How many people use their bus primarily to "camp", with all that implies (campfires, smores, mosquitos, loud noisy neighbours drinking and carousing till 2 in thhe morningm but I digress) vs "travel" - go various places, stay in various spots, emphasis on the travel/tour as opposed to getting near to nature. Or a third option - my intended primary use will be to travel, to race tracks and either race my cars or have my customers race their cars. So I travel point to point, no sightseeing, and hang out in a parking lot surrounded by ultra noisy neighbours with screaming engines all day, then point to point home again to hopefully recover from the trip...
Brian
Why limit yourself, you can do all of those and whatever else you might think of. the bus gives you freedom. :)
The only reason to go home is to save up money for more fuel.
( or have access to the rest of your tools..) :-\ :-\
We use ours for all of the above. We camp, travel, attend functions, even transport friends and family to where ever.
When we worked we camped. Now retired we go where we want when we want and stay as long as we want.
We've hauled family and friends to weddings, funerals, birthdays, games, rallies and graduations.
We've also used it as a getaway for days or weeks at a time.
Our only limitation seems to be the cost of fuel, and how long I can stay awake....Cable
Per your definition, our bus will be used for travel. I say "will be" because we have yet to take our first real trip. We are leaving two weeks from today assuming all the maintenance is completed for a 4-5 week trip through the NE.
Our preference is to see all the wonderful sights and experience different parts of N. America. I suspect this would be hard to do if we spent a lot of time camping.
We followed the "travel" pattern in our boating days and were able to explore 60% of the Bahamas over a 2 year period. Interestingly, we learned and experienced more about the culture and history of the Bahamas in 2 years than many cruisers that had been going to the Bahamas for 30 plus years.
We are hoping the same will be true as we start our land yachting expeditions.
Paul
We camp, we travel, we carouse, we enjoy, life is too short to not enjoy it, whatever we need the bus for, it's there for it, sometimes I just sit in it to watch tv, sometimes I even putter and work in it.
Our bus is not really ready for traveling yet but I do enjoy just sitting back in it and dreaming of what it will be and sipping on a cool liquid refreshment or 2 or 3 orrrrr4 orrrrr _______
I'm sorry what was the question
Cody,that doesn't cover the nature part.Guess if ya did it nekid it would :o ;D :D
Nekid? you mean we supposed to wear clothes? yikes, ohhhhhhhh the humanity
We do both, we like just going for the weekend to the federal parks that are close buy and sit around the campfire. And also we like to travel but we can't do that much traveling other than our yearly vacations to the beach, and this year we get two vacations one to the beach and one to Disney in November, but mostly just weekend camping for us. Jason
I take our teenage boys dirt bike racing on weekends with the bus. Lots of noise there: bikes, power washers, generators, lots of fun.
We use the bus to go shopping to Calgary, or Coeurd'Alene, Id, Spokane, Wa. We sleep at Wal.M., Cabela's, Bass Pro Shop, truck stops, the side of the road, etc.
We've gone camping to lakes, or National Park campgrounds that we hike out of.
We go to horse shows that my wife is at, and cater to her and her helpers with food and drinks, and moral support.
I go to some rallies like Busn'USA in Oregon, and the BC Bus Nuts rallies in Spring and Fall.
Any excuse to use the bus in the summer...
JC
I guess we do both. We rarely stay anyplace more than a week, but we do enjoying sitting around and relaxing when we are parked as well as seeing the local sights. We have also attended NASCAR races in our coach.
There are so many ways to enjoy a coach, from simply sitting in it in the back yard to living it it full time and everything in between. Jack
I think it's a combination of both, at least for us! We full time and have only been able to travel one time since doing so this last March. Now as I start taking college classes this coming Monday, it'll be even less. :(
The best part is just going, filling up the tanks, the smell of diesel, seeing the country and meeting bus nuts for a gathering! Life couldn't get any better than that!
Now, if I could just remember where I put the keys!!!
Paul
Quote from: Dreamscape on August 26, 2009, 05:20:25 AM
Now, if I could just remember where I put the keys!!!
Paul
That is why I dd not use a key type switch LOL Jack
I guess I'd say we do a wide mix. We generally plan one "big" family excursion each year (multi-state, 10-14 days). --- I'm not retired or full timing, so that constitues a big trip for us. During these trips, we stay in national/state parks, commercial campgrounds, and the occasional Walmart parking lot. These trips blend a hectic sightseeing schedule with some built in down time to burn marshmellows over a campfire.
