Questions about buses

[OneLapper]

I'm partial to the 4106, that said, if you can find a rust free one, it's a good choice.  Parts are easy to find, it's not complicated to work on, it's easy on fuel, easy to park, easy to drive.  If it's just you, a partner and the cat, it's plenty big enough.

Good luck!

[ol713]

I read all your responses a month or so ago and appreciate the time you spent to send me your thoughts.. Thank You! 

At the moment I don't have too many questions.  I will say, I don't know why I didn't in my first post, that I live in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.  I do not find many busses around here to look at.  I want to use the bus to take me wherever it will take me.  I am retired and I simply want to go here and there for a while.  I have done a lot of that riding my Harley Davidson but at the end of the day it is a rough way to travel.  There is a lot of beautiful country to see and places to go. 

I am still looking and I know the right bus is going to just be there at the right time.  I will check in now and again to let you all know what I find.  Thanks for your time and your patience. 

All the best....

DW


    Hi;
           Since you live in New Mexico, you might consider going to the conversion bus ralley in
           Pahrump NV.   They are expecting around 20-30 busses to attend.   That will give you
           a good chance to view other busses and get some ideas..  Check this board for ralley info.
                                                    See ya there
                                                             Merle.

[lvmci]

Hi DW, I found my 2 buses on craigslist and all of craigslist, go to RVs then type in bus, you would be surprised how many buses are within 300 miles of you! lvmci...

[Haroldboy]

Okay...  Good advice!  Thanks!  I agree, getting something that is ready to go is more to my liking.  I am checking out those very sites you've mentioned and will send a link for those that peak my interest...

Thanks again!

[Haroldboy]

Since I have been following a couple of 4106's let me ask the best places to look for rust?  I understand the skin is stainless?  Just in case there is one I am interesting in looking at.....

Thanks!

[wg4t50]

4106, not stainless, just aluminum,  never had a GM bus, due to my traveling around the state I was able to visit about all the major charter bus shops and ask questions, snoop around and learn.  Was told by two outfits to get a MCI, so I wound up with a 1972 MC7 and never looked back. Spent every weekend attacking something on it, wheel bearings, brakes, suspension, mechanical etc. Always kept it in a runnable state, so I could take for a test ride to check out what I had been playing with.  Was a 20 year love affair, it never let me sit along the road, had in every state east of the Miss river including some Canada, Florida every winter for the CCO then the Arcadia New Years gang.
You will learn, cry, laugh and be proud of your toy.
Dave M

[OneLapper]

Well, a 4106 can rust, but not like other buses.  You want look for corrosion between the steel suspension sub frames to the aluminum structures.  The front suspension structure can rust as well, just look behind the front wheels, up where the body attaches.  I know there are numerous other spots to check.  I'll see if I can find a document that was sent to me when I was looking for a bus.

Edit:  I found that document and all the rust and corrosion I have on my bus is not listed as the areas to look at.  Go figure.

[Seangie]

Wait as long as you can to buy.  A lot of the fun is in looking.  Know its going to take either (as others have said) a lot of time or a lot of money.  I think we took about a year to buy and wish we had waited longer.  We are very happy with our bus but we still see some great buses for sale that cross our path and we often think about upgrading

Be careful when you buy.  Make sure you have someone besides yourself look at it for you.  We have found that there are lots of hidden things you cannot see that only an experienced bus person would know to ask about.

-Sean

[Boomer]

Haroldboy, Hal St. Clair lives in Rio Rancho and built his beautiful bus from the ground up.  He knows his business and is a great guy.  You might look him up.