I have spent some time lately in everything from a 300,000$ motorhome to a 30 ft 5Th wheel pulled by a late model dodge dually. I have not come up with a good reason to abandon building my bus,yes I know that currently I can buy one cheaper than I can build one and I may do that while I build our retirement coach.The big dollar motorhome was nice but only 2 years old and rattled much more than i wanted to listen to,and only got 9 mpg,350 hp diesel.Next motorhome 140,000$ gas 4 years old,road like a moving truck,rattled excessively and got 7.5 mpg next up 32 ft 5Th wheel behind dodge dually,stuck in smallish vehicle,avg 8.8mpg,only good thing I can think of is you have something easy to drive if need be.Last trip out was a 1987 provost entertainer conversion quite,smooth,no slide so a little tight feeling,7.4mpg.So long term for me will be bus with slide and comfort.Just my opinion.
Hi, very much the same thoughts, not even mentioning the safety factor, lvmci...
I drove cross country truck for 21 years. Saw to many SS accidents that I knew I would never have one. Trailers are usually even worse-on a roll over they disintegrate. Have to pile all the remains of the trailer on the base platform, put a tarp on it and haul it away. The only trailer I've ever seen to survive a roll over is an Airstream (it still was a total-but was together)-but that's not a big surprise. Good Luck, TomC
yeah, just look at the ones on the copart auction site... not to mention the frig burns even in the hi end coaches. at least the airstreams usually have the skin pretty much intact after a roll over, but are not cost effective to repair.
Garrick -
As you have discovered, nothing in the RV industry compares to a well-built bus conversion. The interiors may be similar, and use the same components, but the major difference is in the shell to begin with. Truck chassis are not the same as a bus chassis, period.
That being said, water leaks, either from giving the buggy a bath to being caught in the rain, are the nemesis of RVer's everywhere. S/S, trailer or bus conversion, water getting inside where you don't want it creates all kinds of problems.
Add slide-outs, and the potential for water leaks increases exponentially. Ask anyone who has them.
In today's economy, conversions are selling for far less than you can build one, so shop smart. Cash talks, big time!
Good luck with your search, you'll find something.
FWIW & HTH. . .
;)
I am in total agreement. Been converting coaches since 1980, when I did my first, and it is the only way to go; solid, quiet, and smooth. No better way to go.
Apples to apples more people in bus accidents die than in RV accidents and the high end ForeTravel and Newell can go head to head with any bus and they have bigger engines but cost as much also
I look at burned out bus shell on a weekly basis and 95 % are engine related fires or tire fires fwiw
good luck
It is amazing to me that many S & S units are also put together with very cheap particle board, plus very thin skin on the outside, mounted to a flimsy wooden framework. Any water leak or seepage from rain will begin rotting those rigs.
One advantage (among many) of doing your own bus conversion is you know exactly what material you put into it. And you can also pretty much fix what you need to fix, if the need arises.
There are a very limited number of RV's that would be as good as most buses. As mentioned, the Newell and Foretravel, my Vogue is built on a Crown chassis and all steel construction, the BlueBirds, some Country Coaches, perhaps a few others. You do have to do your homework.
Quote from: luvrbus on June 30, 2012, 12:52:42 PM
Apples to apples more people in bus accidents die than in RV accidents and the high end ForeTravel and Newell can go head to head with any bus and they have bigger engines but cost as much also
I look at burned out bus shell on a weekly basis and 95 % are engine related fires or tire fires fwiw
good luck
Is that converted buses or all seated and converted lumped together?
Ken
It appears obvious that more people die in bus accidents than in RVs since the average RV only carries two people and the average bus closer to 50!!
A better comparison would be accidents per million miles driven for each type of vehicle.
Some of the higher end RV coaches are just as good or better than a MCI or Prevost if you want to spend a million dollars.
But they are so ugly looking, especially lately. IMO, you can't beat the classic looks of a real bus.
JC
Quote from: lostagain on June 30, 2012, 10:00:06 PM
IMO, you can't beat the classic looks of a real bus.
Especially this one:
Even the new buses have a solid, purposeful look like they are built to go down the road. I can't stand the swirly paint jobs on the S/S motorhomes.
For $100,000 say, you can buy one of the very best real bus conversion. A S/S for the same price will have skinny wheels set inside the body, a rear overhang to side-swipe gas station pumps and lamp posts, and a swirly paint job, LOL.
JC
Besides being poorly constructed and affordable SS has such a long rear overhang that it is downright hazardous to drive. "Swing out" collisions with gas pumps, trees, other RVs and posts is the number two accident with them.
Quote from: RJ on June 30, 2012, 10:43:25 PM
Quote from: lostagain on June 30, 2012, 10:00:06 PM
IMO, you can't beat the classic looks of a real bus.
Especially this one:
RJ
I have to agree with you on the look of the 4106. only wish my 4106 looked like it used to LOL
Kevin
You have a lot of work to do Kevin to make your 4106 look like the 4501 RJ posted
I always get a laugh when it comes up Bus vs RV this is a bus board what other answer would 1 get here lol
I have a S/S job to go along with a few buses I own all metal siding, aluminum studded walls ,102 wide, teak wood cabinets, no bedroom has the overhead magic bed 12 mpg towing 14 to 16 not towing and never gets hot on a hill called a Safari Trek we love the little guy
good luck
S/S always have the selling point on paper, but can't compare to a nice conversion on usage.
--Geoff
'82 RTS AZ
I have always had a nice bus conversion Geoff still do but I do like this Trek cost nothing for up keep I just replaced all 6 tires because of age not because of wear and had the oil changed ,new fuel filter and air cleaner at Costco 1384 dollars out the door and fuel is not a problem we use it every week end or for weeks at a time it drives nice, rides nice what more could one ask for
We went to Prescott Valley from Phoenix today no misters (don't even have those) dash air blowing nice cold air no generator running trying to stay cool lol
good luck
Quote from: luvrbus on July 01, 2012, 06:57:03 PM
I have always had a nice bus conversion Geoff still do but I do like this Trek cost nothing for up keep I just replaced all 6 tires because of age not because of wear and had the oil changed ,new fuel filter and air cleaner at Costco 1384 dollars out the door and fuel is not a problem we use it every week end or for weeks at a time it drives nice, rides nice what more could one ask for
We went to Prescott Valley from Phoenix today no misters (don't even have those) dash air blowing nice cold air no generator running trying to stay cool lol
good luck
Nobody needs misters from Prescott Valley to Phoenix, just from Phoenix to Prescott Valley (5,000 ft climb). Did you get to go to the World's Oldest Rodeo in Prescott? We went Saturday, it was fun. Call and visit sometime
Geoff 928 771 0045
I did not mean this as a bash on s/s, It was more of an observation on my part and what I thought would work for me in the long run. Any of the above would be good for short term stays but we will be staying about six months at a time,Home in the summer,some where warm in the winter.It was just that size and quality where an issue with me.I am one that hits the road and usually dos,nt stop till I,m there,so ride and things bothering me make that harder.Yes the Trek looks like a good week or weekender,Dos,nt look like something I would want to spend months in.The quality of mine will be what I put in it, not what someone thinks is good enough.I have been renting from friends and rental facilities to see what i can live with till The MCI is done.Witch by the way may be sold witch will allow me to up grade a little newer,still has to have stainless though.
I have lived in my 40' 102" RTS for weeks at time and have found it to be spacious, even without slide-outs. And when I want to change locations it is a pure pleasure to drive. It's all in the planning and the layout, and I have a lot of thanks to give to some (not all!) of the well-thought ideas I got from this board in the last 12 years.
--Geoff