On The Hunt

[luvrbus]

What a show  Randy has a nice Eagle but he not going to sell it for 15 or 20k I posted it because it was in the same town.I love the term "starter bus"used on these boards 


I think we had a similar discussion on several forums a few months ago. Search for "Ros"
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[muldoonman]

Ken, now that Ros jab is a funny! Nick, bought my 1991 Prevost Conversion in 2011 for a little over 50 thousand bucks. Had 52,000 miles on bus chassis. Had been sitting 7 years in climate controlled bus barn.  It's never over when you buy one of these coaches. Always something, but if you do your own repair work, it's not as bad on your wallet or IRA (lol). I'm learning everyday on the house stuff. Motor, Drivetrain, and Chassis, still take it to Prevost. Have 81,000 miles on it now and haven't had a problem (yet) on the bottom other than service. Good luck on your search.

[thejumpsuitman]

Was wondering if you Can you get a Good Solid bus for $15,000 bucks with no problems.

No.  At that price you will need to pick your poison Somewhere.  But with that being said, I know that if you are very patient, turn over every single stone, network with others and spend hundreds of hours searching the Internet, you will find a coach worthy of purchase for that.

[Blueberry1]

Wow, you guys are great!! Thank you very much for the insight and for the leads. You've made me realize that I have a lot of learning to do before I plop down some cash. I'd love an Eagle but they might be a bit out of my range for now. I've been eyeballing this GM and was hoping you could give an opinion on it. It's a bit over budget but if it saves me a lot of headaches then I'd be ahead in the long run.

Without seeing it firsthand, what do you think?

http://roseburg.craigslist.org/rvs/5205294357.html

Nick E.

[RJ]

I've been eyeballing this GM and was hoping you could give an opinion on it.

Nick -

If you contact the seller, try to get the VIN on the coach.  The format will be "PD4106-XXXX," and from that I can tell you who originally purchased the coach from GMC, altho my initial guess is it's an ex-Greyhound.  If so, then the question becomes "which division?"

FWIW & HTH. . .

[chessie4905]

I'd advise you to stay away from an Eagle or Prevost, or MCI for the money you are talking about. Older GM's get the job done with a simpler drive train. And with the miles and age on just about any you'll find in your price range, Rust issues are going to be something that will need close investigation, no matter what brand you go with. Some people get rid of older coaches for hidden chassis rot, especially in the outside walls. From what you say you are looking for, I'd recommend a motorhome. You can find many in that range with no issues and only needing an oil change and new tires. Enjoy filling it up with the currently cheap gas. Won't impress your friends like a bus conversion might, but will not put you in the poor house like a coach can. Just look at your budget....can you afford a set of coach tires, a transmission overhaul, drop box repair, radiator recore,fan drive rebuild, brake rebuild,etc. . I think bus conversions are for owners that love to do their own work or are financially well off. If you have to have others do almost all the repairs, you better have a very fat wallet that will get very skinny quickly as soon as repairs commence.
   I'm not going to get into driving techniques, braking, or engine operation. You may blow off my advice or opinion, but that's the way it is.
   You could get lucky and find the perfect coach cheap, never need any repairs or significant components replaced,put on many trouble free money free miles and fuel stays cheap for several years, any your income stays stable or you are on ssi or relief,.....yeah and that's why I don't buy lottery tickets. Good luck

[thejumpsuitman]

From what you say you are looking for, I'd recommend a motorhome. You can find many in that range with no issues and only needing an oil change and new tires. Enjoy filling it up with the currently cheap gas. Won't impress your friends like a bus conversion might, but will not put you in the poor house like a coach can. Just look at your budget....can you afford a set of coach tires, a transmission overhaul, drop box repair, radiator recore,fan drive rebuild, brake rebuild,etc. . I think bus conversions are for owners that love to do their own work or are financially well off. If you have to have others do almost all the repairs, you better have a very fat wallet that will get very skinny quickly as soon as repairs commence.

Chessie makes some good points but I also know that once you have been bitten by the "bus bug", nothing else will do.  Also today's motor homes are disposable flimsy tissue boxes that Come with their own set of problems...  Roof leaks, unreliability, horrible depreciation, etc.  

