I gave up and just bought an RV

[Phil H / Chicago]

Hi everyone,

After years of trying and too much money wasted I finally came to the conclusion that building what I wanted was out of my reach.....both with limited skills and financial resources. I tried to put together this perfect unit, 45' length,wide body with the ser60/b500 and at least one front room slideout. And as a cabinetmaker with no mechanical skills and depending on other people to do what they say their going to do, I just couldn't get it done.....so I came across a 1999 45' American Heritage with all the above requirements (well it has the cummins m11 instead of the ser60) and just could not pass it up. I know its not a bus, but....we love it. Maybe one day, I can get the bus I want, but for now....

I have spoken to many of you over the last seven years and wanted to say thanks for the friendship and advice. I hope you busnuts will not shun me for defecting....I really am still a busnut at heart. There is sooo much wisdom and info on this board and I still plan to participate, if allowed 

Now, if I can just figure out how to afford the fuel???

Thanks much, Phil

[cody]

While the prevailing idea on the board is that buses rule, you'll find that many here actually don't own a bus yet.  To me the main thing is that you enjoy the road and rving in general.  Most of us have had other types of Rv's in the past and many still do, what really counts is the people inside the rv's.  Buses are a very small percentage of the rving community and we love ours but we also have good friends that tent camp and others that range from class c's to class a's, like I said, in my opinion the important thing is loving what you do regardless of what your driving or pulling.

[wvanative]

Phil H, You should not feel bad about making a decision that is right for you and your family. We know you are a busnut at heart, and always will be. There are many of us who still don't have a bus yet, but we still go about our daily lives making our plans for when we will own one. I wish you many happy miles on the road in your new home on wheels, as I am sure everyone here does.

WVaNative 

[gumpy]

One of the best quality of some people is that they know their own limitations. In your case, you came to understand that before it got you into too much trouble. You probably also learned a good deal of stuff that led you to your conclusion, and so I do hope you'll continue to be a part of our little community if for nothing other than to offer your advice to others who find themselves in your particular situation someday.

And enjoy the motorhome with no regrets. Maybe someday you'll find the right bus for the right price and be back in the thick of it.

craig

[Slow Rider]

Please don't leave the board just because you bought an RV.  Funny, exciting, scary, (fill in the blank) stories are always welcome.  The trials and tribulations of an RV are not that much different than a bus.

Sometimes information that comes from out side a group is just as important.  The slightly different view may have new insight and be just the push needed to solve a problem. 

Enjoy your new purchase to the max and let us know how life treats you.

Frank

[plyonsMC9]

Enjoy the Motorhome Phil!!!!

Our family had MANY precious memories in our Gulfstream motorhome / Class A.  I hope you will also continue to participate on the BBS as well.  I participated for many years on this bbs while we had our motorhome, and am very glad that I did!!  It's a great group.

Best Regards, Phil ( near Chicago - Naperville ).

[FloridaCliff]

Phil,

Its all about having FUN and enjoying our Family and the Friends we make.

You will do no less with your American Eagle.

RV'rs/Busnuts are some of the best people I have ever met as a group.

See Ya on the road somewhere.

Cliff

[NewbeeMC9]

If you notice in rally pictures, there are S&S present.  We all have our own reasons but essentially we want to rv, it 's just how we got there.

if you come to a rally, we won't be above touring your RV and stealing borrowing ideas and improve upon them

congrats,  maybe pics are in order


sorta ike you, i bought my bus already converted and it isn't how i want it. 
But i can use it and i can figure out how i want it.

there is no way i could have waited on me to convert my bus which using it is what i really wanted.  and it it's not camping if there is not a little roughinit

[Don Fairchild]

I did the same thing, I gave up on my eagle and bought a gillig country coach, so far I am glad I did.
Don't worry about not having anything to do to it, you will find plenty of things you want to change. I have had to change the generator, the water pump, alternator and now I need a new inverter. I will also be changing the turbo and injectors.

Just go out and have fun with your new coach.

Don

[Christyhicks]

You weren't the first, and won't be the last person to attempt a conversion and then realize, at some point, that completing it is not in the cards for you.  There is never shame in trying, there is only shame in not giving it a shot.  Many, many people start out like you did, and you're right, if you have to rely on others very much, well, you'd better have awful deep pockets if you want to get things done, done promptly, and done right. 

We went a slightly different route. . . after driving a bus, our motorhome just seemed like a rattletrap, so when the opportunity provided itself to us to purchase a converted bus, we did so.  For us, we either bought TempBus, or we were going to have to rush the conversion of BigBus, and not make it the way we wanted to.  The tradeoff, other than $$$$, was the fact that owning a converted bus makes it easier to let other projects come in front of BigBus, for the good or the bad.  Perhaps those needs would have over-ridden the conversion anyway, one just never knows. 

Don't leave the group. . .you still will have things to contribute, things to learn. . goodness gracious. . . they're all rvs in one way or another so we're still all rvers, aren't we, ha ha.  Christy Hikcs

[Sojourner]

Hi Phil.....You at least have a great one to enjoy RV'ing must quicker than most of us. It low mileages as compare to ex Greyhound plus a state of art engine & trans set up.....you are ahead of most of us.
Let us know how you like the ISM Cumming & Trans combination after a while.
By the way...you are now having the repower kit for your next tired bus in the future.
Great start & enjoy all you can.

Wish you well.

Sojourn for Christ, Jerry

[sweeperman]

Hi I to would love to do a bus conversion but with work and family its not in my cards right now I ended up buying a 1980 Blue Bird 2.5 years ago and loveing it some day I hope I can do my own bus but till then I am RVing and haveing fun learning from this foruom.
sweeperman
1980Fc Blue Bird
Union Beach NJ

[gus]

This is exactly the reason I bought a bus already converted.

I still have plenty to keep me busy on a 54 year old bus but I knew if I started from scratch I would be too old to enjoy it by the time I got it finished.

Used conversions are the best bargain on the market except for the guys who spent all the money conveerting them.

You just can't get back your investment so build what you want and don't worry about resale.