New Member Huntsville TX - Looking at a GMC 4905A and a MCI 102A3

[Scott & Heather]

Our bus is for sale on Dallas craigslist. But it might be too far to drive? I love our 9 but we opted to purchase a 102" wide coach since we Fulltime. We are going to start converting it this summer. Our 9 isn't perfect but I trust it enough that I'm about to drive it across the country

Scott


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[Beesme]

I love my gmc !

[scanzel]

With a wife and three children it would be wise to find the best bus that you can afford even it it doesn't have bunk beds. Things can be modified to ones needs. Don't buy junk you don't want to get stuck on the side of the road or somewhere else with the wife and three children having to wait while you attempt to fix or waiting for a tow company to show up. I blew an air bag in a Rv park 110 miles from home. Luckly
I had my jeep with me, left the bus with a local truck repair facility. Told them to change all 8 air bags and fix a power steering leak. $4200.00 later I drove back and picked it up. So you can see that no matter how experienced you may think you are buses are big and many of the parts can become very expensive. Good Luck and use your money wisely.

[DoubleEagle]

The GMC in Laveen does have a nice interior (in the pictures, at least), but that 4 speed Spicer is non-syncromesh and will be more challenging to drive. All I see on the roof is one A/C, which will not be enough in many situations. I remember crossing Texas in the nineties with my Model 05 Silvereagle with three roof airs going when it was about 100 degrees out, and we were not comfortable. If Luvrbus knows details about this coach that are redeeming, it might be worth a look, but drive it first before any decision is made. All of the coaches that most of us can afford will have some problems, the key is how expensive they are and whether you know about them in advance. I realize that you are probably itching to get something so that you can go on a trip this summer, but do not set yourself up for grief and buyers remorse. I have driven tractor trailers and charter buses since 1970, I like MCI's, Van Hool's, Prevost's, and GMC's to drive, but I love my Silvereagles. For a first bus that you can afford, a MCI might be best.

[ScharpeStGuy]

Scott,

I found your craigslist ad here: https://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/rvs/5534286204.html

I really like the elevated bed at the back with room underneath and the full size residential toilet! Why is the front living room so empty was something (chairs?) removed or did you just keep it wide for floor space for children to play?

Thanks

Our bus is for sale on Dallas craigslist. But it might be too far to drive? I love our 9 but we opted to purchase a 102" wide coach since we Fulltime. We are going to start converting it this summer. Our 9 isn't perfect but I trust it enough that I'm about to drive it across the country

Scott


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[ScharpeStGuy]

scanzel

Thank you for your post and experience. I have found on my vehicles that the parts are not all that expensive but rather its the labor to diagnose / install. Looking at parts prices for buses it seems this also holds true?? For instance on your airbag repair for all 8 do you recall how much of that was parts and how much was labor? I plan on towing our Honda Odyssey van behind the bus on most trips. Thanks

With a wife and three children it would be wise to find the best bus that you can afford even it it doesn't have bunk beds. Things can be modified to ones needs. Don't buy junk you don't want to get stuck on the side of the road or somewhere else with the wife and three children having to wait while you attempt to fix or waiting for a tow company to show up. I blew an air bag in a Rv park 110 miles from home. Luckly
I had my jeep with me, left the bus with a local truck repair facility. Told them to change all 8 air bags and fix a power steering leak. $4200.00 later I drove back and picked it up. So you can see that no matter how experienced you may think you are buses are big and many of the parts can become very expensive. Good Luck and use your money wisely.

[ScharpeStGuy]

DoubleEagle,

I did not notice that about the single A/C nor did I know about the non-syncromesh transmission. The seller says it is a wet clutch and should last a long long time. You are correct about the itch. I figured the GMC I could take down to that bus painter on the other side of the border in Yuma to get painted and the MCI I could take down to Choo Choo for repairs since they get great reviews and the hourly rate at Choo Choo is about half other places I have looked into but the MCI needs a paint job as well. I am being told that a basic paint job with no frills is around $15k in the states and much cheaper using the guy south of Yuma.

Thanks

Luvrbus, do you know this particular GMC 4905a in Laveen/Phoenix? If so please share your thoughts.

The GMC in Laveen does have a nice interior (in the pictures, at least), but that 4 speed Spicer is non-syncromesh and will be more challenging to drive. All I see on the roof is one A/C, which will not be enough in many situations. I remember crossing Texas in the nineties with my Model 05 Silvereagle with three roof airs going when it was about 100 degrees out, and we were not comfortable. If Luvrbus knows details about this coach that are redeeming, it might be worth a look, but drive it first before any decision is made. All of the coaches that most of us can afford will have some problems, the key is how expensive they are and whether you know about them in advance. I realize that you are probably itching to get something so that you can go on a trip this summer, but do not set yourself up for grief and buyers remorse. I have driven tractor trailers and charter buses since 1970, I like MCI's, Van Hool's, Prevost's, and GMC's to drive, but I love my Silvereagles. For a first bus that you can afford, a MCI might be best.

