Hello BCM community! I recently acquired a 1997 Van Hool conversion coach and have run into the well-advertised problem of horrendously expensive parts from ABC, the sole source for Van Hool in North America.
So my question is... does anyone know of junk yards, or used parts centers in the US with Van Hool inventory?
Quote from: arl on July 04, 2018, 02:27:37 PM
So my question is... does anyone know of junk yards, or used parts centers in the US with Van Hool inventory?
maybe ?
https://usedrvparts.visonerv.com/cgi-bin/md/M12011/s1.pl
http://carolinabusparts.com/
You could also check with Easter Bus Sales in Va. Don't know if they had or sold these used.
Checked with Visone last week - they said they had nothing.
Still waiting on Carolina
Easter? No thanks. Called them years ago for a part for my previous coach - an MCI conversion - and they asked me if I bought it there. When I said no, they chewed me out for calling them after I bought it somewhere else! Determined then that I would spend elsewhere.
There are plenty of Van Hools out there in the US. Isn't there a bone yard somewhere?
Every commercial operator is in the same boat as you...
Parts coaches are parked in the back corner, to keep the ones out front rolling.
Talk to carriers that were/are running your model and ask 'em who has spares.
Van Hool are rare in the marketplace at that vintage, and rare in the busnut hobby as a result.
Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
The original owner passed away last fall. He wasn't a person to deal with. Worth a call to see if new in charge is hospitable. They sure have many coaches of most brands. I see them setting along the local highways in various locations. Go past area every year on way to N.C.
The original owner passed away last fall. He wasn't a person to deal with. Worth a call to see if new in charge is hospitable. They sure have many coaches of most brands. I see them setting along the local highways in various locations. Go past area every year on way to N.C.
ABC has used parts for Van Hool but they still cost a arm and leg
Think hard about unloading it and getting a more popular coach. The issues you are experiencing are only going to get worse and more expensive down the road.
It's too bad that VAN-HOOL had such quality problems back then because they were really a nice riding coach.
Poor quality will do you in every time but VAN-HOOL seems to have improved now.
Quote from: eagle19952 on July 04, 2018, 03:01:34 PM
maybe ?
http://carolinabusparts.com/
The Carolina Bus Parts people are just down the road from me. I don't know if they have Van-Hool parts but they're good folks -- really practical and good to work with. I highly recommend them.
The new Vanhools are a good coach, and fwiw Van Hool has 1/3 of the market in coaches now even Arrow Stage Lines have a few.The problem is the price of parts and some times it takes 2 weeks to get a special part made in Germany.They have engine options the DD13 Detroit or the Cummins ISX which is neat
I see quite a few newer VAN-HOOL coaches. Those 1990's examples were not well thought of but like I said, they likely learned their lesson even though it takes a long time to overcome the past mistakes to become accepted. They do look sharp both in terms of nice and the fact that they are more angular than MCI and PREVOST.
I guess the DETROIT engine option is a good thing since that will keep CUMMINS(longtime stockholder :) )
on their toes.
Yea the CX35 (35 ft) with the Cummins ISL9 is getting to be a real popular bus
It seems like every other coach used to transport the nuvo uber rich techies from their SF bedrooms to Silicon Valley are Vah Hools.
So many to service now, ABC opening a new service center smack between SF and SV.
https://www.abc-companies.com/pages/locations_northern_california
In my opinion, based on my experience in the industry these last few years, is that Van Hool coaches are popular because they are cheaper than Prevost or MCI cars. The preferred bus in high end charter service is still the Prevost H3-45, followed closely by the MCI J4500. Van Hool is looked down upon as the Hyundai of buses. I have never driven one, but from what I hear they do ride nicely, but are cheaply made and junky.
JC
The double decker Van Drools do not stand up to the hard service that Megabus pounds into them.
Everything shakes loose, lots of hoist time to keep 'em going.
Running improvements between coach orders are extensive, they are trying to improve.
I'm not sure how close the savings of 81 seats and one driver and the down time versus running a set of J/D model line buses at 56 seats and 1 driver would compare.
Bigger resale market for the single decks? Only so many sightseeing operations to cut the roofs off...?
Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
I drove a CX45 for about 250 miles those are nice buses a real plush interior,VanHool is opening a plant in the US so the business must be here
I've driven several Van Hool's with Detroit Series 60 and Cummins M11 engines. They did alright compared to the MCI's, and their turning radius was better. The side mirrors that hung from above were easy to snag and cost an awful lot to replace. The ones my company had did not seem to be down any more than the similar aged MCI's.
I don't think there is much difference in the price between the MCI,Prevost and VanHool,I recall when Don Laughlin was checking into buses in 2014 the base price was about the same $500,000 with no bells or whistles
But did they have Horns uhmmmm ;)
The ones at the club by us in Thunder Valley and you see the 45 ft brand new Provosts' all shinny and fancy looking in front as well as the Van Hools but they are old and junky looking just dirty white, they drive up with the back tailgates opened as in overheated or trying to prevent it, LOL