Eagle VS. Prevost for conversion.

[scanzel]

I have a 1989 Prevost that was a charter bus out of California so no problems with any rust but interior height is only 76" so if you are trying to duct the air and put in recessed lighting then this will not work unless you are very short. I did not raise roof or skin the sides I just left the original windows and covered them up on the inside. The air bag suspension rides great with no issues except an air bag blew out at an rv park one weekend so I just had all eight replaced. I wasn't able to do the work so it was expensive. I still work full time so it has been a conversion in progress for the last 10 years. Should be 95% finished by summer 2017. You never mentioned how much you are willing to spend on the initial purchase. Cheap is not always the best way to go. Get one with an automatic and a newer four stroke engine. Last night Ebay has some entertainers fairly inexpensive. Good luck on your find and remember the board has a lot of good information.

[Jon]

This may not be a popular answer, but anyone that really believes they will convert a coach so it can be exactly the way they want has no clear understanding of how impossible that will be. First, if you can find a professional conversion you will get the collected design ideas from people who have been doing conversions for years and have made all the possible mistakes. Unless you have a lifetime of experience using a coach, your conversion, if it ever gets finished will have a book full of things you will change "the next time".

Buy one already converted. That way you get all the parts and pieces, then after you have used it long enough to really know what you think you want, gut it, rearrange it, or modify it.

In the long run starting with a completed conversion is going to save you a whole lot of money and time.

[DoubleEagle]

This may not be a popular answer, but anyone that really believes they will convert a coach so it can be exactly the way they want has no clear understanding of how impossible that will be. First, if you can find a professional conversion you will get the collected design ideas from people who have been doing conversions for years and have made all the possible mistakes. Unless you have a lifetime of experience using a coach, your conversion, if it ever gets finished will have a book full of things you will change "the next time".

Buy one already converted. That way you get all the parts and pieces, then after you have used it long enough to really know what you think you want, gut it, rearrange it, or modify it.

In the long run starting with a completed conversion is going to save you a whole lot of money and time.

Very correct. It is wonderful and creative to have your own ideas come to pass in your own coach, but in reality there are only a few basic design layouts that will work. The time you envision that it will take you to complete your coach could be easily doubled or tripled in reality. If you can find a quality conversion or original entertainer coach that meets your needs, it will be far better economically and will get you on the road quicker. The details that are buried in a quality conversion done by professionals make a real difference, that is why they cost hundreds of thousands. My Eagle entertainer was done by a Nashville converter when it was fresh from the factory with a factory single-piece door and driver's A/C. There are lead sheets built into the floor as a sound barrier, a three-ton A/C & electric furnace with air distribution throughout the coach with duct work, custom leather seats and sofas, etc. The conversions done by Custom Coach in Columbus, Ohio (sold out to another company at a different location) are very detailed and high quality. Their floors could include lead sheets and cork sheets mixed in with plywood under tile or marble. There are other converters that have put out wonderful conversions that have lasted for decades, and with care, will continue to. We understand your desire to do it your way, that is what I did with my first Eagle, but since we all have a limited time on earth, speed up the process and benefit from the knowledge of others, and get on the road. At the least, do what Scott Bennett is doing currently after he came across a partially converted MCI at a very good price. He is benefiting from the solid groundwork of another, and is building it the way he wants it. In any event, it is your money and time, you will have decide what is best for you, but listen to those who have been through it.

[rusty]

The 15 entertainers were a 9 inch raise from the factory if you can find one. What eagle 19952 said is true. When I finished my 05 there was about 1 1/2 inches of adjustment left. That was 12 years and 150,000 miles ago. I did raise it about 1/2 inch before we went to Alaska last year. I do keep it raised when not in use. If the front end parts are in good shape and well maintained they will last a long time.Try and not overload the front end that will help save front end parts. If you have a stick-to-it attitude then by all means convert one. It will take more time and money than you are planning on.The best looking bus on the road is the Eagle JMO. It is hard to beat the ride of an Eagle.

