We are bus shopping. I would like everyone's opinion as to the pluses/minus's of 35-40-45 foot buses. More room in the bigger one but how have you who own them have found maneuverability on smaller, winding roads, hills and tight towns? Are you locked out of a lot of parks- National, State local. How about camp grounds or boondocking?
For those of you in the shorter buses, how are they for living in FT? Is there enough room to get away from each other? How about creature comforts like washer/dryer or dishwasher?
Our MCI 5C is 35. Two less tires = 1,100.00. Go most places RV Parks, State and fed parks. No washer or dryer. We just stop at local Laundry's and in 1 to 2 hours every two weeks we do it all and are done. Don't have a dish washer. everyone washes their own and done. We fulltimed in ours for 28 months and no problems. If you need to get away there is the door and the outside.
Chris & Beverly -
I own the same model bus as Dave, an MCI MC-5C. Driving it is like driving a giant minivan on steroids. By paying attention to not only where you are, but where you want to be, it's not much different than driving the biggest U-Haul. Can't go down Lombard St in San Francisco, but neither can most anything bigger than a Chevy van.
We just got home after 5-1/2 months FT snowbirding on the road, and did not go crazy or kill each other while living in 280 sqft.
Again like Dave, once every 10-14 days we hit the laundromat, in an hour's time everything's done. Keeps the water consumption down and the holding tanks emptier, it also negates having to run the genset on the road if you decide to a load on the superslab. Plus, by using a laundromat, Mama doesn't have to stress about clothes in the washer and can enjoy the scenery as Tortoise rolls along.
We use RV China quite a bit, which cuts down on dishwashing and also saves water.
With 100 gallons of fresh and 100 gallons of grey/black, we can easily go 7-10 days w/o having to dump by paying attention to our consumption and using alternatives (electric razors, for example.)
We can also sneak into various older parks when they say "max length 26 - 30 feet" as no one measures, but you wouldn't be able to do so with a 40' or 45' rig.
The one thing I'd like to have would be an extra baggage bin for "stuff" - things like lawn chairs, a nice tool box, etc. But that would automatically bump me into the 40-footers, and I really don't want to go there. This has forced me (and others with 35s) to get creative with basement storage and closely monitor the stuff that's downstairs (and upstairs, for that matter!)
Be aware that if you domicile in CA and you purchase a 45' rig, you are required to obtain a non-commercial Class B license with air brake endorsement. Sadly, there are several highways CalTrans has restricted 45s from traveling over, including two of the prettiest routes into Yosemite National Park as well as the fabulous Coast Highway 1 between San Luis Obispo and Monterey. But you will have room for a stacked washer/dryer and a dishwasher! :o
Some 45s with the steerable tags will turn in the same space as a 40, but the tail swing can bite you if you're not paying attention. Other than that, driving them is not much different than a 40 - you just have to pay closer attention (which you should be doing anyway!)
All that being said, look at the statistics: What percentage of all bus conversions for sale at any given moment are 35s, 40s and 45s? Keep track for a couple of months and it will quickly become obvious which is the most popular. Also, the 35s, statistically, are mostly older rigs, often dating back to the late 1940's. While the nostalgia factor is very high with these, creativity when finding parts can become tiresome.
Continue doing your homework - remember this adage: "It's extremely easy to buy a bus - but it's very difficult to sell a mistake!"
FWIW & HTH. . .
;)
PS: STAY AWAY from bargainbusnews.com. The owner is notorious for lifting ads from other websites, marking them up thousands of $$$s, placing them on his own page as part of his inventory, then giving prospective customers lots of excuses while in the background he tries to buy the bus you want to resell it to you. The same goes for busconversions101.com and it's variations (NOT this website!!!) Do a google search for "Sam Walker - bus conversions" and you'll get pages of reading about this con artist that's served time for bilking naive busnuts out of their hard-earned cash.
;)
Just in case you haven't found this yet, here's some info for you.
http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=31552.msg354552#msg354552 (http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=31552.msg354552#msg354552)
I believe in the biggest possible. Mine is a 40ft x 102" wide transit bus. I stayed with 40ft since this is the maximum you can drive on a normal Class C license (in Cal), and drive on any highway you want. You go to a 45ft'r, then you have to have a Class B non commercial license and you're restricted to truck routes. I like 102" wide-the extra 6" is quite noticeable.
Since my bus is a transit, it turns quite sharp. But nothing wrong with sometimes making a 3, 4 point turn.
35ft'r are nice and compact, but you're resticted to storage and most 35's were 96" wide. Good Luck, TomC
The RTS comes in a 35' 102" version. But while I think the RTS is an excellent conversion shell, they are more work to convert.
