Hi, I am Tamri. Hubby is Hoppy. We have six kids ages 16, 13, 10, 7, 5 and 3. I am a Child Passenger Safety Technician, advising parents on which car seat is appropriate for their child, and proper installation of said seat. He is a sys admin/server engineer/consultant. We are transitioning to full timing - only fifteen more days in a stick built woot! Currently we own a 25' KZ Frontier with a 5' queen slide. We would like to upgrade in the next six months to a bus. We feel this is our best option for space. In looking at bumper pulls, by the time we get to something big enough to handle all of us, we're out of options for a vehicle that will pull it, and seat all of us. Somebody suggested a bus might be the route for us, and by golly, I think that's right on!
We have no idea what we're doing. We have a short list of what we would like, but have no idea if what we want will fall into our price range. I do have some specific questions about seat belts, I'll save that for another post.
Tamri
Welcome aboard Tamri and Hoppi and kids! ;D You have found the best source of information on buses and bussing on the internet. I wish I had found this place before we switched from everything else available (nothing has worked for us like this bus ;D) There are a lot of smart people on this board that will answer your questions and then some. Don't be afraid to ask, we all want to help. It sounds like you're on the right track. If you're not already addicted to bus fever, you will be soon enough. Once you've taken a bite of the fruit, there is no going back. Good luck in your bus hunt and ask lots of questions before you dive into one, Will & Wife
QuoteIf you're not already addicted to bus fever, you will be soon enough.
We've not seen a professional yet, but I do believe we are already afflicted. The word "bus" enters into our conversation approximately 48% of the time. We look at every day on CL to see if there are any new listings in our area. And also, we drool on the keyboard when looking at some of the pics.
Truly. I heard there's no cure for this, either...... ;)
Quote from: PacNWNomad on March 04, 2009, 08:47:47 AM
Hi, I am Tamri. Hubby is Hoppy. We have six kids ages 16, 13, 10, 7, 5 and 3.
We are transitioning to full timing - only fifteen more days in a stick built woot! Currently we own a 25' KZ Frontier with a 5' queen slide.
I admire your sense of adventure. 6 kids in a 25-footer! I'm fulltiming in a 24-foot trailer until I can get my coach here to convert, it's just me and my dog and there isn't enough room! Slides will certainly help, though.
My first suggestion is to find a coach which can tow the trailer, as soon as you can. You will discover that you really need that much space.
That would lock out the GMCs. Later MCIs can be fitted with hitches good to at least 12,500 lbs. I don't know about other coaches.
OTOH, the GMC "Buffalo Buses" have more basement storage than any other coach, and if you can caravan with one person driving the coach and the other towing the trailer, a GMC might be your best choice. They also are generally less expensive than MCI and other brands, but if you keep your eyes open you might walk into a really good deal on a partial conversion.
You DO NOT want a school bus or a transit bus. Skoolies are hard to get insured, and transits have pretty much NO storage, and are geared for in-town, not on the highway. Many RV campgrounds don't allow skoolies or transits to come in.
Whatever you do, good luck.
Tamri,
Why don't you fill us in on what you are looking for. What make, price range, length...you get the point. What part of the country are you located in?
BTW seatbelts are your option. You can build them however you want. Just make them strong.
Welcome aboard! You will find a lot of info here.
God bless,
John
BG6, funny, looks like our posts crossed. Good info...
Quote from: BG6 on March 04, 2009, 09:37:16 AM
I admire your sense of adventure. 6 kids in a 25-footer! I'm fulltiming in a 24-foot trailer until I can get my coach here to convert, it's just me and my dog and there isn't enough room! Slides will certainly help, though.
My first suggestion is to find a coach which can tow the trailer, as soon as you can. You will discover that you really need that much space.
That would lock out the GMCs. Later MCIs can be fitted with hitches good to at least 12,500 lbs. I don't know about other coaches.
OTOH, the GMC "Buffalo Buses" have more basement storage than any other coach, and if you can caravan with one person driving the coach and the other towing the trailer, a GMC might be your best choice. They also are generally less expensive than MCI and other brands, but if you keep your eyes open you might walk into a really good deal on a partial conversion.
You DO NOT want a school bus or a transit bus. Skoolies are hard to get insured, and transits have pretty much NO storage, and are geared for in-town, not on the highway. Many RV campgrounds don't allow skoolies or transits to come in.
Whatever you do, good luck.
Interesting, it hadn't once occurred to me to keep the trailer and tow it. Yes, 25' (30' with the slide) is a little small, but we manage. We just got back from about two weeks in it, and we were in it last year from June - mid Sept (Philly to Seattle). When we bought it last year, we figured it would be our break-in rig. I grew up around RV's (gparents owned a KOA at one time, and then were snowbirds), but this is my very first very own rig. Moving up to a bus skeers me a little bit....
We had already eliminated skoolies and transits as a possibility. We liked the looks of the Eagle and the MCI - but do keep in mind we are not mechanical people and know nothing about that side of it.
Tamri
Tamri,
In this market you should be looking for a Prevost with a good 8V92TA. The market is tanking and those are the absolute best buses for affordable conversion. It will cost you a ton of money to convert a bus....get one already converted. The Pre's have a lot of models with bunk beds in the center for 6(or less) and still have a queen bed in the master bedroom. Others have a hatch in the floor so two kids can use a baggage bay as a bed room. Most awnings will have a screen room option for outside sleeping and I sleep in comfort in freezing weather by choice with the help of down comforters. I think you could eliminate your trailer and pull your car and eliminate a lot of expense and investment. Tents work! Post 1982 as you will NEED the 102 inch wide bus.
Just some thoughts,
John
Quote from: John316 on March 04, 2009, 09:38:37 AM
Tamri,
Why don't you fill us in on what you are looking for. What make, price range, length...you get the point. What part of the country are you located in?
BTW seatbelts are your option. You can build them however you want. Just make them strong.
Welcome aboard! You will find a lot of info here.
God bless,
John
BG6, funny, looks like our posts crossed. Good info...
First, we're not quite ready to buy yet. We're waiting on our settlement from the insurance company (house fire), and (more importantly) we want to make sure we're putting enough thought into it before moving ahead.
Make, I'm not settled on one over another yet, although I do like the MCI and the Eagle. A Prevost would be nice, but please. Even I'm laughing at myself at the very idea of finding a Prevost in our price range. Price range - I think we're settling on around $30K as a top price. Length - 40 feet, no shorter, 45 would be better. I realize 45' limits our options for campgrounds, but the extra space.... I'm not seeing a whole lot of 45' in the places I'm looking though. I'd like larger tanks, 100+ for freshwater at the least.
