Things to look for in a semi-truck wrecking yard?

[freds]

I would like everyone's thoughts on this. In my case thinking:

1. Better drivers seat
2. AC components to switch OTR to R-134a
3. Updated Diesel heater
4. Sun visors

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

I bought a truckers door latch for my MC-9 when I went from a double door to a single door. 

A Series 60 would be a nice find. 

Gary

[chessie4905]

I purchased a Bostrom seat with crappy conditionfabric. I bought a Bostrom Fred kit. Comes with new foam and fabric, and extra cost armrests. Makes it like a new seat.

[HB of CJ]

Depends upon what you want and need.  Good take off tires. Alloy wheels. Complete dash take out gauges, switches and senders.  Fuel tanks.  Complete engines and transmissions and related needed stuff.  Like said already, good air seats. 

The list can be near endless.  Everything from drive shafts, U-joints and air brake parts to dinky needed nuts and bolts.  Needed wiring harnesses.  Be careful buying take off mounted tires on alloy wheels.  Age, tread remaining, flat spots, wheel wear.

A long time ago, (about 1972) we had an understanding with the big truck wrecking yards in Bakersfield CA.  Back then nearly all dash gauges were mechanical.  SW tacks had cable drives!  Lots of good stuff paid with cash and a hand shake.  Fun.

No paper work.  I for one would LOVE to just cruise a HD truck wrecking yard.  You do need to know what you want and a ball park price for the good stuff.  Chucking a big tranny over the fence for midnight pickup is not recommended at all. 

[Scott & Heather]

A truck visor is going to be completely useless in a bus.

But yeah, truck air ride seat. Rims. Engines. Heck forget a bus and just get a truck.

[windtrader]

Heck forget a bus and just get a truck.

Hey Scott, you been really talking up semi travel vs coach. It is an interesting option; hardly discussed among these hallowed halls of busnuts. Based on shear numbers of semis running down the road, it makes perfect sense higher value service is more accessible than the typical bus(conversion).

[silversport]

I picked up a door lock off a Mack cap over that work beautifully on my 4106 door also got a nice pair of air horns. Still looking for air seats.

[DoubleEagle]

Hey Scott, you been really talking up semi travel vs coach. It is an interesting option; hardly discussed among these hallowed halls of busnuts. Based on shear numbers of semis running down the road, it makes perfect sense higher value service is more accessible than the typical bus(conversion).

The Kingsley Coach is the only example of a truck based coach I have seen, which is nice, and expensive, but, it still has a truck suspension, and wasted space within its length for the cab. It automatically will not have as much living space as a bus. The recent accident with a truck based "bus" in Utah with the Chinese tourists revealed some structural design differences that did not protect the passengers very well. I suspect the higher center of gravity in the truck design made it less stable in an accident situation.

I remember a police chase situation where someone had stolen a MCI bus that had broken through a chain link fence and was dragging it down the road. Later in the chase (with helicopter camera coverage) it took an exit off the expressway too fast and was sliding sideways. It did not roll over, it just slid and kept on going. If an airbag bus could do that, I thought, how would an Eagle do in the same situation? In the case of a truck based RV, would it have rolled? 

[usbusin]

Here is a link to our "small" 37 ft truck conversion.  This is built on a class 7 truck chassis not a class 8 that Scott will require.

http://ustruckin.blogspot.com/

[Dave5Cs]

Fred Maybe look for a tilt wheel and instrument panels, alloy wheels.

Truck conversions are going to be a lot noisier than a bus plus the cab moves around more.

[windtrader]

Truck conversions are going to be a lot noisier than a bus plus the cab moves around more.

Maybe that is why there is so little crossover between bus and truck frame conversions. Scott's comment brought a different perspective to the practicalities of operating and maintaining them.

[freds]

Fred Maybe look for a tilt wheel and instrument panels, alloy wheels.

Truck conversions are going to be a lot noisier than a bus plus the cab moves around more.

The tilt wheel is a great idea, will definitely add it to my list.

[Dave5Cs]

Maybe that is why there is so little crossover between bus and truck frame conversions. Scott's comment brought a different perspective to the practicalities of operating and maintaining them.

Maintaining them (Truck) would sure be easier to get to stuff mechanically but you give up a lot for the ride comfort and length lost.

[freds]

No paper work.  I for one would LOVE to just cruise a HD truck wrecking yard.  You do need to know what you want and a ball park price for the good stuff.  Chucking a big tranny over the fence for midnight pickup is not recommended at all. 

Ha that brings back memories as a teenager had friends do exactly that on a little piece of $#!% car (I was a real JD)...

[windtrader]

Maintaining them (Truck) would sure be easier to get to stuff mechanically but you give up a lot for the ride comfort and length lost.

Gaining length if one converts a 50 foot trailer! lol