My RTS journey

[kjurkic]

Hi Folks

I posted almost a year ago about obtaining an RTS and possibly putting it to work before doing a conversion.

Well, I just completed my first charter run, which included an 80km (50mi) section of active logging road that has been very heavily rained upon over the last few months.

I have to say, I am very happy with the ride quality of the RTS - it soaked up 95% of the potholes with hardly a bump felt, and at no time did I feel that the bus was complaining about it. Also had to ford a few streams that washed over the road in the recent monsoons. On the highway, aside being limited to 90kph, it drives like a dream. We had wind gusts up to 90kph, and I had no problem holding my lane.

While this is not really a conversion unit (yet), I am planning on mods to make it more amenable for my charter service, such as adding rear cargo area, and slide-out drawers underneath for tools/spares/chains. For passenger convenience I am considering on-board fridge and lavatory.

RTS's might not be apropos for married full-timers, but should be on the radar for bachelor(ettes) or weekenders.

Cheers
Ken

[Geoff]

I've had bus drivers from NY write me and say how the the RTS is impervious to pot holes.  The RTS is a dream to drive, and it goes like a bullet down the road.  Add 350 HP and a 4:10 rear end and you have the king of the highway.

--Geoff
'82 RTS 350HP 4:10 gears 80 mph

[TomC]

I have an AMGeneral transit that is very usable as a long term RV. Geoff's RTS is just about the classic example of what can be accomplished with that bus. I hope you can see Geoff's bus in person sometime. Good Luck, TomC

[kjurkic]

Is Geoff's the one with what looks like a "river" mirror on ceiling? I stumbled on that one somewhere and that made me think more of a high end yacht than a bus conversion.

Ken

[Geoff]

Ken--

I see you found the RTS Yahoo group.  There should be pictures of my RTS in the photo section.

--Geoff

[moosemanusa]

ken

dont forget the facebook group also, a lot of great people over there! plus we need more rts people over there lol

[luvrbus]

Geoff lol you made Facebook

[moosemanusa]

the bus conversion group on FB

[kjurkic]

Hi

Thanks for the pointer, but I don't do the FB on principle.

I have worked in IT for over 2 decades so have an idea of what is happening with user data. I have no interest in making MZ richer, nor being a product.

If the page is public viewing, I will check in, but not participate.

cheers
Ken

[luvrbus]

You don't have to put your life history on F/B why people do that is beyond me,Google scares me I very seldom use Google

[eagle19952]

You don't have to put your life history on F/B why people do that is beyond me,Google scares me I very seldom use Google

Google owns the DNA site 23 and me ... well sort of...
Anne E. Wojcicki is an American biologist and the co-founder and chief executive officer of the personal genomics company 23andMe. She is the former wife of Google Co-Founder Sergey Brin

that's scary...

[kjurkic]

Google owns the DNA site 23 and me ... well sort of...
Anne E. Wojcicki is an American biologist and the co-founder and chief executive officer of the personal genomics company 23andMe. She is the former wife of Google Co-Founder Sergey Brin

that's scary...

ZOINKERS! That is food for thought...

Anyhow, a few updates on my journey

Since my last post, I have completed 2 charters and learned more things about my bus.

Lesson 1, fuel gauge reads 1/2 actually means empty. Tuition $500 (for service call to re-prime)

Lesson 2, Battery charge equalizers are a great thing to have working! Tuition $600 (beats treating start batteries like deep-cycle & killing them)

Lesson 3, I am restricted to 90kph on a freeway trip where the posted is 120. Tuition for that class will be $500, but they can bump HP up in same class.

Lesson 4, 20 year old seals on cooling system are pretty worn out. Belts & hoses are fine, but O-ring on coolant reservoir sight-glass has never been replaced.

Lesson 5, CHECK TIRE PRESSURES at start of trip. Tuition for emergency road-side $250.

Lesson 6, DD50 is super fuel-efficient! Cullen diesel tech pulled logs for me from DDEC; 2.73 US gallons per hour over lifespan of 13,000 hrs - this would include all the idling and stop & go city traffic. 2.73 USG = 10.3 litres/p/h - if I average 50kph on a trip, that could resolve to 20l/100km. I have owned big-block cars and pickups that I WISH could have achieved that. In fact, most of the km I will be driving, will be non-stop between 40-80kph, with minimal idle time. I will be keeping logs to see how it actually plays out.

Also, officially in business now and accepting charters.

Cheers
Ken
PS STILL drives like a dream; I don't recall where I posted about selecting RTS for rough-road use, but someone replied saying they had taken their RTS on a gravel road and HATED the experience. My bus is more like the old float-mobile Cadillac; the only vehicle that I have had a smoother ride on that road is my  Caprice wagon.