[Corey]

Jon,

Investment is for sure WRONG word…I know better from my bottomless pits that float! Everytime I turn around its a couple more grand! I guess my meaning was that I believe I have an oppurtunity to purchase this coach extremely far back of any guides that are in publication. If engine is good and transmission is good then my though pattern is I could gut and refurb to my likings and still get multiple years of enjoyment out of it. If I purchase I plan on keeping for multiple years and truly understand that the oppurtunity to actually make any money is far from reality!

Obvisouly it is a really unique and undesired layout but I would have to think that if majority of major components are in working order then I could possibly reconfigure interior for lets say around $50k? I have not had chance to actually see the coach in person, which will happen tomorrow, so I really dont know what kind of shape it is in other than pictures that were sent to me from current owner.

I am always extremely fond of thankful that we have avenues such as this forum to discuss items like this. I always seem to learn and absorb more useful information from speaking with folks like yourself!

Once again THANKS to all for the priceless knowledge and comments!

Cripper

[Robert]

Cripper,

After selling our Country Coach Affinity there was a 3 month gap and we both realized how much fun the RV hobby is.

Going on a hunt finding many buses for sale for a variety of reasons sometimes seemed frustrating.

It has been mentioned by Jon from K town…..when you go aboard the ONE you will know it. Keep looking till you find it.

Boats, had 13 …. going into Prevost bus we never looked back. We own the best.

[Doug]

Crippen,

Here is my spin on your potential plan to buy, gut, and rebuild.

The homebuilders on here will respond accurately because they have been there, done that, and I am only surmising. That is a valid plan if there is something about that Ranfy Travis chassis that is very important to you and that you possess the skills to tackle a project like that. The problem I see with that approach in today’s market is that there are some apparently nice coaches for sale in the market that will sell for near what you suggest it will cost you to rebuild the interior.

Lately I have seen several coaches offered for in the $50s to $60s and unless the photos are lying the conversion looks pretty good and the mileage on the coaches is pretty low.

There can be no question that if you start with a coach that has already been converted you are starting with one that has the necessary and expensive systems and devices in place. But if you can start with one like that, one that already has a more accepted floor plan then I think you would be even further ahead.

I noted you talked about putting a lot of money into a boat. That suggests you have been paying others to do work on the boat. A Prevost is no different. If you don’t tackle a lot of your own repairs the cost associated with ownership ramp up significantly. I am not suggesting everyone should do their own work, but I am saying if you choose not to do your own work ownership of a Prevost conversion might not be as inexpensive as it might appear to you right now.

[Archived]

Cripper,

I as a past owner of Entertainer Lease Coaches being used for revenue income HAD to do as much of the work on my coach as I could.Because there is something all the time that needs fixed and you just cant afford to take every little thing to the shop for repair and if you dont stay after the coach you will wind up with a pile of junk on wheels.Prevenitive maintainence is very important,But daily maintainence of all the little things that go wrong is more important!!! Coaches are made up of 100’s of individual items for your convienence,comfort or liking. I have always felt that if it was put on the coach for what ever reason,It should work,Period! That is what it is on there for!!

I know Randy had an Eagle that had an unusual floorplan and a solid wall dividing the driver compartment from the front lounge,Is this Prevost set up the same way? While that is a good floorplan for a lease coach,giving the driver some privacy and space from the group and doing the same for the group as well as cutting down on noise levels of the tv and stereo distracting the driver and the lights causing a glare at night,It may not be an accepable floorplan for a family that travels in a different way and want to be together.

I have had many coaches over the years modified to suit clients and they just never looked right,you could always tell they were not built that way originally,I dont know why,But you could.

And as Jon said,The coach market prices are way down on used coaches,you can buy a really nice professionally converted Prevost motorhome to your liking for probably less than you would have in this coach with a chopped up interior. And I would really think about the salvage title and the amount of money you are paying for the coach,for the insurance company to total the coach,It must have really had some serious damage or they would have fixed it.Then how do you know if it was fixed right,or just patched back together? was it fixed by a professional company or somebody’s brother that does that kind of work sorta’? Just something to think about,In my opinion if you bought a vehicle with a totaled title,you may as well plan on keeping it or giving it away when you decide to sell it.I dont know about now,but years ago banks would not loan money on rebuilt titles or totaled titles. When we use to stretch and widen and raise the Eagles it was hard to find money to do them from commercial instutions,They just were protecting there selves and wouldnt get involved!! These are just my opinions and something to think about,take it for what it is and use it as you want!!!

Robert

I would just hate for your first expierence in Prevost ownership to be a bad one,Because there is nothing like it when you have a good one!!! Once on a Prevost,You will never go back !!!!

[Archived]

Jon,

As always thank you for input! I am meeting owner today with a open mind. I will inspect and either walk, which is way I am leaning,, or purchase(doubtful). You mentioned you have seen coaches in 50’s and 60’s and I am wondering where you have seen them that cheap? I have seen afew in 80’s most close to 200k but these coaches are all over 500k on the odometer and that really concerns me. As far as maintenance I would be doing bulk of it myself and what I can’t do I can have mydiesel techs tackle it. I own a few dealerships here so I have the facilities to do such. My diesel techs are at my GM store so that isn’t a problem..I even have one they spent 15 years at a big rig shop working on cats and detroits! I am pretty handy when it comes to my boats ….I actually spent 9 months on my fishing boat rebuilding transom out of carbon fiber twill and re-gel coating entire boat……tedious work but I enjoy it! I also have a dear friend and employee that is a custom cabinet maker that actually built a house for us who got his start with a conversion company (high top vans)…… I know it’s a different beast than a prevost but I feel confident he could do anything I put in front of him. He actually spent last 5 years before coming back to work for me building multi million dollar log homes in the Ashville area.

I will keep you guys posted and I can’t express the gratitude I have for you folks igor just listening and responding….I really appreciate the sincere responses …..it’s almost like you are the little angel of conscious on my shoulder ! Thank You!

[Archived]

Cripper,

Reading your past project list gives me the impression that you’re not limited in buying a bus project. Robert, brings up many points to keep in mind before you write the check.

I think one of the draw backs I remember all the fix’er uppers I’ve had. Some went well others..how did this whole simple project turn to a nightmare ?

Age on older buses will be a factor with finding parts. I think many buses sit for that reason when something fails and owners learn the cost to repair.

For example, air conditioning systems when the A/C button is pressed and no ice cold air. As there has been many postings on the mountains of cash needed to bring back that cool comfortable air.

Another thing are the records kept or… LACK… of records while the current owner used the bus. This small item says a lot on how an owner maintained his bus.

AL

[Archived]

Low priced coaches are out there and you just need to go to all the sites that lise coaches for sale, including the one on Prevost Community.

Here is one that has at least 3 coaches with asking prices that are cheap. I don’t know their condition but the bottom line is you have these as a reference point if nothing else.

E-bay

[tom]

Found this thread looking for another. What ended up happening?