Options, Advice, Decisions Part 4 - Shopping and acquisition

[RJ]

. . .if ever wanting to DIY a slide in the future. With a Buffalo, not sure if that is even possible due to shell.

Don -

All the GMC highway models are built like an airplane - the exterior skin is the chassis.

Imagine trying to put a slide into a soda can as an example.

Slide-outs by DIYs often can be a nightmare to the point of owner abandonment.

Ditto for older stick-n-staple factory slides, too.

As I mentioned in another thread of yours, if you're looking at a Buffalo, the 40-foot model is a far better handling and riding coach than it's 35-foot little brother - unless, of course, you enjoy being severely buffeted by passing trucks and unexpectedly changing lanes in heavy crosswinds.

FWIW & HTH. . .



PS: I'm going to be in San Jose this Friday (17th) thru Mon or Tues if you'd like to see my MCI.  Contact info is in my profile.

[uncle ned]

RJ  the diffidence between the 2.

35 foot and 40 foot GM's is the size of the field you have to turn them in.

would not trade Huggy for two 40 footers.  could not park or turn them where i go.

Hope you are having a great tour of the country.

uncle ned

[dtcerrato]

"would not trade Huggy for two 40 footers.  could not park or turn them where i go."

I hear that Uncle Ned. We just love pulling our 4104 into the National Parks & Forests of campsites that stipulate 30' max, not to mention the little bridges over creeks that say 6T limit & low overhanging trees especially after a heavy rain! Not to forget the narrowness of the sites for the wider pullouts. Less space taken to park, more space to live (outdoors that is). Not real big & spacious comfort but real cozy comfortableness. Ok I'm done (for now...) :-)
You shook me Unc.!

[windtrader]

35 vs 40. One of many tradeoffs. More space, less park options

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[eagle19952]

35 vs 40. One of many tradeoffs. More space, less park options

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I have been a lot of places. 40 feet has never been a problem. Did I tell you I pull a 16-foot trailer?

[uncle ned]

Donald   I bet you have never been the full length of the blue ridge parkway.

Up highway 226a in NC Been in some of the national parks in the east.

Every bus nut to his own.

love my 35 ft bus

uncle ned

[Geoff]

I have been a lot of places. 40 feet has never been a problem. Did I tell you I pull a 16-foot trailer?

Do you mean you pulled a trailer making your rig 40' long?  You know that doesn't count!  That setup bends in the middle.  I have trouble with my 102", 40' RTS and wished it bent in the middle!  I have 25' between my front and rear ties, center to center.  Even though the RTS turning radius is close to the length of the bus, I have to be very careful making sharp turns not to clip something with my right- rear.  I really have to watch my right mirror, and have a backup camera on the right mirror frame to help.

As far as 35' goes, I had someone visit me that had a 96", 35' RTS.  He made a 90 degree last second turn into my driveway perfectly​ that I could never had made with my 40'er.

But that doesn't mean I would give up the extra space of a 102", 40' bus.

[eagle19952]

Donald   I bet you have never been the full length of the blue ridge parkway.

Up highway 226a in NC Been in some of the national parks in the east.

Every bus nut to his own.

love my 35 ft bus

uncle ned

lol..I never said I've been everywhere
never.

[uncle ned]

 

Donald   I met We Willie JR at Blytheville.

He was parked beside of me and I got to hear good music all day.

It was a beautiful purple 06 and he claimed it was Willie's first tour bus.

I just do not like the interstate any more,fly for a while and than set for a while.

When I go to Arcadia I go down 321,301 than through the back country there.

On the way down the traffic in Lakeland was bad so on the way back I went over to 75 and than headed north.

After about 30 or 40 miles I saw brake lights ahead and dead stopped. next exit I left.

My last inter-state.  also my foot gets heavy and my fuel mileage goes to pot.

Huggy thinks she has to be in front and away she goes.

uncle Ned

have a nice day and we might see you at the eagle rally.  I park over in the corner away from every body.

[Cary and Don]

We haven't ever driven the 40' GM, but the 35' was really stable in the wind. We were going up 395 in California one time and it dawned on us we were they only large vehicle on the road. Pulled into a rest stop and couldn't get the door open it was blowing so hard.

It also seems like the GM's 35' turning radius isn't much better than our Eagle though.

If you want a slide. Buy one with a slide. That is major work unless you are a really good welding fabricator.

Don and Cary

[buswarrior]

a Million mile coach?

Dream on, try 3-5 million miles.

How do you capitalize a US$700 000 asset??

Beware the previous owners' businesses. Line haul coaches sit still for precious few hours each week.

Just yesterday, the things you stumble on... was doing a direct drive cut-off, kids spring training baseball trip, back to Toronto,(3000km, 3 day weekend for me, only 860k driving the coach! the things I do for a bus driving fix...)
Anyway, sketchy character staggers over to our coach, asking if we are going to New York City... minutes later, a lower tier coach company rolls onto the lot, picking up more customers than just my new sketchy friend, in a line haul to New York City, picking up at the Pilot way down in SC at I95 and I26 at 23:00 Sat night... with a DL3SS... you never know who is going where or what mileage they are pouring on?

Casino work, steady high volume tour work, employee/company shuttle work, all rack up high annual mileages.

low mileage engine rebuild? The dogbus has coaches that are on their 3rd legitimate engine...

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[Oonrahnjay]

a Million mile coach?

Dream on, try 3-5 million miles. ...   

     It's OK, BW, he'll get a good inspection and everything will be fine.

[windtrader]

PS: I'm going to be in San Jose this Friday (17th) thru Mon or Tues if you'd like to see my MCI.  Contact info is in my profile.

RJ,
Thanks for inviting me to see your bus. Very nice conversion, looks sharp with that new paint, and the nice interior. Hope to see you on the road soon. Don

[windtrader]

Don, I PM'd Fairchilds contact number you 2 work it out if he is interested

Time for an update. Can't believe how quickly time passes. Certainly, haven't been snoozing on the job. Searching daily, high and low, for the right coach. Thanks Cliff as I engaged Don F to take a look at the bus. It is a solid coach so mentally psyching up for an offer this week. All tires are aged out, so that is a hard expense right away as well as a fluid and lube all around. Other than that, it seems a solid coach.

[bigred]

I hope he finds one soon this is starting to drag on like the Ross saga of the past.He is cautious and he should be the best laid plan on a old bus can put you in the poor house in a hurry.
One thing he keeps missing is the parts availability on the bus he is searching for.Luke does his best to try and keep the GM's going but it is getting tough for even him same with Jefferson on the Eagle,MCI and Prevost are your best shot for parts. 
Now even MCI has sold off all their old model bus parts and another party is selling those at a price  ,it is good you can MCI parts through WW Williams now   

....When it comes to conversions Prevost may not be the best deal (curved walls being the main thing)but when it comes to parts ,you can't beat them.Some priced very reasonable ,some absolutely beyond reason,but at least you can get them