Potential new 4106 looking for seats around Jacksonville fl area.

[fortyniner]

Hi All,

Im going to look at a 4106 conversion in Jacksonville Fl soon. Id like to add an extra seat/belt for the drive back to Texas so my boys can accompany me and wondered if anyone knows where I might find a some stock 4106 seats around that area.

On the new bus traveler topic I was wondering if theres a list of conversion friendly campgrounds along I10. I was thinking KOA perhaps.

Thanks, Tom Phillips

[K234039]

Have not run into any campground on I10 that would not take my money.  Where are you from in Texas?
Richard

[gus]

Most KOAs I've seen aren't that great and are expensive. Get yourself a RV park directory, it is a must have for traveling. Or, your GPS will give you lots of choices.

Stay away from anything that says Resort.

I've never had my 4104 turned away by any RV park over five years of traveling from coast to coast.

[fortyniner]

Thanks for the suggestion. Its pretty obvious after you mentioned it. Im a stranger to the RV world at this point.

Richard Im from Austin, about 1000 miles from the potential bus.  A good drive but not quite as far as I went to pick up an Alfa Milano a few years ago in Tampa.

That car had Recaro seats. So comfortable I drove straight back non-stop to Austin. Ive seen a Ricaro in a transit bus. Be nice to install a set for the bus trip back!

-Tom P.

[RJ]

Tom -

Welcome to the madness. . .

If the 4106 you're contemplating is already converted, looking for a pair of stock passenger seats would probably be an exercise in futility.

Also, stock seats have no provisions at all for seat belts.  Companies are just now starting to put seat belts in highway coaches, and even that's an option.  (Three-point, btw, integrated into the seat backs.)

Based on their vintage, the only seat belt required is the driver's, and even that only pertains to '63 and later models.  It's only been within the last several years that stick 'n staples have had seat belts for passengers other than the driver, and they're often unused.

Again, if it's a full conversion, your boys will probably spend most of their time playing video games while seated at the dinette, or napping in the bedroom!

The Recaro in the Alfa is a whole lot different than the Recaro found in buses.  We had 21 buses in the transit fleet I worked at with Recaros, and the driver's hated them!  Why?  Because when you sit in the seat eight hours per day, you want a thick seat cushion to help from tearing up your back.  Sadly, the Recaros were quite thin compared to the National or the favored USSC seats, so operator's butts were pretty sore at the end of the day.

Believe it or not, but the OEM seat in a 4104 or 4106 is actually quite comfortable once you get it adjusted properly - if the conversion has kept it.  Takes some fiddling, and most are somewhat recalcitrant at this point in time, but it can be done.

As for stopping along the way, if the coach is fully self-contained, save yourself some $$$ and enjoy free overnight parking at many Wal-Marts.  There's a discussion group over on Yahoo that keeps a list of all the stores that both allow and those that don't allow ONP.  Here's the link to the site, you most likely will have to sign-up to participate, but that's a simple process:

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/walmartrving/

There are overlays in the Files section that will work with MS Streets & Trips, Delorme Street Atlas, or different GPS units, too.  A nice tool for the road warrior.

FWIW & HTH. . .

[desi arnaz]

they are real up-tight on the wal-mart board on yahoo.....cant talk about anything other than night parking at walmart.  Living At Walmart by Pat Pepin

[Dreamscape]

There is this option.

http://www.busnut.com/classifieds/index.php?a=5&b=161

We are in Abilene, so we're neighbors! 

Texas Bus Roundup coming up, you ought to go for it!

Paul

[fortyniner]

Thanks for the responses everyone. Wal-Marts, yeah! That would fit perfectly with the early 70s decor.

Tranny is a spicer. From what Ive read it brings new meaning the phase "standard transmission".  Needs some TLC but tires are good, no cracks. The PO passed a while back but used to store it at the local Prevost shop for quite a while. I called them up and spoke to John who said engine was overhauled shortly before the PO passed.  He also said the PO had taken good care of the bus and had them doing lots of trivial busy work while it was stored there.

The seller handling it for the widow isnt a bus/rv person and never mentioned the engine overhaul!
If you see this bus on I10 the week of Aug 15th youll know who it is.

[luvrbus]

Stop at Wal/Mart buy a Wal/Mart road atlas for 4.97 it will list every Sam's and Wal/Marts ,Flying J and others in every town that allows overnight parking with the directions to the location best 5 bucks you can spend on the trip drive safe.If you need a place to stay before crossing Houston on the east side before Baytown you can park on the bay at Anahuac free of charge at the Chambers County Park nice park.

With you and the coach being new to each other I would catch 105 at Beaumont and on to Brenham catch 290 then your home that Houston traffic will be a leg killer with the clutch and going that way you can stop and eat the free Blue Bell ice cream in Brenham

good luck

[RJ]

Desi -

Yes, that's all the Yahoo group talks about on that walmartrving site, because that's the focus of the group!


Clifford -

From monitoring the Yahoo group, it appears that the Road Atlas's database about where it's ok and where it's not ok to ONP is not completely accurate.

I'd still pick up a copy, tho. . .


Paul -

That pic is the Recaro model that our driver's hated.  It's got a very thin seat cushion, compared to National, American, Bostrum or USSC driver seats.  Very hard on your tailbone after an hour. . .


Ted -

Sounds like you may have found a good one!  Ask John @ Prevost if they have any documentation regarding the engine overhaul, and/or the busywork stuff.

Since you're new to the Spicer, this might help:

http://www.busnut.com/bbs/messages/12262/16204.html?1167073154

Enjoy your new toy!

FWIW & HTH. . .