At other points during the year we use the bus for a variety of other activities. We try to work in some weekend camping trips, and these are usually "relax in the woods" getaways. The bus also goes to weekend long soccer tournaments, and has tailgated at MLB baseball and college football games. With the bathroom facilities , heat, and kitchen, it gets pressed into service at some local events: parked on the lot where the scouts are selling Christmas trees, and charity walk-a-thons. It was used once as "moving van" for a friend moving from one apartment to another. She was astounded how many boxes a 4104 will hold if you use the bays and the inside.
One of these days, I like to add a ski trip to our bus log.
I would have to say both with a twist. We are fulltiming now in our Bus and stay in RV Resorts. We just love the comforts ;D. We cram as much in a day that we can. Life is good at 50. All the Best, M&C
We are 80% camping, 20% just travel.
Since we are still in the fulltime working portion of our lives we tend to be weekenders the majority of the year.
I have taken it to sporting events and everyone wants one....nice to be self contained.
I will usually take the coach on shorter trips to the beach...etc...If I know the parking situation in advance.
Cliff
Plans are for all of the above as we are planning a journey to the Daytona area for next years bike week. As of now it's primary use is camping. My business keeps me from jumping in the bus and taking off for any kind of lengthy trip. Hopefully someday I'll get more time. Later
At 3 months of ownership we have 19 days of camping about 10 miles from the house. We have had one eventful 300 mile round trip through LA to Solvang. I often park on the road overlooking the beach.
I expect to travel more once I've figured out how to check the fluids and add some upgrades.
I've got to say it has been a blast.
Mike
Camp, travel, "charter" for big groups to sporting events, weeks and weekends, lots of time in relative's driveways, beaches, mountains, forests, Wal-Marts, Cabela's, interstates, two lands, meandering byways, and washboard roads...
Our family enjoys our coach immensely. Seventeen states and counting. We've even put up inlaws in it on the side of the house.
Just took a 12 day trip. Spent 4 nights in front of a friends cabin in Mammoth; then travelled through the Sierra Nevadas to gold country; then three nights at Bethel Island in the Sacramento delta; in front of another friends house for 2 nights; then wind our way home. 4 nights in hook up and 1 night in no hook up; rest dry camping (had plugs at friends house). We do alot of touristing type travelling, and also go to Las Vegas in December for 4 nights just to see the lights.
When you have a bus, you can do just about anything you want. Good Luck, TomC
We told someone that we were going camping one time. They said that the bus was too big for camping. I told them that it was our luxury two room hotel suite with a full kitchen on wheels. So they were right, we weren't "camping". No bugs, dirt, smoke, out houses, or freezing our behinds off at night. Why, we are so comfortable, the last time out, we came home with eight Pinion Mice!!!
Don and Cary
GMC4107
Neoplan AN340
Quote from: cody on August 25, 2009, 02:26:38 PM
We camp, we travel, we carouse, we enjoy, life is too short to not enjoy it, whatever we need the bus for, it's there for it, sometimes I just sit in it to watch tv, sometimes I even putter and work in it.
Cody you forgot the re-hab part! LOL! ;D
Cody's Dr. told him to go home and sit by & look out the window after his big heart attack scene.
So he did @ 60 mph! Recovered faster than if he'd stayed at home fer sure! ;D
Now for us I guess you'd have to say we use our buses for Travel & work since our business is hualing people for a living! ;D
;D BK ;D
I accidentally forgot to mention that my living room window had a steering wheel and the yard sometimes went by at 60MPH. That was when I was in intensive care after my heart attach and the MACC was coming up, I had to make all kind of promises to the doc to get him to release me and let me go "home". He let me out on a wednsday after I had promised faithfully to spend the next month sitting in my chair looking out my window, on thursday I took and fueled up my chair and on friday I sat in my chair and went to columbus ohio for the festival, but I was sitting in my chair looking out the window like I promised.
Also part of what makes me a bus nut is volunteering as the driver/mechanic for our Junior Hockey team in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League. I drive them to games all over the East and West Kootenays of S. E. British Columbia and Spokane Wa. We also do charters with it. It raises money to help with upkeep. I have the bus at home and do the maintenance on it. 1995 MCI 102D3, S60, Eaton/Fuller 7 speed.
JC