Missy??
Yeah, I think that is how one pronounces “MCI” (the coach “brand”), isn’t it??
In any case, I think “Missy” has a nice ring to it so that is her new name.
My plan is to turn Missy into a comfortable home that has a modern feel without being too guy-ish.
Firstly, this project WILL NOT be complete this month, or next month, or this year – probably not next year either. It is going to take some time. I’ll tell you now, the answer to “when will it be done?” questions will be “Thursday” – some Thursday of some month of some year of some decade.
Since I do not have an eye for design or color, I am enlisting the help of friends and family that do. Hopefully this will prevent me from having a purple floor, orange window shades, red furniture, and a mirrored ceiling.
I also have no skills as a carpenter/cabinet maker so what I envision is way beyond my capabilities. I may have to get some help on the more difficult items or just keep building them over and over until they match my expectations. 🙂 That means that this could be a multi-decade project!! 🙂
The decisions that have already been made include:
- No slide-outs – that is WAY beyond my abilities
- Windows stay as they are but the ones that will eventually be behind cabinets will be blacked out
- Residential refrigerator
- Induction stove/cook top
- 130 gallon fresh water tank
- 105 gallon waste water tank
- 1740 watts of solar panels (four SunPower 435 watt panels)
- Morningstar TS-MPPT-60 solar charge controller
- 24 volt DC house battery bank
I’ll go into more detail on all of these areas down the road. For now, I just need to get the seats and parcel racks removed.
This removal task is proving to be more than a small project!! I thought a free listing on Craigslist would have people running to claim these free items – for scrap if nothing else. One guy was interested and spent a good bit of time on it but didn’t remove much. It appears the ole adage about getting things done has come into play – I will just have to do it myself.
I think all the activity here has settled down a bit so I hope serious progress can now begin!
Here is the ongoing status page. It is frequently updated with links to the latest progress.
Can’t wait to see it take shape, I mean “her” take shape!
Okay! Missy! The first thing is now done! One step at a time!
HA!! Exactly right!! If I move too quickly I usually end up hurting myself. 🙂
Well, no shortage on projects for you.
Anything worth doing is worth doing over again until you get it right. If it’s not worth doing over, it probably wasn’t worth doing in the first place.
It looks like you have about endless opportunities to learn new things, gotta keep that education thing going. 🙂
Seriously cool project.
I think this guy might show you some good building ideas. No account needed to see picture BUT you will need to scroll some toward the bottom to see what he has built for van, trailers, buses.
Hope this helps in some way — https://www.instagram.com/hotelprius/
Thank Steve – every idea and photo is helpful!
What would a stock [with seats] 20yr old retired travel coach cost today?
Well… it depends how good one is at shopping around! 🙂 I know it would be very easy to spend $50k or more.
Hello there fellow Coach Converter!! I found your site here and I am very impressed. The topics displayed are helping me as well. I did purchase a coach a little older than Missy (1996 MCI 102-DL3), Detroit Diesel Series 60 45ft. Anyway, I have followed MANY of your posts on SKOOLIE.net and see your site here as well. I am more of an observer and do not tend to comment first-hand very often.
Before purchasing my coach I had never owned a motorhome before but applying sound engineering principles (I am an engineer) to what I thought I might want out of a motor home, the MCI chassis along with available torque in the series 60’s won hands down every time. Remodeling a coach has so many advantages I know you are already aware of.
I would love to ask some questions sometime if that is ok. I am two years into my build and it still has a solid 1-2 years out from being ready to go. I follow many bus-conversion websites but nothing I have found gets me as close as your posts on SKOOLIE.NET and your site here. While some of the school bus conversions are good just to review the process they utilized, it may be hard to transfer some schoolie processes to a coach.