New Owner!

[FolkBus]

Welcome to the group. The collective knowledge here is amazing.

--Mike

[luvrbus]

Another GM the Eagle caps has added class to  nice 04

[uncle ned]

Clifford   I hope those eagle caps do not give the gm the eagle rust.

LOL LOL LOL

from Gary Lombard  The rustless money pit

uncle ned

[luvrbus]

I really think caps on the 4107 to the 4905 look good but on the 4104 and 4106 I don't care for it they take away the classic look lol how much rust do you see on the Eagles that let you park with them I bet this will cost you some spring water you may need a fresh water tank full Ned

[ol713]

  Hi;
     I have just one suggestion. Check the age of the tires. If they are over
     maybe 8yrs old you could have a few flat tires on the way home.
     check the DOT codes on the tires.
     Example  ....  DOT 2411 ...  would be the 24th week of 2011.
     Just something to look out for.
                             Good luck,    Merle.

[Emcemv]

G-Man

be sure you have checked the batteries and bring a charger if its been sitting all winter!  Nice looking bus, best of luck to you, we did this 2years ago.  Driving took a little getting used to but don't let them scare you, its not that bad. Just use commen sense and be patient.

There is a guy on the forum, RJ Long, who is the driving expert, he drove busses for years and did driver training, he is the best for advice on driving.  Luke at US coach in NJ is best for parts and is a wealth of knowldge.

Bruce

[Singing Land Cruiser]

Welcome to the board. Very nice wheels
M&C 

[Lin]

One way to look at it is that when driving a car, you are pretty much in the middle of the wheel base.  However, with a bus you are actually out in front of the entire wheel base; everything is following you. Therefore, old habits are dangerous.

[uncle ned]

Clifford

They make me park over in a corner.
All by myself.
only Wayne will park close to me.
I think spring water is what brings him close.  LOL LOL

uncle ned

[Geom]

Welcome aboard G-man. Nice looking bus! Congrats. As a newbie owner myself, I can tell you it can seem quite intimidating operating one of theses babies
Let me give you a few tips that have helped so far,

1) develop a preflight checklist and follow the list before each departure.It should include things like:
-checking tires (pressure, no bulges, severe cracks, etc)
-check oil level
-check coolant level
-check fuel level
-check around each wheel well to take a visual at the steering and suspension (just a visual mostly)
-do general visual walk around looking for things that are "out of place"
2) develop a travel list for inside the bus (shades up, no loose things banging around, windows closed, doors and cabinets secured, vents down, etc). If it can rattle and come loose, it will! You don't want that happening while you're also trying to drive
3) develop a starting checklist. Engine start, parking brakes on, accessories on, air is coming up to normal, oil pressure normal, temps coming up to normal, idle speed normal, and things "sound" normal. And check brakes a couple of times before actual departure while watching the air pressure.
4) as far as driving, give yourself plenty of both time AND space. This is a big machine and it takes time to do anything; start, accelerate, turn, and especially stop.
-when turning right, go out much further than you would in your car. Essentially you're aiming to run over (slightly) the lane maker with your left tire. Check your right mirror to make sure your butt-end clears obstructions like curbs, light-polls, stop signs, people, etc
-when turning left, again go a bit further than you would in your car and watch your left mirror as above
-while driving, aim to run over the left lane marker with your left foot. Get a visual of what that picture looks like and recreate it no matter where you are. That visual should have you clearing the left side of your bus by about a foot or so from actually running over the line. Remember you can't see your right side, but you can the left. Better to be too far left than right (assuming of course you avoid oncoming traffic ). Look in your left mirror to see that you are clearing the lane marker line.
-Adjust your mirrors and USE them. You should be able to see down the side of your bus from both mirrors. You may want to have someone help you walk around the bus so you can identify where your blind spots are, and note their existence. 
-Make small corrections in steering. Figure out what your steering "slop" is so you know what amount of movement it takes to actually get the wheels to move.
-Take turns and bends and S turns at the posted speeds OR less. Especially for off ramps.
-Give yourself PLENTY of room to stop. This is not a Car with anti-lock disk brakes and weighs 4k lbs. it's a huge honking mass barreling down the road
-Test your brakes every once in a while by lightly tapping them. Watch air pressure. And slow down on descending grades BEFORE you have to. Downshift if you need to on really steep grades (after slowing to gear appropriate speed) and let the engine back pressure hold you.
-Don't over heat your brakes. Certainly use them to slow to the speed you need and then back off, but don't camp on your brakes.
-while driving watch your gauges. Develop a scan pattern that watches at least air pressure, engine temp, trans temp (if you have it), and oil pressure; periodically.
-keep your eyes ON the road. No phones, gadgets, nic nacs, etc. No distractions. This should be the one thing you're focusing on.
-Don't over exert yourself. If you're tired stop. Take a break. You're in your own home after all . Rest stops are great, so are truck stops. For now stay close to the highway.
-Watch highway clearances to make sure you can get under them. So know how tall you are.
-Purchase, ahead of time, and carry, plenty of appropriate extra fluids; Oil, trans, (heavy duty diesel) coolant, power steering etc. O'Riley automotive is great for that. If they don't have it in stock in the store, they can usually order it within 24 hours. We use Delo 100 straight weight 40 oil for the engine, Delo 400 straight weight 40 for the trans, hydraulic oil for the power steering, and Final Charge Global for the coolant. It's a red coolant but the bottle says it can be mixed with other coolants (use caution with mixing coolant colors). Have a couple of funnels onboard too
-Plan your route well ahead of time. Get an app that helps you figure out where "stuff" is. We use an App called Allstays Camp and RV. There are others. And it does have a clunky interface but it has LOTS of useful data.
-A second set of eyes to help you is never a bad thing. Make the copilot earn his/her keep