Currently, I'm in the Seattle area, although we go to Olympia fairly often. We also have some family property in Hoodsport, so we're kind of up and down the peninsula at times.
Tamri
We're looking at this on Saturday http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/rvs/1056594901.html (http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/rvs/1056594901.html).
Tamri,
If you can't do mechanical/electrical/plumbing/upkeep and won't learn......stay with the trailer. There isn't anything out there that won't require you to be a general handy man with tools and knowledge before its over. Kids help! Bus Knuts will save you. Still, you gotta have talent on board eventually. It can't be all that difficult cause I learn't it. It is costly to not know that you have to check tire pressure at precise intervals and how to do that.... for the safety of all on board, not to mention the extreme cost of screwing that one up alone. There is a lot of challenge here.
John
Quote from: JohnEd on March 04, 2009, 09:53:00 AM
Tamri,
In this market you should be looking for a Prevost with a good 8V92TA. The market is tanking and those are the absolute best buses for affordable conversion. It will cost you a ton of money to convert a bus....get one already converted. The Pre's have a lot of models with bunk beds in the center for 6(or less) and still have a queen bed in the master bedroom. Others have a hatch in the floor so two kids can use a baggage bay as a bed room. Most awnings will have a screen room option for outside sleeping and I sleep in comfort in freezing weather by choice with the help of down comforters. I think you could eliminate your trailer and pull your car and eliminate a lot of expense and investment. Tents work! Post 1982 as you will NEED the 102 inch wide bus.
Just some thoughts,
John
Wow, I thought the Prevost would be out of our range. We had definitely planned on finding one that was already converted, or partially converted and just needed some finishing work. And oh LORD. Sleeping in the baggage bay? I know some kids that would absolutely plotz over the very idea......
Thanks for the tip about post 1982. BTW, we're willing to hold out a few months longer than originally planned if it means getting something we can stick with for a few years. In another month, our living expenses will be minimal, and everyone in the family is on board with being as frugal as possible to save as much as we can to get A Bus (which will need to be named, and hopefully have a BSG inspired name. Or, I might get outvoted on the BSG thing, but whatever. As long as it's a GOOD name!).
What kind of side storage does the Prevost have?
I would also look at a Prevost entertainer coach ... look for one that has 6 bunks in it, then you could redo the rear solon into a master bedrm.
Tamri,
Welcome aboard. This board has been invaluable to us (I wish I would have used it BEFORE I bought our bus, but lets not go there right now). I have looked at that bus on CL for quite some time. I would think those sellers would be amiable to a lower offer like $11,900 or so, but that is just my .02 worth.
Doug
Quote from: JohnEd on March 04, 2009, 10:04:41 AM
Tamri,
If you can't do mechanical/electrical/plumbing/upkeep and won't learn......stay with the trailer. There isn't anything out there that won't require you to be a general handy man with tools and knowledge before its over. Kids help! Bus Knuts will save you. Still, you gotta have talent on board eventually. It can't be all that difficult cause I learn't it. It is costly to not know that you have to check tire pressure at precise intervals and how to do that.... for the safety of all on board, not to mention the extreme cost of screwing that one up alone. There is a lot of challenge here.
John
I'm willing to learn. I've been doing all the stuff on our trailer. When it gets to stuff that is electrical, I pass it off to dh. Given his line of work, as long as he has a schematic he's fine. We're not afraid to get dirty, we're just vastly undereducated at this point.
Quote from: PacNWNomad on March 04, 2009, 09:49:04 AM
Interesting, it hadn't once occurred to me to keep the trailer and tow it. Yes, 25' (30' with the slide) is a little small, but we manage. We just got back from about two weeks in it, and we were in it last year from June - mid Sept (Philly to Seattle). When we bought it last year, we figured it would be our break-in rig. I grew up around RV's (gparents owned a KOA at one time, and then were snowbirds), but this is my very first very own rig. Moving up to a bus skeers me a little bit....
We had already eliminated skoolies and transits as a possibility. We liked the looks of the Eagle and the MCI - but do keep in mind we are not mechanical people and know nothing about that side of it.
You would be surprised how many people are able to rely on the Flat Plastic Toolkit (aka the credit card), so that's not a problem.
Every cubic inch of living space is priceless when you have kids. You will learn this about halfway through the first rainy week you have to deal with. The trailer can become the older kids' room (or the girls' or boys' room) and a pantry/storeroom.
If you are going to tow behind the coach, you need to get a coach no longer than 40' long (look up the discussions on overall length of coach and toad) to be able to pull your 25' trailer.
Hi Tamri,
First, Welcome aboard.
You have found a great resource.
You will have way too many hours of reading while you pursue this project.
Might I suggest you have fun with the search up on the upper right of your screen.
You can search the archives of this BBS and find information and opinions on Everything.
You will find almost every topic and they will lead you to others.
Most of all, have fun....we still are.. ;D
Cliff
QuoteYou would be surprised how many people are able to rely on the Flat Plastic Toolkit (aka the credit card), so that's not a problem.
LOL. That would *not be us.
QuoteMight I suggest you have fun with the search up on the upper right of your screen.
You can search the archives of this BBS and find information and opinions on Everything.
Already on it. ;)
Just for reference, my iggles bays are 5ft wide, 3ft tall and 8ft deep, we got 3 of them that size, maybe others will pipe in with bay sizes too, I'm thinking the largest bays will be found in the setra, BK's bays are huge.
Quote from: PacNWNomad on March 04, 2009, 10:02:49 AM
We're looking at this on Saturday http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/rvs/1056594901.html (http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/rvs/1056594901.html).
That's been on the market a while, but the pics look good. You can probably talk them down several thousand.
You will NOT be able to tow your trailer with this coach (no way to mount a hitch for that heavy a toad), so if you are planning to keep it, you will still have to tow with your truck. Depending on how much traveling you plan to do, this might not be a problem.
If you hunt around, you can find checklists online for what to inspect on coaches. Print out and take with you (the ad, too), with a clipboard, pen, flashlight and inspection mirror (the kind on the telescoping antenna). Write down everything that they tell you has been done, when they drove it last, anything they say needs to be fixed.
Since you're waiting for the check I urge you NOT to make an offer until you have cash in hand! If you commit to this coach, you can't take advantage of any other deal which crops up while you're waiting. There are plenty of coaches on the market.
