[Archived]

WOW what find! Could be a GEM or the motorhome version of ” a hole in the water you pour money into( a boat).

I would add all filters and belts, change the oil, to the list at a minuim, and have the fuel cleaned before starting.

A lot of things will probably leak, air, fuel, oil. Real good chance of lots of dried out seals.

All fluids and filters will have to be changed. Electronics are probably all out of date.

Might be a real good idea to have a professional look at it and determine the best course of action. Could be money and time ahead to list it “as is” with full disclaimer and hope for a quick sale.

[Archived]

We’re vacationing in Hawaii. Our stop on Kauai found this bus in desparate need of some love.

I tried to find some date codes on the passenger rear tires… I didn’t see any (probably on the inside)…. anyway, it was tired, very tired and is used as a Helicopter office. Also, I couldn’t find a name anywhere on it to which brand it is.

It had weeds growing out of the gutters. It hasn’t moved, probably, in 15 yrs.

Mark

[DON]

The key to the health of the dormant coach is totally dependent on how it was maintained up until storage, and then how was it stored and under what environmental conditions.

If during its 25,000 miles the air system was not maintained that could be a major repair issue. If the fuel tank was not filled and there was varying temps and humidity in the storage facility the fuel tank(s) could be growing algae. The interior could be musty and moldy, in which case the repair work might exceed the current coach value.

Things age so tires and batteries as mentioned are toast, but so are the Norgrens, the air bags, belt tensioners, etc, which could be a moot point if the air system has moisture, no matter how slight.

The entire key is to find out what the worst case scenario might be an determine the cost to repair. The answer to all questions is within the list of costs.

[Archived]

Jon,

I forwarded your opinion to Ron.

He said:

“To answer the one question, the temperature and humidity were kept constant since this is in a boned warehouse that stores electronic components so everything has to be kept constant to protect the inventory.

Knowing the owner, the coach was just parked after their last trip with no thought given to maintenance. If it was low on fuel, it stayed that way. He probably figured he would use it again in a month or so and that just never happened.

Other then the climate concerns, I would say that a perspective buyer would have to consider the worst case scenario for the condition of the coach.

I agree that the coach will need a complete inspection. How much can be inspected on an as is where is basis or do we have to do certain steps before we can get to the next step? In other words do we have to get this thing running before we can check about the other issues?

Ron “

What do you think would be his next best step?

Mark

[Archived]

Mark,

Without revealing the secret location, what part of FL is the bus located? If they can get it running, do a brake check, level low working, no suspension leaks, drain the air tanks, air up all the tires, make sure all fluids are at correct level, then get it to Parliament or Tradewinds. At that point they can then decide what path they want to take, selling it as is or with a complete level of service and maintenance, including tires and batteries.

Or, they could do as I suggested to get it running and sell it as is, where is. It could even be sold as is, where is and not running and the buyer could have it towed. We all know what it’s going to need and that’s an extensive list, but depending on the storage facility, there may not be many options for removal other than towing.

Since I’m in Florida, if I can help with just putting eye’s on it, let me know.

[Archived]

One possible downside of selling it “as is” without getting it looked at at some level, is it being sold to an unsuspecting/un-knowledgable new to prevost buyer.

We all know what could be needed on a coach of this era and lack of use/time of sitting. As Tom mentioned, that list is extensive and that equates to “expensive”. Someone walking into this, thinking they are getting a good deal without actually knowing the overall situation could be a bad for someone who may not be able to take on that level of expense.

I would honestly, recommend trying to work with a reputable prevost dealer in the area to either consign it or buy it to recondition it and sell on their own. Either way it puts the burden on a dealer with their reputation on the line rather then a private deal where one side will get the bad end of the deal.

If the owner decides to sell it privately, using you as a go between, may I recommend to be transparent and point any potential buyer to this site and even more so, to this thread so they can get a good idea of what they may be dealing with and concerns from existing owners of what this coach may bring?

Heck if you end up being the go between, it would put your personal reputation on the line. If I were in that situation, I would take it on myself to get the coach moving and into a place to take a look at it so you know what you are dealing with and not potentially misleading someone.

[Archived]

Mark,

It looks like an MCI to me. Of course you are aware that looks can be deceiving!

Not sure of what year but just guessing around the short side of 2000.

[David]

Guys, thank you for your help for Ron.

Here are the responses from Ron to this thread (I copy and pasted all of the responses for him to read).

“Mr. Mark,

I think the best bet is to get it running and see if things air up enough for the brakes to work and it to lift off of the ground. I should be able to find a truck service company to come and change the tires on site.

At that point we can evaluate it and then maybe decide to take it to Parliament RV which is about 5 miles away. I’m familiar with Parliament since their lot is right next to the airport where I kept my airplanes.

The biggest problem that I usually run in to is that the owner never does any maintenance on his toys and then when he decides to get rid of them, he overestimates the value. Naturally it doesn’t help that I sold his 1999 Lamborghini VT for a little over $100,000 more than he paid for it. SOME classic cars and SOME exotic cars do go up in value, but boats and RV’s drop in value rather quickly.

