Let the saga begin

[jordansinthesky]

After lots of searching, and lots of questions asked and answered by you wonderful people, I am heading out tomorrow to pick up my 4104.  I was worried about driving home but out of nowhere came the guy that converted the last bus I lived in and he just happened to want to go, so I will have a sidekick in the bus and a vehicle chasing. I am super excited and yet super apprehensive.  Please put out good energy for me, and keep me in your thoughts!  I will update as I can during the trip. (Should be short, Hemet Ca, to Phoenix Az_)

[robertglines1]

Happy Travels!

[happycamperbrat]

Have fun!!!

[rv_safetyman]

Jordan, it is always great to see all of the learning threads come to fruition.  It is better yet to be able to follow the new bus nut as he brings his treasure home. 

Thanks for keeping us updated.

Jim

[jordansinthesky]

Thanks guys.  Gearing up to go.  I have my checklists etc.  But I saw somewhere on here and now can't find a list of the very essential items/tools/etc. to have any time on the road.  Any help would be appreciated.  Thx.

[bobofthenorth]

I don't know about a list but if it was me going to get an unknown vehicle the most common problem I'd be prepared to deal with is electrical gremlins.  So test light, VOM, black tape would be high on my list.  After that it's pretty well up to your imagination and how much weight you can carry.  It's probably harder to come up with a list of tools that you absolutely would never need. 

For sure a tire gauge and I'm a big fan of grease guns, particularly for stuff that has been sitting for a while. 

Probably the most important tool you can carry is a credit card with a high limit.

[happycamperbrat]

I like to have about 15 gallons of fuel (no fuel guage on my coach yet), some bungie cords, some electrical tape and a splicer, a battery operated drill...... a friend told me on my first voyage to have plenty of oil, water and an infared gun. Take a cell phone (for calling road side assistance) and internet access to get help from the people here. Oh and something else, pick up a highway orange cone......... never know when it might come in handy!

[Dreamscape]

I would also carry a set of jumper cables some wire and duct tape. A small assortment of tools, rags and coveralls. Plan for the worst and expect the best!

Paul

[JackConrad]

Me at work. I'm currently busless

You are going to have to change your signature!!   Congratulations,  Jack

[Ed Hackenbruch]

I guess i lucked out when i went to pick up our bus 1100 miles from home.  All i took was a couple of changes of clothes, money for fuel and food, and a road atlas....of course at that time i was not yet aware of the bus boards so was not properly paranoid about about driving it anywhere without a full set of tools and parts on hand. Didn't even have a cell phone at the time, makes me wonder that i ever got it home.

[bobofthenorth]

We did too Ed.  We bought ours sight unseen off the internet, paid for it in full before we ever saw it.  Then we flew out to pick it up so I didn't take any tools with me.  I did have a good friend in the city where the bus was located so I was counting on him for emergency tools.  And I had a good piece of plastic in my pocket. (which I didn't need as it turned out - that came later)

[ruthi]

We knew absolutely nothing about busses when we picked ours up in W. Texas. We just knew that an RV was not working for us, didnt hold up to the miles we do. It was the best thing we could have done. She has been a good ol girl for us tho, still a lot of spunk left in her. I will be sad when she drives off tho, even tho I am excited to get into the new one. Have fun with the new bus, I know it is exciting, even tho you cant help bus worry a little. 

[Dreamscape]

This would make a good article in BCM. if we can keep the thread on topic  we can all learn, this is getting interesting. Lots of good stories!

[cody]

I was one of the lucky ones too, I bought mine before i knew about the board here, my first time behind the wheel I had to drive it thru the heart of Oshkosh during the largest air show in the country, it seemed that the bus was wider than the narrow streets of oshkosh but I got it home the 350 miles or so with only one minor incident, one of the steer tires picked up a rock and whipped it past my shoulder and made a chip on the inside of the windshield, yep no floor or bay floors at that time lol.

[luvrbus]

For me it is Coachnet,plastic,cell phone and very few tools 98% of the time you are going to shop anyway just the nature of the beast
For me it is always a laugh when you go into a shop and the owner of the bus has his big Snap on Tool box in the bay on rollers setting in a shop paying the shop 100 bucks a hour to do work and he wants to show you his tools lol.
I never carried much in the way of tools do your pre trip and keep up the maintenance and all is well

good luck