Help. Want to do a bus conversion but maybe a DP MH is smarter.

[kyle4501]

An older, high end, professionally built coach will usually be better designed/ engineered.

My '87 has no slides and large water tanks. Makes it easy to overnight in parking lots.

[belfert]

If you are using this coach for business purposes you may be subject to commercial requirements including DOT number, CDL for drivers, and all that.  You might want to check with your business lawyer.

[MaybeABus]

Actually my wife already has her CDL and I am likely getting mine regardless for larger truck rentals. We are already anticipating that. Should make it easier to say NO to anyone wanting to use it too. :-)

[DoubleEagle]

It really sounds like you have already answered your own questions and are leaning toward an existing conversion. Get something basically solid that is close to what you want, and then modify it to suit you exactly. I would drop the DP term though, that is just something RV salesmen created to describe a rear engine RV that is "bus like", but not (Newell's might be an exception).

[eagle19952]

Your trailer towing want negates an rv DP'r.
Without question.
an RV salesman might disagree for obvious reasons

[wildbob24]

I agree with eagle and would include most bus conversions, as well. As much as I like buses, they generally do not do well pulling heavy trailers.

If it was me, needing to pull that much trailer, I'd be looking at semi-tractor based toterhomes. They can be very nice conversions and have plenty of towing capacity, up to 40K.

Also, I think you'll find, with a corporate owned coach, you'll need a lot more than a CDL to be legal.

Bob

[Jon]

Commercial use requires far more than a CDL so if you intend for that either go all the way and treat the entire rig as a commercial vehicle and comply with all the requirements, or go stealth and make certain the trailer and bus look like every other motor home on the road. No decals, no company name, no external clues about a business use.

Go here...........    https://prevostcommunity.com/sellCoaches.asp

[sledhead]

on my old 2000 featherlite the towing max is 20,000 lbs and the 550 hp cat has no problems pulling it . myself my trailer with my p/u truck on it is only 6,000 lbs and pulls it easy . that said the high end units have a large towing rating . I wanted a coach with no egr or any other pollution devices and new I would have to GUT it out and redo the inside the way I wanted it , but most of the stuff needed was all ready in there . the down side of the early 2000 rv's is they had a lot of mirrors , mirrors and mirrors and gold every where . most of them are hi-gloss formica not the wood that I like . I have been having a lot of fun redoing it my way    

dave

[Oonrahnjay]

...  the down side of the early 2000 rv's is they had a lot of mirrors , mirrors and mirrors and gold every were . most of them are hi-gloss formica not the wood that I like . I have been having a lot of fun redoing it my way   
dave

      "Built down to a minimum dollar figure".  Yep, that' the way it works with "mass production".

[TomC]

If I had $200K to play with, I'd look for a Blue Bird, Newell or professionally converted MCI (don't like Prevost and all the snootiness associated with them). Keep no longer than 40ft-if you go over 40ft, many states restrict you to truck routes only and you most likely will have to get a non commercial class B license to drive it. At least in California, your class C license (normal car license) allows you to drive up to a 40ft 3axle house car AND tow up to a 10,000lb trailer.
Converting you own will make it your own-but it is a very large undertaking. Many good used on the market. Good Luck, TomC

[lostagain]

Yesterday, I wrote a reply here, then lost my internet connection, and it disappeared...

Most of what I had is mentioned here by everyone else.

But let me emphasize that a bus conversion will not pull a heavy trailer. It is the tongue weight that is too much. The rear framing of a bus is designed to support the engine and not much else. Although late model MCIs and Prevosts can take more than the older ones. Here in Canada, Greyhound pulls cargo trailers with MCIs, but they are not 15000 lbs. I would look at high end motor home pushers with a rail frame like Freightliner chassis. Or as mentioned above, a class 8 truck conversion.

JC

[muldoonman]

If I had $200K to play with, I'd look for a Blue Bird, Newell or professionally converted MCI (don't like Prevost and all the snootiness associated with them).  Good Luck, TomC

Snootiness? We can't help it if you feel inferior. 

[PP]

Snootiness? We can't help it if you feel inferior. 

I like that 

[windtrader]

Commercial use requires far more than a CDL so if you intend for that either go all the way and treat the entire rig as a commercial vehicle and comply with all the requirements, or go stealth and make certain the trailer and bus look like every other motor home on the road. No decals, no company name, no external clues about a business use.

Go here...........    https://prevostcommunity.com/sellCoaches.asp

I'm known to take more than my share of risks but if you are using it for commercial use and you have assets at risk, I'd make very sure your insurance policy covers your actual use, not stated use, of the coach. I can't even image what a mess it would be if the bus got in a wreck pulling a 15k lb trailer between trade shows and claiming it is a personal RV. You're apt to lose everything you have.

[eagle19952]

on my old 2000 featherlite the towing max is 20,000 lbs and the 550 hp cat has no problems pulling it . myself my trailer with my p/u truck on it is only 6,000 lbs and pulls it easy . that said the high end units have a large towing rating . I wanted a coach with no egr or any other pollution devices and new I would have to GUT it out and redo the inside the way I wanted it , but most of the stuff needed was all ready in there . the down side of the early 2000 rv's is they had a lot of mirrors , mirrors and mirrors and gold every where . most of them are hi-gloss formica not the wood that I like . I have been having a lot of fun redoing it my way    

dave

there is always a yes but.

The rig of which you speak is not one easily found, tho I agree it is the exception and is likely exceptional.