I would suggest looking at an older Blue Bird Wanderlodge.  One might consider those to be the best of both worlds.  They are true buses but they were factory built to be motor homes.  They have a huge online support community, have a proud heritage and are very cool.  The made them 31 to 43 feet long, so you can really dial in to what size suits you. Also, as Clifford (luvrbus) pointed out to me in a recent conversation, sourcing parts for a Blue Bird is not a problem like it is for an older MCI, GMC or Eagle.

[Oonrahnjay]

Without seeing it firsthand, what do you think?

http://roseburg.craigslist.org/rvs/5205294357.html

Nick E.

      Nick - I don't (never have) own a GMC but the pictures make that appear that that's a coach with fresh, tasteful paint, and V-8 with auto, good equipment (gen, inverter, etc.), modern and clean interior.  Dunno about $25K for an over-50-year-old vehicle, but if you can pay that and keep your "bus owner's rainy-day fund", it would be worth a closer look.  But don't forget, you're likely to spend $10 - 15K on it in the first two years, even if it all checks out now.  And if you get any "well, it has an inverter and gennie but they're not hooked up" kind of business, stay away.

[thejumpsuitman]

Wow, you guys are great!! Thank you very much for the insight and for the leads. You've made me realize that I have a lot of learning to do before I plop down some cash. I'd love an Eagle but they might be a bit out of my range for now. I've been eyeballing this GM and was hoping you could give an opinion on it. It's a bit over budget but if it saves me a lot of headaches then I'd be ahead in the long run.

Without seeing it firsthand, what do you think?

http://roseburg.craigslist.org/rvs/5205294357.html

Nick E.

Since you're asking for opinions, I think it is overpriced in today's market.   I doubt very many GM buses are selling for over $20,000 these days.  A vintage GMC bus that has been "modernized" on the outside  appeals to a very specific taste which should be considered in case you ever decide to sell it.   It seems like that was a fad during the 1980s.  As a fan of older GMC buses, the fact that it no longer resembles a 4106 makes it lose its appeal to me.   Looks nice inside though.   All that being said, taste is personal. That is why it is called an opinion.  

[thejumpsuitman]

(glitch)

[scanzel]

A lot of great advice on this site so take it as you wish. Here is what it's cost me so far, I am mechanical but not on large items like a bus plus not retired yet so time is not always available. 1989 Prevost purchased in 2005 not yet done 2015, 683,000 miles. Original cost $30,000.00, drive from Reno,NV to Connecticut $2500, blew power steering pump in Wyoming. Got bus home had clutch and pump replaced and complete inspection done by local bus company $5600, 6 new tires $1800, blew an air bag, replaced all 8 and had steering box leak fixed $4400 kept over the road air conditioning system had it totally redone $4200. So far DD 8V92 has been fine if that goes not sure what I will do. Conversion process so far and not yet done another 15 to 20 thousand. We use it but still not done. Good luck in your find.

[luvrbus]

What ever brand you choose to buy be sure it has a autonomic Allison,clutches are stupid in price for a MCI and GM buses not many left they been rebuilt so many times in the past Eagles and Prevost have a standard truck clutch they are not bad in price but 1200 to 2000 bucks for a MCI clutch is just silly.

After doing a clutch on a MCI 5 I can see where a shop would charge the owner 4 or 5 grand for a clutch job and never blink  

[Cary and Don]

Just looking at that bus there are some good things. The owner cares enough for it to cover the tires and clean it up before the pictures. The bad could be there isn't any information on what kind of equipment it has. I would ask for a complete list even if just out of curiosity.. You really need to know those things to justify the price. If it is well equipped, I don't see it being over priced. Ask for pictures of everything. Including the bays, engine, transmission, under body, up and down the body, all the electrical panels. This should be like a in person walk through. Talk to the owner. If he sounds like he is selling a family member, you are on the right path. He will talk and talk and happily send you a bunch of photos. I would be that the price is a starting point. The first impression here is good.

Cary

[jackhanow]

i have an mc5 for sale. runs and drives. was only a greyhound for 5 yrs. converted in 72. good starter bus. very little rust. lived in new mexico most of its life. now its in wyoming. we lived in it for 2 yrs and parked it because we had to help my dad. now i bought a 102a2. let me know. drove it a week ago just to see after being parked for 3 years. no modern stuff.

[Sharkbait]

Here's a GM PD4106 in Ocala. 15K OBO

https://ocala.craigslist.org/rvs/5158375639.html


Good luck, Phil