Upgrades to interior

[dspithaler@...]

Leroy
    How did you do you lighted ceiling? I am always looking for ways to
change the interior of mine.Â


Don
89 SP 36'
Butler, PA


-----Original Message-----
From: Leroy Eckert
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sun, 16 Dec 2007 4:07 pm
Subject: RE: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: 1985 PT40 6V $39,000 in Pa- Avoid this one!






The coach I own is the first one I have ever owned. I stumbled upon it on the
internet. At the time, I knew nothing about a bus or a forum. Having restored
several collector cars, re-skinned and completely rebuilt an airplane from the
ground up, that means every piece laying on the floor to begin with (I even flew
it for 500 hours) I wasn't particularly concerned because I am able to repair
stuff when I get motivated.

I did look a one privately owned Prevost, 10 Birds owned by a dealer, and the
privately owned one now in the driveway. What I purchased was the best I could
find for the money at the time. I knew it was different based upon the others I
looked at but did not know why. I later determined with Bennie's help at BB that
it was a Royale Conversion. Mine too was sold by Pat Poor to its second owner. I
have the invoice for that sale. I am the 4th owner.

I purchased the coach in January 2004, stayed in it one night with temps in the
teens, drove it for 15 minutes the next day. Everything worked except one light
bulb and the overhead EL panel..The engine and genset areas were clean, the bays
were like new and the wiring I looked at was in near perfect shape. I left a
personal check for $5000 non-refundable and I returned the following weekend to
pay the difference with a cashiers check.

I have not had any significant problems with the coach. I have changed the
tires, added a lighted and mirrored ceiling, changed the Primus LP to Wabasto
diesel, added polished stainless trim, LED lights and changed all the hoses in
the genset area, all elective. The only real unscheduled maintenance items to
date are an engine water pump, had to rebuild the Thomas toilet compressor pump
and the motor on the Fantastic fan failed. I did remove the Easy Heat freeze
heaters because they shorted out and fried a water pipe. I recently had an
internal ground problem with the Wabasto control box but was able to get it
going just in time for the cold weather tonight. I replaced the bad light bulb
and reconnected a wire to the upper EL panel and all is well.

I have driven it about 25,000 miles since purchase.

Price is determined between a willing buyer and willing seller. I did not pay
$40,000 for it, I paid about $5,000 over NADA book at the time. For starters, I
could not duplicate the interior for any negotiated difference.

I am happy that I did because it has served me very well. I expect it to
continue to provide excellent service in years to come. If all goes well, I'm
gonna find out next month on the way to Quartzsite and back. Knock on wood, so
far so good.

Leroy Eckert
1990 WB-40 Smoke N Mirrors
Dahlonega, GA
Royale Conversion

brad barton <bbartonwx@...> wrote:
Wow, no deposit refund? We sold our Newell sight-unseen just pics, email and
phone conversations. My buyer sent a $10K deposit check and wire-transferred the
rest as he left Ohio for Texas.
Two things stand out about this deal. A..it's a non-coach dealer. That says the
coach was spun off by someone for a little bit of nothing to a dealer with some
cash and probably little knowledge of coaches or inclination to fix it up for a
buyer. B..it's a non-coach dealer with a sharp lawyer who know whether he's
liable to be sued. I'm sorry for your loss and disappointment.

I'm assuming most on this forum bought their coaches used..and sold other
coaches in trade. I'd be interested in how and from whom you bought and
sold..and what you would do differently if you could.
We bought our first two coaches from Pat Poor, manager of Friendly Chevrolet's
Blue Bird dealership. He was a private used dealer when we bought our first
coach, an 84FC in 1998. He bought a lot of overage from Buddy Gregg just a mile
away. It was clean, 65,000 miles and almost trouble free for the 10 months we
owned it. I sold it privately in about two months on the internet for my
original purchase price.
My second coach was also from Pat..a consignment 86 Newell with 131000 miles. A
lot more trouble and costly upgrades, but a pleasure to drive. Watertight
integrity was problem. We had more leaks than anything else, sunroof leaks,
waterpipe leaks and window leaks..and each caused more damage than the leak
itself. Also needed new aux compressor, airbags, brakes, air valves,
refrigerator, two of three furnaces, two dash airs, etc.
Lesson-learned...if a consignment coach, find out how long it sat outside and
inside and under what conditions. I'm not likely to buy a consignment coach
again. We owned it for 4 years, pumped a ton of money into it..and sold it for
$30,000 under the purchase price.
Our current coach, the LXi, has had a few problems..slide-baseboard popped
off..toilet compressor and now flexible waterline to be replaced, engine access
door broken, floor chirps in the hallway and assorted rattles and squeaks. But
it had only 36000 miles. We bought it from Paul Davis at Mr. Olivers. I've never
been totally satisfied with any deal and always disappointed to find plenty to
fix on my coach right after purchase, but the people we know wiith new coaches
are usually in a constant state of anger against their new dealers even when
under warranty.

New coach from New Coach dealer
Used coach from New Coach dealer
Used coach from Used dealer
Consignment coach from New or Used dealer
Brand A used coach from Brand A dealer
Off-brand used coach from Brand A dealer
Used Coach from individual..and how structured?
What percentage deposit, wire transfer or check?
Trade or buy and sell outright?
Brad Barton 00LXiDFWbbartonwx@...
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