Help my dream is going up in smoke!

Godzilla · April 05, 2012, 04:29:05 PM

This may be a little dramatic and I am lucky to have this "problem." I have a beautiful 1960 Pd 4104, but I'm the only one who thinks so. I have been told by a trusted family friend and life long diesel mechanic the bus runs smooth and strong. We have purchased new furniture. The electrical,plumbing,a/c,no generator,floor coverings,cabinets,glass and gaskets.....basically the whole inside needs to be done. My "problem" is this I have no time to finish it.Could I have the interior professionally done on that budget?I'm not thinking Italian tile and granite counter tops..but nice. My wife and daughter want to camp now! We have 10k to spend on this OR she wants to buy her mom's 2006 class C for 10k. It is a great deal on a basically unused camper, but I hate it! I hate the whole idea of a rig with no character or style, its just a lame white Kleenex box. Should I stop whining and accept a nice gift? Does the crystal ball say my bus will cost us more overtime than the S+S? I have tried to sell the bus recently but refused the highest offer of 3000.00. I hate to let her go for next to nothing. The "Boards" opinions and wisdom is appreciated.

buswarrior · April 05, 2012, 04:55:10 PM

Find a carpenter handyman and hire her or him to accomplish certain tasks as you direct?

Get the toilet done and go camping.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

robertglines1 · April 05, 2012, 05:01:47 PM

Did you ever come to the wrong place to ask that question! Got to have wife on your side or your toast. I do know that. My wife is my best helper through 4 bus builds. Bob

FloridaCliff · April 05, 2012, 05:04:19 PM

Godzilla,

Buy the Class C and go camping with your family.

If you don't have the time to finish the interior, you don't have the time to deal with all the minor maintenance (at best) that an old bus needs and will bring on.

Look, if your Wife and Daughter go camping now, found out if you really like it. You will only be 10G's into the class C and if it doesn't work out, cut your losses and sell it.

If they don't like the Class C or wish they had the bus later, you don't lose in the long run....

Of course if you finish the bus, spend the 10G's, and they don't like camping, you wasted the money on your "darn" bus that you had to have...

All kidding aside. You know your family and what will work. We had a Class C and loved every minute, best use of space in any RV.

Best of Luck

Cliff

JRandall · April 05, 2012, 05:16:40 PM

Why not buy the Class "C" at that good price... use it this summer to accommodate the family camping desire, then sell it to pay for the upgrade in the bus. At the price you mentioned, you could surely resell it without a loss after one season of camping.

Brassman · April 05, 2012, 05:41:30 PM

Yeah, buy the RV, & keep the bus. You might only have pocket change for bus work, but if the wife lets you work on it, well, you got yourself a bus.

Godzilla · April 05, 2012, 05:43:31 PM

Thanks to all who replied. Cliff your right I want to spend time camping not "tinkering." If I end up with an expensive and large lawn ornament I would be kicking myself. We love to camp. We have been at it a while but always had campers in poor shape. It would be nice not to have to worry about anything. I guess its time to let the bus go for now. Maybe when I retire I'll revisit the bus dream. By then she will only be 83 years old! Just pasted the break-in period. Bus for sale

desi arnaz · April 05, 2012, 05:47:35 PM

Just get a divorce........

robertglines1 · April 05, 2012, 05:49:12 PM

This is your family decision. Here you are talking to people who have made that commitment. we are bus nuts. It is a way of life. It cost time money and is our hobby and vise to some extent. Bob over the edge

buswarrior · April 05, 2012, 05:55:11 PM

Yes, Bob alludes to it:

You have noticed that there is little to no discussion about actually camping...

This "hobby" is just an excuse to maintain and upgrade an old bus.

Camping has little to do with it.

beware, innocent civilians, beware...

happy coaching!
buswarrior

pabusnut · April 05, 2012, 06:45:29 PM

BW,

I hope my wife never finds my password---The jig will be up!

Steve Toomey
PAbusnut

RnMAdventures · April 05, 2012, 06:58:20 PM

Quote from: buswarrior on April 05, 2012, 05:55:11 PM
Yes, Bob alludes to it:

You have noticed that there is little to no discussion about actually camping...

This "hobby" is just an excuse to maintain and upgrade an old bus.

Camping has little to do with it.

You hit the nail on the head. My wife and I was talking about it a while back. My fun is workng on the bus and driving it where we are going... she likes to travel and see old friends and new places... and the kids like to go to fun places. Everyone wins.

RnMAdventures · April 05, 2012, 07:11:07 PM

Quote from: Godzilla on April 05, 2012, 04:29:05 PM
This may be a little dramatic and I am lucky to have this "problem." I have a beautiful 1960 Pd 4104, but I'm the only one who thinks so. I have been told by a trusted family friend and life long diesel mechanic the bus runs smooth and strong. We have purchased new furniture. The electrical,plumbing,a/c,no generator,floor coverings,cabinets,glass and gaskets.....basically the whole inside needs to be done. My "problem" is this I have no time to finish it.Could I have the interior professionally done on that budget?I'm not thinking Italian tile and granite counter tops..but nice. My wife and daughter want to camp now! We have 10k to spend on this OR she wants to buy her mom's 2006 class C for 10k. It is a great deal on a basically unused camper, but I hate it! I hate the whole idea of a rig with no character or style, its just a lame white Kleenex box. Should I stop whining and accept a nice gift? Does the crystal ball say my bus will cost us more overtime than the S+S? I have tried to sell the bus recently but refused the highest offer of 3000.00. I hate to let her go for next to nothing. The "Boards" opinions and wisdom is appreciated.

Before I purchased my bus I purchased my a Class A motorhome. My family got to experience the motorhome and all that goes with it. We sold it a few months later and broke even. I am glad we got it so we can say we have been there done that. When we compare it to what we have now, we are glad we have the bus. If I were in your shoes, I would buy the class C and enjoy it this summer. It sounds like your wife already has her heart set on it. I would find a way to show her a completed 4104 and show her the difference. If it were me, I would Keep the bus and continue to work on it as you have time. You will be able to sell the Class C if you choose to in the future and probably break even.

John316 · April 05, 2012, 07:21:19 PM

I agree with Cliff, and some of the others. Get the C. You probably won't regret it. If you are a decent mechanic, you might be able to keep your bus running enough to not break down on your trip. Buses will break down a cost a lot to repair. For us, we need a bus (next vehicle, may be a Toterhome and a stacker). We can fit in the bus, with all of our gear. Flip side of the coin? We spend a ton on maintenance. We still break down, on the road, but not like we would if we don't stay on top of it.

A bus is a huge commitment. Folks ask me about getting a bus to travel in. I tell them not unless you like fixing it and spending a lot of time working on it. It is worth it if you put the kind of miles on, that we do. For camping a few times a year, get the class C. Just drive carefully (sorry guys, I know this is a bus board). Those things blow apart in a wreck.

I think you made the right choice. Now if you price it to what it is worth to you, then you can probably keep both the bus and class C

FWIW

John

joel_newton · April 06, 2012, 08:35:23 AM

Time after you retire? Wouldn't plan on it