--Geoff
Assuming RJ's "bus china" is paper plates, he is right-on. My wife says she can't think of any greater waste of space than a dishwasher. Had a 35-footer for 23 years, though not full-timing, and found the use of laundromats or campground laundry rooms very workable.
If you are starting out, try to find a 35 footer. You can go pretty much a here with them. After you get some experience in motorhoming, then look for a 80 footer; you can get pretty much everything you desire to fit in one. Just kidding...You can move up to a 40 footer.Personally, I'd never go to a 45 foot one. They're just too damn long. Jmo.
Quote from: chessie4905 on April 01, 2017, 04:05:46 PMIf you are starting out, try to find a 35 footer. You can go pretty much a here with them. After you get some experience in motorhoming, then look for a 80 footer; you can get pretty much everything you desire to fit in one. Just kidding...You can move up to a 40 footer.Personally, I'd never go to a 45 foot one. They're just too damn long. Jmo.
A 65-footer give you lots of great room -- it just has to be 32 1/2 feet downstairs and 32 1/2 upstairs. (But we won't get into the "too big to get into places" thing ...)
We fulltimed for just over 12 years is a 35ft. bus. Worked fine for us and although like RJ says, another bay would be nice, i didn't want the extra 5 feet and a tag axle to deal with. :)
We've been fulltiming in our 40' for almost 10 yrs now. We don't have a WD, but we do have a dishwasher--ME ;D. I've taken our bus everywhere with a toad on the back 99% of the time and I've never had a problem. Of course, you do have to plan your excursions in advance for height clearances. One time, I got out to unhook the toad because I'd driven down an alley and before I could start to unhook, a nice policeman told me just to run her up on the sidewalk if I didn't mind the bump and he would keep everyone out of the way for me. Campgrounds have never been a problem, but not all sites are accessible to everyone. At least you're doing your homework before you jump in feet-first, because once you jump, there's no going back.
Good luck,
Once you get used to it, it will be rare that 5 ft extra length will matter. I once spent an hour in down town Tampa looking for the RV parking lot - they said " Cant miss it, just look for the other RVs " ( I was the first of the day, so kinda difficult to see what ain't there. It would have been easier if they just put up a sign . . . . . )
I really like the comfortable ride & stability my 40 ft with a tag axle provides. We love the space, just the right amount of elbow room.
Don't rule out a 40 footer without looking at several - go to the bus rallys to see as many different floor plans as you can, you may be surprised. . . . Some 40 footers will have less space than a 35. Some 40's will feel cavernous without slides.
Enjoy the search! ;D
The RV world is changing most parks even some of the federal and state parks are starting to accommodate the 45 ft rigs.Fifth wheels are 43 ft plus the truck now.
45 ft is becoming the standard for RV's, tour buses are 45 ft even commuter buses are 45 ft to 65 ft long the Super C truck RV some are 53 ft long.
Most of the newer 45 ft buses have a shorter turning than the older 35 and 40 ft buses of the past.Don't look past a 45 ft there are so many out there that can be bought at good prices with modern drive trains and more parts availability ::) besides those longer suckers ride better and have more storage bays
Quote from: chessie4905 on April 01, 2017, 04:05:46 PM
If you are starting out, try to find a 35 footer. You can go pretty much a here with them. After you get some experience in motorhoming, then look for a 80 footer; you can get pretty much everything you desire to fit in one. Just kidding...You can move up to a 40 footer.Personally, I'd never go to a 45 foot one. They're just too damn long. Jmo.
Gee Chessie- I saw an ad go a 65 foot articulated one. With 80' I could have the bowling alley :)
x2 what luvrbus said
dave
Or a rifle range.
Rules and regulations are so weird. If you have a 60ft articulated bus with the engine in the rear, it is considered a one piece bus and not allowed on the highway. If you have a 60ft articulated bus with the engine in the front section under the floor, it is considered a 35ft pulling a 25ft trailer and you're legal. Do figure. Good Luck, TomC
Quote from: TomC on April 03, 2017, 08:13:30 AM
Rules and regulations are so weird. If you have a 60ft articulated bus with the engine in the rear, it is considered a one piece bus and not allowed on the highway. If you have a 60ft articulated bus with the engine in the front section under the floor, it is considered a 35ft pulling a 25ft trailer and you're legal. Do figure. Good Luck, TomC
Does anyone make an articulated bus with the engine in the front section? Prevost made a highway bus with this design. The local articulated transit buses all have the engine in the rear.
One of the things I don't like about most of the shorter buses is they tend to be old and have older drive trains. Some like the older mechanical engines because the owner can easily work on them if they are mechanically inclined. If you have to pay a shop for repairs it is easier to get a four stroke engine repaired in most locations.