Different perspectives....we all have them, here's mine...

I chose a four slide coach as it gives ME the extra room that I wanted in a coach that I live full time in.
While one can certainly make this argument fit any stance they feel, for me the opposing front slides create a larger living room area for me when parked. Even when the slides are in, there is ample room to relax on the couch, as well as plenty of room to walk single file back to the center stool room and/or access the refrigerator and kitchen storage.
In the bedroom area, even with one slide the bed would make contact with the opposite side wall,so having the opposite slide wall go in or out wouldn't affect the "going down the road" aspect.
Having the bed slide out AND the dresser slide out on the opposing side does give me a little more aisle space again when parked...
Floorplans being what they are, I have a half bath in the middle of the coach and a full bath in the rear of the coach, so having a bed mounted on the center of the rear wall and being able to walk down either side isn't an option in my coach.

I've seen several Marathons inside,outside and underneath as my Virginia neighbor is a past president of the Marathon Owners Club and has owned several H3's...Marathon makes a great coach,but for my money it's a Newmar on the Spartan K3 chassis with the Cummins ISX.

Thank goodness we live in a country where we can choose what we want...

quote:

Originally posted by RV Roamer:
Newell is offering quad slides after beefing up their custom designed bus chassis, but I haven't found a quad slide Prevost etc. Strangely enough, there are Country Coach Prevost XLII conversions listed as 4 slides but the floor plan pictures show only two. I suspect that Prevost only supports 2 slides on their XL II bus shell. The Prevost H3-45 bus shell is available with 3 slides from Marathon and other converters.

Don't know about MCI shells, but think I saw a 4 slide MCI coach a coupe weeks ago.

On 7/20/2007 Marathon announced that they would now be offering 4 slides on a Prevost Conversion (H series). Marathon will be using slide-outs manufactured by "Valid Mfg." and according to their sales people in Florida, the coaches will be priced very close to $2Million.

I am just so happy that we all don't like the same thing that I could just shout! If we did we would all have it and that would be no fun at all. One day when my ship comes in I will have exactly what I want but for now I have what I can afford and what we appreciate as very nice. That is the key, do what you want if you can do it, do it.

quote:

Bill & Loretta
1999 Allegro Bus
330 Cummings

Just a quick note....there's no "G" in Cummins....

First I am going to have to change my signature. I also have moved from a 2 slide Mountain Aire to a no slide Newell.

For us, we were traveling just as much as "camping" and the no slide coaches are pretty roomy compared to a slide coach with the slides in. I will also add that the mid door on the Newells completely changes the foot traffic flow in a non slide coach, makes it more user friendly.

When I did side by side comparisons of the slide vs non slide layouts, and believe me I thought long and hard about this, I realized that all the slide can possibly give you is square feet of empty floor. So upside for the slide is walking around room when you are parked, and downside is the cramped tunnel effect when they are in.

Yes I agree there is less open space when we get there, but the new setup works for our situation.

Like others have said, to each his own.

Prevost's are monocoque chassis (sort of like your car's uni-body chassis) meaning the actual body walls are the frame. The design eliminates the massive frame rails that run down the center in ladder or "raised rail" chassis. A monocoque also is a far stiffer chassis and will remain so forever. Hence, a monocoque chassis has airplane hangers for basement storage and will remain squeak free and rattle free literally forever. Just open the basement doors on a Prevost and you can just about walk in and completely through. What this also means is that cutting giant holes in the side for slides severely impacts the structural integrity - no frame rails to carry the load. Hence, a slide in a Prevost (monocoque chassis) costs upwards of $150,000 EACH in order for the converter to restore the structural integrity of the chassis.

One great advatage is that a minimal slide unit is just as functional with or without the slides. Frankly, my 4 slide EX is a bit problematic in the closed up (Wal-Mart parking) mode as I can't get to many drawers and cabinets and there is an 8inch minimal aisle passage. I'd go for a monocoque any day over a rail chassis.I'd take a de-blinged Prevost conversion (i.e. Marathon) anyday if I could afford one.

My thoughts exactly RVDUDE, I'd even love a previously loved Marathon, especialy over a faux bus type.

Aww shucks Steve, figgered you'd have bought that Marathon instead of the National when ya had the chance....

Bob, if I had yer money it would be a no brainer

quote:

Originally posted by Jestme13:
Bob, if I had yer money it would be a no brainer

Even with my money it didn't make sense....