Bus transport

[richard5933]

so. who's the copilot ?

At this point, no one.

Richard

1964 PD4106-2412

[RJ]

I always like having two boxes of the break down triangles, a forest of 'em out the back in the dark make a difference!

It's just too bad that most folk who have to put out the triangles have NO CLUE how to place them properly!

Grrrrrrr. . . one of my pet peeves with "professional" drivers!   

Richard -

If you're not in a hurry, what about taking the "little blue highways" rather than the toll roads?  Side benefit - more relaxed pace, you get to see more of rural Americana.  OTOH, after what happened to your '06. . . maybe not.

Speaking of your '06, are you going to be parting it out?

Have a safe trip!

FWIW & HTH. . .

[richard5933]

...
Richard -

If you're not in a hurry, what about taking the "little blue highways" rather than the toll roads?  Side benefit - more relaxed pace, you get to see more of rural Americana.  OTOH, after what happened to your '06. . . maybe not.

Speaking of your '06, are you going to be parting it out?

Have a safe trip!

FWIW & HTH. . .

What happened with our 4106 is specifically why I'm opting for the Interstates this time. Just a tad too soon to be back on state highways. In general that's our preferred route - local and state highways as much as possible. I'd rather spend more time on the road on a slower route if it means getting to see more of the country and communities. That's why we travel.

This time though I'm going to stick as much as possible to roads with center barriers.

Regarding the 4106, don't know yet. I'm hoping that whatever I work out with the insurance company ends up with us keeping the bus. It is currently in a tow yard in Des Moines. It might be another week or more till the insurance company gets their act together and presents us with an initial valuation. Right now it seems that they drew blanks and had to call in an outside appraiser. I'm not confident I'll like the results, but I'm going to wait to freak out until they make their first offer.

I'll be posting a thread specific to this once I have more information and know more about what's happening with the 4106, which while beyond repair still has lots of useful parts that others may find valuable.

Richard

[windtrader]

Richard,

Glad to see the incident did not dent your spirit and you're rolling forward. It would be great if you chronicle your dance with the insurance company in its own thread. I'm sure there it will offer many insights to others who hopefully never are forced down the same path in the future. Good luck with the trip. DOn

[Zephod]

Might I suggest installing a better front bumper - just in case?

In the last 10 years my car has been rear ended twice, somebody reversed into the front and somebody hit the back and ran away. Fortunately no big damage but it's a jungle out there!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[j.m.jackson]

With the way the GM coaches are designed, a stronger of stiffer bumper would still just crush the front of the bus, totaling it. Remember that these units are basically aluminum or stainless skinned wooden platforms.

[richard5933]

...Remember that these units are basically aluminum or stainless skinned wooden platforms.

Having seen one torn open first hand, I'd have to disagree. There are no wood structural components. Our 4106 took an amazing beating on the highway and the structure and design is what allowed us to walk away. GM coaches are much more than just skinned wooden platforms, and for that reason alone we're getting another one.

Richard

[j.m.jackson]

Richard,

I admit that I greatly oversimplified that, they are better than that.. Your experience definitely illustrates that point. I would, tho, think that a stiffer or stronger bumper still would have to dissipate the energy somewhere. In my 5303, there is just a sheet of steel between the area over the bumper and my feet. The bumper itself is connected with large leaf springs (4" tall, 14" wide) to subframe members that run back to the front of the front axle bulkhead, another sheet of metal, transferring more of the force of impact to that bulkhead surface also. There is alot of metal surface area for sure to absorb energy from an impact.

This one took on a lightpole. They both lost, but the pole is laying on top of the bus. The drivers position is relatively intact.

[j.m.jackson]

And, according to the movies, the 5303 can also survive jumping over sections of unfinished freeway in California! (grin)

Its very interesting to watch the video behind shooting that scene. Considering that they did actually jump it, and it went alot farther than they expected, it survived fairly well. By surviving, I mean that it blew out the front airbags and tires, ruptured the oil pan, drove the entire engine assembly up about a foot causing the throttle to hang wide open, and other terrible things. But the structure and construction of the bus itself fared very well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPhNIS69ayQ

[chessie4905]

Damn pole pulled out in front of him.

[Oonrahnjay]

Damn pole pulled out in front of him. 

       I'm thinkin that the driver was lucky that it jumped out in front of the right (door) side of the front of the bus.  The headlight right in front of the driver isn't moved much. 

[Zephod]

Is this an option?
https://goo.gl/images/5hPkhk



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[pabusnut]

This one might have done better! 

[Zephod]

This one might have done better!  😄 😀

Perhaps not. This would seem a greater improvement....

https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/imgs/btr90.jpg

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[eagle19952]

Is this an option?
https://goo.gl/images/5hPkhk



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

because flat black primer stops everything ?