Author |
Message |
Brian Elfert
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Sunday, September 25, 2005 - 1:25 pm: | |
Which shell is suggested for $25k or less? I would really, really like to stay away from something that needs to be raised to gain headroom. I was looking at used diesel pushers, but I am disappointed with what is available. Most of them are like luxury condos and I just want plain jane. I would also love to stay away from two cycle Detroits, but I doubt I can do so for $25k. I looked at a '86 Eagle 10 the other day that has been stripped, but the roof would need to be raised. I also did some research and realized the price asked is really high. Brian Elfert |
Brian Brown (Blue_velvet)
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Sunday, September 25, 2005 - 6:54 pm: | |
MCI 102C models have higher headroom than most highway busses. Dunno if you can get one for that, though. Transits generally have more headroom than highway coaches, but no bays, and most will have to be re-geared for highway usage. You're highly unlikely to score a four-stroke engine in a shell for less than $25k, except in a late-model transit. And the old 2-stroke DDs are tried and true and the vast majority of us have one in our busses. They make a lovely exhaust note, IMHO. It's also my contention that unless you're a very tall person, headroom is seldom an issue in a coach. You just won't spend that much time upright. Good luck on your search. bb |
R.J.(Bob) Evans (Bobofthenorth)
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Sunday, September 25, 2005 - 7:30 pm: | |
You are wise to be concerned about headroom - if you can't stand up in the kitchen & the shower then your life will be very unpleasant. |
Jeff (Jeff)
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Sunday, September 25, 2005 - 8:14 pm: | |
http://f3.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/ADo3Q6kUq9iBukMGNzB_Hi6zDg9PJrwlDMe-9kQLB0_9SepVe0do-e5CLbt3g bhcbxVIgqGopV8lPHdEmeEU/00_RTS_II_FAQ_Inside_Here/RTS_II_FAQ.html RTS bus and it's pro/con discussion |
Brian Elfert
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Sunday, September 25, 2005 - 8:33 pm: | |
My head brushed the ceiling in the center in the Eagle model 10 I looked at. A shower would be impossible to stand in unless in the very center. Any ideas what having the roof raised on a typical bus like an Eagle 10 costs. This is one thing I absolutely could not do myself. Do I have any chance of finding a rust-free MCI 102 in the midwest or do I have to go to California? Brian Elfert |
John MC9
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Sunday, September 25, 2005 - 8:58 pm: | |
Brian - For what it's worth.... Our 36' Georgie-Boy motorhome had a plastic 3'x2' "bubble" skylight in the shower (the manufacturer raised the shower pan to permit the routing of plumbing). Adding the skylight allowed any normal person to stand as tall as they are, while in the shower. With that in mind, there's no reason to "have to" raise the entire bus roof. You can "bubble" or raise the area you'll find yourself standing at the most. Done with a skylight, or just cut and raised in that area, it'd be a whole lot easier than raising the entire bus roof. |
R.C.Bishop
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Sunday, September 25, 2005 - 11:06 pm: | |
If you are talking a new shell....better add about 100K to that...if you are talking an "old " shell...well, it's a buyer's market and you should be able to buy one for 10-30 % of what you are talking about. Then, one could "afford" to have the roof raised and still have a bunch of $$$$ for conversion. FWIW RCB '64 Crown Supercoach (HWC) |
Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat)
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Monday, September 26, 2005 - 1:36 am: | |
...or like Rc, Henry, Doug and I, you could get yourself a great old Crown... cheap, robust, and not difficult at all to raise the roof on...
