So we are headed to Florida in the bus in 3 weeks (75 mci mc8 done by Columbus custom coach in 1975)
I've check all fluids
I've got extra fluids
I've ordered extra belts
I've checked tire pressure
All lights are working
Air is all working
Everything on the camping side is working
Generator is working
And checked all fluids
What am I missing ?????
Quote from: Whaley on November 28, 2021, 05:12:19 AM
So we are headed to Florida in the bus in 3 weeks (75 mci mc8 done by Columbus custom coach in 1975)
I've check all fluids
I've got extra fluids
I've ordered extra belts
I've checked tire pressure
All lights are working
Air is all working
Everything on the camping side is working
Generator is working
And checked all fluids
What am I missing ?????
The unexpected!
Safe travels..
Basic hand tools. extra fuel filters. traffic reflectors and safety vest, portable light source, well equipped first aid kit, plenty of drinking water and MREs. Don't forget to take along the big self satisfied smile that comes with having reached the point of that first big trip! Jack
Might, at least consider, getting Coachnet. Just one breakdown requiring towing can be very expensive.
Towing insurance and a side arm.
Don't forget to bring along the American Express card ;)
Coachnet
Coachnet
Coachnet
One tow bill will make your eyes water for weeks...
Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
Noobie 2 stroke diesel busnuts soon find out how far and few between knowledgeable mechanics are and extra work and time needed to get parts, especially when on the road. Pull out a map, lay a line on your route, and start putting pins where you can get help if you break down.
Tow service is a no brainer when on a maiden long voyage. There is much comfort in knowing you got a number to call to get you to a place for help. This is tied to number one. know where you want to get towed. Chances are one of the pins is beyond the tow range but at least you have numbers to call and you have this board if you are not in a 911 situation.
Build in some slack in your schedule if you do need a repair. It will offer peace of mind if your schedule is flexible and takes off the stress.
Signup TSD gas program. Load GasBuddy app. Plan your fueling up, especially in these times.
Have fun.
12 & 20 ton air over hydrophilic jacks as well as two heavy jack stands. Garden sprayer if you lose prime. :^
I carry 4 gallons of oil and a gallon of my trani fluid. Can be hard to find, for example, straight 40 wt oil going down the road. Fuel filters same thing. Other than that, have fun and remember it takes a while to stop your bus. I drive slower now due to texters. There will be things go wrong, but watch U tube on people driving new stuff. Same story. Helps you feel like you are not the Lone Ranger on "issues".
Best of luck and safe travels.
Forgot 2 gallons of whatever coolant is in your bus now a 2 gallons distilled water....
Try not to worry. Enjoy it. Your in a BUS!!! That is just cool....
Funnels! I forgot funnels on my first big trip. First time I needed to add oil.... didn't have one that reached. Look at trani , power steering, coolant etc that need fluid and pat yourself on the back if you have a way to get it in there. Put them in a big tupperware so they don't dribble in the belly bay after you use them. Going to Fla, carry a windshield brush for all the bug goo you will encounter. Lets you clean it whenever without going to a truck stop.
Cash.
Lots of things you need in an emergency require cash. You can also get more done for less when dealing with cash instead of credit cards.
This. Better not leave home without it. ;D
Careful, you get stopped and they find a roll of bills like that and they'll suspect drug runner.lol
Plenty of Snickers bars, cause you're not yourself if you're hungry ;D. But really with all that has been said bring a pair of coveralls, hand cleaner and (Gulp!) shop towels in the event you must do some roadside repairs. Happy trails!
The poster did his pre trip ,if he reads all this stuff he will not leave his drive way,All the years we owned a bus all I carried was extra fuel filters,a small amount of hand tools and Coachnet,no oil or coolant lol maybe I had some duck tape 8)
lol i dumped in oil, spud wrench and a belt. send that puppy down the road!
You'd better take off before you need another bus! Lol
On a maiden voyage, you can never be overprepared. Do as much as you can then GO! and enjoy
well. ya. on my maiden voyage i legit took my entire shop of tools. understandable as this was maiden voyage for everysystem on bus that i built.
In 20 some years of busing i have found out that real money speaks a lot louder than credit cards and checks.
uncle ned
I have more on board than I will ever probably need, but it is a BUS. You have the space, the weight is not an issue, and your list looked good. Like was said above, you won't find it at the next truck stop so I'd rather carry a little of everything that be stuck somewhere waiting for Luke at US coach to send it.
Best advice you got was GO. Don't be afraid to pull it out of the driveway and do it. Lots of us not driving right now waiting to hear if you need help. I will have my bus in central Florida in about 10 days for about a week so holler if you need help. After that I am in N Georgia if you travel that way.
Go for it. It will be a great adventure. Best of luck and safe travels.
