Thinking about a Project DP

[Snowman9000]

I'm thinking of starting to keep my eyes open for an older DP with the following characteristics:

32-35 feet
No slide in bedroom
High quality coach
Simpler rather than more complex
Very good handling and driving
Nice if it will fit under a 12 foot door. Unlikely, right?

I really don't know the pros and cons of the various engines, but I would take more mpg over more power. I think this points to the 300-330 Cummins???

The project would be interior refreshing, solar and electrical, those sorts of things. I am mechically inclined but don't relish the idea of wrenching on a big rig. I'd most likely pay for that work. I'd like to buy one of those cream puffs that everyone says to look for.

Can you give me some model and year suggestions?

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by Snowman9000

I really don't know the pros and cons of the various engines, but I would take more mpg over more power. I think this points to the 300-330 Cummins???

Not necessarily true. Our 350 ISC would get about 7.5 to 8.0 with our 34,000# Dutch Star towing a 4,600# Odyssey over about 45,000 miles
Our 50,000# ISX gets 7.6 overall as shown on our VMS over 45,000 miles and towing the Odyssey.
An ISB in the 300HP range can get 8 to 10 or maybe a little higher.

[jacwjames]

Look for a Monaco Windsor 2000-2 single slide. These are very nice coaches for fit/finish and have amenities of top end coaches. I can fit my 2002 under a 12' door. Make sure you look for one with a fiberglass roof, don't know what year they changed but I know 1998 models are rubber roofs.

[Snowman9000]

This one looks nice. 167,000 miles. Just broken in, right?
http://motorhomesoftexas.com/coachrv...--34PBD--P1227

[FunGus]

Send you a PM on a Country Coach.

.

[vettenuts]

I see older Prevost's on our local Craigs List. Metal sides, these coaches are tough as nails and would be great for your type of project.

[Spizzer]

Sounds like a fun project! The 12ft door is a driver for you, as we had the same constraint. The thing that kills that is generally the A/C units on top. Look at units with the basement air and no satellite dome. Journeys (and their fleetwood counterparts) prior to 09 (I believe) will come in at 11' 5" or so. Good luck with finding your project.

Jeff

[barmcd]

I didn't know I was in the market for a "project" motorhome! We're looking for something similar, although a little longer. As long as the chassis, engine, and transmission are in good shape and the house doesn't leak we'll be happy. I can fix just about anything in the house--the diesel engine is more problematic. If you can do the work you can change most systems in the coach relatively cheaply.

New hot water heater ~$400
New A/C unit ~$800
New furnace ~$600
New couch ~$1200

It's the engine work that will kill you.

[barmcd]

A lot of the early 2000 coaches with sub 7' interior ceilings are shorter than 12' feet UNLESS they have a satellite antenna. What I've noticed is the heights listed in the brochures don't include the satellite dish height because they were optional in those units.

[Hit_the_Rhod]

Originally Posted by barmcd

I didn't know I was in the market for a "project" motorhome! We're looking for something similar, although a little longer. As long as the chassis, engine, and transmission are in good shape and the house doesn't leak we'll be happy. I can fix just about anything in the house--the diesel engine is more problematic. If you can do the work you can change most systems in the coach relatively cheaply.

New hot water heater ~$400
New A/C unit ~$800
New furnace ~$600
New couch ~$1200

It's the engine work that will kill you.

We bought one of those "project" motorhomes too! Except that aside from changing the CRT TV's out for flat screens, we've not had to do anything else to it beyond normal maintenance (fluids/filters) in 9 months, 6k miles, and over 100 nights in it!

What ever happened to the upside down coach you were considering?

[Hit_the_Rhod]

Originally Posted by Snowman9000

I'm thinking of starting to keep my eyes open for an older DP with the following characteristics:

Nice if it will fit under a 12 foot door. Unlikely, right?

One comment on the 12 foot door, if you are building new, make SURE that the actual CLEARANCE is 12 feet, not just the size of the door. Also, some door installs drop the tracks the door rolls up into to below the actual opening height, especially if the clearance in the storage area is only 13 feet or so . . . . just make sure exactly what you are getting! I'm not speaking from personal experience thank god, but from experience of a neighbor . . . .

[Papa_Jim]

Our Monaco Dynasty meets all your criteria, just a little longer.

Our garage door opening is exactly 12' tall.

Jim

[Snowman9000]

Wow, I had no idea there were so many sub 12 footers. I figured it would be a unicorn. We already have the building, and door is a true 12' clearance.

Do they get down that low by letting air out of the suspension? Or is that the regular road going height?

[barmcd]

Originally Posted by Hit_the_Rhod

We bought one of those "project" motorhomes too! Except that aside from changing the CRT TV's out for flat screens, we've not had to do anything else to it beyond normal maintenance (fluids/filters) in 9 months, 6k miles, and over 100 nights in it!

What ever happened to the upside down coach you were considering?

The finance company repo'd the coach before we could work out a deal. I didn't realize they were that close to losing it.