 |
Brian Elfert
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Monday, September 26, 2005 - 1:32 pm: | |
No, I don't want a new shell. I doubt I could get new for anywhere close to $125,000 even. I want something reasonably modern. Less than 20 years old or so. I imagine something for $5000 is going to have a lot of downsides like rust, mechanical problems, and other issues. It may also have a small engine and a manual tranny. I don't have the mechanical aptitude to change out an engine or anything like that. I would rather not get hit with a $5000 bill every year for major repairs on a bus. Brian Elfert |
Jim Bob
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Monday, September 26, 2005 - 1:56 pm: | |
If the idea of spending 5,000 in a year on the bus scares you, then you had better stay on the porch. A set of tires = $3,200. A tank of Diesel = $487.00. Fuel for a 2,000 mile trip = $1,000. Wheel bearings for 1 wheel = $200. Labor charges per hour = $90. Oil & filter change $100. This is NOT a cheap hobby. Why do we do it? Security of travelling in the safest, most comfortable way possible: The look on folks faces when you pull in at Cracker Barrel: (We stop at the front door & let the ladies out before going round back to park!) The fun of driving one of these beasts: Etc. PRICELESS! |
Brian Elfert
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Monday, September 26, 2005 - 2:48 pm: | |
Fuel is a seperate issue from anything else. I can afford the fuel. I just don't want to buy a new engine one year, a new tranny the next year, and so on. The less expensive the bus up front, I am guessing the more likely these issues will pop up. It may turn out that I am better off with a diesel pusher or even a trailer. I am still investigating the whole bus thing to see if it would be for me. Brian Elfert Brian Elfert |
Brian Brown (Blue_velvet)
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Monday, September 26, 2005 - 4:11 pm: | |
quote:The less expensive the bus up front, I am guessing the more likely these issues will pop up.
Perhaps in theory that's correct. But the reality is much more complicated. Bus chassis' were designed to last for decades in revenue service, and travel millions of miles in doing so... provided they recieve ongoing maintenence. So, even a fifty year old coach that's been maintained properly can be quite dependable for the amount of miles a typical RV'er will put on them. Meanwhile, a much newer coach that's got fewer miles and years on the ticker, BUT has been neglected might end up being a money pit. It cannot be stressed enough to buy a coach based on its chassis condition. Does it start, does it smoke, does it leak, does it steer straight, does it stop, how's the corrosion, etc.? A late-model MCI might be shot and worn out vs. a 60 year-old Flx that's still going strong. Which coach will cost more to purchase and which one will cost more to make roadworthy? Just like the age of the unit, the purchase price alone is never a good indicator of a coach's true value. Caveat emptor, bb |
JR
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Monday, September 26, 2005 - 8:07 pm: | |
Any way you add it up, an MCI 9 (MC9 or 102) would be your best bet for less than $25K. Already have headroom, and some have a lot of useable life...that's the key. Pick a decent unit. Regarding the 2 strokes, there are tons of parts around and they are easy to work on. All engines 2 cycles and 4 strokes have their issues...friend has a 2001 DD 60 series that has 180K and has blown the turbo and intercooler once, and recently shook off the alternator damaging the front case so bad the fuel pump quit working. Cost $3K to fix. The turbo was warranteed. You can pick up a right decent shell for $25K...find useable coaches for $10K, repower it, add new tires and brakes and still be below what you contemplate spending. How much do you plan on the conversion? That can get right pricy too. Good Luck, JR 87 MC9 |
degojo
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Monday, September 26, 2005 - 8:17 pm: | |
If fuel costs do not drop significantly by the end of the year you will be able to buy a fairly new conversion or shell for about half of what they cost now. If fuel is more than 3.00 per gallon next spring I plan to sell or park my bus and use it as a cabin. |
R.C.Bishop
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Monday, September 26, 2005 - 11:42 pm: | |
JR.....like I said above......It'a BUYER'S market! FWIW RCB '64 Crown Supercoach (HWC)RCB |
FAST FRED
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 - 5:57 am: | |
"It may turn out that I am better off with a diesel pusher or even a trailer. I am still investigating the whole bus thing to see if it would be for me. " Very possibly NOT, The lure/love of Bussing is what creates Bus Nuts , not a desire for a cheap motorhome. Motorhoming or camping is ONE hobby , Bussing is a complet different Hobby. We have a camper interior (worlds simplest) in our "Sports Car of Coaches" , to justify owning the bus. Yes, its great fun to camp the wilds of Canada or AK, and to use as the "worlds biggest Greenbriar" as some call it , But the reason for ownership is the delightfull fun it is to DRIVE the coach. You have to dig the machine! Examine weather you want to just go camping , or if you really are turned on by the BUS part. FAST FRED |
Bill Ding
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 - 9:09 am: | |
I would like to know where you can: "...find useable coaches for $10K". I am not saying I don't believe you guys, just please point the way. |
TWODOGS (Twodogs)
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 - 10:56 am: | |
EBAY.....but say it silently....the moderator hates that word |
Brian Brown (Blue_velvet)
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 - 11:23 am: | |
Bill, I found my very usable coach right here on BNO for exactly $10k. And not a shell, but a complete, 80's-era conversion of an '06. I've since put another $4k into her in updates and upgrades (airbags, tires, diesel genny, etc.) and some serious sweat equity in maint. items. She still needs paint to look her best, but she's a runner for sure. This summer our family put 6,000 miles, and twelve states on her map, and had only one little problem (a ruptured PS hose) while travelling. Other than the classifieds here, eBay's OK for shells, conversions, and anything in between IF you're prepared to wade through the liars and cheats to find the few gems. Also try Heartland Coach, gmbusguy.com (for GMC's). Buyer beware, obviously... bb |
Brian Brown (Blue_velvet)
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 - 11:50 am: | |
quote:The lure/love of Bussing is what creates Bus Nuts , not a desire for a cheap motorhome. <snip> You have to dig the machine!
