schoonmakerjon

All providing updated responses, This information is quite helpful/useful. As a result, we are modifying our travels to only cover the southeast USA on this ~6 week trip. So the plan is to travel south from northeastern PA into VA, where we have friend in the DC metro area, probably use I81. Then head south on I95 through the Carolinas and into FL, where we have more friends from years ago. From FL we will head west, probably on I10. From there we have a few destinations in the south, and once we get "tired of being on-road", we will sort out heading back north based on sightseeing interests and weather. Please send any updated comments, destination possibilities, etc. Also, I appreciate the comment about a hardcopy road atlas and paper/pencil. I've the FMCA 2019 road altas and generally do the trip planning on an excel worksheet with possible destinations w/in 350-400miles or less. Also, I've Passport USA, Love/Pilot-J, fuel app/card and will get KOA as suggested. Thank you and again this is all quite helpful. --- Jon

All responding, thank you for taking the time and the information. It is all very helpful and useful. I'll apply this to our planning and preparations. Also, if anything more comes to mind, please to pass it along. thank you. --- Jon

Hello All reading this note, We are planning a x-country trip from eastern PA to SF and return. The time line is mid-Jan '25 through mid-March, ~8 weeks and we will initially travel south to get more accommodating weather. We will be traveling with 2 adults, ~70 yrs of age and 2 large dogs in an ~20yr old, 45ft MCI converted coach. The coach is well appointed, lounge/galley/bath/bedroom, generator, Aquahot hot water/heat, updated galley w/appliances, etc. Our goal is to visit friends from our ~40yrs working on both the east and west coasts of the country. Additionally we would like to visit a few national parks (NPs) hopefully out of season. Our longest prior trip was Springfield, MA to Lake Michigan, mid-summer, 7-8 days on the road. The MCI coach has been annually and is currently maintained by MCI's NE service center, Blackwood, NJ and PeterPan Bus (PPB) in Springfield, MA. PPB has run exclusively MCI buses since their founding, late 1940's. So I'm fairly confident in the coach's reliability and having 2 sources that have extensive coach knowledge in the event of any on-the-road issues. Please advise on any of the following items, Route planning, RV campsites, daily driving times/distances, locations for 2-4+ days layovers, on-the-road maintenance activities, handling roadside assistance (MCI provides 24hr tech support and local area service vendor referrals), managing provisioning 7-10 days at a time, what to avoid? and anything I might be missing. Thank you for your help and experience. -- Jon

All following this post, I received a proposal to install solar panel on a MCI celebrity coach. The cost was ~$25K-$28K including all components and installation labor. The major cost was 6 lithium-ion batteries w/~300Ahr capability. This 6 battery pack is an approximate Tesla battery pack. The 3 primary roof AC units at ~1350 watts/unit is the major power requirement, ~80+% of the total power. I chose to place this project on hold, given the total cost and battery requirements. I wish everyone pursuing a RV solar project the best in getting the installation cost effectively implemented. --- Jon

All following this post and project, I'm continuing to make progress. I've completed a power consumption assessment for the coach identifying daily watthours and Amp hours. Both are needed metrics to size the solar panels and batteries. Additionally, I've identified 2 firms that can provide initial project outlines w/limited bills of material to sort details and finer cost estimates. For folks interest these firms are imtra.com and nohma.com. Also, while the solar panels are commodities, the batteries are the essential core. So the complexity comes to the batteries - number/size, the solar charge controller and related integration and support software to run the system. Also, it seems the EV mnftrs, e.g. Tesla, have solved the battery and charging issues, so the open questions are managing/charging and distributing an EV battery pack through solar generated input. I've posed this question to one of the system designer/integrators. More in a few days, when I have these initial proposals.

Hello All Interested Folks, I'm implementing a Solar system on a MCI coach. This conversion was implemented in 2000 with a Trace/Xantrex SW4024MC2. The chassis/engine batteries are 2 standard 12V 8Ds, and the House batteries are 2 standard 12V AGMs GPL8DL, rated at 255 AmpHrs each. The chassis/engine batteries are supported by the standard MCI battery charger and the house batteries are charged through the Trace. Additionally the coach has an on-board PowerTech 20KW generator. The solar system objectives are to substantially reduce the generator use and increase boondockinig possibilities. We are planning a X-country trip in Feb 2025. I've done a power consumption assessment and have summertime usage of about 45K watts or 3.8K AmpHrs. The roof A/C units are ~85% of this total. My current forecast is for 4-6 600+watt roof solar panels and a battery upgrade to 4 AGMs at the 255+ AmpHr rating. What can folks recommended here for the 2 system components, solar panels and house batteries? Also, the Trace/Xantrex SW4024MC2 is original, and while operating well, I'm considering replacing it with a comparable Xantrex unit. There are complications to this upgrade, wiring to a new driver's control panel, PowerTech generator integration/linkage, etc. I'm interested in folks perspective on replacing the inverter and working through the complications, value and worth the effort? And, what might I be missing here that might cause added implementation/operating complications/disruptions? Thank you for your help and interest. --- Jon

