first bus selection

[robertglines1]

After talking to several new busnuts and future bus nuts I thought we need to have discusions on basics.Yes they are in the archives..sometimes hard to get at..  A list of considerations.. What do I want from a bus? economy (prob not) pride of building (myself)..How will I use (camping in RV parks only or dry camping).What kind? includes Price! condition and what kind do you like the looks of..  so....I'll start The reason I made my choice is it excites me :the looks--the pride of building myself!    I like all buses but the one I chose has a personal attraction. Corny answer?      I hope others will ad to the list.    Bob

[bevans6]

For me, the fundamental question was size.  I both wanted and needed a 35' bus, which made selection an issue.  40' buses are far more common, and now the 45' buses are coming into our range.  After that, it seems to me that buses are actually fairly generic.  Your choice of MCI, Prevost, Eagle, GM is going to come down to individual preference of some feature or visual design, and probably most of all availability.  What's on the market on the day you are finally in the mood to buy?  What combination of feature, location, condition and price finally add up to writing a check?

After size, probably the next biggest choice is newer vs older.  1990's or 1950's/60's/70's.  Cool factor equals funky old, or sleek million dollar looking new?  Along with the old vs new comes 2 stroke vs four stroke, and Spicer vs automatic.  Money drives a lot of that.

Brian

[happycamperbrat]

I wanted good looks, ease of handling, automatic tranny, and big enough to satisfy my mid life crisis. Mine does all that and more. The RTS is known as the sports car of buses because of it's cornering and handling and really good looks. So if you choose anyother bus style for it's good looks it is only cuz you havent seen an RTS 

 

[Ed Hackenbruch]

Besides looking good, mine was fate.....it was built the same year that i graduated High School. 

[eddiepotts]

I bought mine for pure durability. Going to the NASCAR races I was renting motor homes at the some of $2000 twice a year. We have about eight people that go with us so something would always get broke. Then there would be another $600 or so on my card to cover damages. We looked at $20,000 motor homes and they all just looked dated and half dead. When we looked at the fith wheels I had to look at trucks to pull it. We got down to pull behinds and they just got worse. A friend of mine asked me to use his camper so we did. I dropped down to 7mpg in my avalanche. At that point fuel mileage was not a concern for whatever I choose. Years ago I was watching the movie "Almost famous". There was a part when they were traveling on a bus and all sing Elton John's song Tiny dancer. I always thought that would be totally cool driving across the country in a bus with all my friends seeing what's out there. Here was my chance to get one so the search began. We looked at allot of them all over the country and finally found a few that would deal down to my price range. The entertainer was a perfect fit for me because of the layout for a group to travel. More people more help with fuel? No, my broke friends always seem to be broke when it's time for fun. Anyway we bought it and have made 2 races with it 4 music festivals and countless trips to the beach. From nothing not knowing what we would do with one to the whole family being obsess with it. Not one thing on the inside has broke torn or come loose. We have had as many as ten sleeping in it for a 4-day weekend. You cant do that in a Sticks and staples. I have tried it. Now that I have been learning to drive without my clutch even driving is fun. Now the scene in the movie does not work out for me because I am up front by myself but every so often the will put in Tiny dancer in for me and crank up the radio so the can't here me singing along. It is a different way of life behind the wheel.

[lostagain]

I am an MCI guy. No logical reason. I "grew up" driving MCI buses, because that's all we had at Brewster Transport in Banff, Alberta. The company was a Greyhound subsidiary, (1970s), so we were in bed with MCI. GMs were never common in Canada like they were in the US. I never cared for Prevost. I liked the looks of the Eagles that came up from the US in the summer, but again there weren't any in Canada. So that's why I like MCIs and that's why my 3 buses are MCIs.

JC

[luvrbus]

I wonder with the economy as it is today with the price and glut of converted bus on the market if that would change your mind, no way would I buy a empty shell of any brand and start from scratch in today's bus market,turn the key on drive a way LOL back to the topic our first bus was a factory converted Blue Bird Ford gas engine 3 to 4 MPG now I am a happy camper with the Safari Trek.
I don't miss the buses or the time involved for up keep on one, buses are just a buy and sell or lease deal for me now I never want another one for personal use


good luck

[Ed Hackenbruch]

Four other reasons for buying ours, it was 35', it was turn key, it was an automatic and we had the cash. 

[happycamperbrat]

You people absolutely have it right about buying one already converted! Someone just posted a completed RTS for $14,000 and it was even painted and everything! http://www.rts-bus.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=628 I would buy something like this and then make it my own by playing with it.

[thejumpsuitman]

You people absolutely have it right about buying one already converted! Someone just posted a completed RTS for $14,000 and it was even painted and everything! http://www.rts-bus.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=628 I would buy something like this and then make it my own by playing with it.

I was about to make the same kind of comment.  From strictly a financial standpoint, it doesn't make sense to convert one when there are completed conversions all over Craigslist for around $10k.

[Hobie]

I never want another one for personal use

How come?    Too much time to keep 'em running?  $$$? 

[TomC]

Don't discount transits.  They are very cheap and if you get a high floor one, will have 22" of underfloor storage.  I have a 40ft x 102" wide (that extra 6" of width is really nice), and below the floor I have 2-8D deep cycle batteries, 45 gal black tank, 85 gal gray tank (my 130 gal fresh water tank, 2-10 gal water heaters, 2 water pumps, hot and cold valve manifolds are under my bed), 20 gal propane tank, storage of 66" x 99" x 22"h, 10kw Powertech Diesel genset.  Look at the Gillig transits-they are made in 30, 35, 40ft all 102" wide and have flat side walls that makes converting easy.  Transits are the toughest buses made, have the best turning radius, and are lower then highway buses-usually using a lower horsepower but same engine as the highway buses.  Good Luck, TomC

[happycamperbrat]

That's agood point about how strong they are too. The RTS is nearly all stainless steel and there is a story around about one that went off a bridge and landed upside down. A crane picked it up, put it right side up and it drove off on it's own power!  Wow!!

[Ace]

walmart first shores was in eagle my first choice for bus was a mini buffalo 4107  then I sold that for my model 01 eagle and after converting that, my friend showed me his H model Prevost and the rest is history!
Actually, I wanted a scenuc cruiser but thanks to Kyle, none were left!

[robertglines1]

Good responses..as varied as the members here..To me it is a hobby with benefits! The XL45 Prevost I'm doing now was a salvage shell I paid $1200 for.Parts and drive train had been  sold out of it but yet not past repair for me..So I now have the drivetrain nearly ready to install all of the damage repaired (except some stainless siding I still am working on) cabinets in ,3 slides.1 and 1/2 bath,used alum wheels.and much more..Total cost is going to be around $20,000 for a 98 model coach ready to roll..so it can be done! Cost of labor not included!!!!Build time so far about 1000 hrs..My first build a 87 model Thomas was under 7,000 using a salvage Damon Intruder motor home for all systems($2,000) On 4Th one now.   Last one!!    Bob          maybe