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Only Read This If Your Bus Is Over 20 Years Young!
Over the winter months I kept my coach at new RV park here in Murphy, NC where I have 50 amp service and a nice clubhouse. I mention the clubhouse because it’s a great gathering spot to talk with fellow RV’ers.
The other day we were talking about what motorhomes cost and the expense of keeping them up. I told them of an article I read in the May issue of Motorhome Magazine and here’s a short summary of the article.
In the article these folks said they decided they wanted the safety and durability of a bus style like Blue Bird, Prevost and Newell. They decided this because all three produced diesel pushers with heavy duty steel and aluminum construction, air ride suspension and reputation for quality.
In their search they found the Prevost was over their budget and Blue Bird’s were becoming poplar with collectors making them hard to find.
They settled on a 1990 38’ Newell for $32,000 with 169,000 miles with a Detroit Diesel Silver 8V92 engine known for its power and longevity. They installed a new rooftop air conditioner, Power Tech Ultimate II 12 – KW AC generator and tires. They then took there motorhome to Newell and had the coach checked over costing them $8,000.00. They said it’s a cost far less then the Class A motorhomes they saw when they first began their search.
I don’t know a lot about Newell other than it’s reported to be an excellent product. But what I do know is my 1991 Prevost Beaver Bus is worth the investment. And further, plastic coach owners can say what they will but their motorhome will never ride like and/or drive like my 91 bus… Sorry but that’s the simple truth! Just take a moment and open the bay doors, look at the build, see how the steel is welded together with no voids, no burrs, no leaks, no rust and nothing looking like it wasn’t finished!
One of the guys has a 2016 Winnebago Forza 38W with an 18″x18″ service door at the rear of the coach that blew off somewhere between Atlanta and Murphy and it’s the 2nd time it’s happened!
It’s like my 13 year old granddaughter said the other day “Pop Pop, your motorhome is built like a bus… Oh, it is a bus!” I’ve always liked her!
Harry
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44 Replies
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Amen Harry … Although my isn’t over 20-years old, it will handle better and will be safer than any plastic coach, even when it reaches 20-years Old!
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Well by golly Tim, For speaking the truth like that you can jump in any time! You mentioned safer and that’s absolutely huge isn’t it? To know we’re enclosed in a steel cage is a game changer in itself.
Thanks for that Tim,
Harry
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I agree with most you said Harry ole boy except the reference to investment.
1984 96" with 8V92TA
(remodeled Liberty Coach)
Greenwood, MO -
I’ve had my coach for almost two years now, and am constantly working on projects to improve it. At least once a day though I’ll catch myself just staring at the details in a bay or behind a panel, mesmerized by the care and craftsmanship that went into this thing. I don’t want an RV. I love my bus!
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On the way back from the best BBQ in the world in Bandera, TX, we stopped by a local RV dealer just for fun to look at some new coaches. Pretty to look at, but the quality does not compare to our almost 20 year coach. Open the washer/dryer door on a almost $600k brand new Newmar, and it goes poiiing–shaking like a leaf–and the 1/2 bath door did not close, or latch properly. We’ll keep ours, thank you!
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Many of us have had “plastic” before we discovered that a Prevo is actually a more economical choice in the long run than what we had. To say nothing of the extreme differences in quality, comfort and driveability. A better choice by far, But an investment? Absolutely not! You gotta just want one and enjoy the fact that you are operating one of the best vehicles made. Geo.
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O.k. … not to correct two of our Guru’s, but our Bus’ are an investment.
Now, they are not only a depreciating asset, but they do require maintenance which means additional cash. But at the end of the day, you will be able to sell it for some amount of money.
Now, our vacation to Budapest, Ireland, England, and Scotland at about $15k, was not an investment at all, since we received no kind of monetary benefit at the end of our trip, unless we consider it was an experience of a lifetime!
Sounds similar to our travels in our Bus, but all of us will get some type of financial benefit out of our depreciating assets 🙂
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I knew when I said the ”I word” it would be subject to comment and that is as it should be. I don’t think any of us at any age bus think of it as an investment. But our older coaches have basically stopped depreciating.
And as Per said, you look at plastic coaches and it’s a joke in comparison. At the campground people don’t ask management about the Newmar, Winnebago or Tiffin they ask about my Prevost. And every one of us know why!
I think my real point is that I put $20,000 into my bus and when I was done I have a BUS! Not something where the service door fly’s off or you put $20,000 into it and it’s still a plastic coach! I hope we all understand I’m not attacking a plastic coach I’m just saying, as we all know, a bus is a bus is a bus in 1987 and in 2017.
And I’m with Chad, I too look at the build of my coach and can’t help but smile. And the woodwork in my coach is a real thing of beauty. Everyone who has seen the inside of my coach their first comment is wow! Except Jeff, Jeff said “That’s another $5000”!
Harry
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Investment
The investing of money or capital in order to gain profitable returns, as interest, income, or appreciation in value.
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My two cent investment: Investing involves taking risk, sometimes returns are negative.
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Ok… But I like this Webster definition better:
“a devoting, using, or giving of time, talent, emotional energy, etc., as for a purpose or to achieve something.”
We have invested in a lifestyle that reaps its rewards in other ways than financial gain ??
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If you’ll notice, my comment was “Worth the investment” meaning the investment of funds, time and commitment of purpose. I regret to the use of the word investment as Tom, ever the scholar, has hi jacked the thread into a world of its own. Shame on you Tom…
So, let’s strike the word investment from the conversation and get back to the true intent of the thread. Our older bus, the quality of product and why it’s worth putting time and money into it.
Harry
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Just a hunch but mine is that the majority of Prevosts purchased for private recreational use are cash deals. Ancient all the way to new. Full timing and business use probably not as much.
Along the lines of what Dan said. mitigating losses (such as in what a plastic coach purchase could bring) can be construed as an investment.
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We agree with Tim.
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If I look at any of our buses as investments in the financial sense I have lost my butt.
But we have always gone into the purchase of a bus as an “investment” in our enjoyment and in that regard the bus is only the instrument by which we have met so many friends and enjoyed a lifestyle that is so valuable money cannot buy it.
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