Bus vs Rv

[sledhead]

I started by converting a 1990 MCI and enjoyed it for 10 years but wanted more power . so I went looking for a high end RV or a bus conversion in the 2000 -2003 years as I did not want any emission crap . If you are looking for a older used  coach there are a ton of great deals out there but most will need a redo inside do to age .
very happy with what I have now and I have way less money in it as I had in the MCI . oh ya tons of power and better mpg as well

https://photos.app.goo.gl/gugiWTHqveXwt7Cp8

https://photos.app.goo.gl/xGfcjrAZi7YqVbX8A

https://photos.app.goo.gl/C5P5w6K22hve8Ux86

dave

[luvrbus]

Bus manufactures limit the HP for fuel economy, I stayed under 2010 for the emissions   

[Jim Blackwood]

You know, this guy could buy a reasonably good conversion, all done, and probably with the 4 stroke DD for 1/4 of his budget. He could probably also get a diesel pusher RV for that. They were selling new for $100K not that long ago and had been a couple decades ago so there should be plenty to choose from, so the selection is wide open. Question is, how new does he have to have? At today's prices could he still buy a new pusher? Maybe, maybe not. He's not going to buy a new bus conversion. I think that speaks to both the efficiency of the RV manufacturers as well as the purpose of the bus initially. One provides relatively cheap mobile housing, the other provides many times the expected mileage range over it's intended life.  So, driving or parking, what'll it be?

Also, the bus is more solid as a whole which will contribute to weatherability. Once again, how long does he intend to keep it?

Jim

[luvrbus]

They have some junk in the RV pushers that start around 200k,I found out quick on my CC you don't order a spare water pump without asking the price that friggn Headhunter water pump was over a $1000.00 if and when it goes bad it will be replaced with the standard RV water pump for a 100 bucks I can stand the noise the water flow and pressure I may miss 

[Van]

if and when it goes bad it will be replaced with the standard RV water pump for a 100 bucks I can stand the noise the water flow and pressure I may miss

No worries Clifford I gotz a new one sittin here you can have as a spare, I like my water loud

[Fred Mc]

Buses are/were designed to be used.Rv's are designed to be sold.
Some on here may remember Technomadia.There live/work  in their bus doing
internet programming.About 10 years ago they bought a 1963 GMPD4106 and had the motor rebuilt and other mechanical upgrades. I read their stuff occasionally and they do not have any
maintenance issues other than routine.
Another one who had bought a 4106  was Juan Trujillo. (there is a theme here in that I also own a PD4106)  They are converting it for their family of 4 kids to full time.He had  Bus Grease Monkey do extensive brake and suspension work and motor tune up.Cost of parts was 10 grand but it should be safe and reliable for as long as they own it.

You have LOTS of options which your budget allows(fortunately).

good luck

Fred.

[luvrbus]

Buses are/were designed to be used.Rv's are designed to be sold.
Some on here may remember Technomadia.There live/work  in their bus doing
internet programming.About 10 years ago they bought a 1963 GMPD4106 and had the motor rebuilt and other mechanical upgrades. I read their stuff occasionally and they do not have any
maintenance issues other than routine.
Another one who had bought a 4106  was Juan Trujillo. (there is a theme here in that I also own a PD4106)  They are converting it for their family of 4 kids to full time.He had  Bus Grease Monkey do extensive brake and suspension work and motor tune up.Cost of parts was 10 grand but it should be safe and reliable for as long as they own it.

You have LOTS of options which your budget allows(fortunately).

good luck

Fred.

You have it about 1/2 right bus are made to roll not set they go to hell in a hurry setting like Juan's setting in this nice 114F AZ heat today.Buses on this board are RV's everyone has a choice lol I do know that Carl Blades and his Newell RV compete good with Prevost and their converters   

[oldmansax]

I like my Wanderlodge. It's a bus. Bluebird All American coach. It was converted at the factory. Any the best thing is the Wanderlodge forum is very active, like this one. Pretty much any problem you have, someone else has had and can tell you how to fix it. With your budget, you could have one with a low mileage series 60 and all the bells and whistles, factory set up 10,000 # tow hitch, and still be way under your budget. Plus those in your price range will have all the factory manuals and repair history since new. Check them out!

TOM

[TomC]

I bought my 1977 AMGeneral 10240B in 1993, started conversion in 1994 was finished in 2,000. Now 20 years later still using it with minimal maintenance problems. Just replaced the 2-10 gal electric water heater I installed in 1994 (try that AquaHot users!). When's the last time you saw a 1977 stick and staples motorhome in tact not coming apart? Good Luck, TomC

[Lin]

There is a lot of good information here.  I will just add some observations.  Do not rush into anything since you will have to live with it.  There are junkie RV's, but there are also good ones.  Wanderlodge, Newell, and some others are basically buses that are manufactured as RV's and have excellent reputations.  There are also professional bus converters like Liberty that do a great job.  I would think with the budget you propose, you should look to a something like ones of these that was planned for RV use.  Home made conversion can range from awful to wonderful depending on who did it. But even the best of them generally lack the documentation of factory.  You could end up spending a lot of time trying to figure out what the PO (previous owner) did and did not do.  Plus most of those will have been revenue haulers with several hundred K miles on them.

It is true that buses can go for half a million miles, but that is if they are kept running.  Like any vehicle, they will deteriorate if they spend 340 days a year just sitting.  Also remember that buses were not designed to be maintained by amateurs in their back yards.  That is exactly what lots of us do.  If you don't want to you must be prepared to pay heavily for professionals to do it. Replacing your bus engine could be in the range of 25k-35k. A gas RV engine would be far less.  This goes for all sorts of mechanical parts as well.  In either case, getting a recent enough model that most all parts will be easily available is going to save you effort and frustration.

[Branderson]

My uncle made it pretty simple for me.  He says you don't see 40+yr old RVs on the road.  I have a 45yr old MCI and my dad just sold his greyhound that was built in 53.

[someguy]

I started by converting a 1990 MCI and enjoyed it for 10 years but wanted more power . so I went looking for a high end RV or a bus conversion in the 2000 -2003 years as I did not want any emission crap . If you are looking for a older used  coach there are a ton of great deals out there but most will need a redo inside do to age .
very happy with what I have now and I have way less money in it as I had in the MCI . oh ya tons of power and better mpg as well

https://photos.app.goo.gl/gugiWTHqveXwt7Cp8

https://photos.app.goo.gl/xGfcjrAZi7YqVbX8A

https://photos.app.goo.gl/C5P5w6K22hve8Ux86

dave

Nice unit.  You totally changed my mind about high end RVs.

Is that the original interior or did you update it ?

[someguy]

But then there is this to consider.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuRtNajq-Yo

[luvrbus]

But then there is this to consider.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuRtNajq-Yo

You got to beat that,a entry level RV on a 1ton Ford pickup chassis no comparison to Dave's Vogue   

[DoubleEagle]

"Didn't want to hit the white car", what nonsense. Hit it, guide it over, shove it over, but don't plow into a trailer and get ripped apart. The driver failed to plan ahead and react appropriately.