Hey guys,
I am still looking/waiting for the right bus shell to come along but have concluded when I try another one, it will have to include at least one front room slideout. We are fulltiming right now in our current motorhome and it has a front room slide and we love it.
Can those of you who have, or are in the process now, (or in the future) of installing a slideout share your thoughts about which slideout mechanism you are using and why? I have looked at HWH and a newer company called Liftco. I am sure there are others also. Or maybe you have fabricated your own?
I would be grateful for any advice....thanks much,
Phil
Here's one that comes with a bus attached. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270528075169&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270528075169&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT) You might send Vern a note.
Paul
I'm fabricating my own; it's still a work in progress but the thread below has some photos if you're interested:
http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=13422.0 (http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=13422.0)
As far as the 'why?' goes - being in the UK there's no ready-made slide equipment available, and even if there was I would still probably have built my own from scratch - none of the slideout manufacturers produce anything that cannot be matched with a bit of basic engineering and fabrication, and it's so more satisfying to build than buy.
Jeremy
Paul, now that bus has some major potential, the guy seemed to hit on every item that is popular or wanted. Would be a great starting point for someone of it could be bought reasonably.
Only draw back to Verns bus is the 8v71 not enough giddy up for a 45ft 102W bus it would need to be repowered.
He will never get close to what he has in that bus 14,000 bucks worth of siding with 6000+ rivets at .50 each and countless numbers of drill bits and blood.
good luck
I saw Vern's bus on ebay last week I think. It looks great and I think he has done a wonderful job and will be an excellent project for the person who buys it. But unless I missed it somewhere, his bus is still 96" wide not the newer width of 102" and I really want to wait and find the extra width.
Thanks,
Phil
Removed
Hey Jeremy...I looked at the progress on your slideouts and looks like you are doing an excellent job. Thanks for the pictures.
Phil
Hey Dallas....I think Todd got rid of that bus....unless you are talking about one I don't know of.
Cody, If I was a lot younger it would be a great project. I'm not sure the 8v71T has enough oomph, according to Clifford it doesn't. But it sure has all the goodies of a great coach.
Shoot, I would like to have that 8v71T in our Eagle. That thing would sure make this ole Eagle scream! ;D
Paul
Removed
Phil, keep checking with Newell when Karl gets a Prevost in on trade they go cheap and fast.
I missed a H-45 with 2 slides by the time I made up my mind it was gone in 4 hrs and I had 1st shot still kicking myself.
Funny thing all the converters going broke and he told me he had over a year backlog for million dollar + coaches and that is 40 + coaches
good luck
My eyes had glazed over when i saw all that he had done, yep that 8v71 might be tad light for the bus but it still is a great job with all the goodies I'd like, it hit my idea of the perfect starting point, but like you said if only I was a year or so younger lol.
Quote from: Now Just Dallas on February 08, 2010, 05:20:07 PM
It's the one that was in the shop next to your Sprinter. All the skins and other stuff was there, it just needed to be put together.
The last I heard, the bank was trying to sell it because the owner went bankrupt.
Hey Dallas...as far as I remember/know, the owner had that bus towed out to another converter's shop with the hopes of having it repaired. And that never worked out either.
Paul, said it was a 96" w that means he left the 01 under carriage he will be lucky if it brings 20 G's unless he finds a buyer that don't care 45ft long and 96"w it will look freaky on the road
good luck
Luvrbus....I agree, the 96" width is what kept me from looking at the bus more seriously....but maybe that's just my hang-up.
I am still mad at myself for not buying that one you and I saw on ebay couple years ago...the Eagle with the smashed front end.
Phil, not very many days go by I don't think about getting the shaft on that bus.
I would still like too know for sure what the guy in MO paid for it.
I made him a offer he said ok and closed the auction and was going to help me get transportation for it back to AZ.
Next day when I called with my travel plans he told me he sold it someone else that was the buy of the decade for me and I am still PO about that deal
good luck
What you looking for Phil??? and price range? I'm in fla now and making the rounds..
Hey Bob...bottom line is I am trying to come up with the most sq. ft. I can practically come up with in a bus. My priorities are 45' x 102" with one, or two slides. A modern drivetrain if possible. I am a cabinetmaker by trade so I am looking forward to trying to finish an interior open shell. Don't have all the skills to install slides but think I can muster the physical help if I can do the research necessary to accomplish them.
I was always partial to the Eagle but length, width, and ht. are more important than brand. We fulltime now in a 45' RV with a single living room slide and can't see going smaller. When the kids and grandkids come to visit you realize how small a large bus is real fast. I am even considering just keeping the motorhome and adding a couple more slides to it but don't know if I would be happy doing that. I think I would rather just continue to live in the rv and start a bus conversion.
I guess that's the reason I am interested in learning about different slideout systems...it is the only part of the project that I am still a little unclear about. Finding the 45'x102" with modern drive train is getting easier by the day....they are more available on the used market today than in days gone by when I first tried.
Thanks much,
Phil
Quote from: Phil H / Chicago on February 08, 2010, 11:02:32 AM
I saw Vern's bus on ebay last week I think. It looks great and I think he has done a wonderful job and will be an excellent project for the person who buys it. But unless I missed it somewhere, his bus is still 96" wide not the newer width of 102" and I really want to wait and find the extra width.
I wouldn't wait -- if you find a 96" that is everything else that you want, GET IT. I'm fulltiming in a 96A3 and don't see how another 6 inches would make enough difference to have made it worth missing this coach waiting for a 102. Remember also that the 102s have met up with a lot more fire hydrants, lampposts, pedestrians and other assorted hazards to navigation per mile run than have 96s.
During my conversion, I made contact with a coach line running a mix of 96A3s and 102A3s, and he mentioned that he can tell from the side which is which, just from all of the extra scuffs and scrapes on the 102s. He said that they tried a couple of 45-foot 102s and within 6 months sold them to someone else because they just couldn't get around well enough downtown (where all of the hotels they serve are located).