I like your 600 dollar slides Bob way to go and it doesn't cost over 100 bucks a year to post to this board lol
Title: Re: Prevost Factory Slides
Post by: robertglines1 on October 30, 2011, 07:20:56 AM
$600 slides: looked at way prevost did theirs and applies KISS that was material cost using existing bus wall structure plus steel , slide motor and slide seal. plus labor.  They take almost 2 minutes to go out instead of 45 seconds and you can tell where they are from the outside.  They do not leak air or water going down road. They are 7 years old now and I  am going to replace seals on the 89 before going to Florida this winter (maybe) they are not leaking yet. But I have extra seals. They are not air inflateable.    Bob
Title: Re: Prevost Factory Slides
Post by: prevosman on October 30, 2011, 08:30:56 AM
Liberty only uses Prevost slides. Other converters have used Rogue, Valid, HWH, etc.

You have to know the converter and if the used Prevost slides or not to know what is going on. As to axle weights, Liberty is pretty anal about weight and balance. Other converters are not. I know for sure some converters are over the rated axle weight by as much as 3000 pounds. At a rally we had the state troopers weigh our coaches using the scales they use for roadside checks of commercial vehicles. It was eye opening to see how much weight was on some axles.

Early Prevost slides were built and designed by a company under the control of Prevost. Later generations were the total responsibility of Prevost and I think they actually bought the company that did the first generation of slides.

The XLII frame was redesigned a few years back so cutting the opening did not require building back additional structure. The latest model X3-45 and possibly late model XLII uses a structure that is now in the bays to support the coach instead of the structure that previously went beneath the windows to the top of the bays. The new structure runs between the two axle sub frames, and is located inward by around 20 inches. It does screw up locating stuff in the bays, but not to the extent the earlier structure did.

The latest slide variation Prevost has is relatively trouble free. It is the pinless slide (actually there is one pin in the center under the slide) and it has proven itself very good. To the best of my knowledge Preovst slide seals on any version can be easily changed by one or two men and it only requires about 8 man hours and a bucket of cash for the seal which can last one year or ten. Nobody yet knows how long to expect because there have been good suppliers and not so good suppliers.

Knowing how much Prevost engineers have designed into their slides and how robust they are I would like to see Bob's $600 slide. I am having a hard time imagining how even a seal can be bought for $600 much less the motor(s), racks, slide room structure, glass, slide awnings, and all the control devices to limit travel and racking. Not pulling your chain Bob because I used to compete against the Chineses so I know we can do anything, I just want to know how.
Title: Re: Prevost Factory Slides
Post by: robertglines1 on October 30, 2011, 08:53:47 AM
Jon: jack shaft-chain drive-slide motor with sprocket; tube inside tube ;slide seal from surplus outlet by roll; shopping.  just done it for second time. A little differant this time but same principle three slides this time.  Awnings were extra. I paid 324$ total for all 3 new in plastic from Bob's RV salvage near Gainsville Fla this past March. They even had the alum hard covers.  There were near a 100 to sort thru differant sizes there..  So patients and shopping.  Not factory quality.  Sure opens up room in coach for my budget limitations. They don't make noise going down road.   IT CAN'T BE DONE.    OK ;D   Bob  just kidding.
Title: Re: Prevost Factory Slides
Post by: luvrbus on October 30, 2011, 09:08:11 AM
Jon is not that true that Liberty is the only converter using Prevost slides CC was even using the Prevost slides when they went out of business
Title: Re: Prevost Factory Slides
Post by: Busted Knuckle on October 30, 2011, 09:13:24 AM
Jon is not that true that Liberty is the only converter using Prevost slides CC was even using the Prevost slides when they went out of business

Clifford I think he was saying that the Prevo slides were the ONLY slides Liberty used. Not that Liberty was the only one using them.
;D  BK  ;D
Title: Re: Prevost Factory Slides
Post by: luvrbus on October 30, 2011, 09:19:40 AM
Could be BK but all the later Prevost the converters order the slide shell I just saw a new H-45 shell with quad electric slides headed to Prevost in Ca for repairs but Liberty used HWH on some of the conversions

 Albritions 2000 Liberty Prevost has HWH slides along with the HWH leveling jacks and he bought it new direct from the factory

Foretravel does the best job of anyone with slides even Prevost or Newell cannot match their slides IMO
Title: Re: Prevost Factory Slides
Post by: H3-45 on October 30, 2011, 09:45:56 AM
Thanks to all for the shared information,It is helping me figure out which way I am going to go.

Robert
Title: Re: Prevost Factory Slides
Post by: Busted Knuckle on October 30, 2011, 09:53:25 AM
When it comes to slides I like Bob's ! But I'm cheap & have no conversion yet! But rest assured when I start building mine I will be enlisting Bob's help for 2-3 slides. ;). (That is if he'll work on a Setra instead of a "Prevo" )
;D  BK  ;D
Title: Re: Prevost Factory Slides
Post by: Gary W on October 30, 2011, 10:10:45 AM
The company that builds and installs slides  in Prevost is down the road from me in Salmon Arm Bc. It is called Valid Manufacturing. I  had a tour of their factory a few years ago .   The buses are delivered here form the factory, they install the slides then ship them to marathon and other conversion co.They also do the Newell coaches. They are pricey $75000.00 per slide. Here is the link to their web site. Gary



http://www.validmanufacturing.com/index.php?pid=27 (http://www.validmanufacturing.com/index.php?pid=27)
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