How do you learn to trust your engine?

[jav9956]

Jon and Lin- Both very good points and nice insights into expectations of cost over time. That is something I will definitely be considering.

My true goal is to buy a piece of property with a few acres outside of Southern California (just a personal opinion, but it is miserable here) and get the bus there to live in while going to graduate school and developing the property... maybe build a house. At that time, just to feed my curiosity, I would like to pull the engine and take it apart (for better or worse) and then attempt a rebuild... I would really have to learn to trust it after that  . It would be nice to take it out on the road to travel but the primary goal is a livable unit so I can buy a blank piece of land, I just need it to get from where I am to where I am going! We will see how it all plays out. Too stubborn to quit converting the damn thing especially after coming so far  .

[Jon]

Go buy a cheap 5th wheel travel trailer and park it on the property. You will wish you did that in a relatively short time after you buy the bus.

[eagle19952]

Go buy a cheap 5th wheel travel trailer and park it on the property. You will wish you did that in a relatively short time after you buy the bus.

too late for that...

[Geoff]

The hip thing to do nowadays is to buy a tiny house.  HA!

[jav9956]

It is indeed too late, bus was bought almost a year ago. I didn't want to go with a 5th wheel or an RV, they just didn't feel right. I think we would have been better off with something smaller but for what it is worth the process has been awesome. Part of this project is to learn and we have done a ton of that. Ultimately I am happy with the project. Money wise we could have made a better investment. At 25 years old we have time to make the money back though... I hope  .

[zimmysurprise]

Yes, you have plenty of time to recoup. I told my kids when I die don't even try to recoup the money I invested in our bus, drive it or park it in the field for the grandkids to camp in. My plan for trusting the bus consists of:

*Learning how to diagnose your own problems- You will break down, and it's unlikely a road mechanic will know more than you about what's (generally) wrong. Especially things like wiring. I purchased wiring diagrams as these guys have suggested and wrote in the book any changes I notice or make myself.
*Carry parts and tools- I too worry about my starting and charging system. I plan to someday have some of those hard to find components with me. A left handed 24v starter in the Badlands? Good luck with that one.
*Plan extra time and transportation- I love to read about these guys breaking down and making the most of it. I always leave a couple days extra for breakdowns, and will be dragging a Jeep soon to make it even easier.