Use crazedlist.org to check multiple Craigslist sites -- I suggest that you look at all of them on the West Coast, Idaho, Nevada and Arizona, every day until you get the money. You may have to go to San Diego or Phoenix, but there are a lot more coaches in the lower price range down there, so there is a lot more incentive to cut a deal (rather than watch you go buy the one 10 miles away). It might be worth a weekend trip to So Cal or Arizona to check out several.
Hi Tamri,
Welcome to the looney bin.
You have a great start having lived in a confined space with your family. You will get the full range of opinions here, on what brand, size, type, layout and color bus you should buy. But you know your family and needs better than anyone else so take it all with a grain of salt. Do look at lots of buses and drive them. Now is a great time to be in the market; lots of people are getting out for pennies on the dollar invested. What ever you do, DO NOT buy a bus before you have it inspected top to bottom, front to back by a qualified bus expert. The members here can identify plenty to choose from when you are ready.
QuoteIf you hunt around, you can find checklists online for what to inspect on coaches. Print out and take with you (the ad, too), with a clipboard, pen, flashlight and inspection mirror (the kind on the telescoping antenna). Write down everything that they tell you has been done, when they drove it last, anything they say needs to be fixed.
Oh, perfect, thank you!
QuoteSince you're waiting for the check I urge you NOT to make an offer until you have cash in hand!
Oh heavens no! I would not presume to make an offer w/o cash in hand. This is a "we need to start looking and find out what questions to ask and what do we like and not like". At any rate, I don't think I would feel comfortable buying the very first coach we looked at.
QuoteWhat ever you do, DO NOT buy a bus before you have it inspected top to bottom, front to back by a qualified bus expert.
Oh, that's what I meant to ask! How do I find somebody to do this? How much does it usually cost?
QuoteYou will NOT be able to tow your trailer with this coach (no way to mount a hitch for that heavy a toad), so if you are planning to keep it, you will still have to tow with your truck.
Hmm. Tell me more about this. Is it b/c it's a GMC? I'm seeing some Suburbans and 15 passenger vans as toads.
Quote from: PacNWNomad on March 04, 2009, 10:28:47 AM
QuoteYou would be surprised how many people are able to rely on the Flat Plastic Toolkit (aka the credit card), so that's not a problem.
LOL. That would *not be us.
Then you need to reconsider.
Your coach will need a certain amount of support, by someone who has an understanding of the difference between, say, a fuel rail and a sand rail. You will be replacing hoses now and then, belts (on some coaches), you will have minor little glitches come up now and then, and you need to know how to deal with them.
If your husband does his own tune-ups and oil changes on the car, tinkers with things, etc, you will be okay.
However, if nobody in the family can be trusted with a wrench, your faces are on posters at Harbor Freight and the Snap-On truck drives the long way around to avoid your street, then a coach is going to be more than you really want to tackle.
Quote from: PacNWNomad on March 04, 2009, 10:42:21 AM
QuoteWhat ever you do, DO NOT buy a bus before you have it inspected top to bottom, front to back by a qualified bus expert.
Oh, that's what I meant to ask! How do I find somebody to do this? How much does it usually cost?
Depending on where it is, you might be able to find a busnut who will do it for expenses and a good lunch.
I'm sorry, I'm afraid I didn't word that clearly enough.
We're not mechanical people, meaning engines are not our hobbies. We are, however, two people who are willing to read, look things up, Google, consult, to try and figure something out on our own. If that doesn't work, then we bring in A Professional. When you said a Flat Plastic Toolkit, I took that as to mean somebody who just took the coach in every time an issue arose, without really taking the time out to troubleshoot on their own.
Quote from: PacNWNomad on March 04, 2009, 10:45:53 AM
QuoteYou will NOT be able to tow your trailer with this coach (no way to mount a hitch for that heavy a toad), so if you are planning to keep it, you will still have to tow with your truck.
Hmm. Tell me more about this. Is it b/c it's a GMC? I'm seeing some Suburbans and 15 passenger vans as toads.
The GMC coaches were designed for minimum downtime (if the wheels aren't turning, the coach is not earning). The engine and transmission are mounted on a cradle, so that they can be pulled out as a unit and another put in place to get the coach on the road again.
This cradle is supported by straps which come down from the coach roof at the back.
For this reason, there's no way to rig a mount for a heavy tongue weight, even if you use an A-frame mount which goes to the hardpoints that the cradle mounts to at the front of the engine bay.
Also, this is why you RUN, do not walk, to the nearest exit if you see an owner-installed vent, aircon, skylight or whatever in the center of the roof of a GMC! There is a structural member that runs the length of the coach at the center of the roof, and if this is cut, the coach loses a significant amount of structural integrity (the only exception is escape hatches built in at the factory).
Quote from: PacNWNomad on March 04, 2009, 10:50:43 AM
I'm sorry, I'm afraid I didn't word that clearly enough.
We're not mechanical people, meaning engines are not our hobbies. We are, however, two people who are willing to read, look things up, Google, consult, to try and figure something out on our own. If that doesn't work, then we bring in A Professional. When you said a Flat Plastic Toolkit, I took that as to mean somebody who just took the coach in every time an issue arose, without really taking the time out to troubleshoot on their own.
You should be okay, then.
It's just we all would here hate to see you get in over your heads on a coach.
Tamri -
Here are a couple of suggestions that might fit the bill. Slightly over your budget, but, in this market, CASH talks! (Maybe 2/3's of asking, or less!)
http://www.busforsale.com/buses/bus_detail.php?bus=309&name=Topeka
http://www.busforsale.com/buses/bus_detail.php?bus=253&name=Shamrock
Granted, these are in TN, but Nashville's also the capital of Entertainer Coaches, which is more along the lines of what you need, based on what you've shared with us. Both of these have bunks for the kids, and the rear stateroom can be modified for mom & dad. The MCI is finished w/ a genset, the Eagle needs some finish work and doesn't have a genset. Read the specs carefully and you'll see what I mean. (Personally, I like the MCI's layout, just not the colors.)
The suggestion of pulling your camp trailer as a second living space is also a good one, I've seen that before. Does eliminate a toad, however, so you'd have to choose. The hitch weight wouldn't be as much of an issue with MCI, Eagle or Prevost. Suburbans & big vans are usually towed "four-down", not on a trailer, so there is minimal hitch weight, comparatively. Remember, too, that 65-feet overall is the legal limit in most states, another consideration.
Keep in mind, too, that MCI & Prevost are still in business, Eagles & GMCs are orphans. Not really an issue if you know where to look for stuff, but factor that into the equation.
Before spending the big bucks on a coach, you need to purchase a couple of books. Spend the $40 or so to buy a copy of The Bus Garage Index, published by Bus Ride magazine, an industry trade journal. Lists bus garages all over the US & Canada, including contact info. Best investment you'll ever make in your coach for being on the road and needing service. Available from www.busride.com, link to order is in the LH menu off the home page.
