This may start a feeding frenzy but thats O/K
I have some close friends who contacted me this week. It is getting close to the end of the school year and they have decided to buy, and, start looking now for a camper so that hopefully by school year end they will have it and can hit the road.
They have 3 boys 8 to 13 and a pre 2 yr old daughter. What I suggested is they get a motorhome floorplan then turn the master bedroom into a bunkhouse and use the livingroom for sleeping quarters for mom and dad and they were receptive to the idea.
They have a 40,000 budget. What have you seen latley?
We will not be messing around with E-BAY period. I will tell them I posted this and prompt them to join we will be getting togeather tomorrow morn.
This is always fun spending OPM isin't it LOL
They are not in need of financing.
They are not interested in doing a conversion just purchase one already done.
Here is one that could probably be had for 40 range. It has a new 6v92 not rebuild w/15,000 miles. http://www.busforsale.com/buses/bus_detail.php?bus=425&name=Lucky&fsbo=true (http://www.busforsale.com/buses/bus_detail.php?bus=425&name=Lucky&fsbo=true)
Not a rebuilt motor and trans but BRAN NEW very nice thank you for that.
IMO it would be a streatch to think they would come down 15 and I would feel like I was insulting the seller to offer that with a 55 asking.
What say you.
Chart1 40 is not a "range" it is the limit.
Ideally I would like to find something closer to 30 purchase price so they can have the money to change what they need to and have some left over for unseen "issues" and we all know there will be plenty.
I would not hesitate to offer 40,000. This is a buyers market. There are so many buses out there for sale and a tough time to sale with fuel prices where they are. Most people raise the price more than what they are willing to take just knowing they are going to be talked down. The ad does not say price is firm!! The worst they could say is NO..... ALL TIRES ARE 99%
I was taught many years ago to offer 75% of what a buyer is asking for, then negotiate if they say no. I havent always done that because I didnt feel right, but it seems to be fairly common practice. And yes, right now big vehicles are a bargin and dropping everyday.
That is not the only bus in the running at that website. There is 1 other in perticular that I would buy if I were looking.
http://www.busforsale.com/buses/bus_detail.php?bus=526&name=Hilda (http://www.busforsale.com/buses/bus_detail.php?bus=526&name=Hilda)
This is a 2 owner bus has all the coverters documents and manualls and all the service records from day 1. Always stored inside and it has the OTR A/C on it and although it's not working all still there.
Not a bad bus but it needs all new tires.
I would not hesitate to offer 30 cents on the dollar for a bus. It is a buyers market.
What kind of work does he want to do Joe I bought a 2004 Liberty Elegant Lady XL11 with 1 slide the guy was launching his boat and his wife had the bus in reverse instead of forward and backed off the boat ramp with the engine running just the back 1/3 of the bus got under water but it did play hell with the series 60 and the drivers seat has some stains lol.
I feel for the guy but I could not keep from laughing
good luck
Clifford can you send me some pics of the prevo. sent you a private message.
Hey Joe,
I personally know the 2nd bus you mentioned 'Hilda'. It is a cream puff and pretty much loaded for the age. But, I don't think it would be possible to convert to a motorhome without doing quite a bit of modification. As an "executive coach" I think it would be perfect for someone...As a motorhome, Not So Much.
Do not exclude ebay, I got my 4104 there. It is a good place to comparison shop also.
However, do not, ever, buy a bus unseen.
I told the PO if his bus didn't sell I would come look at it, liked it and bought it.
Joe,
I sent you a PM.
Brian S.
Luverbus when you ask what does he want to do. I think you are asking this.
The family has 3 very active boys and will be hard on anything they end up with ( I amost hesitate even putting them in that nice entertainer I found, that could be a travisty IMO that is possibly too nice of a bus for them LOL) . I do not see this as a lifestyle change for these folks they will probably keep it for a while and loose intrest and move to something else. Maybe they will prove me wrong and keep it but they wont be fulltimers
These folks are like family we love them and I say this stuff endeeringly.
They will undoubtably tail us around when they can using and abusing me whenever possible.
He is not mechanicly minded it has to be a bus that is original and pretty reliable nothing boogered up.
Where were you going with that story? Are you insinuating they may be dangerous behind the wheel??
You may know them better than you realize LOL
They love and protect their kids they will turn out like the rest of us I suspect
R Smith that thing is Beautiful a time capsule I wouldnt change a thing if it were mine. Very Very cool.
You are probably aware the thing was originally built for Wendys founder Dave
That pretty well lets him out on a late model with damage if you have to do all the work for him,I know of a 1990 model Vogue with fire damage in Neb
good luck
Joe, I sent you a message regarding a bus.
if $40k is his budget limit, I'd suggest not spending over $30k on whatever he gets - that way the first $10k in repairs/ upgrades won't hurt the budget so bad.
Thanks for all the responces and e-mails we are getting togather this morning. I will return all those e-mails later I promise every one thanks again you all have wonderful campers.
Luverbus lets see the Vogue...........just what I need another project LOL
At 40k you can find what you want. At that budget you will have a lot of nice ones to choose from. It is foolish not to low-ball an offer, they are not selling and I think the market will get much worse, not better. Whatever your friend buys he needs to do his homework because as the market continues to shrink he will have it for a long, long time.
My bus has a queen bed cross-ways in the back and some bunks on the side. We find the children's favorite place to travel is lounging on the bed watching DVDs or playing video games. I started to make the back a convertible lounge but I am glad I didn't. It has been a while since I was a teen and I forgot that given the choice they prefer the bed to anything else. My 35' can sleep 10 if some are children. Three in the queen bed, three in the bunks on the one side, two on the dinette, two on the fold out couch. If they are my size it would be more like two on the queen, two in the bunks, one on the dinette, and two on the couch, with one bunk only big enough for a child. So that is seven adults and one child, still a lot of sleeping space. The best part is that the layout doesn't compromise livability. My PO lived near the ocean, and I think his use of space was influenced in part by boat interiors. When he built the bus in '79, he didn't have internet and BCM, so he used campers and boats as a reference. A well done interior makes all the difference.
Try contacting Don Fairchild. He has one for sale too.
Here's another http://www.rts-bus.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=628 (http://www.rts-bus.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=628) . This is under 20,000 and I personally think it has the best body design of any bus out there! But Im kinda prejudice ;D
And there is another super nice converted RTS for sale in the yahoo rts group. It is first class all the way! A guy that goes by Wulf did it.