Just purchased wrecked 2004 Camelot PDQ... big project

[TRH299]

Hello folks I am new here,

After looking at diesel pushers for nearly a year, I ended up buying a wrecked 2004 Monaco Camelot 40PDQ with 60,000 miles from Copart Auctions. The goal is to have it ready for use by next spring at the latest. I will use it to pull my 20' boat, annual Oshkosh airshow trips and occasional trips with my kids/grandkids. I am no stranger to projects and have a large heated airplane hangar at my home to work in. I am a mechanical engineer and also have my IA and A&P ratings for working on aircraft. So with that said, I will have no problem with the actual structural repair, but will likely have some questions regarding some of the systems.

Thus far, I have started baseline cleaning and done some system testing after hooking up 50 amp shore power.

To date:
-I have driven up my driveway and into my shop (after having the thing towed 140 miles from where I purchased it... $1000 ouch)
-Ran all four slides (curb bedroom slide is pretty sketchy)
-Confirmed inverter works and is charging batteries (6 volt batteries once re-filled with water are holding charge but will get replaced when unit becomes roadworthy again)
-Ran 7.5KW diesel gen
-Ran both roof AC units
-Ran Fridge on both AC and propane
-Tested Aladdin system and back up camera

After structurally repairing the gen mounts, dash support etc tubing, A/C evaporator and stairwell. I will have to source a used front cap, mirrors, airhorns and complete windshield wiper assembly. I also need to repair a previous owner's poor patch job on roof on drivers side over bedroom where something obviously crushed the roof slightly.

Gonna be a fun project I hope. Should be under $30k invested when I am done. (less if I can source a cheaper front cap than the one I found at Visone... $6800 quote for just the cap... almost makes me want to build my own cap )

[powerboatr]

first off, i have garage envy
second, thats pretty good looking bus


is the front cap and the ancillary items the only real damage?

[BCarp]

Nice find! I do wonder why it ended up at auction instead of being repaired, but a good project for you!

There's a wealth of knowledge on this forum, I'm sure you can get questions answered when you need.

[Waiter21]

WOW - That looks like a neat project.

almost makes me want to build my own cap

HUM - interesting. Yes, it would be possible. I built an entire airplane with fiberglass and this would be a reasonably easy project. Attach points to the sides, top and frame. How the windshield is installed and secured.



http://iflyez.com/


I'll be following your progress..

[TRH299]

Originally Posted by Waiter21

WOW - That looks like a neat project.

HUM - interesting. Yes, it would be possible. I built an entire airplane with fiberglass and this would be a reasonably easy project. Attach points to the sides, top and frame. How the windshield is installed and secured.



http://iflyez.com/


I'll be following your progress..

I have built and partially built several airplanes also... Last winter I gutted my boat and glassed in a new floor and stringers.

I have partial fiberglass remnants of the lower cap and could even use aluminum for the upper part then repair and build up the lower shaped parts that contain the lights.... It would be a bunch of work and I do not have the ambition I did when I was younger and scratch building airplanes lol.

Edit... Just realized Waiter21 that you are from the same area. I probably have met you at local fly-ins. I used to be a member of EAA 582 in Toledo.

[TonyDi]

I love the garage and I'm betting I'm not the only one.

Good luck with the project. Keep Us posted with your progress.

[bruceisla]

I think the front end looks fine ... a couple of rattle-cans of black and you're done !

[TRH299]

It presently has plywood and an old storm door screwed on as a windshield It was in Florida a couple months ago on a wrecked auction site and the front was open... Someone (a body shop in Central Ohio) bought it and hauled it to Ohio and my guess is that once they saw the extent of the damage up front, they gave up and fashioned the windscreen to drive it down to Dayton (to avoid the towing charges) to re-sell it at Copart where I bought it.

[r3meyer]

Very cool project. Looks like mostly cosmetic stuff on the front. That garage is awesome!

[bcbrowne]

Nice looking Bus, keep us posted with pics. good luck, Sorry we will miss you this year at OskKosh

[TRH299]

Crazy question and I doubt anyone will have a definitive answer, but does anyone know if any other Monaco front caps are physically the same size in regard to overall width, height and 2 pc windshield size/shape as the '03-'04 Camelots? Even though it would not have the same dual headlights as the 03-04 Camelots, I am thinking it would possibly be easier to locate a cap or partial cap from a more common Monaco?

Below is a pic from the 2004 Camelot brochure and is what mine should look like.

[RamiDav]

I'll definitely be following so please keep us in the loop

I can't hear what you are say for looking around the garage , I'm turning green .

There have been some other rebuilds on here if you can find them some are amazing .

Here is one I found .

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f115/wrec...ot-232173.html
https://2007monacocamelotrepair.shutterfly.com/

Ray

[Steve Ownby]

Originally Posted by TRH299

Crazy question and I doubt anyone will have a definitive answer, but does anyone know if any other Monaco front caps are physically the same size in regard to overall width, height and 2 pc windshield size/shape as the '03-'04 Camelots? Even though it would not have the same dual headlights as the 03-04 Camelots, I am thinking it would possibly be easier to locate a cap or partial cap from a more common Monaco?

Holiday Rambler Scepter is the same coach. Likely very similar to the Diplomat.

[TRH299]

A quick search shows the Sceptor has different general shape of front cap. It looks like in pictures that '03 and '04 Camelots are like one another and '04 an '05 Diplomats looks similar other than they have single headlights (which I like). Older dips look similar also, but have larger squarish headlights.