The second book I'd recommend highly is Larry Plachno's Beginner's Guide to Converted Coaches. It's slightly dated, but the information contained therein is very insightful, from this long-time industry veteran who's also the publisher of National Bus Trader, another industry journal. Available from Amazon or direct: www.busmag.com.
Do your homework, and make sure ANY coach you're seriously considering is inspected thoroughly by a BUS technician, not a truck mechanic. Different beasts!!! (Maybe you can get BK's dad to inspect it for you - BK says NO ONE inspects a coach more thoroughly than Pop! Especially if you might consider the MCI in the above link - they're not too far away.)
FWIW & HTH. . .
;)
Here's one from CG in Oregon...Supposedly stretched to 45', etc.
It's been listed for a while, so may be available for a good price.
http://salem.craigslist.org/rvs/1050971805.html
Quote from: Timkar on March 04, 2009, 11:27:05 AM
Here's one from CG in Oregon...Supposedly stretched to 45', etc.
It's been listed for a while, so may be available for a good price.
http://salem.craigslist.org/rvs/1050971805.html
LOL Love the description. "this bus has everything".
QuoteBefore spending the big bucks on a coach, you need to purchase a couple of books. Spend the $40 or so to buy a copy of The Bus Garage Index, published by Bus Ride magazine, an industry trade journal. Lists bus garages all over the US & Canada, including contact info. Best investment you'll ever make in your coach for being on the road and needing service. Available from www.busride.com, link to order is in the LH menu off the home page.
The second book I'd recommend highly is Larry Plachno's Beginner's Guide to Converted Coaches. It's slightly dated, but the information contained therein is very insightful, from this long-time industry veteran who's also the publisher of National Bus Trader, another industry journal. Available from Amazon or direct: www.busmag.com.
Wow, thanks for that!
Hi Tamri and Family!
Welcome!
What part of the country are you from? Maybe we can direct you to a qualified bus tech to check some out for you as needed.
Enjoy your new found hobby
Nick-
Tamri -
FYI, Bryce Gaston (aka Busted Knuckle or BK) & his bus company are about 3 hrs drive from those two coaches I shared with you in a previous message. He has commented here often that they're in Nashville frequently, so maybe could kill two stones with one bird?
Just thinking at the keyboard. . .
;)
"BSG inspired name" I don't get it?
Welcome, I have 4 kids and the bus, in my opinion, is a great way to travel from place to place. To do it full time, i like the idea of a smaller more maneuverable coach and your trailer. But there are just so many things to consider. OH ya, insurance companies are not known to be great at paying in a timely fashion so the good news is you get to think bus for 48% of your day for even longer.
Tamri,
I am assuming you are currently in the Pacific NW. Two places to check with for conversion inspections would be Infinity Coach in Sumner, WA http://www.infinitycoach.com/ (http://www.infinitycoach.com/) or Southern Oregon Diesel in Roseburg, OR http://www.southernoregondiesel.com/ (http://www.southernoregondiesel.com/) both of these are familiar with the mechanical systems of the bus and the conversion systems. I would look at a newer bus with computer controlled engine and transmission probably a 4 stroke diesel vs. 2 stroke diesel, I bought a 2 stroke (8V92) because I grew up with 2 strokes and like them but they are not going to get the MPG and they getting harder to find good mechanics to work on them. Infinity Coach did the lastest conversion of the Odyssey http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com/ (http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com/), I am sure Sean would share his experiences with them. I bought a Neoplan Cityliner (very similar window layout to the Odyssey) in large part because of the larger amount of glass; it is almost like being outside inside. Also the square corner roof, gives you good head room up to the wall and it feels roomer than the older round cornered buses. IMHO
Quote from: RJ on March 04, 2009, 11:58:15 AM
Tamri -
FYI, Bryce Gaston (aka Busted Knuckle or BK) & his bus company are about 3 hrs drive from those two coaches I shared with you in a previous message. He has commented here often that they're in Nashville frequently, so maybe could kill two stones with one bird?
Just thinking at the keyboard. . .
;)
Thanks for the tip!
I am so glad we started researching now, I'm feeling a little dizzy from information overload lol!
Quote from: viento1 on March 04, 2009, 12:31:42 PM
"BSG inspired name" I don't get it?
Welcome, I have 4 kids and the bus, in my opinion, is a great way to travel from place to place. To do it full time, i like the idea of a smaller more maneuverable coach and your trailer. But there are just so many things to consider. OH ya, insurance companies are not known to be great at paying in a timely fashion so the good news is you get to think bus for 48% of your day for even longer.
BSG = BattleStar Galactica.
Yes, we're geeks, and we OWN it. ;D
Going to talk to dh tonight about the possibility of the bus/trailer set up. We'd never considered it, and had been set on the bus and Suburban. This is certainly something to think about. Not sure if going w/o a car is an option, he probably needs it for ease of use for getting to worksites.
Lee, thank you for the information!
Welcome to the madness :o
Don't forget MAK
http://www.busconversions.com/ (http://www.busconversions.com/)
Get the mag, they are going through some changes but still the highlight of my month and they are trying. paying for the shipping helps get it quicker too
if sombody is getting rid of old mags then grab them too.
Bus charter places usually have mech. that will check out bus for you.
Hi BG6,
I have not seen the roof structure on any GM model other than our GM4106, but it does not have a frame member running lengthwise in the center of the roof. It has two frame members running lengthwise at about the spacing of the engine cradle supports, so having our A/Cs and vents in the center of the roof didn't compromise its strength.
Thanks, Sam 4106
Tamri,
You should get your husband on here. Since he will be the one working on the bus, it would be good if he read here too. Maybe you can flag threads for him of something. Sorry to say but your husband will be the keys to the bus "go or no go" ;D 8) 8) ;D.
Just a thought.
BTW your price range will affect how many repairs you have to do on your bus. Newer, nicer, more expensive, (often NOT always) means less repairs, less to get it up to par. The 45ers are going to be a lot more expensive (again not always but most often) than 40 footers.
We love our DL3 with a Detroit Diesel, Series 60 engine (I spelled it all out guys, that way she didn't have to ask what a DD S60 is.), which is one of the best engines on the market, and we have a Allison B500 transmission, which is also one of the best transmissions out there.
HTH
God bless,
John
QuoteYou should get your husband on here. Since he will be the one working on the bus, it would be good if he read here too. Maybe you can flag threads for him of something. Sorry to say but your husband will be the keys to the bus "go or no go
Soooo.... Not to get all persnickety on my first day and all, but are you saying girls can't be mechanics and fix things?
