A used Prevost bus conversion that once cost around $500,000 just went begging at auction. The 1998 Marathon-built coach, originally owned by Charlie Sheen and later converted into a band tour bus, stalled at $84,525 with the reserve unmet on Bring a Trailer.
On paper, that sounds like the deal of the decade. A stainless-sided, commercial-grade motorcoach for less than many new pickups? You can almost hear folks reaching for their checkbooks.
But before you do, it’s worth asking the obvious question: If this thing is such a bargain, why didn’t it sell?
The layout
This isn’t a traditional RV. It’s an entertainer coach—a rolling bunkhouse designed to move people between shows, not to live in full-time.
That means:
- Six narrow bunks instead of a proper bedroom
- A compact galley meant for quick meals, not real cooking
- Limited bathing setup—fine on tour, less so in a campground
- Tight aisle space and a layout built for throughput, not comfort
In other words, it works great if you’re hauling a band across the country. It’s a different story if you’re trying to settle in for a month at Quartzsite.
Why RV buyers walk away
Here’s where that attractive price starts to lose its shine.
A used Prevost bus conversion isn’t maintained like a motorhome—it’s maintained like a commercial bus. That means higher parts costs, specialized service, and fewer places willing to work on it. You’re often dealing with truck shops, not RV dealers.
Then there’s the scale. At 45 feet with a tag axle, this isn’t a casual weekend rig. It takes planning, space, and a driver who’s comfortable handling something closer to a Greyhound than a Class A.
And finally, there’s the reality of customization. To make a coach like this truly livable, you’d likely need a significant interior redo. By the time you price that out, the “cheap luxury” starts looking a lot less cheap.
The surprising part: This is happening more often. Older high-end bus conversions have been slipping into a strange market gap. They’re still built like tanks—far more robust than most production RVs—but their layouts and upkeep costs put off typical buyers.
The result? Prices that look shockingly low compared to what these coaches cost new… paired with auctions that don’t meet reserve.
That mismatch tells you something important: Value isn’t just about build quality. It’s about how well a rig fits the way RVers actually travel today.
Who might actually want one
There is a niche where a used Prevost bus conversion makes sense.
If you’re a full-timer who values durability over floorplan… or someone willing to gut and rebuild an interior to your liking… or even a stationary user who won’t be moving the rig much, the equation can start to tilt in your favor.
You’re getting a commercial shell designed to go hundreds of thousands—if not millions—of miles. That’s something most RVs can’t claim.
What this means for RVers
Looks like a bargain—but for most RVers, it’s a very expensive way to learn what you don’t want.
That $85K near-sale isn’t a fluke; it’s a reminder. Not every “luxury bargain” is a good fit for RV life.
If you’re tempted by a used Prevost bus conversion, look past the price tag. Study the layout. Price the maintenance. Think hard about how you actually camp.
Because sometimes the reason a deal looks so good… is that it isn’t one.
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RVT1258
I agree. An almost 30 year old bus, condition essentially unknown but definitely not set up as an RV, without slide-outs, without the basic technology that modern coach-owners now consider standard with potential huge maintenance costs including difficult to obtain parts – this would be ideal only for someone with substantial RVing knowledge and experience who likes the challenges of a total renovation project and doesn’t care either about the cost or the resulting resale value. I would guess that there would not be many people who fit that category.
First thing to remember is the bus function, carry passengers in comfort for hours. Having converted 2buses to motor homes it is not for the unskilled. Worth the effort when complete. Remember do all the mechanical first then interior. Reality the Prevost price is. $35-45K. You could easily spend $20-30K on suspension and brakes. Almost a promise it needs tires at $1000 each. Assuming the engine and transmission are good.
Don’t go near it with a black light or a drug sniffing dog….
I’ve always wanted one, but after watching “The Bus Grease Guy” ( not sure of the correct title, easy to find). The cost of maintenance, especially if it hadn’t been correctly done, could put a real dent in the bank account.
Thank you for this interesting discussion, Russ and Tina. Bus conversions are attractive to me because of the robustness of the chassis. However, renovating the interior of a band tour bus, or paying someone else to do it, is well beyond my comfort level and budget. Have a great day and safe travels!