Boondocking in a Prevost / Part 2 / RV Life
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ส.ค. 2021
- Brothers Boondocking Part 2 of 2. Video illustrating the drive through Chicago streets, going down the road to upper WI, navigating small streets to a liquor store, pulling out of a small camping park and positioning the Bus for 2 nights of Boondocking. Plus a shot of the Boring Company flame thrower lighting candles and a camp fire.
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campprevost.com
Email me at aaron@campprevost.com
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Hey don't be so hard on yourself don't be afraid to pull ahead , 75% of the game is your set up. Even on the curves pulling ahead and get the right set up is smart not hitting right on everytime. If you want to go practice in a big parking lot. Remember a truck drive is on his own, they get out and look and they are 80 feet long the key is they get out and look. Good luck have fun .. trucker has 12,14, hours under there belt and have to park it in tight tight spot. Your doing just fine. I use to spot for hubby. I miss all this, he passed. It was so good to see you and your brothers at it . CAMPING Love it
Thanks for your comment and watching - appreciate it. Was fun to get away with my brothers while we still can, lost my father 5 years ago - time goes by to quick.
So great that all you brothers spend time together, many families drift apart and hardly ever see each other. I just missed out on a Prevost, oh well, another will come along.
The right one will come along! We can’t wait to get together- gets harder every year but will keep trying for sure.
Great job backing up! Just like when you first started driving a car, over time you'll figure out the nuances of maneuvering your coach.
Thanks!
Your tag axle will lift. When making tight turns always lift it. Will turn shorter and save your tag tires and bearings
Thanks for watching - how long does yours take to lift? Mine either doesn't work or just drops the air. Will play with it this late spring - snowed yesterday!
I have a 40ft country coach that Im always alone and never had any lessons. Glad to see a video of someone going through some of the driving issues..
They are fun! Kind of like a plane - once you get going it’s hard to check on things - have to be confident you are good before taking off!
Nice driving! Chicago in a 45’ bus... That’s a challenge!
Ha, thanks. It’s not that bad as long as the other drivers are watching! The trees were my biggest issue.
Just watched your video and I like the colour of your bus. I am a retired charter coach driver and I drove for 47 years and loved every minute of it. When I started we had 40ft long buses and then came the 45ft long buses and they were mostly all Prevost the ones I drove. Just a little hint when ever we backed up we always lifted the tag wheels it helps in making tighter turns and in the long run it will save you money on tires ( wear and tear)and getting your tag realignment done as often. It helps too to lift your tag wheels while making sharp turns on city streets, your not dragging your tag wheels around the corner and leaving rubber on the asphalt. Hope this suggestion helps out. If you try this method of lifting your tag wheels you’ll notice how much sharper your bus turns. Stay safe and enjoy your bus! Safe travels. Richard Litter
I think I’m gonna practice this weekend, needs to be part of my work flow - will be my test of the system too - I am hoping it goes up and back down and then no air leaks or stuck air valves. Seems every time I try something, something sticks or breaks - guess it’s about time though. Thanks!
I got the tag checked out and it passed inspection. I think I will make a video of using it - not sure if I responded to you or not yet. Thanks for the comments and watching
Main reason I went single axle 40 ft Tiffin Phaeton. It is pretty smooth going thru tight places
I think highly of Tiffin, I also think 40’ (35-40’) is the magic length to have. Sounds like you got a good one. Thanks for watching!
Great job backing up!! Looks like you guys had fun !
Thank you, we did. Thanks for watching!
Here's a tip with backing a long wheel base vehicle into a space - the rear wheels should always be hugging the apex of the turn you are making because the front will be taking a much wider path. Sometimes you have to pull forward and reposition the front end to keep the rear wheels moving along the apex.
Great video !
Thanks!
I had the same tag axel question as David. I appreciate the actual driving and common planning considerations you talk about. Thanks for posting.
