What's the most important tools and parts to take with you.

[gus]

I take everything I can pick up including spare parts which I keep in the bus all the time anyway.

There is absolutely no way you can second guess what you might need, I've had so many mechanical problems I could never guess what is next!!

[Seangie]

Can anyone answer my question about the need for an extra compressor or will the bus be able to support something like taking off the tire?

My understanding (from researching previous posts) is that you won't get enough air pressure from the bus to get your air tool to pull tires.  2nd - you don't really want your bus running while your pulling tires
3rd - a lot of guys plumb a 2nd compressor to air up the bus without having to run it for 5-10 minutes at 6am in an RV park.  It also helps when you have air issues and need to troubleshoot.  You should under no circumstances run your bus air system off the auxiliary air system but ir works to get your bus out of the middle of the hwy if you have air issues.   The best plan is probably to have an auxiliary air compressor for those reasons. 

-Sean

Fulltiming somewhere in the USA
1984 Eagle 10S
www.herdofturtles.org

[hatchhome]

Thanks Sean, Thats what I needed to know. I will look into that type of setup as i also don't like the idea of waking the whole rv park by starting her up. I will look for a spare starter. I still have 2 boxes that came with my bus with seals and parts. Might get them out tomorrow and see what I got. Cheers

[RJ]

Cameron -

Auxiliary air compressor:

I know a 4106 owner that has a small air compressor mounted in the LF baggage bin directly behind the LF wheel.  It is plumbed into the accessory tank, which is located in the compartment underneath the driver.

Spare Starter:

Make sure you find a LEFT HAND unit, your 8V spins backwards to a truck or T-drive bus engine.

FWIW & HTH. . .

[Lin]

Regarding tires.  I have been of the belief that you could proceed with caution on one dually, thereby removing the flat one or using one for a front spare.  Is that reasonable?  We use 11rx22.5 tires and have thought they would be easy to find.  Maybe I am being too optimistic.  I once had some new tires mounted on the rims by Coach-net, so have thought of carrying an unmounted tire though.

[wg4t50]

Tires,  my thoughts on tires, have popular size as 11R22.5, not 12R22.5 and keep good tires, not OLD nor patched many times, keep eye on air pressure.  Tires have never been an issue for me. On the MC7, it came with the 12R22.5, being cheap, I went to the 11R22.5, no like that due to small diameter, so switched to all new steel 24.5 rims with new 11R tires, made the mistake of running a standard truck drive tire on drive axle, with the larger engines, it wore the treat to a saw tooth looking pattern, switched to a steer tread, no more goofy wear pattern, yes I  put many miles on it over 20+ years and never an issue on the road.
If you keep your head clear, take care of the Kill items you should have a fun trip not waiting for road service that might put a big dent in your credit card, removing all fun for the trip/vacation. THINK.
Dave M

[luvrbus]

Here we go keep good and the right amount of batteries with the right amps with the right voltage and the old 42MT Delco starter will last for 20 years easy on a old 71 engine 

[belfert]

I have my bus maintained by a well known bus garage since I got the bus.  I've never hesitated to have them fix any problems they have found over the years.  I've probably spent around $15,000 there.  (Bus needed almost $10,000 in work when I got it.)  I have also done a ton of work to fix and maintain things myself.

My point is even if you do lots of preventative stuff at home you can still have problems out on the road.  I've had brake issues three times on the road and a wheel bearing failure on the road too.  I have the brakes inspected yearly plus nearly every part at the wheel ends has been replaced.  The wheel bearings were all replaced when I got the bus yet I had a bearing failure 30,000 miles later.

[luvrbus]

Most of the break downs on old buses are major like Gordie no way can one carry enough tools and parts to prevent it JMO it doesn't take much but carrying a 1in impact to change a tire buy CoachNet or other road side programs