I’ll see if he is in town next week and maybe I can get a feel of what he wants to do. I think I am going to shoot a figure of possibly $5-$8,000 just to get it running with new tires and batteries. This could go much higher if it won’t start and needs a lot more mobile mechanic work just to be able to move it. After that I will tell him that it may cost a total of $50,000 to make it entirely roadworthy and safe to sell as a used coach. Of course that is subject to a quote from Parliament.”

“Mr. Mark,

I know that Parliament is a large RV dealer but I didn’t know that they worked on Prevosts. I know that the coach has never been there before because it always went back to Liberty for service while he was using it. If it looks like the coach runs and operates better than expected, I think that the best choice would be to get it over to Liberty for service and repair as needed, and then maybe leave it with them to sell.

Thanks so much for your time and expertise and advice on this coach. I will keep you informed on what he is doing. He has branches in several other countries and trying to catch him in the office is a little difficult.

Ron”

I also suggested that he take Tom up on his offer for a ‘look-see’. And, the ‘expertise and advice’ comment made by Ron is for you guys, I’m just the messenger. LOL!

Mark

[Archived]

Ron or the owner needs to sign up for a PC NAPA card (for chassis batteries) and get on the Michelin tire deal. Ron should join the PC Forum so we can all keep track of bringing this coach back to life.

I think Ron’s estimate of $5K to $8K for tires and (chassis) batteries is pretty accurate; but that gets the coach only chassis batteries. It will be interesting to know if the tires are still hold air and if so, how much air.

Another $50K to really zero out out the coach (and put in new LifeLine coach batteries) and deal with a handful of issues beyond a good “zero out” is probably a reasonable estimate. This presumes that they don’t find any catastrophic problems like the DD is locked up tight, or the generator is locked up tight, or there is damage to the DD due to the coolant sitting in it for ten or more years, or the OTR Carrier compressor is shot from non-use, or the Cruise-Airs aren’t all leaking like a sieve through the seals from non-use. We should presume that the parking brake has been enabled for at least five years … maybe ten years without being released. Have the parking brakes shoes or pad bonded with the drum or rotor and they are now one?

Eventhough the coach has been in a climate controlled facility for ten years and it sounds like its been five years since anyone has been inside it, entering it at this point is going to be like opening up Al Capone’s vault, or a tomb or sarcophagus. Who knows what’s been going onside this hermetically sealed piece of French-Canadian craftsmanship all these years. When it was put into storage after the last trip was the waste tank dumped? Was anything left in the refrigerator? Was the refrigerator running all this time? As the coach plugged into shore power all this time?

This isn’t going to be like Mike and Frank from American Pickers waking up a classic car from the 20s or 30s that has sat in a barn since 1956.

On the bright side, apparently this coach has bunks … which should pique the interest of a number of Prevost shoppers. But as a previous poster pointed out, this is probably not a “project coach” for someone who doesn’t have a thorough, indepth understand of Prevost coaches and how they are to be maintained.

Maybe this process could be turned into a reality TV mini-series similar to Gold Rush or The Curse of Oak Island.

I hope we’re kept abreast of how this unfolds and the end result.

[Archived]

Tom, if you go look-see, let me know as I am only 16 miles south of you on 655 and I would go with you. I am a lot nicer to ride with than Jon, plus you will not need your WW II gas mask.

3-F

[Archived]

Since I tripled your dues again Mr. Foxtrot it is likely you will begin feeling a little pain this time. If you keep picking on me for flatulance I will get the enforcer, (Mr. Tom) to pay you a visit.

[Bernie]

at Parliament for about a yesr. That particular coach had been in storage for about 15 years and when the owner died, the kids were tasked with getting rid of it. The guys at Parliament were able to get the coach to run and moved it to their facility. Nothing else has been done to it, as far as I know, since it would require a lot of money with no guarantee that it will make that coach saleable.

Since Ron is frequenting Clearwater airport, he is within walking distance of Parliament and a visit would probably be helpful.

Cheers,

Ronald

[Archived]

If I recall correctly, Detroit Diesel has a specified procedure for starting a Series 60 that has been sitting for years. I believe it involves pulling the head to get some oil into the cylinders, which will have drained out after a year or so of sitting. There are lots of stories of engines “starting right up” after a long time sitting, but if the owner wants some assurance of long term reliability, he or she should do it right. Starting dry is highly detrimental to the pistons and sleeves.

[Peter]

To say nothing of the high potential to have the rings “frozen” in the pistons, or break quickly after start up, something that goes undetected long enough for the pieces to mess up the engine.

[Peter]

It is an older MCI charter coach, probably an MCI 102A3 or C3. There were a lot of these on the Hawaiian islands and are usually scrapped as the cost to ship back to the mainland is greater than the worth of the vehicle. It may be one of the vehicles from the Roberts Hawaii fleet that found an alternate home after its useful life.