Looking for XL

Finding the right coach is proving to be more challenging than I thought and I expected a challenge. When we find something we like the seller is unrealistic in their pricing. Coaches that we aren't exactly drawn to are priced aggressively. On top of that finding an 01-03 bunk coach is tough so we've thrown in the towel and ready to put the kids in the wardrobe in the rear - which might work out for the best anyway.

We're really drawn to Marathon coaches as they seem to be about the only converter that was putting girard awnings on the coach at that time however most interiors don't have an "organic" feel to them. They are presented in a more formal style - which is appreciated but not really what we'd like to have for traveling.

If anyone gets a line on an 01-02 45xl w/ single or double slides w/ large wardrobe, girard and prefer a twin couch/ booth dinette.

Shoot me a PM>

All the best,

You need to talk to Jim or Chris. (Colorado Bus) They have really churned that market and I'll bet they can give you some insight.

And our Sponsors. The ones that sell. They work hard for us.

Reminds me of the day I found my 01 Marathon bunk coach, seller wanted to much! Only 4 made and I just had to have one, and I never look back!

I have seen a few Coaches with a hall walk in closet which can be converted to bunks. Also, you can trade out certain furniture lay outs for what you like. Thereare several sponsors on POG who can make the changes.

As Jon said above, we have "churned" the market. We learned that Marathons with the large hall closet were designed specifically for bunks to be put in easly. all ducting, wiring etc was placed as such not to interfere with bunkbed installation.
Have you seen Marathon coach 815, which has bunks. it does have 167,000 miles on it. Marathon coach 829 has the large closet and is agressively being advertised as bunnk ready.these are on Marathons' site. then there is 1020 Stay away from Marathon Coach 673 which has bunks, wood flooring, patio girard, slab granite everywhere. It is an absolutely spectacular coach in every way right down to what the DANG thing WEIGHS. Last month, we went to Beaumont, picked it apart, and they even let us weigh after warning us it was overweight. With 24% water out of 207 gallons, 1/3 tank fuel out of 235, not much else. Coach weighed in at 52,880. the front axle which was carrying a single HWH slideroom with sinking floor,and an under belly outside kitchen weighed in at 18,380lbs with 315X80X22.5 Energy Michelins that carry a max of 9,090lbs. If it came down to us buying it, Marathon would have bowed out let us deal with owner directly since they wouldn't sell as it sits. They would have removed at a minimum the outside pull out kitchen estimated to weigh 1500lb.
Also, coach 777 weighs alot. We have started to look at newer Evntertainer coach with 3 bunks where we could remove 2 use the space for storage.
One thing, you may think Girards are great, but wind a gust of wind strikes, they retract only so fast, and can't get in fast enough and not get blown over the coach. At best an Air-Electric or manual one is best, since when deployed tha framing stance is a triangle shape that holds up better in the wind gust. They aren't perfect, but IMHO a bit more robust.
Not being extreme slideroom fans, we have also learned a double slide maybe lighter on the front axle just because the bedroom slide weight counters some of the weight of the front slide off the front axle.

Just a comment........there seems to be a concern or maybe a fear about mileage on our coaches. In my opinion it doesn't matter if a coach has 167,000 miles on it if it was maintained. It may be a better coach than one that has 67,000 miles on it and it sat in one spot a lot of the time.

When the mileage crosses 500,000 or more then it starts to become an issue, but I see trucks that have passed the 1,000,000 mark and are still in everyday use.

During our recent service visit to Prevost in Jacksonville, we noticed that they had several used buses for sale that looked to be in great shape. Mileage ranged from 300K to more than 500k.

No one at Prevost considered them to be "high" mileage coaches. If you didn't check the odometer, you would never have guessed that these coaches had traveled as many miles. Jon is right on the money. It is all about the way they were taken care of and maintained.

That's the big difference between commercial buyers and private buyers. I bought many trucks back in the day with 500K on the clock and never batted an eye. With a private bus, the buyer gets a deal if the miles are deemed to be high, a wimpy 200K, and when he sells, he has the same problem in reverse.

I'll take Jon's high mileage Liberty any day!

OK, I just mentioned the mileage of Coach 815,since it has been used as an Entertainer coach and is owned by the same outfit that Kevin bought his 704 from.

