96 vs. 102

Chris & Beverly · February 23, 2017, 09:41:10 PM

OK, next question now that I know that a newer engine is better, that given my mechanical skills I should consider a higher end motor home and that all the MCIs except Dave's MC5 are ugly boring...
How about the width? 102 gives a little more space but isn't legal off the highway. What is your experience? Getting hassled by the police? Limited places you can visit or camp? Ease/difficulty driving and maneuvering? How much difference does 6" make (don't say it)?

TomC · February 23, 2017, 11:05:56 PM

If you're going to add slide outs, overall width doesn't really matter. But-like most of us, I don't like slide outs for many reasons. My transit is 102" wide and 40ft long with huge windows. The first thing people notice when coming in is the open air feeling. I have never been stopped or bothered about the 102" wide either on the road or in an RV park. If I were doing another bus conversion, I'd use the MCI 102C3. 6'10" headroom, 102" wide, huge windows, straight side walls, stainless below the belt line, and some converted to Series 60. Good Luck, TomC

dbldragon · February 23, 2017, 11:50:07 PM

We have a 102 MCI and didn't know what it was when we first looked at it. We had just stepped out of a 96" bus and was painted the same . The wife said what is different with this one and I said I don't know but its different. To us you can feel the extra space. We have had it for 2 summers now and have been to Alaska and to N Ont. by way of SD from Vancouver Island and never had a issue with its 102 " size.

Chuck

Jon · February 24, 2017, 02:52:31 AM

What is the source of the comment about 102 wide being an issue and getting hassled?

All of my coaches for the last 27 years have been 102 wide and nobody ever has stopped me or even commented on its width or where I was allowed to go.

I doubt if any semi or commercial bus in operation today is less than 102 wide.

scanzel · February 24, 2017, 03:39:51 AM

You can look at this way. 96"wide once you convert the inside and cover the walls with something you will now be less than 96". With my 102" wide even after covering my walls I am still at about 96" inside. Just look at the difference between an MCI 9 and a MCI 102 A,B or C. My choice now would be a 45' MCI DL for a conversion series 60/B500. I like my Prevost but framing out the curved windows is a big challenge.

ccbmster · February 24, 2017, 07:17:32 AM

I went from a MCI9 96" wide to an MCI 102A3, and the difference is amazing.

I would never go back to a 96" wide coach.

Utahclaimjumper · February 24, 2017, 08:23:50 AM

I also could not understand where he got the statement about being too wide,, 102" is legal in all states and has been for years.>>>D( Try to find any coach less than 102" since 2000)

luvrbus · February 24, 2017, 09:09:28 AM

The older Prevost 102 wide are 102 wide from the front to the rear the Eagle and older MCI's are 96 inches to the back of the drivers seat like my DL3,then widen out to 102 wide fwiw,only the Eagle 07 and MCI 6 were 102 wide from the front to the rear, I don't know about a VanHool

scanzel · February 24, 2017, 09:57:14 AM

The best thing is for Chris and Beverly to go look at a 96 and a 102 and then decide. It is their choice. 96 or 102 doesn't make any difference in a camp ground just the length and sometimes the height. Most camp grounds will post their maximum length allowed for various reasons, small sites, limited space, trees etc. They also need to look at how tall each of them are so they have enough head room. The newer MCI's 102 have better head height that a older Prevost 102 XL with only 76". I don't have a roof raise on my Prevost but my wife and I are under 6' so it isn't an issue, only for someone that may visit us that is over 6'. They may be better off finding a good store bought motorhome with a high interior if they are tall. Plus the other item they did not mention is their budget. A do it yourself bus conversion can quickly eat up a lot of cash. My initial shell cost was $30,000 as of today I have about $60,000 in to it excluding all my part time labor over 10 years and still not done. But Close.

Utahclaimjumper · February 24, 2017, 10:30:27 AM

AND,,look at all the times you could not use it because you were "working on it",,BTDT>>>Dan

lvmci · February 24, 2017, 05:27:41 PM

why don't you go to a bus conversion getogether, walk thru as many buses as you can and have first hand info at that point, most all bus nuts are friendly, except Gary Hatt, and will answer your questions and show you the most details to help you, lvmci...

kyle4501 · February 24, 2017, 05:58:33 PM

Quote from: lvmci on February 24, 2017, 05:27:41 PM
why don't you go to a bus conversion getogether, walk thru as many buses as you can and have first hand info at that point, most all bus nuts are friendly, except Gary Hatt, and will answer your questions and show you the most details to help you, lvmci...

That is good advice!

B_K · February 24, 2017, 06:23:16 PM

Back in the day when dinosaurs roamed the earth 102" wide vehicles were illegal.
And on some state roads they still are.
But on any road that gets federal funds they are legal!
These are old laws and NOT ENFORCED in this day and age.
But in many places even though it's not enforced it is however still on the books.

NEVER EVER seen a bus / RV bothered with for the width law.

Have however on some KY highways seen money hungry scum sucking DOT's using the 96" wide rule to pull over unsuspecting trucks and then give them full blown DOT inspections.

But rarely happens these days unless there is a lot of truck traffic barrelling down the two lanes scaring car drivers off the road.

BK

Oonrahnjay · February 25, 2017, 05:07:32 AM

Quote from: B_K on February 24, 2017, 06:23:16 PMBack in the day when dinosaurs roamed the earth 102" wide vehicles were illegal.
And on some state roads they still are.
But on any road that gets federal funds they are legal!
These are old laws and NOT ENFORCED in this day and age.
But in many places even though it's not enforced it is however still on the books. ...
BK

It's against the law to carry a whale into the State of Oklahoma. So don't do that, either.

B_K · February 25, 2017, 08:17:37 AM

Quote from: Oonrahnjay on February 25, 2017, 05:07:32 AMd around and sure e
It's against the law to carry a whale into the State of Oklahoma. So don't do that, either.

Speaking of Whales I was in a bar drinking one night and kept hearing these sweet voices with Irish accents.
So I looked around and sure enough there were two beautiful young Lasses and two larger ones with them also.
So I got up and asked "Excuse me, but are you lasses from Ireland or Scotland?"
One of the larger loudly said "Look it's Wales you idiot!"
So I rephrased my question and asked "OH I'm so sorry, are you whales from Ireland or Scotland?"
Next thing I knew I woke up in a hospital.
SO I tell you it's not a good idea to ask if a whale is from either Ireland or Scotland!

BK