Let's see those older coaches

John&Joey wrote:
Hopefully this will go beyond 3 pages. For many years I read how old coaches were good as long as they were maintained properly on this forum. Lead me to believe they were a ton out there burning up the highway.

Eight years ago I bought a 10 year old well maintained coach and hit the road. Almost every park I was in any coach that had any vintage to it had that states plates on it. I was normally the only out of state vintage coach in the park 90% of the time. I had that coach about 5 years and that 90% rule seemed to hold true for all those years.

Hopefully I'm wrong. Would love to see this thread go on and on with pictures of grand adventures. IMO, most older coaches are not used for travel, and the owners lose interest in them. They end up being driveway queens regardless of the make or fuel type.

As an older coach owner, I believe that most of what you state is true. One has to ask "why does someone purchase an older coach?". I believe it is for one or more reasons with the primary ones being that they can afford the lower price or that they just like the older one that they purchased. In my own case it was a combination of those two reasons. I liked the size, construction, rear engine, etc. of the coach and it was at a price I could afford. I still have it for those same two reasons even though I have spend a lot on maintenance and upgrades spread over 15 years and 80,000 miles of use.

Next week I will be going to an FMC rally in So CA and, while most of the 11 coaches scheduled will be from CA, there will be one from MO and two from OR. The one coming from CO had family issues that prevents them from coming. Last fall we had a rally in OR and coaches were from CA, OR and WA. The one from Victoria, BC had an issue at the border and turned back out of frustration with the border guards!!

That all said, if part of the reason for having an older coach is that one can afford it, that probably also means that either the time or the resources are not there for extensive travel so most travel is close to home. Some become driveway queens just because they like the coach, but either can no longer financially support it or age/health prevents use or some combination of that. I have seen both occur. One gentleman just sold his last year when he turned 97 as his son would no longer allow him to drive it! Another sat in an owner's driveway for 18 years as his wife wouldn't travel but he liked to look at it. It was then bought by a young couple because they liked it and could afford it. It is now back on the road and traveling local (200 miles) as that is what they can afford and within the time he can get away from work.

Personally, I made a complete loop of the USA last summer and will be on the road again this summer. Alaska a year from now.

Happy travels,