Has been 4 yrs on this build. This is our 4th bus build. I just can't believe the learning curve from the first. The first was a 1978 Mci 40ft ex-hound. Built before BCM. It is amazing how much I have gained from this board ;lots of that from others making mistakes. You gain skills you don't realize until you reflect on your experience. Sort of a update.We are doing trim now including taking raw maple we sawed with my sons steam engine(came off family property) and milling in to finish trim. The little details take so much time. I read the board almost daily and follow builds of others and their adventures. I don't have much to add except the mistakes I make myself!! I am old school when it comes to electronics and still believe keep it simple stupid is my speed. KISS principle. Bob & Judy
Bob you have a nice coach...the rare photos I've seen of it show a top notch build...if you ever sell it someday I am first in line behind Sean shanks. :) I'm with the KISS principle too, which is why I don't want slideouts, but you've managed to build your own quality slides..cool
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Bob,
4 years is just the beginning, I think the average build time is 10-12 years.
Scott and I just hacked a bunch of stuff together so we could get rolling.
I cant wait to see you start taking trips in that beautiful coach.
Post more pics if you can. I can never get enough of those. Its inspiring and makes me want to build out another.
-Sean
You did a major undertaking Bob rebuilding a burnt shell with all the missing drive train then the conversion something I would never even attempted
It took me 6 years to convert my transit-which is a harder conversion than a regular highway bus since transits don't have the cargo compartments and everything added under neath has to be fabricated custom to fit (high floor transit with 22" under floor space). And with those 6 years, I took a year and a half off work to work on it full time at first-until I ran out of money, then had to get back on the road with my truck.
Now with my truck conversion, my official start date was May '08 (easy to remember since it rhymes) and I'm still several months, if not at least another year out before it's done. Good Luck, TomC
Bob you make me feel guilty . I would like to see your coach when it is done .do you think it will be ready for next january ? if it is and you are down to florida like this year I would like to meet up and see it . I feel like I cheated with the one I just got because it has everything in it and I am in the process of getting everything working right ,and have started removing all the dated interior and removing lots and lots of mirrors for a new interior that I will be doing in cherry instead of all the shinny laminate that is in there now . maybe I am wrong as all the new higher end coach's have a very similar interior as my 2000 featherlite but my wife and I like the warmth of real wood .
so keep up the good work ..... and get it finished so you can get on the road with it and start to see the fruits of all your hard labour
dave
We had our bus for 16 years. Put over 150,000 miles on her. Did some serious conversion when we first purchased her and then kept making "modifications and improvements" over the 16 years. Stopped converting her when I handed the keys to the new owner! A wonderful 4104 with many fond memories. http://usbusin.blogspot.com/ (http://usbusin.blogspot.com/)
Hat's off Bob. I have always been amazed at Folks that go into that undertaking. I, myself is what is called a parts changer. Good Luck and stay safe.
Bought ours in 2005 and we are looking at 2017 to be 95% finished so we can hit the road for longer trips. Can't wait to retire next years after 46 years working at the same type of business.