I need to make it common practice raising it - when you get in a pinch I just watch out for everything and then remember I should have raised it. I’m also a little anxious about raising it - I want to make sure it goes back down - need to do it close to home. There is a lot of air and mechanical parts involved - not sure of they work :)
@@CampPrevost I absolutely understand the anxiety there.
I have owned 2 45 ft. Prevost converted by Marathon. I now own a Newmar 45 ft.. I will say the Newmar on a Freightliner chassis is much easier to maneuver in tight places with the passive steerable tag axle. I doubt I will ever go back to a Prevost unless they decide to also offer a steerable tag axle.
That would be really nice!
I love your coach
Thank you
my rule of thumb wile driving a 40ft r is pre plan every movement of the steering wheel& a lot of common road sence like stoping disteance it takes awhile to stop
For sure!! Just like landing/flying a plane I always say
Great video! I was told you always want to run AC off generator so you don’t stress inverter. Fuel per gallon is minimum and you want to exercise generator if not used often.
I have two brand new Victron inverters at 3k watts each. The load is only 1200 - it could run one indefinitely, two if I ran one on each inverter. Keeps things cooler and the alternator is there - so just using what I have. I usually run the generator in the evening through the night. Works good to run from the inverter and alternator while traveling - just my view though. Thanks for watching.
That's is one of the main things I think about, not getting stuck in a tight spot with the coach. I would have been a little nervous on those Chicago streets. At 41ft I'm always looking and trying to make sure I can get in and out of places. Yes for the most part just turn and go, so I don't worry much about just driving to a location. You were in some tight places though with yours and being taller I'm sure it's another thing to worry about. You would think that campgrounds would keep the trees trimmed for most Rvs, but I've hit my roof a few times in some of them. Cool video, hwy 10 is one of my main travel ways a couple days of the week. I know it well.
There are some city streets here that are cut to low as well - something nobody thinks about until your in one of these. Thanks for watching!
Hi , hope you have a good weekend with your coach and your “ lifting the tag” works for you backing up and doing city street corners. I’d like to know how it worked out for you and if it caused you more repairs. The trick to keeping your bus running with as few problems as possible is to use it as often as you can and not let it sit for months on end. A bus has to be driven so the different mechanical parts stay lubricated and flexible ( ie. air bags, ball joints etc.). Enjoy your bus and safe travels. Richard Littler
You’re doing good so far. I’ve got a over 250,000 miles in 45ft busses before moving on to tractor trailers. Everyone telling you to dump the tag for tight turns is right. Also you have way more steering angle than you’re using. Don’t be afraid to go full lock when making turns. Mostly for the bus the hardest part to get used to is sitting in front of the steer axle.
Thanks!
so i put a deposit on a prevost!!!
so excited!
its a 94 Vogue XL with cruise airs
😱
Wow, good luck in your new adventure! I like the XL’s.
You need to dump the tag when making that right turn .
You are correct - I was afraid to because I hadn’t before - my luck a valve would have gotten stuck or something break - and then I’m hours from home. I have since had Prevost cycle it and gave me a clean bill of health- so trying to add it to my work flow. I think my bus just drops the air and doesn’t lift the tag but should help. This spring I am going to do a video on the operation of it and see how much it really does - want to do it In an empty parking lot with cones and an overhead drone.
No worries , love the coach
No worries , love the coach
No worries , love the coach
No worries , love the coach
Having a coach with steerable tag axles makes life so much easier
That it would!
I feel for you. I'm a Wanderlodge LXI owner. We big, heavy loud and brash too. Just not as brash as you. We lift our tags in a hard back like that. We went to Denver this summer.
I guess it’s part of the fun of ownership! Thanks for the comment and watching!
Are you raising your tag axle when taking those tight turns it seems to help on my bus
I didn’t - I should though. I need to “practice” at home - want to make sure it goes and up and back down correctly.