Wayne

[luvrbus]

I love my Eagles great buses if Eagle made a 45 ft bus you could turn around in 2 football fields I would still have a Eagle

[blue_goose]

I might as well put in my two cents. 
I converted an 05 Eagle myself and it took 3 years to get it on the road.  I liked the layout and the coach road and drove good ( nothing rides like an Eagle).  When I traded for the second coach it was Built by Hoffman on a new 102C3 shell that was made for a motorhome.  My coach was built to sell for about $500,000 in 1992, I paid about $.10 on the dollar when I bought it.  That is when it was finished, the shell was built in Nov. of 1990.
If you are not going to raise the roof and want some head room you have no choice other than getting a coach built for a motorhome.  I know how you fell about your own design, because that was what i wanted to do when I built my first coach.  Been there done that, never again.
Jack

[Gary LaBombard]

I just have to jump in here to give you just a little insight to consider.  I bought our 1973 05 Eagle in 2002 for $30.000!!  At that time buses were selling way way over priced but you had to pay the price to find one if it was your dream to convert a bus and it was mine.  Well, I will make this as short as I can but you know me.

I have been working on this bus, off and on, for (14 years now)!!!!!!  Reread what I just wrote here.  The framing on my bus was so rotted after pressure washing the undercarriage I choose to replace the entire framing from the floor down to the ground.  This was a great decision on my part for safety as out of 100% of the frame I ended up replacing 99% of it as you have no idea when metal starts to rust (and it will) just how much of your framing will be unsafe, and in only a few years.  

I sometimes get very discouraged and just take time away and go on a trip with our 13' Scamp trailer, like in 2014 we went to Alaska for 78 days. I thought this long break would give me back the drive I had at the beginning of my conversion project.  Well that does not last very long when the cost of everything just becomes a real PIA.  Nothing hardly under $1,000, nothing.  You may have to replace your radiator, air compressor, install power steering if you do not have any, install automatic transmission if you have a 4 speed spicer, and the cost of the metal to replace in your framing is out of this world. The cost of replacing the air system and converting from DD3 brake system to spring break as about $2,000 for all new DOT brass fittings, and the new spring break valves needed and Dot air lines was about $1200 just to give you a figure!!

I purchased this bus for $30,000 originally, (a figure I used to be ashamed to admit) but now willing to do to ("influence others wishing to do this to consider getting a bus already converted")!!  After your potential bus purchase is inspected by knowing people of buses that you can enjoy your bus as you dreamed of and not get involved in a lengthy, time consuming, costly, Not Injury free either, project. If you are not really handy with welding, electrical, plumbing, &  mechanical repair and maintenance of your bus then you better stick with buying a Fiat!. But to continue with my estimate costs of everything I replaced so far it has been $30,000 purchase and (ABOUT) $50,000 for metal tubing, brand new Air system and all new valves and fittings, new brakes, new power steering and all the air system & power steering plumbing. Thanks to Manny he gave me a near new air compressor off his old motor and I can't remember all else right now I wish to include in this post but the list is long.  To show you how much welding it took to replace my undercarriage to make my metal framing way better than new I used, (24 -10 Lb. rolls of Mig wire and 200# of stick weld!!!!!!!!!!!  My knees are shot, my spirit is at a down time low to finish.  MY health is giving me major pain in daily working on the bus.  If you are near my age, (71), forget a project such as this but remember I started this adventure at 57 years old, (14 very long years ago).

Now I can go on and on about pitfalls etc. on my particular project, I cannot just give up now as I have had so many people, vendors etc. that have supported me and sold me merchandise to continue my project at their price.  I feel I owe completing this project to them as well as my wife and family but now it is taking longer to reach the end because of health etc.  BUT I WILL COMPLETE GETTING OUR EAGLE REALLY TO AT LEAST BE DRIVEABLE AND USEABLE.