This is a joint venture, and yes, he'll be reading too.
I Love it, this is going to be a train wreck. The truth is if the guys on this forum were single they would be asking if you had a sister (geeks are hot) Besides If your other half is not a "go" than maybe he can go:)
Quote from: viento1 on March 04, 2009, 07:09:07 PM
I Love it, this is going to be a train wreck. The truth is if the guys on this forum were single they would be asking if you had a sister (geeks are hot) Besides If your other half is not a "go" than maybe he can go:)
Well, my sister just happens to be a certified mechanic and auto body repair, and also drives a forklift.....
Quote from: PacNWNomad on March 04, 2009, 06:56:51 PM
QuoteYou should get your husband on here. Since he will be the one working on the bus, it would be good if he read here too. Maybe you can flag threads for him of something. Sorry to say but your husband will be the keys to the bus "go or no go
Soooo.... Not to get all persnickety on my first day and all, but are you saying girls can't be mechanics and fix things?
This is a joint venture, and yes, he'll be reading too.
Nope ;D ;D ;D. I have know very mechanically minded gals. The thing is, I know how communication sometimes (or is it rarely ;D ;D ;D) gets between guys and gals. It just might ease things a bit, if he knows about the "techy" side of the bus too. You all will have a great time. And besides, I don't imagine that there are a lot of women on this board that change the oil, change bearings...you get the idea (again I am not saying that there aren't ;D).
This is going to be great!
Invite your sister to come and be the resident bus mechanic. I hope that you won't need her auto body skills, but you never know what the bus driving "learning" curve may
damage hold ;D :D ;D.
God bless,
John
I know today's bus market is way down, but you would be hard pressed to find a 45' bus shell for $30,000. Even if you did find a shell in your budget even a minimal conversion would be $10k easy.
My bus is a 1995, but even it required $12,000 in repairs to be truly road worthy. A bus garage did almost $10,000 of the repairs. Parts alone billed at over $5,000 and the rest was labor. A local bus nut recommended I not attempt to replace the brakes and wheel bearings myself, but I have replaced the radiator and done other mechanical repairs.
Make sure you have a good inspection done by a bus garage before you buy. I might have gotten a lower price if I knew just how bad things really were. I had a truck place inspect it, but they didn't find a lot of the problems the bus garage found.
Opps. Hit wrong button.
What year did the 45' become more common place? It's looking like a 45 might be out anyway, but I'm curious.
It's a good thing that you found this forum before you jumped into purchasing a bus. Probably way to much advise at times but at least some first hand experience for sure. I found this forum after buying my bus and am glad I did. It's a tremendous amount of knowledge from the ole "hard knox" school of busing. But as many have stated, unless you are John Madden or Dale Earnhardt Jr your new ride will require a lot of hands on work. Madden's bus and Jr's bus require a lot of attention also and they are new!!! I sure don't want to scare anyone away from the thrill of owning a bus but also want to make sure that they know the costs and maintance of keeping one rolling is not cheap, be it new or old. My bus is a toy at the moment and a major repair cost would just basically put it out of action until I felt comfortable fixing it. Living in it with 6 kids as you may would basically be putting a lot of eggs in one basket especially in an older bus. Just my 2 cents but you know what? I would go the bus route in a heartbeat if in the same situation! Gluttons for punishment aren't we? :D :D
QuoteIt's a good thing that you found this forum before you jumped into purchasing a bus.
That was intentional. :)
45 foot buses didn't start manufacture until the early 1990s. Previous to that the legal limit was 40'.
Good to know! Thank you.
Oh, and a couple people have asked. Yes, we homeschool. Always have. And no, we're not crazy (okay, nobody HERE asked me that, but lots of people do lol!).
Not crazy looking to buy a bus.
Does not compute.
Quote from: Lee Bradley on March 04, 2009, 08:31:29 PM
Not crazy looking to buy a bus.
Does not compute.
LOL compared to some of our other um, adventures, it's perhaps one of the less crazy things we've done. ;-)
Tamri,
Welcome to the board. Six children in a bus is a challenge no matter how big the bus is. You will find that regardless of what you get you will most likely be remodeling it to fit the family's needs. I am not posting much here because I am in the process of getting ready for a 7800 mile 35 day trip and I am behind schedule by about a year. My wife and I also have six homeschooled children ages from 18 down to 6. We have a 35' 4106 and I wouldn't want to travel any other way. Before the bus a normal trip was a hassle even though we have a 15 passenger van. We could only travel as far as someone could hold it, and with eight, we seemed to just stop way too often. Then there was the problem of everyone out and back in. The process always seemed to take 20 min or more and we never could make decent traveling time. Then we had to eat. Sandwiches only seem to satisfy for a while then we would wind up with $70 lunch tabs and who knows how much dinner would run. Having to get a hotel was horrible. Always had to get two rooms and they could never guarantee they would be side-by-side. Then unpacking and repacking in the morning took forever. Some of the places that we thought were more affordable where complete dives, yuck x 10. Sometimes we would get a suite but they limited occupancy to 6 so we always felt bad about sneaking the extra two in. Vacationing on the cheep was averaging us $500 a day (Not exaggerating. For those who don't have six children just add it up.). Long story short we bought a bus, and even though we probably don't save as much money with it as I would have like to, we have a more enjoyable lifestyle when we travel. We have our own bathroom, our own food, our own beds, never having to unpack, sleep at Wal-mart if we are just passing through, camping in the most beautiful places ever, etc. I don't need to add to any of the good advice you are getting here so I will wish you and your family well and good luck.
Laryn
Tamri,
Not to be contradicting anybody here, but.... That idea of getting an entertainer coach "may" have some flaws. Those guys are not designed for live aboard. They are for extended transit. Their tank capacity may be inferior, their heating may be primarily engine heat/coolant. Their AC may be primarily coach air that is engine driven, insulation may leave somthing to be desired, mileage may be L O N G, storage may be short and lots of other considerations. Then again it may be perfect. Most I have seen are inferior and changing this stuff will be a worse nitemare than building one from scratch. Find out what a real coach should have in the way of features and compare....should be doing that in any case.
Somthing to consider about central air is that it takes up a lot of bay space. You will need all the storage you can find so that isn't a plus. I wondered for a long time why some of the really high line stuff used roof airs and I finally learned that they are cheap, easily replaced and devour absolutely no bay space. Ducted they aren't noisey but they are also less efficient in really hot circumstances. You can uncork the ducts for that circumstance and recover the efficiency. There is a Vogue built Prevo down in Fla that has been for sale for over a year. The problem is that it has "bunks" amidships and that usually isn't a plus. Except for the few like you.
