Thinking about trying another conversion....what should I look for?

[Phil H / Chicago]

Hi all,

After a couple of bad experiences/attempts/stupid decisions on my part and failing to actually finish one, we just gave up and purchased a class A motorhome about seven years ago. We lived in the coach for a few years and loved it but decided to sell it and have been giving some thought to trying again.

I am convinced I would want to start with a 102" wide unit....45'er if at all possible(our rv was 45')....always liked the Eagle but have also been giving some thought to a MCI. If I can afford it would like to have the 4 stroke/B500 drivetrain....but may be out of my range. Would a mid 90's shell be my best option?

Any feedback would be welcomed....thanks much....Phil     

[luvrbus]

Great to see you back Phil it's been a while.I went the 45 ft MCI route with a series 60 and B500 it doesn't
have the curb appeal of a Eagle but it sure rides and drives good, it felt like old times repairing a few rust areas on the MCI still have one to go

[lostagain]

You should look for an already converted coach. The advantages of that have been discussed here extensively.

But if you insist on building your own, I suggest an MCI 102D3 (40'), or a 102DL3 (45'). Good, basic bus with the 102" width and the high head room. You will find them with Detroit S60 and B500, or other 4 stroke power trains.

JC

[Jon]

Ditto, but while I still think buying a professionally converted coach is still the most cost effective way to go it is with some reservations now due to a variety of factors.

Your wish to have a 45 puts you in the likely price range of $100,000 unless you will be satisfied with an entertainer with high miles or a motor home that has been beaten to death.

But, apart from having a ready to drive conversion, the advantage I see if the economics work out is that building a coach is as much a hobby as any other past time and the dollars spent are no different than spending the same dollars to ski or golf. As a hobby there is a lot of satisfaction that can come from doing a bus yourself. You just have to recognize you will devote many hours and weeks or years before you get to enjoy it for travel.

If you wanted a 40 foot bus, especially if you would go with a 2 stroke there is no way you could beat the price of buying one already converted. They are selling for very low prices.

[TomC]

If you wanted to get into the bus a bit, buy the MCI 102C3 with a 6V-92TA. Then switch to the Detroit Series 50 which is a 4 cylinder. You'll get the best fuel mileage possible, and a million mile engine (change the balance shafts every 300,000mi).
Course, If you can find one already converted with Series 60, that would be the best. The 102D3 is an excellent choice.
I'd stay away from Eagles-even though they have the best ride around. Parts for the suspension are getting scarce and the steel construction almost always assures rust. Good Luck, TomC

[TomC]

Course, if you want to be really ambitious, get a truck conversion based on a name brand big rig. I am converting my '85 Kenworth 90" cabover Aerodyne using a 32ft box behind with 13ft garage for a small car like a Yaris. I currently have a transit bus with similar drive train to a GM 4106, 4107, etc. I'm just tired of squeezing around the bus to service it. Having a cabover where you can tilt the cab and fully expose the engine and transmission is unbelievably convenient. The kicker is that you only have to tilt the cab when doing major work. Changing oil, checking fluids are done through access doors that don't require the cab to be tilted.
The big plus is that any truck repair shop can repair it. Even though it has a Caterpillar 3406B mechanical engine, Caterpillar is still making that engine called the 3406C for 3rd world countries that don't want electronic engines. I also have a HT740 Allison automatic (took out the 13spd manual) that is very reliable. I have no electronics on my truck. The truck maybe 30yo now, but just about all parts are still being made (windshields are flat glass).
There are others that have gotten tired of dealing with the built in difficulties of bus maintenance and have gone the truck route. Even though it won't ride like a bus, I'm looking forward to traveling in it. Good Luck, TomC

[digesterman]

Tom is your Knw air suspension? If not expect things to get rattled apart on most highways. That's one thing I love about coaches, most ride like a dream, and really isn't that what we really want when traveling around the country?

[Phil H / Chicago]

I don't mind going thru the conversion process myself....actually that was part of what I always wanted to enjoy in the beginning because it allowed me to create the floorplan I wanted and focus on the elements of the conversion that were important to me.

Where I got myself in trouble the first time was trying to start with a shell that was not what I wanted to begin with and involved people in the conversion process that turned out to be unqualified to do work I asked to be done. This time (if there turns out to be a this time) I want to focus on getting a mechanically sound shell to start with and then I feel like it will work out better.

I guess I just need to start looking and see what's out there and determine if it is something I can do. But pretty sure I am going to look for a 45' since we grew comfortable with the 45' rv space. And actually the rv had a 14' slide in the front room and I am going to miss that.  

[lvmci]

Hi Phil, what kind of experiences did you have with the 45' coach? Did you have to make  reservations far in advance for rv parks?  There are good slide out converters for bus conversions.lvmci...

[Phil H / Chicago]

Hi lvmci....we never had any problems, but in all fairness my opinion is probably not a good one since we did very little moving. We stayed put most of the time.

Who are some of the slide out converters you would recommend? If we were to do a conversion it is definitely something I would love to consider.

[lvmci]

I have seen some of Gary Bennetts slideouts from B&B ,  there is an empty Eagle in B&Bs shop with a roof raise and his front and back caps you would recognize from other Eagle conversions, it also has a 4 stoke in it. Being an empty tube, I would think you could put any size slideouts you wanted in it. and I have seen some of the prevost marathon and country coach slideouts. I guess their seals are pretty expensive, I know the dedicated  electroncs with proprietary  boards in them are expensive  to replace. Lvmci...

[lvmci]

You know 40 ft with 12 ft wide living room and bedroom I would think, would be very livable, tom, lvmci...

[digesterman]

The only time I have had problems with finding a space for a 45 footer is in the older (like in the 50-60's) RV parks.
More space is nice indeed to have if you do much traveling.

[Phil H / Chicago]

Hi Cliff...yea I pretty much gave up on building one for several years...but think I might be willing to try again. My struggle is since we want something to pretty much live in....travel some, but not the main goal....we want as much space as possible. After living in the coach for three years you come to find/learn real fast that even a 45' bus is small

We have even wondered if our better option would be a larger 5th wheel....but then my 3/4 ton truck won't do what I would want.

Is your MCI a D model or E?....what year?....any pictures?

Thanks,
Phil

[boxcarOkie]

I'd stay away from Eagles-even though they have the best ride around. Parts for the suspension are getting scarce and the steel construction almost always assures rust. Good Luck, TomC

So right Tom, now days if it breaks, I replace it with truck stuff and have actually considered one as a replacement parts bus just in case, have my eye on one here locally.  Another draw back is the anodized skin and truck washes.

Good advice.

BCO