My advise and I am hanging myself out here being nearly naked admitting all this stuff and way, way much more is to help you decide to get a completed couch, being of the newest year you can afford, have it inspected completely before purchase and then buy it and enjoy it as is.  You will still have some minor repairs at times I am absolutely sure but you do not have to  spend 14 years of your life on and off making it useable because the previous owner absolutely knew I was a greenhorn, and sold me a POS to work with.  But it no longer is a POS but at what cost??

To do a conversion you need "DEEP POCKETS", no matter what any naysayers here may say.  But if you do have deep pockets, why not go get a coach that is complete, is in great shape and the prices to purchase a bus is now way more reasonable.  You can get a nice coach for between $30-60,000, get one as NEW in years as you can!!  You will spend way more than that on a conversion you make, I promise you.  You can live with the lay out of a coach professionally converted I am sure, don't go raising roofs etc. and things that will just make your life a living hell at times.  If you believe you may have to do this work alone, add way way more time than you anticipate working on it.  

I hope not to offend anyone here with this post, it is just an eye awakener I hope will stay in your mind when getting ready to jump in this hobby.  I wish you all luck, hopefully better than mine, and if you see me at a campground when we are in our Eagle, come on over and let me know I helped you make a great decision to look for the best pre-converted coach ever and you are enjoying it to the max.  That will be the reward to me for helping you see reality and I will truly feel my job to help others was done.  See you on the road one day soon I hope.

[DoubleEagle]

Gary is right about the need for deep pockets, you can pay now, or later. Thanks Gary for telling us about your conversion journey, your suffering will help others. 

[TomC]

Eagles are too old, too susceptible to chassis rust, and while they ride well, have no means to self adjust or manually level the bus like you do with air suspension. Prevost has to curvy of side walls and personally don't like the snooty persona they have. If I were doing another bus, it would be a D model MCI with Series 60 engine. 6'10" headroom, flat side walls, huge windows, wide set air suspension for stable ride and leveling capability, stainless chassis below windows, etc.
Just buy a pre converted bus. Believe me-it takes at least 2 years of work just to get to the point of starting to rebuild the interior after tearing out seats, stripping the interior, insulating, placing plumbing and electrical, etc. It is a gigantic job that will take 3 times longer and twice as much money as you think. Too many used buses already converted out there to consider starting from scratch. Make sure the bus has the engine/transmission you want, and secondly a Diesel generator. Good Luck, TomC

[Gary LaBombard]

Tom, you summed it up way better and SHORTER than me.  Thanks

[Lin]

I can understand the vision of doing it all yourself, and if the joy you are looking for is doing the work, developing the skills, and the pride of accomplishment--that's the way to go.  However, if you want to get the most use for a reasonable investment in time and money, a converted coach is the way.  One of the things you said makes me wonder about what your budget is and if it is realistic or not.  How much do you plan to spend on a shell?  Considering that good converted coaches can be had for even less than 30k (a member of this board recently sold his for 25k almost immediately after putting 35k into a new engine, etc.!  If you only spend a couple of thousand on a shell, expect to spend many times that just getting it to be roadworthy.

Interestingly enough, the advise you would have gotten on this board several years ago would have been quite different, but most have adapted to the new reality in the bus market.

[luvrbus]

I wish you luck, just keep it in mind these old buses are on the market because of the revenue when one cost more to maintain than it produces in revenue it ends ups on the market for some poor guy to purchase. 

Jon has it right buy your self a bus that has always been a RV low mileage chassis and running gear and 98% of the time well maintain, but we all do it our way 

[muldoonman]

Prevost has to curvy of side walls and personally don't like the snooty persona they have. Good Luck, TomC

Snooty huh!

[DoubleEagle]

Eagles are too old

Tom, Eagles are younger than me, and they are newer than some of the other buses that people convert. As long as they look good to a lot of people, they will be sought after. I believe it is still the only bus to be mentioned in a country song (George Jones).

[goldgiter]

For what its worth I did my conversion my way and did it in a little over a year.
Would I do it again, HELL NO!!!!!!!!

Wes