Emergency help needed in New Orleans - our bus home broken into in storage!

daveola · April 24, 2015, 05:39:44 PM

We have a little nightmare, our bus and home are in storage in New Orleans while we are out of the country for many months. Evidently they have no security because someone tried to break into it a few weeks ago and then actually broke into our bus last night. We are trying to find someone who can drive a bus and we are getting to find somewhere secure (and not in a heavy flood area) that we can keep the bus until August.

If you know of anyone or anywhere, please help us protect our home!

John316 · April 24, 2015, 08:41:44 PM

Dave,

I am in the Kansas City area. As a last resort, I could be persuaded to hop a plane and move it for you. The tickets would be pricey, but I know how hard it is when you don't have someone local that can help. Not my first choice of how to spend two days, since I am just getting back to the states myself, but a lot of people have helped me and I like to pay it forward.

John

eagle19952 · April 24, 2015, 09:05:41 PM

Is this a WVO bus ?

daveola · April 24, 2015, 10:36:18 PM

John, that is very kind. We will get back to you if we cannot find a local solution.

Eagle, yes, I converted it years ago, though we used up all the oil when we drove down to New Orleans, so it's running on diesel right now.

gumpy · April 25, 2015, 07:16:11 AM

I checked with a friend who might have been around the, but he's no longer nearby. However, he sent me this:

Poplarville ms has a very friendly and safe campground. Haasienda ranch and rv park. About an hour north of NOLA on I-59.
I can't remember my login info, maybe you can let them know about the park. It's bus friendly. Storage friendly too.

daveola · April 25, 2015, 11:24:08 AM

Gumpy, thanks for the info. Can you explain 'safe' with regards to this campground? I thought the place we brought it to would be safe with 8' high walls, but I've learned that they don't (seem to) have security paying attention to the property 24h/day. If it's a campground, then how are they avoiding breakins for people who aren't occupying their vehicles? What I think would be ideal is a storage facility that actually watches over their space, though perhaps that's too much to ask, and just getting the bus out of the metro-NOLA area will be enough.

Now that the door window is smashed in, though, it seems that the bus is a much bigger target for an easy breakin, unless I can find someone to go bolt a panel over the hole.

eagle19952 · April 25, 2015, 11:31:48 AM

Not to be a fussbudget...how are you being kept abreast of these circumstances....has there been any damages that would make moving the coach not safe or easy ?

Could not who is providing updates help you > could they help who ever might ?

gumpy · April 25, 2015, 01:34:34 PM

Quote from: daveola on April 25, 2015, 11:24:08 AM
Gumpy, thanks for the info. Can you explain 'safe' with regards to this campground?

That's all he sent. He lives in an MC8 in the south 6-8 months of the year, and I'm assuming that's probably one of the places he stays.
I trust his judgement. You can do with it as you see fit. Might want to call the place and talk to them directly.

Just passing along the info. That's the best I can do to help from MN.

John316 · April 27, 2015, 08:38:10 AM

Dave,

How's it going? Do you have an update?

John

daveola · April 28, 2015, 09:11:53 AM

Thanks Gumpy, and thanks John for checking in.

It turns out I think I have a "safe house" for the bus, there's a storage company that has a 45' garage that I can park the bus inside and lock. It'll be more expensive, of course, but my house will be effectively secure.

I just need to figure out how to get it there. It's also in New Orleans, so it just means driving the bus from one side to the other.

The bus is driveable - it just made the trip from San Francisco -> Seattle -> Minnesota -> New Orleans this winter (before going into storage) and it generally runs fine, so it shouldn't take much more than checking the tire pressure before going.

I'm going to call some coach companies in NOLA to see if I can find a driver. Failing that, is there someone with lots of bus driving experience that wants a free flight to New Orleans?

daveola · April 28, 2015, 09:16:04 AM

Also, any suggestions on where to get the door window glass replaced? It seems mighty thick and I'm guessing it's not normal auto glass.

I also need to replace one of the passenger windows though I have a replacement lexan window that I want to put in - but I don't have the gasket for it and have been stymied in the past with trying to find these. The gasket needs to be different (I believe) because I am going from a thin glass window to the significantly thicker lexan windows. I actually want to replace the last four of my glass windows with lexan, but need gaskets for all them and would love to find a supply. Any thoughts there would also be appreciated.

daveola · April 28, 2015, 09:31:02 AM

eagle, you're not being a fussbudget.

Quotehow are you being kept abreast of these circumstances

Very poorly.

The storage unit people did tell me about the breakin, but they have been very difficult to communicate with via email and have not corresponded in a timely manner, considering that my house is on their lot and is unsecured. They are not taking any responsibility, and unfortunately I think the storage contract removes them from any liability. I'll deal with all of that after I get my home safe.

John316 · April 28, 2015, 10:15:30 AM

Dave,

Next week is the earliest I could go. If I went, I would need a phone number from you that you are available at. If there was someone else who wanted to go, that the trip sounded like fun to, go for it. Only reason I am willing to go is to help Dave out.

daveola · May 03, 2015, 06:22:25 AM

John, thank you so much, but it looks like I've got a driver in NOLA. One of the city bus drivers for the city bus a friend frequently rides. The bus is getting moved (hopefully) tonight!

B_K · May 04, 2015, 11:50:42 AM

Dave glad to hear that you've got it worked out!
I still recommend Hotard Bus Company for replacing the windows.
I am sure they can get the door window an gaskets you need for MCI or another source (or may even have them as they have run MCI's for yrs. (I owned an ex-Hotard 102A3 that we parted out sometime ago)
Donald in their shop is great to work with.
Don Fairchild sells parts to a company down there somewhere that worrks on 2 stroke Detroits if you need engine work.

BK