Yay Generator is here... Boo more work!

So apparently buying a 40something motorcoach makes lots of things on it old and hard to find. Or discontinued - in this case the generator that fits the space designed for it. The previous owner took out the generator. So after our test outing with no power camping in Florida Summer, we were motivated to get power. Also, the AC doesn't work while driving and the driver wants some cooling. We do have solar power, so we can run fans but when it's humid and hot, it's not a happy camper place.

So after scouring craigslist nationally, and some quick dealmaking we have this:

Honda EV4010

Like everything old, there's a story. It used to be in someone's hunting cabin, which they have now sold and didn't need anymore. So not used very much, but also has been sitting. Needs work. On the bright side, it was less than half of current prices for one. So a certain mechanically inclined someone will need to rebuild it. And we're not even sure how it mounts in the frame or if the frame is there or what.

Home and the beginning of more stuff to do...

We got it home uneventfully, tires and brakes work. Steering is a bit noisy but it's better than before. Apparently it almost crashed when it was test driven due to the column, and the column was swapped out for another. But since it wasn't a new column, it's better but not great.
It's got a spot on the side of our house. Someone calculated there would be more space than there is, so it's a bit tight. Next project is installing an outlet box so we can plug in the coach at home and let guests use it. Maybe.

Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park

Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park

 

One of our favorite state parks, not too far from home, but a completely different feel, with wide open spaces and dark skies. It's a favorite spot for local Astronomers, far enough away from city lights for sky watching. There is a special pad for setting up your astronomy gear and exterior bathroom lights are all red to keep from destroying your night vision and reduce light pollution. There's two loops, one for equestrians with horse paddocks in front. We're in the main loop right now. The campsites are pretty well shaded, but the rest of the place is prairie. Last night there was a big storm and the power was out for over 3 hours. So we don't have a generator, we haven't tried out the toilet yet, we think the tanks may have a crack. We can use the bathroom sink, but somewhere there is water dripping from one of the tanks, probably grey.

There is a big scratch on the passenger side.

Fridge Compartment - a mouse nibbled everywhere

Mud on the tires, the ground was wet coming into the park

Happy in bed

Cool beetle we found - Rainbow Scarab

Somewhat better pictures of the poems on the side windows.

Taking it Home

So, after two months of waiting for it, we are taking it home. On the way back we will do some camping to test it out.

Ready to leave the Coop

Mechanical Work

So, there was a fair amount of mechanical work that had to be done, including new tires, new brakes and a frame patch.

This is one of the old brake lines:

New brakes :

Frame rust - hard to tell, at first glance it kind of doesn't look that bad...

But, when you chip away at the rust, this is what you got! Pretty darn thin in parts, certainly risky to leave as is. It was something you'd miss on inspection unless you got underneath. The theory is the battery overflowed some time, and the acid ate away at the metal.
This is what it looks like after the repair. A donor piece was taken from another GMC frame and welded into place and then coated with some rust prevention coating.


More rusty parts... and it's held together with a tie wrap. Interesting.

Stickers everywhere...

This previous owner seems to have loved to let everyone know how he felt! There's a ton of stickers on the coach. We thought the flames were cool, but everything was peeling, so they will all have to go.

These flames are cool, but peeling very badly.

Packer fan

Hippie bear and wheel

More Peeling

Lots of words and two rather circular poems on the side window.

I can't really have a gator head on my vehicle!

First Interior Views

So these are my first views inside - we came to the Coop to discuss the coach's needs regarding mechanical work:
Looking front -Vintage steering wheel -

There's a doggie print divider curtain! I'm remaking that. In fact, there's a matching dash cover.

View looking back:

View looking front from the kitchen: Sink doesn't work. Stove works. Microwave works.

Dinette Area: The walls have shag green carpet on them.

I guess I can deal with the Route 66 print.

Pink thing is the base of the center console, plus they were nice enough to give us tire covers.




Drinks Cabinet - yes, this was designed for evening cocktails apparently!


Gaucho Bed - Not sure why it's called that

Weird Blinds -


Inside of Fridge - Looks ok but it doesn't work.


Back Closet - only one we have, already full of random stuff.

Bathtub - looks ok,  Tub faucet doesn't work. Same with toilet.  There's a general theme going on here...Sink works though.
 
Is this the original wall decor? It looks like the walls have been painted.

So, apparently the previous owner lived in it full time  but didn't fix things that he didn't need. There's mishmash of ugly fabric curtains that were sloppily sewn to fit. And funky blinds, what is with the blinds and curtains?