Jim,

Not a criticism of your mentioning the mileage, but a comment that I think too much emphasis is on the mileage of our coaches. I would be way more concerned about lack of maintenance.

I respectfully disagree with what Jim said about Girard awnings. I have had a Girard awning on my coach for 5 years and have not had one minute's trouble. When we first used the awning we were in Wichita Falls, TX. Wichita Falls is known for its constant high winds.

I extended the awning > went inside to get something and when I came out the awning had retracted from high winds. I have heard stories about the wind flipping awnings over the top of the coach; if the wind blows that hard it will break the cast aluminum claw that holds the Zip Dee type awnings (this happened to me in Colorado on my '87 Newell w/Zip Dee awning).

My point is this: high winds will damage any awning. Girard is the best awning made IMO. Girard has a remote control that fits in your pocket. This remote makes it really easy to extend/retract your awning. There's no locking/unlocking the roll up mechanism to contend with and no support bars to hit your head on when walking by.

I know that many on this site have had trouble with Zip Dee electric/air automatic awnings and personally I would never have one, but Girard is in a class by itself IMO. If you want a trouble free easy to use patio awning, Girard is the best game in town.

Just my .04 (inflation)

My experience shows that awnings never need to be retracted unless it is 3:00 am, in the rain, intense lightning and high winds while in your underwear, so I always put my awnings in before I go to bed. You get more sleep that way.

Those of us who have been there have a big Grin on our faces.

My mechanical Zip Dee awnings with the triangular arms was ripped from our first coach and the attachment for the arms was pulled right out of the side of the coach. The arm in the front got jammed between the roof and the outside air horn, and went up and in between the outside and inside air horns on the passenger side.

Sunny skies, no wind, no clouds, and than an instant gust of wind. Four guys walking by got hold of the awning when it came down the first time, and it lifted them.

My point is any awning, any time can get caught and due to their size, if the wind gusts are strong enough something is going to get damaged. The automatic awnings can be retracted a lot faster than I can retract my mechanical ZipDees.

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Originally Posted by Coloradobus

As Jon said above, we have "churned" the market. We learned that Marathons with the large hall closet were designed specifically for bunks to be put in easly. all ducting, wiring etc was placed as such not to interfere with bunkbed installation.
Have you seen Marathon coach 815, which has bunks. it does have 167,000 miles on it. Marathon coach 829 has the large closet and is agressively being advertised as bunnk ready.these are on Marathons' site. then there is 1020 Stay away from Marathon Coach 673 which has bunks, wood flooring, patio girard, slab granite everywhere. It is an absolutely spectacular coach in every way right down to what the DANG thing WEIGHS. Last month, we went to Beaumont, picked it apart, and they even let us weigh after warning us it was overweight. With 24% water out of 207 gallons, 1/3 tank fuel out of 235, not much else. Coach weighed in at 52,880. the front axle which was carrying a single HWH slideroom with sinking floor,and an under belly outside kitchen weighed in at 18,380lbs with 315X80X22.5 Energy Michelins that carry a max of 9,090lbs. If it came down to us buying it, Marathon would have bowed out let us deal with owner directly since they wouldn't sell as it sits. They would have removed at a minimum the outside pull out kitchen estimated to weigh 1500lb.
Also, coach 777 weighs alot. We have started to look at newer Evntertainer coach with 3 bunks where we could remove 2 use the space for storage.
One thing, you may think Girards are great, but wind a gust of wind strikes, they retract only so fast, and can't get in fast enough and not get blown over the coach. At best an Air-Electric or manual one is best, since when deployed tha framing stance is a triangle shape that holds up better in the wind gust. They aren't perfect, but IMHO a bit more robust.
Not being extreme slideroom fans, we have also learned a double slide maybe lighter on the front axle just because the bedroom slide weight counters some of the weight of the front slide off the front axle.

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I don't see coach #829 on Marathon's site???

Yes I am familiar w/ #815 - they turned down good offer - nuf said on that one

Really they've been pushing #746 and heard last night from a broker that it may have some history but haven't even run a car-fax as the interior color scheme is too cold and dull and exterior paint is kinda blah. Wife wants a more "organic feel" to the coach.

