Looking at an XLII -- need advice

[SKYCHENEY]

(09-21-2016 15:08)davidbrady Wrote:  Sky,

Phil Cooper's got a couple of slideless Vantare's for sale including this 1999 with 45,000 miles on it: http://www.philcooper.com/inventory/h345...nversion/#

Over in the Vantare Slide Cutout Structure Reinforcement thread I show that there's no appreciable chassis strength loss due to the slide cutout - if there is it's imperceptible to me. This is because of the extensive beams designed and installed by Vantare to add strength back in. Donny Myers and the ex-Vantare employees at DMRV explained to me how Vantare did an engineering structural analysis of the Prevost chassis using FEA techniques, similar to mine, to determine the size and placement of the cutout reinforcements. Any cutout which interrupts load paths must be reinforced to restore the required strength. Vantare worked on this in conjunction with an outside engineering firm and with Prevost. Prevost certainly wasn't about to let a converter tarnish its reputation with a half baked chassis cutout reinforcement. This is how they were able to produce a slide equipped bus that doesn't leak, rattle, or compromise the structure. They went to great lengths to add the strength back into the chassis by adding engineered beams around the slide cutout. After 15000 miles my testimonial is they got it right! No one should be scared of a slideout impementation in a Vantare.

That one that you reference that Phil Cooper has listed is in British Columbia. I spoke to the owner. He bought it sight unseen in 2011 from the widow of the Walmart CEO. At that time it had 25,000 miles on it. I like it, but it is a little different in the master stateroom with the side isle and N-S bed. It may be okay, but I think you'd have to see it in person and Vancouver is long way away to just go looking.

Right now I'm concentrating on rebuilding my barn. I live on a farm and my current RV barn is not high enough to accommodate an H3. I have another barn that is a concrete block structure 35x75 with 13'6" height. I need to roof it, side it, insulate it, and put some heat in it. This may take some time as we don't have anybody up here that wants to work anymore. Getting a contractor is usually a long wait. I'll buy now if I find that perfect coach, but otherwise I think I'll wait until I have a nice heated building ready to go with electric and water.

In the mean time I'll keep coming over here and learning from you guys. I'll be an expert before long

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BTW, that XLII that I almost pulled the trigger on is back on ebay. The price is even lower now. Thanks again for the heads up on the delamination issues.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Prevost-Featherl...2268218944