Bill and Rayin, I appreciate your responses and adding some information. This celebrity coach was converted in 2000 on a MCI stock transit bus. The conversion was done in OH, and unfortunately the converter is no longer operating. Since this is a MCI coach, the maintenance is done by MCI's northeast service ctr in Blackwood, NJ and additional local maintenance is done by Peter Pan Bus (PPB), and exclusive MCI operator. So the coach is well maintained by fully informed, trained techs. I will also inquire with both MCI's blackwood crew and the PPB folks to understand other possibilities for sorting through this situation. And I'll have look into any nearby RV salvage operations for related RVIA information. Thank you very much for your insights and suggestions. --- Jon

All, in my prior to campground reservations, I've been asked about RV certification in some form, e.g. RVIA. We own a former celebrity coach, MCI, with all well-maintained, fairly high-end equipment, Aquahot, Protech, etc. Additionally, the coach is annually maintained by MCI's Northeast Service Ctr and is always current with the required state inspection. Park still are requiring RVIA decals and/or all equipment must be factory-installed. How are folks handling this situation, when you own a RV that does not come from an identified manufacturer, e.g. Newmar, HR, Tiffin, etc? Also, does RVIA or others have an inspection process that will certify a RV not made by one of the industry participants? Please advise any possibilities, Thank you for your help and insights.

Jim and others, I'll follow-up your leads/pointers to learn more. This is all helpful. I had an initial run through eBay, and did not find anything, and understand the value for having an appropriate pointer to focus the search. Thank you.

Bill, good morning and I appreciate your reply. Thank you. Also, I've received other information identifying this opening/"crack" as a grooved fitting for a shim. This shim is used for aligning the 50DN with the engine pulleys and related belts to drive the alternator. I've a contact for the shims and will be following this up. This added information will close out this topic for now and I'll update it if there is more information. Thank you everyone for having a look and your feedback. --- Jon

Hello Forum Members, I have a '99-'00 MCI converted coach used initially as a celebrity coach and now a highly functional RV. It has been working well for us until this year's recent annual inspection and the coach now has a parts sparing needs issue. I'm interested in understanding more about MCI bus used parts availability and sourcing. My goal is to keep the coach on the road. The electrical parts the coach needs for improved reliability, safety and sparing are the 12V and 24V modules used to manage the electrical current throughout the coach. I've had a 12V fail, with lose of most dashboard gauges and was able to obtain a used module for replacement. NFI parts currently has the 24V remanufactured modules available and unfortunately no 12V modules and unknown availability. The respective part numbers are 12V -- 07-18-1016 and 24V -- 07-18-1017. Currently the 12V module need is the priority. Please provide any information, connect info and related pointers to MCI/bus used, salvage and/or "junk yards" for possible parts. Thank you for your help. Regards, Jon

Hello Forum Members, I have a '99-'00 MCI converted coach used initially as a celebrity coach and now a highly functional RV. It has been working well for us until this year's recent annual inspection and the coach now has what might be a significant repair issue. I'm looking for insights, advise and related guidance to accomplish a resolution. My goal is to keep the coach on the road. The repair situation is the lower, 5 o'clock position on the 50DN bracket has developed a crack. Please see attached picture, 50DN w/lower bracket section and bracket crack at the 5 o'clock position. As identified the coach has a Detroit Diesel (DD) series 60, 12.6L engine and the 50DN alternation is attached to the upper right side, when viewing the engine from the rear compartment. I'm interested in anyone's information about repairing this cracked bracket. Can it be welded? replaced? other options? and information related to costs,, risks, success/reliability after repair. Thank you in advance for your insights and suggestions. Regards, Jon

All, This is quite helpful information and I will avail myself to these additional social media resources. The goggle earth/satellite view and measure is particularly useful to take the uncertainty out of showing up at these campgrounds and trying to sort it out, "on the spot". thank you again for everyone's comments and insights. --- Jon

Campcop, Again, I appreciate the pointer to RV Parky, I've the app and have occasionally chased up the listing to verify the big rig compatible information. I will now use it and other social media available information, e.g. trip advisor, Goggle reviews etc., for added validation. Thank you for taking the time and safe travels. ---- Jon

Wayne, I appreciate the pointer and will avail myself to this site and the related directory. I expect it will be helpful. Thank you for taking the time. Safe travels. Regards, Jon