OK - we just had someone join w/ the name "45 foot GMC" That is something I want to see. Sounds very cool!
;D ;D ;D
Phil
Phil,
You are killing me! I thought that you bought one ;D :o :o ;D.
Next best is to see pics of the one that just joined.
God bless,
John
Roger Trudeau was solo builder of this coach featured in this magazine years ago. He stretched her five feet and raised her nine inches to accomadate his custom Austin mini convertable which fits in the rear "garage". Sadly he passed on recently and I will attempt to complete the last 5% of the job. A true challenge for me , Cheers G... The QEIII pic attached
Wow, that thing must be a trip to drive with that long wheelbase :o
Wow! Wonder what the weight totals up to?
There are any number of things in life that one could apply that idea. Just be careful or you may drive yourself banana crackers though. :) Who knows what GM's coach product line had looked like today if they had not been discontinued about 30 years ago. Too bad NEOPLAN USA folded. They had some handsome coaches and a wide selection.
Incredible....
God bless,
John
WOW!
Good Luck
About 5 years ago there was a bus that was dry camping just south of Lake Havasu that had 5 ft. added to it, but it was red. Is this the same bus?
That is incredible. My only comment would be to watch every pound that you add to her and check the axle weights frequently.
Good luck.
This old 1973 project was started in 1993 and is a compilation of three bussesAfter tag axle was removed the body was split and a vertical plate was installed midship between the back two bays for exrta strength, A low hour 8v71 with rebuilt v730 and bennet airshifter were installed with new airbags ,front suspension , power steering, air throttle and brakes., She has a 15KW cummins genset, two 3000 watt sinewave inverters, six 12v glassmats, an equalizer (?), Webasto engine preheat/ system heat burner , that exchanges heat to a modified Molson beer keg in order to fill the full size jacuzi tub. Sub floor and sub ceiling still leave 6ft 4in headroom with flat ceiling and huge reccessed mirrors/lights above. Thousands of hours in this coach and she has hardly been used. A fellow Busnut drove it home for me as I wont have my air endorsment for a couple weeks yet. I sold my 30 ft Revcon and am moving up, I have to admit she scares me a bit, Cheers G ::)
Welcome , and that is truely remarkable, as well as the dedication that went into putting it all together.
Grant
45ft,
Good looking bus.
Thanks for the photos.
I hope to see you on the road soon.
Frank
Very interesting project you have, and the history of how it got it "Extreme Makeover" is remarkable. Now this should be BCM feature article. Are you listening Mike, Chad and Phil! ::)
Do you have a picture album site yet? Or a blog or something to share?
Great purchase, now get that endorsement and go for a drive!
Paul
QuoteI wont have my air endorsment for a couple weeks yet
Why do you need that if it is converted? Not required where I live.
I love the GM buses and you have something that is truly unique. The 40' 4905's where not known for having the tightest turning radius, even more so for one that has an extra 5', so be careful. Might squirrel away a few extra bay doors. Even those of us with the shorties could use a few every once in a while.
Welcome to the board.
Laryn (Barn Owl) makes a good point. In the 1970's, I instructed on 4905's - including in downtown Boston. We used a comparison with other buses in the fleet. If you take a right-hand corner in a 35-foot transit, such that your right rear wheel is 6 inches from the curb; then do the same in a 40-foot transit, your right rear wheel will run over the curb. If you do it the same in a deck and a half (4905), you'll go over the sidewalk, kill the pedestrians, and hit the building.
I've never driven a 45-footer, but you might take a look at the relative turning radii on MCI's, Setras, etc. Compare the turning radii of the 40-foot coaches (MC9, Eagle, 4905); with that of the 45-foot coaches. It may be possible that you can use the same proportions to forecast the outside body corner (and, more importantly, rear pivot wheel), of the lengthened 4905.
On our first trip with our new 4107(35 footer), we ended up trying to loop around blocks in downtown Moncton, New Brunswick http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=2164.msg18567#msg18567 (http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=2164.msg18567#msg18567). When we saw the 3+meter bridge in front of us, we took the next right, whether we'd be able to make it or not. We made the corner (even with no power steering), but I did lose a few ounces worth of perspiration.
Since you're moving up from a 30-footer, do you have any contacts with experienced coach drivers in your area that could work with you on driving techniques?
So, I think it was Elmer Fudd who said.... Be vewwy, vewwy, careful.
One other thought, many of us post our locations in signature lines. Another member might be just around the corner.
Arthur
Quote from: Barn Owl on September 02, 2009, 10:15:40 PM
Why do you need that if it is converted? Not required where I live.
The poster lives in Canada where RVs are not exempt from air brake endorsements, at least in some provinces.
How about a 47 foot GMC ?? It does exist. I'll try to attach a picture. It belongs to long time friend and hard headed bus nut, Pat Mcneal
Ken
Why 47 feet?
Beautiful coach!
God bless,
John
Actually I think pat said it's a little less but still over 45, I think he said he stretched it to 45.5 so it would be longer than a buddies 45 ft prevo, pat did an incredible job on it, notice, no rivits. He was parked down the row from us at jacks rally a couple of years ago.
I think you're correct. It's a little over 45 feet.
Ken
Still one of the finest coaches I've ever seen.
Just can't understand how he could build such a beautiful bus but forget how to put the front door on.
welcome aboard hard headed ken
I was in it this weekend and I've opened that door backwards so many times I hardly noticed it. I guess Pat just couldn't resist a door hinged the wrong way, just to make it more unique.
Ken
I don't know the door in question, but if it is a 'suicide' door (ie. hinges on the back edge), that is considered to be the height of coolness in the hot rod community.
It is a great looking bus.
Jeremy