Start making a list of what you want and need in a bus to meet your needs. Publish it and many will chime in with alternatives and additional info. After about 20 posts you should be on your way to defining "your dream bus" and be able to estimate what it would take to bring anything you are considering "up to spec".
There was some serious good advice on here that might have gone un-noticed. A knut had a truck mech go over his prospective purchase before he bought. After the fact he took his new treasure into a "bus garage" for work and they found $12K worth of needed stuff. Moral? Truck mechs do trucks and bus mechs do buses. The cost of that inspection is $300 plus transportation to and from. Stacking that up against 12 grand is a no brainer.
Be well Galactican and prosper,
John
Some costs to me when I bought. 1989 Prevost $30,000, fly out to Reno NV and drive it back to Connecticut $2000, replaced clutch, blown power steering pump and do a complete service etc when I got home $4800, replace all 8 air bags after one blew out when on the road and fix power steering box leak $4200,
6 new drive and tag tires $1800. Bought the bus in 2005 and used it for two years as is just fixing it up to be useable at RV parks, gutted it out winter of 2008. I now have about $10,000 in all the stuff to put into for the conversion. I expect to spend another $25,000 before I am finished. If we had known back in 2005 that the market was going to crash, I would have waited, but no one new. Some real good deals out there for $40,000 to $100,000. Like everyone says figure out what you need and go from there. Definitely a MCI or Prevost.
Good Luck on you venture.
Quote from: Sam 4106 on March 04, 2009, 06:08:22 PM
I have not seen the roof structure on any GM model other than our GM4106, but it does not have a frame member running lengthwise in the center of the roof. It has two frame members running lengthwise at about the spacing of the engine cradle supports, so having our A/Cs and vents in the center of the roof didn't compromise its strength.
Thanks, Sam 4106
I agree Sam I think that is a common " Urban legend "
Sounds like you are going to have some fun. Take your time on the purchase, go see a few buses for sale that you know you can't afford/don't want etc...just to get a feel for buses and the shape (or lack of) they can be in. I know for a fact that there are many different deals out there, personally with your crew I would go for a rebuilt scenicruiser, (BTW they can tow). Whatever you get it is a buyers market, some of the links above, while nice buses could probably be bought for 1/2 the price. I do my own wrenching so I would take on more challenging stuff, the problem is that even a "newish" bus has been run hard and put away wet and who knows what else. Make sure you read all of BigDougfromOregone's threads.
Quotepersonally with your crew I would go for a rebuilt scenicruiser, (BTW they can tow)
Tell me more about this?
QuoteThere is a Vogue built Prevo down in Fla that has been for sale for over a year.
For shame, have you no link? ;)
QuoteThose guys are not designed for live aboard. They are for extended transit. Their tank capacity may be inferior, their heating may be primarily engine heat/coolant.
I did notice that on some of the ones I saw online. The tanks seemed rather small. 50 gallon? That's barely bigger than my Squirrel Cage I have right now.
Quote from: zubzub on March 05, 2009, 07:23:38 AM
I know for a fact that there are many different deals out there, personally with your crew I would go for a rebuilt scenicruiser, (BTW they can tow).
Zub & Tamri -Much as I love the classic old Scenicruiser, I don't think this would be a good choice for Tamri & her family. They were originally designed as a line-haul coach, and in that role they were perfect. After coming out of Greyhound service (the last ones left about 1975 or so), many tour & charter companies picked one up, sort of like a "status" thing. They quickly found out that on a tour, the escort was either talking to 10 people downstairs, or 33 upstairs, not all together.
When they migrated to the RV market, folk discovered that the dropped aisle design presented some major challenges, because many of the controls and stuff are incorporated into the raised seat platforms, among other things. Not to say that it can't or hasn't been done, just giving you a "heads up" on what's involved.
Only 1001 of them were built between 1954 - 1956, of which about 200 or so are still in running condition. Many parts are now being made from "unobtainium", another consideration.
For Tamri's situation, IMHO they'd be far better off with an MCI or Prevost.
Below is a photo of the Scenicruiser, in it's original paint livery.
FWIW & HTH. . .
;)
Welcome aboard Tamri,
My best advise I can give is if you have time to look take all the time you can to find that perfect bus fit for you and your family,you won't regret it.Any bus you are considering have inspected by someone who knows
buses,there is alot of bus nuts in our area that will be willing to give the bus a good once over just ask and they will be glad to help,busnuts are some of the most wonderful people I have ever met.
I don't own a bus yet but someday I will find myself in a good financial postion again and the first place I will turn is right here, best advice around.
By the way I'm from Lakebay Little ways outside of Gig Harbor so we are sorta neighbors. Hugs Peabody
It's true that the layout on the sceni is a little weird....would require some good design ideas. I'm a big proponent of let the PO do all the rebuild/replace work, so when I say rebuilt I mean one of the nice cummins powered (or whatever) scenis that come up every so often for around $15-25K. I was also under the impression that most of the running gear of the scenis was truck(ish) stuff.
Tamri,
Go to "RVTrader" or RVtraderonline", both different, and do a search for used Prevosts. Call out used, 40 feet, "anywhere", and after it spits out the list....go to the upper right and re-order the list to "cheaper first". Vogue made a preeminent coach and then they started converting Pre for that high end market and their Pre's were also upper shelf. This one is mid 80's, flawless exterior, good rubber really clean interior with lots of wood and bunks in the center. The thing looks really pretty and should go like a bat with an 8V92 and 5 speed trans. ROOF AIRS also. There are a number of bus garages down there and some of our finest are on speaking terms with the owners, possibly because the Knut has put the owners kids thru college. ::) ;D Really though, Fla abounds with Knut resources as well as being a scheister crook capitol. And I mean BEWARE! >:( Any where tho. :'( :(
Phoenix, LasVegas, Nashville, Texas(except coast) and Fla seem to locations where people retire from using their bus and sell off. There are lots of Pre listings so let your fingers do the walking.
Give a lot of consideration to taking your prospective to the DD Auth dealer only if a Knut can verify that an oldtimer 2 cycle mech is available and get the engine and trans dyno'd and evaled. Only a bus garage can do the chassis and even then it needs to be a shop that is familiar with Pre's or MCI and some only see one or the other. For all the RV systems you need a Knut's help without a doubt.
