Just got home from spending the day at the show and all I can say is WOW, how things have changed! Most converters are utilizing the space more than ever before. The colors weren't that impressive but the paint jobs were pretty decent. There were a few truck conversions there and they were pretty impressive. Looks like the Euro styling is on the way back on just about all the motor homes all the way from very large class A's with the swooped front ends and long hanging very large mirrors down to the smaller travel trailers with the frame less windows.
Personally I think the show was good but has been better in past years IMHO.
Of course the 1 point million dollar class A's caught my attention but my question was, WHY have them locked up an open by appointment only. I mean this IS supposed to be a show so show them! I WAS able to meet up with a pro converter friend who allowed us to enjoy the interior of his and I came away with some neat ideas to change and add to my own relic!
Anyway, if you have never been, it's always a good experience but plan on taking the two days they give you for one ticket Although we had parking and entrance passes from another friend who was working there, we will opt to just today and stay home tomorrow!
Watched RV2011 on TV and they now have a telescoping slide out, the first section comes out 12" and the telescoping comes out another 36", making a 48" slide. I sense a 2,000 sq. ft. bus around the corner, both sides go out, the back goes out and it goes up for 2nd story; hell, maybe there will be a built in backhoe for a basement.
Ray D
Ace, all of that is called Glitz. The whole, real idea for our bus, was to enable us to eat and sleep comfortably, with a reasonable place to stay if it rained. Slides just break down, and another thing to fix :(. The best RV or Bus Conversion, allows maximum comfort outside next to it, without having to constantly fix things. Keep it simple. ;D
Now if you had said you found a neet device that told you how full the tanks are reliably, or a new valve that unfolded a dump hose with remote directing to the dump hole, that would be a time saver. Mirrors, slides, fancy ceilings just don't get it. Not practical.
But thanks for the report on the show. now i re-affirmed why i spent my time in the Keys last week . ;)
Not sure about what your saying but the more slides I see, I more I really want to punch a hole in the side of mine and put one in. The pro's quoted me a price of 97,000 bucks for FOUR installed but I think I can do one or maybe two a LOT less than that IF I were to happen across a salvage piece that had slides in it! Re-doing the inside won't take much at all and I have a welder/fabricator that is biting the bit to get started!
Who knows, now that this whole household is virtually unemployed come Feb 1 it could come down to just winning the lottery. If that were to happen, I may even get NEW paint, 2-3 slides and a 4 stroke!
Ok going to bed now to finish my dream!
I never was a slide person my wife always wanted slides but now the more I am around the slides the better I like it.
We have friends that have a fairly new Marathon with 4 sure does open it up looks like a house when they are out.
Maybe just me but it leaves me wondering why would people spend the money for a slides that only goes out 12 inches like I have seen on some buses why not 30 inches doesn't look like it would cost that much more to me I know the inside would be a problem if they were not out but it makes no sense
good luck
Yea I know it doesn't make much sense but it makes a big difference IN the coach. If I could ever sell what I have, I think I would do another bus WITH 2 slides. I know they have up to 4 but for just the 2 of us and Bud, 2 would work a LOT better than none! Besides, I would probably go up to 45 feet long. The H340 is nice but man after using it more, the extra room is really needed when you like to bring everything from home with you!
Ace I did 2 36 inch slides in the 89 XL and am doing 3 in the 98 XLE believe me if I can do them they are not that hard. Extra material cost around $1000 for all them. Sure opens the coach up. If you did two 30Inch in front you would still have about 28 inch isle way. Will be in Ocola march for month maybe we can visit. Bob
Robert,
Did you ever post pics of the 89 Pre bus you have for sale?
Thanks,
John
Ace, about 3 years ago at BusN'USA we went on a tour of the Marathon factory. They were just starting to do the 4 slides and said that each slide was $75,000. 4 for $97,000 is a steal!!! ;D
That was supposed to be 197, 000
B&B charges around $2000.00 a lf for slides on a on a non converted coach little more if already converted.
Cole paid FeatherLite (VanTar'e) big bucks to do his converted Eagle with HWH floor level slides with no outside flanges very nice job you need to know he has slides or you never know they are there.
Ed the reason Marathon charges so much they have to redo the slides twice before they get it right lol
good luck
We just bought a previously converted Eagle model 20 with a 14' slide-out. After attending the Bussin' 2011 with two grandsons, I now can appreciate the extra width while parked.
