Microcar instead of a Toad?

[chessie4905]

My toad doesn't need a trailer btw. The mini bikes are nice for camp ground use. I can also use my toad to pull the coach off the road if necessary in an emergency,albeit low range,4wd.
Your idea is fine, but after generator, tanks , batteries, tools, etc, most of us don't wish to sacrifice a whole bay for a vehicle. I also wonder if a mini moke can be street legal here, at least in Pa. I see that idea as more of a conversation point at get togethers. But if you like it, go for it. I'll definitely come over and check it out if I come across your rig in my travels.

What make and model of coach are you going to consider this for? Don't forget some bays have a 4 to 5 inch drop that all the wiring and plumbing goes through from front to rear of coach.

[tuccitown]

Mine was done in the 70's with a 1971 Honda 600 with a tow cylinder air cooled motor cycle engine.

Jack

[eagle19952]

[Jim Blackwood]

How the heck did you get that Honda in there, turned longways?

I'll admit, it's more pure speculation at this point. I haven't bought the bus yet but I do have the funds to do it if I find the right deal. The target bus is a 102D3 but a DL seems much more likely. Not sure of the actual bay measurements, still some research to do there, so this is probably more of a feasibility study. If someone does have the D3 and DL bay dimensions I'd sure like to know what they are.

I've been intrigued by this possibility ever since seeing a custom rig at Myrtle with some sort of Mercedes stowed underneath. It now seems clear that it is something that is possible. The practicality of it becomes the next thing. I agree a Mini-Moke Shorty brings inherent issues with it. The Mini-Shorty seems better to me. I haven't even begun to look at the Honda Civic 600 yet, I knew a guy back in the '70s on Guam that had one though. I think it'd benefit greatly from being re-powered. Also, it is 140" long.

Jim

[chessie4905]

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/225743000056104062/

[tuccitown]

I didn't do the work, I inherited it from my father that purchased it converted. Both the Scenic Cruiser and the Honda 600 were heavily modified and I am told Jessie James was the one that modified and engineered it getting CSP sign off. The coach had one bulkhead mostly removed (width of car) and replaced with a heavy steal beam. The honda had it's roof removed and a fold down windshield installed and a convertible top made.

The car drives up ramps onto a roller drawer that is supported by a fold down frame. It's actually pretty well designed and when on level surface the car can be put in the bay or pulled out with one hand. The car length uses the complete baggage space on the 4501 from bumper to bumper and about two thirds of the baggage space width wise. So that mean all the house stuff, 120 gallons of fresh water, 80 gallons of grey, 40 gallon black, two 10 gallon propane tanks, 6.5 kw generator, two basement AC unites, 10 gallon gas tank for the generator, and room for on 8D house battery all is snug real tight into the other one third of bay space.

I'm in the process of upgrading the house battery and Inverter/ charger setup and have come real close to moving into space used by the car to increase my amp hour capacity. Still may end up tossing the dingy concept for a standard toad.

Jack

[windtrader]

Request and offer - anyone willing to get into one of those chopped death trap sardine cans please put mount a video. I'll pay plenty to your heirs for the video showing it flipping, skidding, and flying through air as it ends up a pile of metal not even needing a crusher. Seriously, it might be stable to about 30, for trips around the neighborhood but you'll be dead at interstate speeds. I'd take my chances with the mini bikes.


@Jim - if you plan to use the bus for any extended living, you'll want those bays for storage. Once all the equipment and tanks are mounted in the bays, what is left is really needed for your stuff.


Something like this would work very well. Good range and cruising at 30mph.

[tuccitown]

@Jim Don?t forget your helmet, those could be dangerous!

@Don not quite sure I?m following your post, but sure let?s start a trust in your name for my heirs! I?ve put thousand of miles on both the coach and Honda without issues. The only issues the coach has is rubber. If anyone has a source for 4501 rubber I.E window moldings please give me a shout.

Besides the the coach being a conversation piece anywhere it goes it?s nice to have a full cars space easily opened up for other purposes like bikes, mopeds, camping furniture when I chose not to take the car.

If I was the one converting the coach I would not incorporate a dingy car but hey it?s pretty cool that someone spent the cash to do it right.

Thanks,

Jack

[Jim Blackwood]

Seems a little overly dramatic Don. You think it'd be more dangerous than a motorcycle? I really don't see how. Anyway, opinions can differ and until there is real proof that's all they are, just opinions and you are certainly entitled to yours.

Dinghy huh? That sounds like a proper term and very appropriate. Good one.

So... anybody have those D series bay dimensions? I can't seem to find them online.

