I have been lurking and reading past posts here for a while and am learning a lot. I recently replaced my 1973 Barth RV with a 1959 4104 number 4115. If there are any members in the NW Arkansas, Southern Missouri or Eastern Oklahoma area feel free to give me a shout. I am in NW Arkansas about 30 minutes south of Branson Mo. The bus seems to be in great shape, in the past couple of years it has made a trip from here to the South West US and last fall a trip to Maine. I am sure I will have a lot of questions in the future.
My wife and I have had several vintage travel trailers from the late 1940's, the Barth and I have a vintage step van we are converting into a Motor Home/Studio for my silversmith/jewelry work. I will read up on posting pictures and put some up of our 4104.
Rick
Rick,
Welcome aboard!
Since you have been reading here awhile, you already know, lots of good folks here and a few busNUTS
Cliff
I live in N Central Ark and have owned my '54 4104 for five years, it is a great machine.
Feel free to email me about any problems or questions you may have.
There are a bunch of other 4104 owners on this forum with far more experience also.
Hey
Is that " Hazel " , was the previous owner a guy from Iowa w/ vacation home in Branson?? Just curious , we looked at that bus back a month or so. If I remember he had cruise control on it along with some good tires.
Just being nozzy
Bill in KS
Gus, where are you located? Maybe we can get together and talk bus sometime.... I am 10 miles SW of Harrison Arkansas on top of Gaither Mountain. the pull up the mountain is why I sold the 73 Barth I had, with a 454 Chevy engine and a 400 turbo transmission the Barth would overheat coming up the mountain and was hard on brakes/rotors going down the mountain. The 4104 comes up in second gear OK, never gets over 180 degrees, and I can go down in low gear and not even touch the brakes.
Bill, Yes this is the Branson Bus you saw (Hazel as the PO called it), did you look at the bus in person or on Craigslist? The previous owner had her listed on Craigslist a few months ago. Yes ,new wheels and tires, really a nice interior with Oak Cabinets, Oak Moldings and Trim and floor, The brakes have just gone thru and he did recently put a King Cruise Control on the bus. The seller (his name was Bill also) was a great guy, when the wife and I went to look at the bus it was out of my price range, I told him that upfront but I wanted to see a 4104 in person, after we agreed on a much reduced price he even let us take the bus out for a weekend to make sure it was what we wanted. We are having fun with her.
Rick
Yes, I took the family down to look at the bus. He fired it up and took us for a ride. I worked on him some concerning the price ( I had a fist full of cash) but he won't move much so we just headed home and never looked back. It as a really cool bus and appeared to be really solid.
Best luck
Bill
Rick -
Welcome to the madness!
FYI, PD4104-4115 was delivered new to Jackrabbit Lines in May of 1959 as fleet number 102. That company is based out of Sioux Falls, SD, one of the few still in existence since this coach was new.
If you get up that way sometime, bet the staff would be tickled to see it (once a busnut. . .).
FWIW & HTH. . .
;)
Thanks for the information RJ........Jack Rabbit bus line , I guess instead of painting a Grey Hound on the side of the bus now I have to paint a Jack Rabbit? If I travel with someone with a Grey Hound on their bus I guess that means I get to be out front right?? I have a mental picture here :D.
Rick