How long have you had your coach?

[Paladin]

Good thread.

I really suspect that aside from John we're not hearing yet from some of the guys who've had their bus or a bus the longest....and are still with us and at it. I'd be curious as to who has been out there the longest, the pioneers.....and I'd like to buy him or her their beverage of choice and pick their brain for while. I'd love to hear some road stories and experiences. I'd also be interested in who has logged the most mileage and\or been to the most states and places.

-Dave 

[gmorton]

1st bus: 1952 Beck bought in 1976 when I was 20 - sold it in 1981
2nd bus: 1961 4106 bought in 1986 when I was 30 - sold it in 1990
3rd bus: 1984 Prevost LeMirage bought in 2005 - haven't met the guy with enough money yet.  Hope I never do...

[scanzel]

Bought our 1989 Prevost XL, 6 speed spicer, 8V92T in March of 2005, used it for two years as is, just putting some stuff into it to make it usable. Gutted it winter of 2007/2008 and I am now starting to build it out and add all the stuff purchased for the conversion. The only regret I have is that I didn't do it sooner, but we really enjoy it.

[blue_goose]

I got the bus bug in 1963, but the wife didn't.  She wanted a new travel trailer, not a old bus.  That silver side sure looked good.  All striped out and ready to start on the inside.  After two travel trailers and 3 motorhomes I finely got my bus in 1986.  What a rag it was, no power steering, engine smoked,  rough all over and half 01, half 05.  Still had our motorhome so I didn't have to rush on the conversion.  Now the wife wouldn't want anything but a bus so I have keep both of them.  Wife for almost 57 years, bus for 26 years.  Just keep changing what ever I don't like.
Jack

[06 Bill]

12 years, we bought our 64 4106 in Feb. 97. Just out of small tour co in Peekskill NY. fully seated with rest room. Worked on it 7 days a week for 6 mos. Jumped right in both feet with first trip to Ks to visit youngest son. Round trip approx.4000 mi without a hitch. Did not know any one doing this or any of the boards. Have since been in all lower 48 & Banf in CA. Wa state twice & California once in 5 cross country trips to most of the national parks. Have put on approx 100K miles on the Good Ol' Girl.
Lost lower head gskts.in Mitchell SD, flat in Calais ME. & pulled out of the mud on dirt road in Nova Scotia. Road actually gave away and went in the ditch. Would do it
all over again in a heart beat. Pull a 2000 Toyota Cmary toad.                    06 Bill    North central MA.

[rip]

We bought our 1885 Prevost in 1999,sold our house in 2003 and been traveling ever since.I love our bus and the lifestyle.I wouldn't change much in our couch,but now my wife want to remodel.
  DON

[zimtok]

August of 2006 is when we made the decision to get the 4104.

We didn't know we were looking for a bus until an old friend asked us to find a buyer for his old bus. We tried to find a buyer for about 3 months and tehn decided to buy it ourselves.....



.

[tomhamrick]

Wish us a Happy Anniversary!!!       We bought our 1984 Eagle 10S in March 1999. Wow 10 years has gone in a hurry. It is mostly converted, and fully functional, but not quite finished. Like a lot of others, I would not have it any other way!

Tom Hamrick

[gm4106]

1st bus PD4106-273 bought in Oct 2003  then sold it in Feb 2007

2nd bus PD4106-1689 bought in June 2007

[Ed Hackenbruch]

Got our 68 MCI 5A on Oct. 1st 2003 and started fulltiming on Jan. 29th  2004. Played for almost a year and a half and then had to start working again.   Work 3-4 months during the summer in the Seattle area and winter in Yuma. If we can work it out in 4-5 years when i can start drawing my pension we will sell the bus and move back to Hawaii where we spent 11 years. If we can't afford to do that we will keep busing until we can't do it any more.

[Paso One]

Well I have had possession of my bus since 1995  ( I accepted it for storage )  The PO paid to store it at my storage facility for 6 years.
It only left the storage yard twice a year carry guns and military regalia for shows the PO would attend.

When the group dis banned  They asked me to assist them in selling it.

While doing so I caught the "bug"   They say if you repeat something enough times you begin to believe it. While I was telling potential buyers the Features and benifits of owning a "Bus"  I sold myself.

I remember the only complaint the previous owner ever had about the bus was the highway speed.

The first thing I did was install 4:10 gears (Thanks Luke) and took it out on the road once It reached highway speeds I took it back to the shop and started to convert it to a motor home as it had seats and a secure cage in the rear half of the bus that contained the guns and cannon

I litterally got the bus for nothing but have made up for it by spending $$ doing it  "my way "

[Gary W]

We got our first bus a 1973 MCI-7 in !993, sold it in 2004

Bought the 1986 MCI 102 in 2004. Still enjoy busing.

Gary

[junkman42]

2 years and counting.  I confess I bought a already converted bus and am glad I did.  I am still changing it to suit My ways and I love the beast.  I am lucky as My wife likes the bus more than I do.  I have a former business partner that bought a Monaco with a lifetime payment book who now mentions that He should have listened to Me.  He loses windows while driving, the electrical system is pure junk and He gets worse mileage than the MC7 and has a payment from hell.  Did I mention I love My bus?  John

[prevost82]

6 years for us ... still loving it.

[Frank @ TX]

We bought the seated bus in 1999 ( 84 MCI-9 ).
1 1/2 years to convert.
By 2001 we concidered it finished.
We now live in TX and travel about 4 months a year.
Would not have changed a thing.
Frank