Bus versus s/s

garrick · June 30, 2012, 05:59:21 AM

I have spent some time lately in everything from a 300,000$ motorhome to a 30 ft 5Th wheel pulled by a late model dodge dually. I have not come up with a good reason to abandon building my bus,yes I know that currently I can buy one cheaper than I can build one and I may do that while I build our retirement coach.The big dollar motorhome was nice but only 2 years old and rattled much more than i wanted to listen to,and only got 9 mpg,350 hp diesel.Next motorhome 140,000$ gas 4 years old,road like a moving truck,rattled excessively and got 7.5 mpg next up 32 ft 5Th wheel behind dodge dually,stuck in smallish vehicle,avg 8.8mpg,only good thing I can think of is you have something easy to drive if need be.Last trip out was a 1987 provost entertainer conversion quite,smooth,no slide so a little tight feeling,7.4mpg.So long term for me will be bus with slide and comfort.Just my opinion.

lvmci · June 30, 2012, 07:41:23 AM

Hi, very much the same thoughts, not even mentioning the safety factor, lvmci...

TomC · June 30, 2012, 07:49:59 AM

I drove cross country truck for 21 years. Saw to many SS accidents that I knew I would never have one. Trailers are usually even worse-on a roll over they disintegrate. Have to pile all the remains of the trailer on the base platform, put a tarp on it and haul it away. The only trailer I've ever seen to survive a roll over is an Airstream (it still was a total-but was together)-but that's not a big surprise. Good Luck, TomC

chev49 · June 30, 2012, 08:24:00 AM

yeah, just look at the ones on the copart auction site... not to mention the frig burns even in the hi end coaches. at least the airstreams usually have the skin pretty much intact after a roll over, but are not cost effective to repair.

RJ · June 30, 2012, 08:59:35 AM

Garrick -

As you have discovered, nothing in the RV industry compares to a well-built bus conversion. The interiors may be similar, and use the same components, but the major difference is in the shell to begin with. Truck chassis are not the same as a bus chassis, period.

That being said, water leaks, either from giving the buggy a bath to being caught in the rain, are the nemesis of RVer's everywhere. S/S, trailer or bus conversion, water getting inside where you don't want it creates all kinds of problems.

Add slide-outs, and the potential for water leaks increases exponentially. Ask anyone who has them.

In today's economy, conversions are selling for far less than you can build one, so shop smart. Cash talks, big time!

Good luck with your search, you'll find something.

FWIW & HTH. . .

PCC · June 30, 2012, 12:37:54 PM

I am in total agreement. Been converting coaches since 1980, when I did my first, and it is the only way to go; solid, quiet, and smooth. No better way to go.

luvrbus · June 30, 2012, 12:52:42 PM

Apples to apples more people in bus accidents die than in RV accidents and the high end ForeTravel and Newell can go head to head with any bus and they have bigger engines but cost as much also

I look at burned out bus shell on a weekly basis and 95 % are engine related fires or tire fires fwiw

good luck

Mex-Busnut · June 30, 2012, 01:16:48 PM

It is amazing to me that many S & S units are also put together with very cheap particle board, plus very thin skin on the outside, mounted to a flimsy wooden framework. Any water leak or seepage from rain will begin rotting those rigs.

One advantage (among many) of doing your own bus conversion is you know exactly what material you put into it. And you can also pretty much fix what you need to fix, if the need arises.

Len Silva · June 30, 2012, 01:20:54 PM

There are a very limited number of RV's that would be as good as most buses. As mentioned, the Newell and Foretravel, my Vogue is built on a Crown chassis and all steel construction, the BlueBirds, some Country Coaches, perhaps a few others. You do have to do your homework.

Hard Headed Ken · June 30, 2012, 01:31:33 PM

Quote from: luvrbus on June 30, 2012, 12:52:42 PM
Apples to apples more people in bus accidents die than in RV accidents and the high end ForeTravel and Newell can go head to head with any bus and they have bigger engines but cost as much also

I look at burned out bus shell on a weekly basis and 95 % are engine related fires or tire fires fwiw

good luck

Is that converted buses or all seated and converted lumped together?

Ken

gus · June 30, 2012, 03:16:30 PM

It appears obvious that more people die in bus accidents than in RVs since the average RV only carries two people and the average bus closer to 50!!

belfert · June 30, 2012, 03:49:27 PM

A better comparison would be accidents per million miles driven for each type of vehicle.

lostagain · June 30, 2012, 10:00:06 PM

Some of the higher end RV coaches are just as good or better than a MCI or Prevost if you want to spend a million dollars.

But they are so ugly looking, especially lately. IMO, you can't beat the classic looks of a real bus.

JC

RJ · June 30, 2012, 10:43:25 PM

Quote from: lostagain on June 30, 2012, 10:00:06 PM
IMO, you can't beat the classic looks of a real bus.

Especially this one:

lostagain · July 01, 2012, 08:30:26 AM

Even the new buses have a solid, purposeful look like they are built to go down the road. I can't stand the swirly paint jobs on the S/S motorhomes.

For $100,000 say, you can buy one of the very best real bus conversion. A S/S for the same price will have skinny wheels set inside the body, a rear overhang to side-swipe gas station pumps and lamp posts, and a swirly paint job, LOL.

JC