MCI 102D3 Conversion Update

[jozef]

We purchased a one owner 1997 102D3 in October 2019 and drove it 1,140 miles home to Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.  The seats were removed prior to purchase and on arrival home, started the conversion process by stripping the interior and doing some mechanical upgrades (new air bags, replaced several link bushings, two new shocks, one drive axle brake drum and brake pads, misc. filters etc. and elimination of the air leveling valves and replaced with manual leveling via three air pressure gauges).

This being our third conversion, we knew what we wanted.  Rear island queen bed, side isle bathroom with a “proper shower”, 24v DC only fridge, large kitchen counter with convertible dinette, a convertible settee, two swivel passenger seats with integrated seatbelts at the forward end of the coach.  The conversion was partially competed in the spring of 2022 and we started to use the coach for camping.  By spring of 2023 the work was 95% complete and we decided to take the coach for a trip to the east coast of Canada (Nova Scotia).

We headed off on May 14 and returned July 6, 2023.  Distance covered was 7,780 miles and we averaged just over 7.5 mpg (US gal) which for the Canadian folks is about 31.2 l/100km.  One mechanical issue was experienced, a slow leak in the engine coolant pump which we replaced.  Our house electrical system performed very well (2200 watts of solar, 8-100 amp-hr BattleBorn batteries and one 3000 watt inverter) and we never once plugged into shore power.  Our longest stay at any single location was seven days.  Overall this was a very successful journey and the bus performed very well.

[windtrader]

Sounds like a great time and excellent news on the solar/battery system delivering 100%. What was the lowest SOC and was it cloudy;raining, etc? By the third day of clouds my system is dragging, building new house battery now.

[jozef]

We had cloudy wet days about half the time. Lowest state of charge was 70% when running the AC until 5 pm. On sunny hot days the SOLAR kept up with the AC. My worry was that travelling down the road on hot days the dc to dc battery charger would not keep up with the AC but it did. When parked, most mornings the batteries were at above 90% and always at 100% by 10:00 am.

[jozef]

We had cloudy wet days about half the time. Lowest state of charge was 70% when running the AC until 5 pm. On sunny hot days the SOLAR kept up with the AC. My worry was that travelling down the road on hot days the dc to dc battery charger would not keep up with the AC but it did. When parked, most mornings the batteries were at above 90% and always at 100% by 10:00 am.

[Glennman]

Great news jozef! I recall you saying that you were going on a long "test trip". Sounds like it was a success. We had similar results but have only boondocked for 6 days and drove 675 miles (longest trip so far). I love being able to go days on end without hooking up!

[luvrbus]

What engine a series 60 ? that is good fuel economy

[jozef]

12.7 Series60 set at 400 hp.

[luvrbus]

Amazing engine been out of production since 2011 and still the most popular engine on the hiway,and dealers still service and support the series 60

[CrabbyMilton]

In some ways it's also unfortunate that the S50 is gone too. The size is it made it easier to fit than a S60 or CUMMMINS in buses that used the 92 and 71 series engines. It had vibration problems in some buses but smoother in others.