VanHool inspection

[zxt]

I am considering the purchase of a 40' Vanhool T185 with a construction date of 7/85. Production number 15778.
Does any one have a comprehensive checklist of the problem areas?
Is there any way I can find the history of this bus?

[luvrbus]

They will rust more than a Eagle,have a good shop check the suspension, the running gear and the brakes are a weak point on that model the running gear is big $$$$$$ to replace as it is German made take to ABC Bus Co and if they are selling get it all in writing

[RJ]

Does any one have a comprehensive checklist of the problem areas?

Z -

The entire bus is a problem area.

My suggestion would be to walk away and find an MCI, Eagle or Prevost.

Don't waste your time with a VanDrool.

FWIW & HTH. . .

[luvrbus]

A little ruff there RJ lol

[belfert]

I agree with RJ.  I looked at Van Hools at the ABC Companies lot in Fairbault, MN back in 2006.  The 1980s models had more rust than you can believe.  At least one of them should have been at the scrap yard because it was too rusty to be safe on the road.  They have the additional issue of the dropped aisle.  The only saving grace is they usually have a four stroke engine.

[Dave5Cs]

Yep but he's just being honest. When I was looking i thought they were neat because of the size of the bays and I saw one just around the corner from me being for sell. It had been wreaked in the front end because the brakes gave out. He finally told me he had ordered the brakes but had to get them over seas or parts of them like everything else and he had given up trying to get any body parts.
He said it was a nightmare. Just saying.

Dave5Cs

[luvrbus]

 With transmissions in a Vanhool one never knows what they will have I had a salesman tell me the bus he was trying to sell to a friend was a Allison it had a Renk those can have a Allison,Renk,Voith or a ZF check close the Allison is the only keeper in the group IMO not because the others are bad transmissions but parts and service for the 3 are a killer here in the US.

Riverside Casino has a few with the 60 series the engines are made in Brazil and are always a problem made in China turbos that go out about every 6 months then they send him the same turbo over and over    

[B_K]

"With transmissions in a Vanhool one never knows what they will have I had a salesman tell me the bus he was trying to sell to a friend was a Allison"

Clifford funny you mention that!
I had a friend the bought a VanDrool and the salesman told him it was a Cummins /ZF.
When I asked him if he was sure he said "Yep that's what the salesman told me they all came with!"

When I had it in my shop over the pit I came up laughing my head off.

He wanted to know what was so funny. (I'd never even opened the engine cover yet)

I told him you have a DD 60 Series and Allison B500 in this. 

He told me "there is no way the place I bought it from told me ALL VANDROOLS come with Cummins engines and ZF transmissions!"

I won't say where in VA he bought it, but several people here on the board have been lied to by the same gospel singing dealership owner!   
  BK 

[Dave5Cs]

Something about an EGG HUNT?

Dave5Cs

[Dave5Cs]

Clifford thats funny here in Roseville area we have Thunder-Valley and Cashe Creek Casino and others who have Van Hool's also but have got rid of a lot of them. Now they seem to be using Dog Nose Internationals and MCI's DL 4500's

Dave5Cs

[scanzel]

When I looked at VanHool's in 2004 at ABC in New Jersey anything in my price range was just rotted out beyond repair but they said they could fix for me. Yea! at what cost. The dropped isle would be a problem. I finally bought a Prevost from California.

[John316]

Pass on the VanHool for sure!

And if Bobby Easter sold it, I am surprised he didn't lie to the guy about the make of the bus (I can say it, BK ). Are you sure it was actually a drool? Could have just put the wrong stickers on it ROFL.