Amen, brother. To reap the full benefits of this hobby, you have to love bussin' the way the classic car folks love their "rides". To them, it's not a replacement for a modern car... it's a completely different mode of transport. Same with busses vs. sticks. Now, many of us have to convince our better-halves that these things are better, safer, more efficient, more durable... whatever. But they know better. In fact, my wife calls our bus "my mistress" and she's not very far off the mark. And if I had to go back to a slick, souless, factory-made RV of any price point or degree of luxury... I'd probably just rather sleep in a tent. Puttin' the NUT in Busnut, bb |
Todd & Lisa Rowe (Tl_rowe)
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 - 3:47 pm: | |
I have to agree with you fellow Busnuts. My husband had always wanted a bus, he grew up with friends whose parents had a bus, and he always wanted to travel that way, we actually live in an area with a goodly number of conversions (say 6 or 8). We bought our 1976 MC8 shell in April of this year. It did take some time for hubby to convince me to buy a bus, but once we jumped in, I was hooked too. We paid $15k Canadian, which it seems was a reasonable price here, I did a fair bit of research first. I may be wrong, but since we didn't have to travel all around the country to find her either and we felt spending a bit more for something local was a good investment. She has also proven to be reliable mechanically, and her rust problems were mostly above floor. We had the interior conversion mostly livable by the end of June, except hot water and heat. He is the mechanic, welder, plumber, carpenter, etc. and I am the sourcer and suggester (my husband probably has stronger words for it than that), holder upper, cabinet installer, etc. and often gofer. The kids also help with stuff that they can handle. We travelled about 3,000km this year and absolutely loved the mode of travel, on the road and also when we were parked. We especially liked not having to stop for pit stops, to eat, etc., with 3 kids that can be very frequent. My husband enjoyed the looks we got from fellow travellers. My husband definitely has a love affair with Eleanor (our bus’s name is from the movie “Gone in 60 Seconds”) but truthfully, I think our whole family does, so that's ok by us, she's ours and we're hers. We have also been concerned about fuel prices, however, I still think even at today's prices (up here in Saskatchewan it is at $0.999 a litre, or about $3.75 a US gallon) that if we factored in the cost to stay in a hotel and eat out with the cost to travel this way, that bussing would still win out. Our 3,000km this year cost about $750 in fuel and that was for 11 nights, so I think per night we’re still reasonable. Finally, I'd like to thank all you guys that post to this board with your advice, suggestions and information. They have really aided in our conversion and made finding the info we needed much easier. Sorry for the long post, I'm a legal secretary by day so I can be long winded. Regards, Lisa, Eleanor's mum |
JR
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 - 9:37 pm: | |
Buses have become so cheap now that many aren't advertised. Any partially converted coach that someone's trying to sell is a deal waiting to happen. My 87 NJT was $12.5K in 02...been a good running coach with only minor repairs necessary..until the rear main started leaking. I fixed that for less than $100, not counting the engine dolly I bought. I view the dolly as an "amortized" item so actual cost is yet to be calculated. Appears to be repaired. No leaks yet. Sawyer's is where mine came from. Lower priced used coaches (generally seated coaches) are advertised in "Bus Conversions Mag," National Bus Trader, on this website..and all over the internet. Ebay generally has coaches of all sorts (beware). They are around...just have to look. Local churches sell buses often. You want to get the most for you cash...so check it out carefully. Private bus owners would almost pay a buyer to take the things. As RCB said, it's definitely a buyer's market. I disagree on fuel costs being