That should be a good list to get you started. I know it seems like a lot, but trust me they'll become routine in short order. Just remember to relax and to laugh at yourself if you make a mistake. They will happen. Learn from them and move on.

Best of luck to you, have fun, and safe travels!
George

[johnjem]

Welcome aboard!!!! Did the previous owner tell u where he got that rear camera shroud  for the back up camera ? And also the sun visor ?   john        johnjem84@yahoo.com  Thanks

[Oonrahnjay]

....
     Let me give you a few tips that have helped so far,

1) develop a preflight checklist and follow the list before each departure.It should include things like:
-checking tires (pressure, no bulges, severe cracks, etc)
-check oil level
-check coolant level
-check fuel level
-check around each wheel well to take a visual at the steering and suspension (just a visual mostly)
-do general visual walk around looking for things that are "out of place"

.......

George   

     There is also a test procedure for air brakes every day, every time you drive.  It may vary slightly for type of bus and different brake components and other equipment in the air system, so owners of your type bus may give you specific info.  But you should get the brake inspection and check info that applies to your bus, study and understand it fully, and do the checks every time you drive.

BH   NC   USA

[Kevin]

Welcome GMtV!

Here's one more for you, regarding the other drivers you'll be sharing the road with; Don't let anyone rattle your nerves or cause you to "push" the "Ol' Mare" just because he/she is in some big hurry (and prob'ly to NOWHERE!). You'll possibly get honked at and maybe even the single-finger-salute more than once. 

Just remember that you are driving an elegant, durable and time-tested vehicle from the past. She will NOT be hurried along. Take all the time she needs while accelerating from stoplights, etc. You needn't push her too hard just because some frantic ninny is unreasonably hurried. This coach is from another day and age, and you'll soon learn that attempting to zip from stoplight to stoplight can be an unrewarding and stressful experience. Just let 'em go screaming past as they shake their fist out the window. You'll very likely catch them at the next light anyway... It use to piss me off. Now I'm just amused! I always give 'em a big grin and wave back. Lol!!! 

Once use to her, you will fall in love with this classic coach. We've had our '04 for nearly two decades now and she's a member of the family. My daughter Sarah first rode in her when she was still in elementary school.. and every summer since to the beach and winters to the desert for off-roading adventures. If/when you have kids you'll find that they love the adventure! Now Sarah's in San Francisco attending college, but when she comes home to visit we usually take her camping in our bus.

So, my advice to you is take your time to enjoy and experience a mode of transportation from a slower-paced, unhurried and relaxed era. It's a rat race out there, but you'll be high and dry inside your cozy Cocoon home-away-from-home, well-protected and secure... as you peer down bemusedly on those poor souls still obliged to careen off to, or return home from, work at break-neck speed. Heh, heh, heh!!! Aw, it's life's little pleasures, ain't it?! 

Kevin

Quartz Hill, CA

[lvmci]

Hi Gman, available for $60/70 are cordless camera monitor setups, at pepboys, autozone etc. Put one attached to your right mirror, and one attached to engine compartment door, even license plate camera set, all you have to do is supply 12volt power, nothing needs to be permanent, will give you a better view for your first trip in your bus,  if need be, you could just run speaker cable from alligator clips conected to a battery thru the door weather stripping,, they dont draw much power, lvmci...

[Nineforever]

Nice looking Rig im sure you will have lots of fun with her
Before your first run
Change the engine oil & filters .
Change Fuel Filters
Check & Change Wiper Blades if required
Head light & turn signal  brake light check & Horn
Buy your self a spare headlight relay at your first opportunity they always burnt out when u need the headlights .
Build your self some run up blocks so you can run her up on , make sure your on a good flat surface
Visual check inside of wheels for oil leaking down inside of rim and tires.
Pull plug on differential ... should be able to feel oil with your finger ... changing oil in the diff is not a bad idea .
Do a break adjustment if you now how ,, if not get some one that does .
Check Transmission oil
Give her a complete grease job
Run her over to a big truck tire shop and get tires inspected and check wheels for proper torque 
On your first run
Check your oil often , pull over let the engine cool check the engine oil .... dont try and check the oil as soon as you shut it down it will not give you a correct reading .
Walk around her check hubs for heat visual check of tires

Engine should be at 180 * while cruising down the highway 
Im sure ive missed a few things
Happy Cruising