Get to work on that list of features. For starters: Three roof airs of the 15,000BTU persuasion, 100 gal fresh(min), 50 black, 100 gray, 100 fuel, 8V92 engine, Automatic, NO WEBASTO or other diesel fired central heat, propane cooking & heating, 10 gal hot water(or two), engine block heater, at least half rubber, fresh shocks, 200 amp alternator or larger, 4 8D bats or equal or larger battery bank, 140 amp charger feature from a SMART charger built into and inverter, 3KW inverter or larger, rear roof air for down the road aux unless a Pre, sprayed in insulation unless a Pre cause they have that stock from the factory, unpited windshield, cruise control, sat dish with in motion capability, JAKE brake with 2 stage, heated bays, filtered water, center isle with curtain for privacy for potty, Fantastic fan in bath, alu rims, etc. Write all these out and add a short explanation as to why each is important as well as what that means. Might also give thought to "work arounds" cause it isn't likely that you will not have to compromise on something or pay for an upgrade. You push this and you will be really smart on coach systems and your needs.
Let the games begin....good luck,
John
Zub,
I like the Scenis also. Lotsa character! Only 2 storage bays and she has 6 kids and I think that is shorter than required on the cubes. They, Sceinic Cruisers, are also only 96 inches wide so for it to work for her she would have to grease those kids up regularly. ??? ::) Don't mean to rain on your parade, now. ;D
John
Quote from: JohnEd on March 05, 2009, 10:46:14 AM
Go to "RVTrader" or RVtraderonline", both different, and do a search for used Prevosts. Call out used, 40 feet, "anywhere", and after it spits out the list....go to the upper right and re-order the list to "cheaper first". Vogue made a preeminent coach and then they started converting Pre for that high end market and their Pre's were also upper shelf. This one is mid 80's, flawless exterior, good rubber really clean interior with lots of wood and bunks in the center. The thing looks really pretty and should go like a bat with an 8V92 and 5 speed trans. ROOF AIRS also.
JohnEd -I've searched both sites you've mentioned for a coach similar to what you're talking about and cannot find it.
Would you mind pulling it up again and posting a direct link to it?
;)
http://www.rvt.com/rvdetail1957422.htm
That is rvt.com for the main page. Sorry, the Vogue doesn't seem to have the bunks as I thought. I am certain that there is a Pre in the mix of under 100K that does have, however. The Pre Vogue has dropped from 150K to 98K so figure what they will take at this time. 141K miles and new rubber w 475HP and a 5 speed. 1992.....I repeat nineteen ninety two....and counting. Looks like Kona wood interior.
Good viewing,
John
http://www.rvtraderonline.com
These guys don't seem to have the listings they used to have. Look at what listings are there and then see if the dealer has a site and look at that. Same for the previous post/site. Search Google for "Prevost sales".
John
Very good advice. Another thing to consider is the ability to work on them. I know that our DL3 is a dream to work on (except for replacing the airbags on the drive, they were a PAIN). Everything is relatively accessible, and fixing stuff in general hasn't been bad.
Tamri, you all will do well. Keep it up.
God bless,
John
Quote from: Sam 4106 on March 04, 2009, 06:08:22 PM
Hi BG6,
I have not seen the roof structure on any GM model other than our GM4106, but it does not have a frame member running lengthwise in the center of the roof. It has two frame members running lengthwise at about the spacing of the engine cradle supports, so having our A/Cs and vents in the center of the roof didn't compromise its strength.
Thanks, Sam 4106
I think if you look, you will find a stamped aluminum channel up there at the center. It's there on my 4903.
Quote from: PacNWNomad on March 04, 2009, 02:09:10 PM
BSG = BattleStar Galactica.
WHICH Battlestar Galactica, the real one or the remake?
Quote from: Paso One on March 05, 2009, 06:49:13 AM
Quote from: Sam 4106 on March 04, 2009, 06:08:22 PM
I have not seen the roof structure on any GM model other than our GM4106, but it does not have a frame member running lengthwise in the center of the roof. It has two frame members running lengthwise at about the spacing of the engine cradle supports, so having our A/Cs and vents in the center of the roof didn't compromise its strength.
Thanks, Sam 4106
I agree Sam I think that is a common " Urban legend "
Nope. Got the pictures of my coach with part of the ceiling down, and years ago I saw a Buff with a skylight the owner had put in, which also happened to be the low point of the V-shaped roof, directly over the splintered floor and where the cargo bay doors had popped out as the bay floor sank down to grind on the highway.
Quote from: RJ on March 05, 2009, 09:30:56 AM
Much as I love the classic old Scenicruiser, I don't think this would be a good choice for Tamri & her family. They were originally designed as a line-haul coach, and in that role they were perfect. After coming out of Greyhound service (the last ones left about 1975 or so), many tour & charter companies picked one up, sort of like a "status" thing.
Can't blame them. The original Scenicruiser was the most elegant coach design ever built.
The Buff is more practical, but it just can't match the classy profile of the 4509.
I have had many GM coaches apart and None of them (not one) were built at the Factory with Any kind of frame running down the center line of the roof....
regarding the broken Bus you saw years ago just how large was the skylight the guy installed ???
I am thinking he must not have had a clue as to the roof being the supporting member on his coach and he installed the skylight by cutting through one or both of the steel roof support frames that run front to rear on about a 3 foot spacing on either side of the roof center line.
Also just about every GM Bus that has been converted to coach/rv use has at least one and most have several roof vents and roof airs in them and it does not seem to affect the strength of the coach in any way.
starting with the the model 4107 right through the last Buffalo the roof ribs and all the roof framing and support pieces in the roof were made from STEEL no aluminum whatsoever.
hope the helps
Chris
Steel framing started way before the 4107....
Our PD4103 has steel crossmembers and roof braces, but, it also has the steel roof support frame running down the center, along with the other two already mentioned.
Dallas
Dallas, You are correct steel roof ribs were used in most Gm buses if not all as far as I know
I was being or trying to be specific to the post by BG6 referring to the Buffalo models he was writing about
I did not say that Gm buses were not built with a center line roof support but that the Buffalos were not
Chris
Quote from: BG6 on March 05, 2009, 05:44:30 PM
Quote from: Paso One on March 05, 2009, 06:49:13 AM
Quote from: Sam 4106 on March 04, 2009, 06:08:22 PM
I have not seen the roof structure on any GM model other than our GM4106, but it does not have a frame member running lengthwise in the center of the roof. It has two frame members running lengthwise at about the spacing of the engine cradle supports, so having our A/Cs and vents in the center of the roof didn't compromise its strength.