[luvrbus]

You will be better off with the V730 in a 4905 the wet clutches give problems too

[Scott & Heather]

Yep. We liked the open livingroom floor plan. The way we saw it, we only had guests a very small percentage of the time... The much larger percentage of the time fulltiming it's just Heather and I and Emma. So it made sense. I suppose someone could always add seating there if they wanted to


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[ScharpeStGuy]

LVMCI,

Just spoke to B&B about the bus. He is not sure there is room for bunks on the bus but he is going to go look and take some pictures. Firm price of $20,000 on it.

Thanks.

hi Fraser, call B&B Coach in LV, they advertise here, there is a coach with a 8V92, I think its a 96A, no generator, it was stolen, very nice interior, a cross between a entertainer  and a motorhome, that I was interested in awhile back, that is for sale now, for about the price of what your looking at, lvmci...

[tcolley]

I guess I'll go ahead and throw this mine into the ring. Sounds like it might have some of the features that you're looking for.

https://lafayette.craigslist.org/rvs/5525209717.html

[ScharpeStGuy]

Tcolley, sent you an email.

Everyone else, looks like a nice bus. Thoughts, concerns, etc???

Thanks

[DoubleEagle]

Tcolley, sent you an email.

Everyone else, looks like a nice bus. Thoughts, concerns, etc???

Thanks

Check out as many buses as you can, the more you look, the more knowledgeable you will be. Plus, it is fun. The Gillig  is by a current company that makes solid buses with separate frames that are heavy, normally. I do not know about this aluminum bus. The fact that few were made means that some parts might be very difficult to get, or need to be fabricated. The baggage bay area looks very minimal, and if there is a frame, they will not be pass-thru compartments, but separate bins. The Cummins engine with a 10 speed would be a good combo, and it would be syncromesh. Check the interior ceiling height, it might be on the short side.

[ScharpeStGuy]

DoubleEagle,

We are checking out and doing a pros/cons list of the buses. So far we have the following buses under review:

1. 1990 MCI 102A3 $29,995: https://www.sawyersbussales.com/-90-mci-102a3--bus---741.html  (has some known leaks on the engine, transmission, not sure of engine condition, some gauges not working, but upgraded very nicely, if I purchase this bus it will be taken to Choo Choo for repairs if they are available)
2. 1977 GMC 4905A $21,000: http://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/rvs/5474051463.html    (Love the look of this bus and the inside, inside would be relatively easy to update/upgrade but only a single roof air and the paint could be freshened up by that fellow on the Mexican side of the border at Yuma, AZ)
3. 1984 MCI Challenger II $22,000: http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/rvs/5534286204.html (Incredible conversion and picture documentation with cool area under king size bed at rear of bus, not keen on the paint but the paint on almost every bus on this list needs to be redone and the bus has very few side windows)
4. 1986 MCI 96A3 $39,500:http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/rvs/5486903207.html    (this bus started our search, love the inside, hate the paint and the price)
5. 1982 Silver Eagle $18,000: http://huntsville.craigslist.org/rvs/5483486370.html  (left message on this bus, six bunks would work for us)
6. 1976 Gillig $18,000: http://lafayette.craigslist.org/rvs/5525209717.html   (really cool looking bus but very little bay storage for bikes, kids kayaks, bags, etc...)
7. B&B Coach in Las Vegas has a MCI for $20,000: No link and awaiting information.

So seven possible buses each has it's unique issues and quality's. Thanks everyone.

[DoubleEagle]

#5, the "1982" Eagle is probably not a 1982, it might be a 1972, but it is definitely a 05 Model with Model 10 caps. 05 production ended in 1980. It appears to have the white larger diameter steering wheel, which is for the manual steering system with air assist (maybe). It is stated as being manual, so it is likely the non-synchromesh Spicer 4 speed with air assist clutch (dry). The black or dark whatever color will be hot in the summer. Only two pictures, so that is all I can tell you. Unless it was an entertainer coach conversion, it is not likely that the bunks are professionally done. A redone engine is good, but it is probably a 8V71. Generator might be good, but how much A/C capacity? Three roofs at least, or 3 Ton Basement Air. MemphisAire Basement air would be good, has electric furnace as well.