@@CampPrevost ,
0h man, I've been waiting for another of your videos taking the beast to the road for a ride, I thought you could lift the tag axle on those buses for tight corners can't you?, LOVE your Bus, Prevost RV's are the best thanks for the video, most Prevost owner never record themselves when driving their magnificent Prevost, that's sad we all would love to see them driving their buses through narrow places or wide highways, it wouldn't be fun if it were easy... imagine a 45-foot bus but instead of automatic trans, 10 or 12 shift manual, and driving down, not up, down la Rumorosa Mexico full of people behind your seat, that makes you bite the seat and I'm not talking about the mouth because back in time it was a horrible road with coming traffic I always wondered why most Latino countries choose to have manual and not automatic buses in most cases, 1 day I will be able to take my family on a 45 foot Prevost Motorhome starting from Las Vegas NV, Sout California, take all the 0cean view road all the way up to Seattle, then all the way to the Atlantic Ocean in Maine, then all the way down to Florida and back to Nevada stopping in special places driving through most states in the US visiting important historic areas, children shouldn't read history at school only, they most live the experience of history as well... thank you for the video God Bless you All specially those with dreams in your hearts, GO GET'EM...
Drive a Marathon H as well and let me say, your juevos are huge. LOL. I have done some tight maneuvers, but none of them intentional.......my hat is off to you.
Haha thanks! Slow and steady wins the race. I was worried about loosing it in the dirt but walked before and seemed very firm. Bet the Marathon is awesome, thanksfor watching.
I just wanted to add something I didn’t say in the last comment. Where ever I went if I couldn’t stay on a hard surface with my bus I never ever parked on a grassy area, I have seen too many guys park on a supposedly dry and hard piece of ground and have come back to their bus and found it sunk in enough that a tow truck was needed to get them out. Be careful where you park it’s not a car your parking. Just a thought! Richard Litter
You got to let the air out of that tag axle
I am now finally- had prevost look at before I worked it - was scared to open a can of worms. Thanks for watching!
Build your confidence up. That coach will maneuver much better than that. You keep saying it's 45 feet, yes but learning how to use your tag will make it feel like its 25ft.
You would crap if you saw how we move them around on tour lol.
You spent a pretty penny on it, maybe take a driving course to learn it so you don't get into a really bad situation.
I had the tag lift checked at Prevost and it was good - so will start using that now. I will probably make a video on it - I think it would be neat to get a drone/overhead shot of turning with the tag up and then turning with the tag down - to be able to see how much it helps.
@@CampPrevost find a abandoned parking lot and lots of cones. Simulate backing in tight 90° narrow drivers like this video.
Also, a cheap pair of GMRS handheld radios with a 2nd person and a clear understanding of communication commands for driver to follow.
Both roles will have a learning curve but eyes on the ground will help you.
Using " driver" or "Passenger" in backing or " hard driver" .... will help you steer the rear of the coach. The spotter should be doing all of the talking. Stop means stop now lol.
Practicing and trusting your spotter will drastically help you learn the capabilities of your coach so start with someone you trust.
@@robertrutherford9057 great advice! I just got my GMRS license but only received one radio!!! The other is supposed to come next week. We are planning to take another trip over fall break - will try to plan getting it out of storage in the evening and do just that! Thanks for watching and the comments!
the 1 ac that can run on batteries for 7 hours....how many amps does it draw and how many BTUs? i have 3 cruise airs...was wondering if i could do the same. how many batteries/sizes are on the 1 leg of inverter.. thanks!
So my rooftops are 4 basic AC/Heatpumps. I think 15amps and 120v - so 1,800 watts. Each of my (2) 3,000 watt inverters serve a panel in the bus. Each panel has (2) AC’s. So I figure I can run the rear and front AC with no worries (1 AC on each inverter)- I could probably do another but that combo seems to work fine. I have (6) 245amp 8D 12v batteries - so 3 at 12v and 3 at 12v wired together for 24v so - (6 x 245amp = 17,640 watts - 50% for agm so around 8.8k watts of power. That’s where I’m getting 8k / 1,800 watts = 4.9 - so maybe around 5 hours :). My batteries (per my shunt) were low when leaving that day but ran an AC anyway - figured I’d turn on the generator later. What I found was running down the road with the alternator, the AC was satisfied and there was enough left to charge the battery too! So I never ran the gen and within an hour or so the batteries were topped off. Never knew the alternator was that big.