prohibitive to using the coach..I drive all over NC and don't really use all that much fuel when compared to what it would cost to stay in motels, eat, and travel to where I would be if driving the bus. Also must consider the bar tab savings! May cut down on long trips, but 200 or 300 miles trips will be doable without bankruptcy. Fuel costs will come down (I believe) or this country will go into such a recession, there won't be a need for fuel. If someone is so short that fuel costs are an issue, the bus is going to be a bigger issue..they may be cheap to buy, but they ain't cheap to own. Fuel prices may benefit bus buyers...won't help existing owners. Another thing on bus pricing..just because someone is asking $50K for a coach, doesn't mean they are going to get it. Lots of these sales will go for less than half advertised price...if they go at all. Good Luck on finding your coach! JR |
niles steckbauer (Niles500)
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 - 11:03 pm: | |
JR - your a scholar and a gentleman - no truer words spoken - there are IMHO 3 types of bus peeps 1) those that are 'drivers' who travel infrequently but long distances (coast to coast) and are the most affected by fuel costs 2) those that fulltime and travel north to south according to the season and least affected by fuel cost 3) those (like me) who prefer to travel without a schedule (except generally) who travel short distances daily and are on the road for a long period and can average fuel costs over an entire season More important to me is the "availability" of fuel and not necessarily the cost - if I'm happy, I can stay where I'm at for a while - If there's NO fuel, I'm stranded - the price of fuel could be a hidden benefit to some and cause them to SLOW THEIR BUTTS DOWN and see the country - JMHO If you ever get a chance to camp with Bus Warrior - you can appreciate the savings in "BAR TABS" - IYKWIM - BTDT - got the tattoo's to prove it - And your absolutely right about a BUYER'S MARKET - no hurry in making a rash decision - take your time - as the saying goes - THEY'LL BE ANOTHER BUS COMING AROUND THE CORNER - Niles |
R.C.Bishop
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 11:27 pm: | |
Niles...FWIW....I purchased my 40 year old coach from the original owner. They were asking 15K....ended up at 4750, but probably could have gotten down much less. The service manager said he would not be afraid to drive it anywhere in the country....that did it for me. Best part of the deal was the coach had a million miles +- .... .....so far so good. Four years later, only a starter and a couple of minor things. Hang in there!...Lots of stuff out there that is not broadcast widely as available, as JR says. RCB '64 Crown Supercoach (HWC) |
JR
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Thursday, September 29, 2005 - 8:37 pm: | |
I'm going to add one more tidbit to this discussion...about "diesel pusher" motorhomes. Decent large diesel pusher motorhomes are both expensive to buy, and can be a nightmare to own. They generally have smallish displacement engines for delivered HP and don't have a fraction of the life expectancy of a bus. Motorhomes cost just as much to repair as a bus, and are often not designed to be repaired. Minimal poorly designed access to systems. A bus, even an old bus could be cheaper to keep up and definitely less expensive to buy. Nice class A pushers bring good bucks....from people that have never seen one after it was involved in an accident. Good luck with your roving domicile, JR |
R.C.Bishop
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Thursday, September 29, 2005 - 9:10 pm: | |
Right on the Head, JR....had both and absolutely no comparison.... FWIW RCB |
ChuckMC9 (Chucks)
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Friday, September 30, 2005 - 8:58 am: | |
AND another thing... The CCC of many motorhomes is frightfully low. (CCC = GVWR minus GVW) CCC=Cargo Carrying Capacity GVWR=Gross Vehicle Weight Rating GVW=Gross Vehicle Weight (Notice how the original poster has rolled his eyes and moved on? ) |
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