Thanks, Sam 4106
I agree Sam I think that is a common " Urban legend "
Nope. Got the pictures of my coach with part of the ceiling down, and years ago I saw a Buff with a skylight the owner had put in, which also happened to be the low point of the V-shaped roof, directly over the splintered floor and where the cargo bay doors had popped out as the bay floor sank down to grind on the highway.
Not to be argumentative but one incident does not make it a hazard warning.
There is more on the road with air conditioners down the center line than ones with any problems related to your example.
Quote from: gmbusguy1 on March 05, 2009, 06:02:56 PM
I have had many GM coaches apart and None of them (not one) were built at the Factory with Any kind of frame running down the center line of the roof....
regarding the broken Bus you saw years ago just how large was the skylight the guy installed ???
3 feet by 3 feet.
In the (hopefully) attached pic, you can see the stamped channel that runs at the peak of the roof as a dark line between the shiny ribs.
Hi BG6,
You said on another post that you are a professional writer. You have disagreed with several of us, on various topics, on different threads. Including me, when I said that our GM4106 doesn't have a rib running lengthways in the center of the roof. Is your writing speciality fiction?
Thanks, Sam 4106
Well Gentlemen, I hate to disagree with everyone, but.... here are the two pages from the PD4106 parts manual.
They show a center piece along with the 2 side pieces.
Is an apology in order?
Dallas
Come on guys, lets take this offline, or be nice. This is Tamri's thread, and her first thread at that. If you want to fuss at each other, another topic would be very nice.
God bless,
John
Quote from: John316 on March 06, 2009, 04:32:45 PM
Come on guys, lets take this offline, or be nice. This is Tamri's thread, and her first thread at that. If you want to fuss at each other, another topic would be very nice.
God bless,
John
Eh, I've been posting on forums for 12+ years now. I'm shocked my intro made it this many pages w/o being threadjacked. ;)
Quote from: Sam 4106 on March 06, 2009, 02:05:03 PM
Hi BG6,
You said on another post that you are a professional writer. You have disagreed with several of us, on various topics, on different threads. Including me, when I said that our GM4106 doesn't have a rib running lengthways in the center of the roof. Is your writing speciality fiction?
Thanks, Sam 4106
Well, Sam, you've got me pegged.
Just because there's an aluminum channel in the center of the roof of every GMC I've ever worked on doesn't mean that it really exists. Figment of my imagination. Feel free to chop holes in your roof to your heart's content.
Quote from: Old4103 on March 06, 2009, 03:54:13 PM
Well Gentlemen, I hate to disagree with everyone, but.... here are the two pages from the PD4106 parts manual.
They show a center piece along with the 2 side pieces.
Is an apology in order?
Are you kidding? 5 hours after I posted a PHOTOGRAPH of the thing, Sam still accuses me of lying.
It doesn't matter. I know that I'm right, and I've warned anyone willing to pay attention. For the rest, well, it's their coach and their problem, not mine.
My philosophy is that I'll tell you that the bridge is out, but I won't stand in your way if you want to drive off it.
HA AH
I told you that all GM buses were built with a center rib in the ceiling
Case closed
Chris
yea Dallas You are right again
LOL
Hmmmm... I wonder why GM called it a stiffner in the description ;D
Hi BG6 and Dallas,
You are certainly right that an apology is in order and I offer it now. It is qiute apparent that my memory has failed since I converted my GM4106.
I have offended too many people on the board lately so it is time to take a break from posting. I won't try to make excuses, but I am sorry that I offended you and others.
Sam 4106
Quote from: Sam 4106 on March 07, 2009, 01:17:18 PM
Hi BG6 and Dallas,
You are certainly right that an apology is in order and I offer it now. It is qiute apparent that my memory has failed since I converted my GM4106.
I have offended too many people on the board lately so it is time to take a break from posting. I won't try to make excuses, but I am sorry that I offended you and others.
Sam 4106
Your apology is accepted with a handshake.
Sam,
No need to apologize to me....
I'm use to being the harbinger of bad news.
I was just trying to get the correct information out.
Here's a thought... is it possible that GM either stopped putting the center ribs in or started at a later date?
Dallas
By the way, you can buy us all a round of cold lemon aid when you get down to our neck of the woods!
DF
Way to go Sam! It takes a man to apologize. I appreciate you attitude.
God bless,
John
O.K., l will try to steer the conversation back to the original question. If I can remember what that was. :) No offense toward anyone, we're just an enthusiastic bunch!
In reading everyone's ideas, and in thinking about mine, I think you might consider a professionally converted bus. Mine is an '82 MCI, converted as a new shell by Custom Coach in Columbus, OH. Now, I'm not pretending mine is the best for everybody, but it might work for your situation. It isn't as flashy as some, but it IS durable. The laminate cabinetry isn't the nicest I've seen, and wouldn't have been my first choice, but after twenty-seven years, it still works, looks decent, every latch latches, and every drawer slides. One thing I don't like is the fact that the two basement a/c units and their ducts take up too much interior and bay space. You could trash those and convert to roof airs without too much waste. Mostly labor, and of course, the price of two or three rooftop units, depending on where you'll spend most of your time.
Mine came with a 12 kw diesel gen, but NO house battery set-up. I plan to add a small battery bank and an inverter.
Another advantage is the lack of high mileage since it was never a seated coach.
So far, so good. I hope you will look at a LOT of buses, then make your decision. The folks on this board are great. Good luck, we will be following your search with interest...and support!
Dennis
If you can wait a few more months before buying, go to the BUS'N USA rally this summer in Rickreall Oregon. There are a lot of buses you can look at, and there are always some for sale, usually a half dozen or so.
You know, you might stumble across a deal on just what you're looking for right away. Otherwise, if you have to vacate where ever you're living now, have you considered putting your stuff in storage so you're not rushed into a decision? Just a thought...
Dennis
Quote from: Hi yo silver on March 08, 2009, 09:44:19 AM
You know, you might stumble across a deal on just what you're looking for right away. Otherwise, if you have to vacate where ever you're living now, have you considered putting your stuff in storage so you're not rushed into a decision? Just a thought...
Dennis
Right now we have a travel trailer, so we're good while we made decisions. :)
Bus'n Rally sounds like a great idea, I'll look into that!
Quote from: Ed Hackenbruch on March 07, 2009, 08:26:22 PM
If you can wait a few more months before buying, go to the BUS'N USA rally this summer in Rickreall Oregon. There are a lot of buses you can look at, and there are always some for sale, usually a half dozen or so.
However, summer is the SELLERS' market. Fall and winter are the best times to be buying, early spring isn't bad, but by late spring you're competing against people eager to spend their tax checks and go on vacation.