| Author | Message | ||
| Rick Long (Tn_rick)
Registered Member Username: Tn_rick Post Number: 1 Registered: 4-2008 Posted From: 68.34.222.176 Rating: N/A |
Hi folks, I'm in E. Tennessee and have been busy reading through the archives for quite a while. I've also been a bus nut for quite a while, even bought a bluebird skoolie to play around with. I was slowly working on it to have something to camp in locally, I got quite a bit done on it. This past Dec. I had to leave my full time job to care for my wife that has progressive ms. I have had a small business for several years that had me traveling out of town quite bit during the year. That has now increased quite a bit and I added up what my hotel bill were going to be for the year, wow! That started my search for a better means to travel to be comfortable for my wife to stay in on the road, and I knew that skoolie wasn't going to fit the bill. The logical choice to me was a bus conversion if I could find the means to afford it. Seeing that hotel cost helped me see that it might be possible. Anyway, I'm glad to be here with all the great information and have already learned a lot. Here's my first question. I have located an MCI conversion in PA just south of Scranton. I'm going to need a mechanical inspection done on the coach. Does anyone know of someone to recommend for that? How much does that usually cost? Thanks for any help and it's great to be here. Rick in E. Tn | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 1008 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.48.5  Rating: N/A |
Welcome to our board! Great to have new members. Almost no question is too dumb, even though once in a while the answers can be. We have a great group here with wide age range, income range, mechanical ability, dispositions, and have a good time. The talent here is incredible. The help and info here is invaluable.I would recommend Luke in New Berlin New Jersey to check the coach. Maybe someone will chime in with somebody closer He has a great reputation on our site and knows what to look for. | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Registered Member Username: Buswarrior Post Number: 1246 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 76.68.120.191  Rating: N/A |
Luke and US Coach has moved a little south and downsized to ...rats, what was the name of that place??? Vineland maybe? Anyway, telephone is the same: 800-262-2434. GREAT supporter of the busnut community. Been in the bus running and repair business for 40 plus years. Anyway, down through Philly and on to Luke's. If necessary, offer to pay for the fuel to run it down and back to Luke's for the check. That will give you a chance to run it. If you get the nod, it's a one way trip, make the sale, transport the owner back via other means and then have Luke do the work and you're good as gold. If not, run it back, pay for the fill and keep looking. happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| David Evans (Dmd)
Registered Member Username: Dmd Post Number: 235 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 72.89.73.18  Rating: N/A |
Rick, there are several coach places in Pa. Bernhards in Quakertown south of Allentown for example. I am sure you could get a local bus nut to do an initial once over to see if it would justify the expense of a trip to a good shop. If the coach has been kept current on maintenance and tags etc BusWarrior"s advice is sound. The owner might know of someone closer and his "guy" but an outside source might avoid any bs. I am actually driving back thru Scranton Sunday afternoon on my way to Long Island and depending on where it is and how much daylight is left i would take a quick look for you.I am no MCI expert or even novice but i have had GM for 12 years and could probably tell you to look elsewhere or its worth a second look. Tekebird is in pa and might know of the coach you are interested in. I am heading southeast on 6 to Scranton and then south on 81 and 380 to 80 if this helps. Good luck | ||
| Rick Long (Tn_rick)
Registered Member Username: Tn_rick Post Number: 2 Registered: 4-2008 Posted From: 68.34.222.176 Rating: N/A |
Thanks for the welcome and advice. I put "Luke" in the search box and got back 697 hits. I knew I had seen his name in reading the archives. There's so much there it will take a while to absorb it all. I forgot to mention that the coach is at Evolution Custom Coach. I also searched on that and found this thread - http://www.busnut.com/bbs/messages/233/8500.html Those are great recommendations. In my first call to them about the coach I was told it has a new rebuilt engine and transmission, new tires, new paint, and that they had done the conversion a year ago. It's an 1982 MCI-9 with a wheelchair lift. That's the main thing we need. The interior is very plain and looks as if they put it was together quickly and just made usable for the person it was built for. The walls are unfinished plywood and most else is very plain, a "fixer upper" I guess. The good thing is the structure is there - plumbing, electrical, etc. I read somewhere in the archives that the lower structure and drive-train is your foundation to build on and I understand that's where the biggest problems could be money-wise. Evolution is selling the coach for the previous owner. Sounds like for the message above that they are trustworthy. Am I worrying too much? The only other wheelchair accessible coaches I've seen available for a while are way out of our price range besides being rare. Would you still have an inspection done knowing that the coach company did all the work, they even installed the lift? Rick | ||
| Laryn Christley (Barn_owl)
Registered Member Username: Barn_owl Post Number: 327 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 72.66.181.54  Rating: |
Rick, Welcome to the board. I don’t think you are worrying, I think you are educating yourself and that is the smartest thing anyone getting into this could do. You want to keep your losses to a minimum. I say losses because no matter what you get it will start working on your wallet. Insurance, routine maintenance like oil, filters, tires, etc. Oh, and the biggest money hole I have found is under a little door on the curbside. No matter how much I put in that hole it never seems satisfied. But, owning a bus is a lifestyle choice that we chose to live with. I couldn’t be in more agreement than to get someone who know buses to check it out. It will be the best money spent on your search. With prices collapsing like they are you should have lots of leverage with the seller. Good luck, Laryn |