I do appreciate all the advice
I got coach net now
I've got spare belts
Always carry a side arm on big trips
I also carry cash
So we are 2 weeks out and I git the ad2 air dryer rebuilt
And also found out I've got a 8v92
Not a 8v71 lol
It also seems to be a 1998? But not sure so that changed all of my reading for the next 2 weeks
Take a ladder.
On our first long trip we had a very slow coolant leak and it takes a ladder to get to the coolant fill on an MC8. We were over 2000 miles in and about 200 miles from home and I needed to add coolant while we were parked on the side of the road. That was over 15 years ago and I'm glad no one was taking pictures because it was quite an experience.
Melbo
Quote from: luvrbus on November 29, 2021, 06:46:34 PM
The poster did his pre trip ,if he reads all this stuff he will not leave his drive way,All the years we owned a bus all I carried was extra fuel filters,a small amount of hand tools and Coachnet,no oil or coolant lol maybe I had some duck tape 8)
This is what I was thinking. I'm afraid to leave when my time comes.
That's normal just do it. Leaving is the worst part but once on the road - oh how sweet it is!
The bus won't break in the driveway...
Only way to get reliable, is to run the damned thing, stuff breaks, you fix it, that part is now zero maintenance.
Rinse and repeat.
What's that mariner's quote about ships, harbours, and that's not what a ship is for?
Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
QuoteThe bus won't break in the driveway...
Well, mine did. Tried again to get it aired up and it still stuck at 30psi. It is so low to the ground hard to tell where it is coming from. Going to use the portable compressor to get a better idea of the source. With the engine running, hard to tell sometimes if it is even from the front or rear. Hoping it's not passing gas on both ends. Nobody likes that feeling. LOL
Quote from: buswarrior on December 05, 2021, 03:42:21 PM
The bus won't break in the driveway...
Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
Now BW you know that ain't zactly true! Been many a bus (car, truck, motorcycle, boat, plane, mower or etc. for that matter) that ran fine when parked and had problems when called upon again after sitting!
:D BK :D
A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.
Same for a bus.
Get out there and discover the weaknesses, repair them, and carry on.
The driveway won't show you much.
happy coaching!
buswarrior
Quote from: buswarrior on December 08, 2021, 06:49:24 PM
A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.
Same for a bus.
Get out there and discover the weaknesses, repair them, and carry on.
The driveway won't show you much.
happy coaching!
buswarrior
Every boat I owned when it was docked you were spending big money for the vultures on the dock to repair it
Quote from: luvrbus on December 09, 2021, 09:04:43 AM
Every boat I owned when it was docked you were spending big money for the vultures on the dock to repair it
Lol, that's why ours stays on a trailer when not in use - but still costs lots of $$$ to maintain. Geeze bus & boat - double trouble & two big holes to throw $$$ into. Oh well, such is life...
Quote from: dtcerrato on December 09, 2021, 09:17:58 AM
Lol, that's why ours stays on a trailer when not in use - but still costs lots of $$$ to maintain. Geeze bus & boat - double trouble & two big holes to throw $$$ into. Oh well, such is life...
Ditto. boats and buses are both black holes to dump all the money can scrape up.
Linda is pretty tolerant of my various toys and hobbies. Only one rule...NO BOATS!
Quote from: chessie4905 on December 09, 2021, 12:45:17 PM
Linda is pretty tolerant of my various toys and hobbies. Only one rule...NO BOATS!
I bought a boat so Sonja and I would have a place in San Diego to hang out when it was hot here. It had 2-900 hp Man diesel engines with a 3000 gal fuel tank,paying 3 grand a month for a slip and filling it up with $4.25 a gal fuel that baby had to go burning 50 gals of fuel a hour
Ha! Sure sounds like a keeper to me. I can still find the scars on my tummy from when I re-fiberglassed the bottom of my 26' sail boat and the catalyzed resin dripped on my belly. A fine donation to the Sea Scouts. Jack
List looks good!
I also have a spreadsheet - list for inside the bus; Print both lists out and have them on a clipboard, then go through before we leave. Also items for securing the house before leaving.
Example items
House:
Turn down thermostats
Turn water heater to vacation mode
Security settings
Water plants
etc.
Bus Inside/Out
Holding Tank Chemicals (x quantity)
Window cleaner
Fresh water level
Propane cylinders
Matches
Outdoor extension cords
Appropriate fire extinguishers
etc.
Clothing
Coveralls! Can't tell you how many clothes I've wrecked when I had to crawl around to fix/find something. I think bus folk w/lots of experience tend to carry a set of coveralls or old clothes such that it doesn't matter if they get covered in oil. Or just something to be dealt w/ at a campground or similar. I'm still trying to get in the habit of carrying these each trip.
