Routing cables and wires along the coach

[MyPrevost]

I’m planning to install a few items in my 1997 XL coach soon and was wondering about the best options for routing wires and cables (like coax and CAT 5) along the length of the coach.

It seems there aren’t any dedicated wiring raceways or ductwork, so I’ll likely need to figure it out myself. For instance, I’ll be installing a Wilson cell phone booster, which requires running a long stretch of coax from front to back.

Any suggestions on how to approach this?

—Fred

[MyPrevost]

Fred,

I used the cable chase inside the bus on the passenger side floor. It wasn’t easy since the bathroom, a few closets, and the refrigerator got in the way, but I managed to run a couple of CAT 5 cables from front to back. A small pull tape can be really handy for getting through those hard-to-access areas.

You might also check above your transmission for a few smaller diameter pipes that could run all the way to the spare tire compartment at the front of the bus. Some coaches have an empty pipe that you can use to run cables through.

Good luck!

[MyPrevost]

Fred,

When I faced a similar situation running coax for my TPMS, I took Kevin Erion’s suggestion and found several conduits under my Marathon. Most originate in the front bumper compartment and terminate at various points near the rear of the chassis.

Accessing them from the front was tricky, so I found a suitable conduit near the tag axle and used an electrician’s snake to check where it came out in the forward compartment. You might need to remove weather boots at the ends for access, and they can be coated, so look carefully. Just make sure to have the bus properly supported before climbing under there.

Good luck!

[MyPrevost]

I’ve been running cables front to back for entertainment and communication systems for several years, and I’ve found a few good options. Using conduit on the roof is the easiest and safest method, but it’s not my favorite.

Another option, especially for a cellular antenna installation on the centerline of the coach, is to use the A/C ductwork. The tricky part is making the exit from the duct, which requires good foil tape and sealing the transition properly.

My preferred method is to pull the puck lights and snake cables from light to light. It’s time-consuming, but with patience, you can navigate just about anywhere in the coach.

One common challenge with these internal methods is the risk of disturbing existing wires, which can lead to disconnections and create bigger problems later on. My recommendation is to have a knowledgeable and experienced professional run the cables to avoid complications down the line.

[MyPrevost]

All Prevost coaches come with conduits that run from front to rear. You can spot the front end at the top of the compartment behind the front bumper, and they typically terminate at the top area in front of the rear axle.

As an alternative, you can also locate the wire bundle that the converter installed that runs from front to rear and use that for your cable runs. This can help simplify the process and ensure you’re using existing pathways.

[MyPrevost]

Needless to say all converters are different. When you find a good wire chase be sure to run a few xtra cables or wires you can use to pull heavier cables if you find the need down the road.

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