Not familiar w/ Colorado Bus - PM me or linky?

ps - on the Girard - we'll be rolling and not sitting much so no problems w/ wind. I think the style cleans a coach - an aesthetic thing and I don't want any arms coming loose down the road;)

It isn't the arms that will come loose. If the wind gets into the awning roll it will unwind the awning when driving. In my case the awning was out for the shade and we were parked.

I don't think that will happen with the newer awnings.

Mr. Keller: See- I told you Pete was in his underwear.

Can someone help me with this "Organic Feel" interior? I may have one and don't know it. Is it more expensive or less?

This is the last forum I ever expected to hear the words "organ" and "feel" in the same sentence.

gershwin Here is a link for Coach 829

http://www.rvt.com/rvdetail4555726.htm

We have seen an XLII come right out of PDI at Marathon Coburg fresh off the line, when a gust of wind flopped to extended Girards over the bus top.

There is an XL bunk coach on Liberty's site as well.

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Originally Posted by Coloradobus

gershwin Here is a link for Coach 829

http://www.rvt.com/rvdetail4555726.htm

We have seen an XLII come right out of PDI at Marathon Coburg fresh off the line, when a gust of wind flopped to extended Girards over the bus top.

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OH yes, I wasn't second guessing the reality of the likeliness - I merely was stating the awning wouldn't be out w/ our use unless I was under it and conditions were favorable. Outside of that, it would never be left out and unattended.

And to the other poster "Organic" - I believe means a more natural "earthy" feel but don't hold me to it. I'm attempting to convey what the Mrs's intent is;)

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Originally Posted by dmatz

There is an XL bunk coach on Liberty's site as well.

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If you are referring to the big white one - that is Brett Favre's I understand and a bit out of my price range - and he may need again if he comes out of retirement again-again:0

\
Gershwin,I sent you a pm thru this forum.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gershwin

I don't see coach #829 on Marathon's site???

Yes I am familiar w/ #815 - they turned down good offer - nuf said on that one

Really they've been pushing #746 and heard last night from a broker that it may have some history but haven't even run a car-fax as the interior color scheme is too cold and dull and exterior paint is kinda blah. Wife wants a more "organic feel" to the coach.

Not familiar w/ Colorado Bus - PM me or linky?

ps - on the Girard - we'll be rolling and not sitting much so no problems w/ wind. I think the style cleans a coach - an aesthetic thing and I don't want any arms coming loose down the road;)

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You mentioned #815 was an entertainer and out of the same out fit - what out fit is that? What is an 02 DS w/ 167k worth in todays market considering all service issues are addressed? One would have to assume because the coach is a rental it has worn heavy.
What's it worth?

Coach 815 is for sale consigned with Marathon. With that mileage and maybe no verifiable maintenance history, it couldn't be valued more than the mid 200's. IMHO

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gershwin

You mentioned #815 was an entertainer and out of the same out fit - what out fit is that? What is an 02 DS w/ 167k worth in todays market considering all service issues are addressed? One would have to assume because the coach is a rental it has worn heavy.
What's it worth?

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815c looks like an '03 single slide unless I'm looking at the wrong bus?

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Originally Posted by travelite

815c looks like an '03 single slide unless I'm looking at the wrong bus?

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That's it.

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Originally Posted by Coloradobus

Coach 815 is for sale consigned with Marathon. With that mileage and maybe no verifiable maintenance history, it couldn't be valued more than the mid 200's. IMHO

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Wow - ok.

One of the reasons I like to see service history and have a PPI performed before I make an offer. But I understand in the Prevost world that is unorthodox.

815 is owned by the same guy that I bought my bus from, Jay Adams in Comfort Texas. I love my bus and it cleaned up very well but with lots of elbow grease! he runs a small Entertainer bus co. and you just have to go look at the condition. If you have any other questions, send me a PM.

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Originally Posted by Kevin Erion

815 is owned by the same guy that I bought my bus from, Jay Adams in Comfort Texas. I love my bus and it cleaned up very well but with lots of elbow grease! he runs a small Entertainer bus co. and you just have to go look at the condition. If you have any other questions, send me a PM.

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private message sent

815 has been on www.busforsale.com for at least a year. Here is the link: http://www.busforsale.com/buses/bus_...=239&name=SA74

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Originally Posted by Loc

815 has been on www.busforsale.com for at least a year. Here is the link: http://www.busforsale.com/buses/bus_...=239&name=SA74

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Yes I think its been on the market actually 2 1/2 years