Rubber / other material - mechanics gloves
Bus
Jack/jack stand, run-up ramps, as already mentioned; tools, strong battery powered LED shop light (doesn't burn when it lands on your face),
Hub oil
Air hose, tire chuck
Hard or Electronic copy of bus manuals. Many mechanics, or you, will appreciate those being available on the older vehicles
All the rest of the items on your list
Small trailer to carry everything
;D
Kind Regards, Phil
Phil you left off WW William phone number :^ even the best prepeard have problems beyond their control,"for everything else there is Mastercard"
Ha! Well-spoken and so true Clifford.
With regards, Phil
Quote from: plyonsMC9 on December 14, 2021, 10:38:12 PM
Clothing
Coveralls! Can't tell you how many clothes I've wrecked when I had to crawl around to fix/find something. I think bus folk w/lots of experience tend to carry a set of coveralls or old clothes such that it doesn't matter if they get covered in oil. Or just something to be dealt w/ at a campground or similar. I'm still trying to get in the habit of carrying these each trip.
Kind Regards, Phil
Every busnut has to occasionally take a glance in the mirror...
Are you wearing your decent clothes, or your "working" clothes...
The divisions get blurred, and it doesn't do the hobby any good when we look like hell when showing up at the campground doors.
Not giving a hoot doesn't help the next busnut...
happy coaching!
buswarrior
so BW now the busnut fashionista? Next thing will be designer overalls.
Two pairs of coveralls here, gloves, pope's hat, safety glasses and enough tools to open up a machine shop (almost). How about a 2016 rnd trip FL AK FL 12500 miles. $8000 in repairs, never threw the towel in and it came home on it's own 4-1/2 cylinder power. We learned our lesson. In 2019 - same trip put coveralls on once to adjust slack adjusters. Used one gal. of oil. Yep we learned the hard way & do it better now.
Today is the day 8)
I've checked everything (except what I've forgot)
We are leaving in 4 hrs I'm going over everything for the 10th time.
I'm so excited to do the first 1000 miles on the bus 🚌.
Thanks for all the advice and added worries lol
We'll all wait with bated breath for the first pictures of your adventure!
Good luck, stay safe and have fun! Jack
Whaley said: "I've checked everything (except what I've forgot)"
No worry you can always do it on the road!
Safe travels.
Quote from: dtcerrato on December 17, 2021, 08:09:31 AM
Whaley said: "I've checked everything (except what I've forgot)"
No worry you can always do it on the road!
Safe travels.
The credit card will cure!!!
Quote from: freds on December 17, 2021, 08:40:14 AM
The credit card will cure!!!
Not us! We'd pull out our tools first! :^
We made it to west palm beach yeah 1050 miles
20 hrs of driving
170 gallons of fuel
And a generator that is over heating ( i think the water pump went out ) not a big deal I can fix it when I get home
And a close call with a semi that went right of center and hit my driver's mirror fortunately no damage just needed adjusted
Great news. Glad to hear it's going well.
Sounds like 99.99% on a first bus trip! Congrats! Enjoy your stay but remember the close call on the way home those 1050 miles and every mile after that. I'm envious of your trip seeing that the best I can do right now is little and local.
Jack
:^
:^
So we had a good trip to Florida
And a good time there the bus did amazing! camped good.
The trip home not so much
2 hrs in the car dolly bearing went out not a big deal until I tried to take it off and the spindel was shot ( which needs cut out and welded back in ) my insurance came and picked up the car dolly and we bought a new one even though ours was only less than a year old.
6 hrs down but back on the road.
16 hrs in we blew a rear inside tire thanks to coach net no money for a spare to be put on 3 hrs down (not to bad) 4 more hrs and we got home.
We used
348 gallons of diesel 5.9 might
And ran the gen almost the hole time
1 gallon of oil( not sure if that's normal)
0 antifreeze
So things on my new list is
A new Toad so I can pull without a dolly
3 New tires
An awning
Re check for air leak not sure but it seams like after the blown tire the pump kicked on more often while driving
Find new routs around i77 and its hills they are painfully slow lol
Glad you got the first exciting bus adventure under your belt and hopefully it'll be a great memory for you and your family.
Very glad to hear it was not a steer that went. That is always where you put the best tires.
Congrats Whaley!
Sounds like you kept a cool head when things went a bit "not good". My father in law drove his 4106 all over including Alaska twice. He said "Anytime you can make it home without a tow truck is a good trip." Get some new tires, a tow car to tow 4 flat, and side mounted bazookas for the semi guys. (They are still mostly better than most drivers but now that they can push "D" and go, the requirement for paying attention has decreased and some of the people they let drive them were not laid off by NASA).
Again congratulations and glad you made it home! (without a tow truck).
I am headed for Polk City Florida mid January and almost excited about what I will break!
(Its a bus thing and there is no cure)