Bus Repairs and Service near Albuquerque

[bobofthenorth]

Fly out - drive home.  Like Van said - take lots of tools.  Towing 4 down or pulling a trailer adds a complication that you don't need on your first trip.  Not to say you won't have trouble and wish you had a run around vehicle but there's no guarantee the towing experience will be trouble free either.

If you plan to have a separate set of bus tools then consider buying some of them where you p/u the bus so that you don't have to fly with such a large toolbox.  And remember - the most useful tool you can carry is a high limit credit card.   

[Van]

If I had the high limit card with me then Bob, it would have solved all my first bus misfortunes, I would have brought home a much nicer coach  

 

[robertglines1]

Nate when you get there: hope fully with some guidance you can get at least drivers heat going/defroster. That will take care of front of bus and more.

[natepelton]

Thank you for the encouragement. It really does boost my confidence knowing the knowledge of this board exists! And thank you for the offers of help if needed. Add me to that list - I am self-employed and almost always available to help if someone is in the area. I run a whitewater rafting company on the Hudson River in North Creek, NY. This bus is going to be my mobile base of operations!!
-Nate Pelton

[natepelton]

Bought my plane ticket. Monday 1/30 the adventure begins.

The shortest route is to go 40>44>70>90. Would you guys take a more southern route despite increased mileage? I want to avoid steep grades for now if possible too.

-Nate

[Melbo]

You will do well on that route.  The only uphill that is long is the first one out of Abq and after that it is fine. I use that route to avoid weather as well.

Melbo

[bobofthenorth]

I'd watch the weather more than the grades.

[bottomacher]

If you have that much time and trust the seller, you might consider shipping a box of tools rather than paying the extra charge on the airplane.

[saddleup]

Coach-net and credit cards,  you be fine.
Good luck Matt

[Jeremy]

On the subject of breaking down while on a trip - here's a guy who believes in redundancy.




Jeremy

[Kevinmc5]

Nate,
My wife and I took a flight from Boise Id to south Caralina to get our bus. Had a mechanic look it over first. Drove it home made it to Nebraska. blower went out. Rented a car got home for work. 3 months later went to pick it up first of September. No heat or defrost got down to 23 deg. had small space heater. only got cold when driving. had fans for the windsheld. We had the best time of our lives. Fly and drive. You will have a story.
Kevin

[natepelton]

What tools would you guys consider essential for the trip? I can ship a 12x12x20 tool box and buy a few things too.

And what would be the minimum you'd have a mechanic look at before the trip?

Does anyone know if all the tires are the same? If I have the money, I might get a new pair of steering tires put on and replace the worst ones, which from the PO's desc, are the tags.

I'm figuring $400+ per tire?

[PSmith]

I shipped a box of small hand tools,rags,hand cleaner,hose clamps,duct tape and a hunk of wire and some wire nuts to the seller. It was a box about 1 foot square and UPS'd it. Came in handy. Bought new tires and an air cleaner before I left for home.

Sounds like your trip will be fun. Enjoy

[luvrbus]

All you need is a set of fuel filters, a filter wrench and a can of fuel to prime with not much else you can repair on the side of the road it is going to the shop 98% of the time if not fuel filters why worry


good luck

[Melbo]

If you are going to do tires (I would want to look at them first)

Check with Circle J tires -- they have treated me well

HTH

YMMV

Melbo