The GM RTS we've been building for some time now will not have a slide-out but, the extra six inches in width plus a tighter design will be satisfactory under the same circumstances, I believe - maybe the wife won't - she really (!) likes the slide.
Quote from: Ray D on January 15, 2011, 07:45:09 PM
Watched RV2011 on TV and they now have a telescoping slide out, the first section comes out 12" and the telescoping comes out another 36", making a 48" slide.
Ray D
I had that idea years ago when I was planning mine; it's Monaco who are now offering it apparently, but as you would expect it looks a bit clumsy from the inside - see image 4 on this page:
http://www.monacocoach.com/modelsxml/monaco.aspx?model=dynasty&content=gallery# (http://www.monacocoach.com/modelsxml/monaco.aspx?model=dynasty&content=gallery#)
The problem with deep slideouts is of course what to do with them when they are closed - which is why the telescoping idea is attractive. I genuinely considered doing it myself, but I was worried about all the extra sealing issues it would bring, plus of course a lot more weight and load on the mechanism of the first slide.
Jeremy
PS. How about a slide-up as well? Can't be long before a motorhome manufacturer incorporates this technology
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vipex.co.uk%2Fgallery%2Fvanguard%2Fimages%2Fp-jami21.jpg&hash=3a608ca4fd6a5195671fe482d7b5bc167a5b7896)
Quote from: luvrbus on January 17, 2011, 08:23:07 AM
B&B charges around $2000.00 a lf for slides on a on a non converted coach little more if already converted.
Cole paid FeatherLite (VanTar'e) big bucks to do his converted Eagle with HWH floor level slides with no outside flanges very nice job you need to know he has slides or you never know they are there.
Ed the reason Marathon charges so much they have to redo the slides twice before they get it right lol
good luck
How would one get ahold of B&B I would like to see about putting slides In my 7 .
Mark
Gary Bennett at www.bbcoach.com (http://www.bbcoach.com) in Las Vegas
good luck
Quote from: luvrbus on January 17, 2011, 11:39:06 AM
Gary Bennett at www.bbcoach.com (http://www.bbcoach.com) in Las Vegas
good luck
That was a fast reply thank you, thank you.
Mark
Mark I was setting in front of his shop lol
good luck
Well i was thinking I would like to put a 14 slide in the front and maybe a slide in the rear that would allow for a king bed. being that I am working on doing the insulation at this point. if i am going to do it, now would be the time.
Cost permitting, of course.
Mark
The use of slides to increase interior space it obviously great. You can have a smaller bus and more space if you want. I have not really seen the inside of many with the slides retracted though. Are they designed to integrate into the interior such that the coach is as good for use without opening them, or do they create inconvenient obstructions?
Yes, oddly enough very few people seem interested in showing off their interiors with the slideouts closed. I think "inconvenient obstructions" is probably a good description. Having said that, when slideouts close, any the furniture in the slide merely moves back into the position that it would have been in had the slide never been installed - arguably the only real problem comes from the slideout end walls. I did once come across a company who were trying to sell a patented 'folding wall' concept for slideouts, where the end walls folded flat to give more space when the slide was closed - as far as I know none of the motorhome builders use this system though.
I have managed to find one photo of an '88 Prevost with it's slide closed. The interior is by no means unusable, but you can imagine that it would be significantly worse in a bus with slides on both sides.
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.morrisonsvipcoach.com%2Fimages%2FPrevost-Bus%2F88%2520Prevost%2520Conversion%252013%2527%2520slideout%2520front%2520retracted.jpg&hash=b0e3722c71a66ceaadfc69dfdf0aa0cb3ee6a369)
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Jeremy
Lin -
I've heard of a few broken hips from tripping over the retracted slides. More stick 'n staple than bus, but still?
FWIW & HTH. . .
;)
I think if I were going to stay put for long peroids the slides would be great. Had them on the S&S models before. I decided not to put them in the bus. I like to go more than sit. Designed the interior to give the open feeling. Have heard enough wind noise, and rain drops whith them!!
At the Flying J about 20 miles or so into SC from the north, the RV lot was full of rv's with the slides out, taking up alot of space for the overnite lot. I always wondered about the usable space with them closed.
I have slides and wouldn't think about extending them in a truck stop or rest stop. Coach is fully functionable with them in.Really would not have to extend to enjoy coach . Extra floor space is great! Allows for a little wrestling around and naps on floor. Bedroom slide does not have to be out but only leaves about a ft past bottom of bed(bed sits crossways) when out at foot of bed is about 4 ft makes nice changing area. Bob