@@CampPrevost ahhhh yes. Excellent explanation. My 12v alternator is small for my house side...I dont think she would keep up. It is a 65A ...if im not mistaken...I shall look further into this!
I will turn on a cruise air and see hoe much the draw is. thanks so much!
Your channel is amazing
Thank you. Let me know what you find out.
Is there a tag axle lift? If so it will make turns easier
There is. I have been afraid to use it when far away from home - forget to use it at home. I just had it tested and everything works as it should, so I am going to start using it now. My luck it would get stuck or a valve gets caught and then I am stuck loosing air.
@@CampPrevost just make sure your air dryer is working some have filters that can be changed, but drain the water out of your air system and it should all work nice bus, safe travels
What alternator(s) does your bus have ? I was thinking of doing the same thing for over the road A/C. Thanks for sharing that it works for you.
I don’t really know - I believe it came with the bus. I didn’t think it really even worked. I was just going to run the air off the batteries but after an hour it showed the batteries at 100%! Now I wish I had done that months earlier.
@@CampPrevost Post a picture of your engine and we can probably figure it out. I'm guessing you have 2 oil cooled DNs. I think they put out about 250 amps each @ 24V. Pretty easy to run A/Cs on that !
Wow - 250 could run all 4! The large one is oil cooled - there is another one that is fan cooled. The fan cooled goes to the Prevost chassis batteries. Would make since - it took my batteries from 80% to 100% in less then 2 hours. I have 6 - 245amp batteries too. I can’t post a picture on here but did a prior video that showed the motor - I’m sure they are all the same. Thanks!
@@CampPrevost The more we share the more we learn. I would have been afraid to tear out the bus air. Now I'm not.
What is that plastic pipe set up on your dash ?
Ha - that was something to route air from the defrost vents to the driver. I am going to pull the dash apart this spring and see if the duct and dampers are loose or the air flow is just terrible. That pipe was to hold me off until I get to it! You can dry your hair with the volume of defrost air, was just trying to route some to me while I was driving.
Do you flip your tag up on those turns?
I did not - I should though. I always forget to practice at home - want to make sure if I lift it up it goes back down - but want to be close to home - just in case.
@@CampPrevost my Prevost is a bit older and only 40 feet but I have learned to use that tag lift lever. It really helps on tight turns. Beautiful coach! Keep rolling the videos.
As "bad" as you think it is driving your bus, a truck and 40'ish 5th wheel are much more clumsy. Especially backing up long distances. The advantage of a truck/5th wheel combo is that you can really swing the front of the trailer by "jacknifing" it. However, you need enough room for the truck to be able to maneuver to do that. Your bus is 48 feet. My truck (F350 CC LB) and trailer is 70 feet long. It's easier because they bend in the middle, but your bus have very sharp wheel cut so I think you are just as maneuverable, if not more so.
Side and backup cameras would make maneuvering much easier.
Does your bus have IFS or a straight axle ? Looks like really sharp wheel cut.
It’s IFS, there are 8 air bags - 2 in front, 2 on the tag and 4 on the drive axle. I think I’m close to 70’ pulling my truck and then I can’t back up. I had to unhook once to get my bus out of a bad spot once. That sucks. I think your right. With a large truck and trailer your back axle to front is probably the same if not longer. It’s not hard, just need to plan ahead. Thanks for watching! It’s hard to record these things and put together something watchable - wanting to show people that it’s not hard, but it’s not easy either.
@@CampPrevost It was great that you documented moving in tight spaces. Gives people a feel for what these things are like.
I'm surprised that your coach doesn't have tag lift valve. I thought it was beside the driver on the left side, if it isn't the new electric switch style. I thought all Prevosts had a tag lift.
That looked like a really fun weekend.
It has one, just chicken to try it away from home. I never remember to test it out at home. My luck it will get stuck up or not come back down correctly. All that air stuff - it either works really well or not at all.