Unless I'm mistaken this would use up most of one full bay on the D series, not an enormous handicap for a bus meant to carry 2 people.

Jim

[windtrader]

Jack - my snarky comment was responding to Jim, conveying my opinion that a mini shortened to 7 feet is simply not safe for use on primary roads. It won't meet many automobile safety and engineering standards. A 60+ year old vehicle design meant for running errands on city streets of Europe is far from what is safe running at freeway speeds in America. IMHO driving that thing is a death trap so get your finances in order when you get run over or pushed off the road from a semi. Was not referencing your stock Honda 600 which was designed and approved to run safely on American roads.


Jim -  I had two minis back in the day, great fun and nimble but tin cans, thus the very low weight. I'd run the chopped one around town, same with the Honda 70 but that's it. Neither are highway safe. But as you say each of is entitled to our own opinions, decisions, and destinies. Still friends? [size=78%] [/size]

[windtrader]

Just saw this on FB. Ready to roll Jim!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1682004755384802/

$49,500
Excelsior Springs, MO

1981 Eagle Bus - Re-manufactured and Converted to Class A motorhome in 1996 - was lengthened from 40 ft. to 45 ft. - widened from 96 in. to 102 in. and roof raised 9 in. - I purchased it in 1998 and had a complete crate re-built 8V92 Detroit Diesel installed in 2000 - I've put appx 65,000 mi. on it since then -
5 spd Allison automatic transmission
2 spd Jake Brakes
cross-flow radiator
air throttle
220 gal fuel capacity
Alcoa wheels
brand new tires on front
very good tires on rear
tilt wheel
power steering
160 gal. fresh water
Beautiful cabinets
day/night blinds
dishwasher
washer/dryer
side by side full size fridge with ice-maker
27 in. T.V. above driver's seat
large walk/thru bathroom w/whirlpool tub
Wabesto electric heating
2 roof top heat pumps
Ramco heated mirrors
four point leveling
water cooled 4 cyl Kubota powered generator
Trace invertor
2 new 12 V 8D starting batteries
10 new 6 V deep cycle house batteries
Could use - paint job, as shown
fabric for the 25 ft. awning
driver's side windshield has 3 in. crack at top
1972 Honda Z600 Baggage Bay Honda as shown available for $6000
in addition to the price of $49,500 for the bus - it can also be seen on 
youtube under ray cave honda 600 - I have shortened
it so it fits in the bay - I sell Honda 600 parts on eBay under Eagle-Hd, and they are very reliable cars - cruises easily at 55 - 60 mph.
I have owned this bus since 2000 and I'm starting to slow down - the bus
should go anywhere and back with ease - we have made many trips to 
Sturgis, and yearly trips to Texas, and many other places -

[Jim Blackwood]

I've seen that one, looks like it could be a really great conversion provided the structural work was done right. (But who in their right mind slices and dices a BUS?!!)   

OK, well having said that, it's just a matter of degree isn't it. Mea Culpa. Here's a thought: Mazda 3. Cheap car, 4 doors. Just remove the back seat? Worth measuring my son's car, could have been staring me in the face. Anybody driven a Smart Car on the freeway yet? Feedback would be worthwhile. I'll have to ask my sister about that.

Anyway that bus is still out of my price range. Price on the Honda seems very reasonable though.

Jim                                                       

[windtrader]

For 6k minus some hard negotiating, this thing hardly has much of a market, it's like a DIY conversion vs an already converted. You'd have more than 6 grand all in doing a proper chop. As to SmartCar, they sure look like a death trap but it meets current US Federal safety standards which is no easy matter. Having not done any research on their structural design, one can only assume it has something like a full roll cage to absorb the minimum impact and drivability. Personal comments I've heard are all pleasantly surprised by how roomy it feels, naturally the forward cabin. Seems like an adequate crunch zone can be placed behind the seats.

[Jim Blackwood]

Be pretty hard to shorten that to 96", got 10" too much. Even if you went clear out to the skin you'd still need another 2" on each side. Well, maybe a couple bulges could do it.

But then there's still the roof. And it's 65-1/2" wide too. That's not going to fit in a standard bay is it?

So all in all a smart car really isn't that small.

Jim

[Iceni John]

For 6k minus some hard negotiating, this thing hardly has much of a market, it's like a DIY conversion vs an already converted. You'd have more than 6 grand all in doing a proper chop. As to SmartCar, they sure look like a death trap but it meets current US Federal safety standards which is no easy matter. Having not done any research on their structural design, one can only assume it has something like a full roll cage to absorb the minimum impact and drivability. Personal comments I've heard are all pleasantly surprised by how roomy it feels, naturally the forward cabin. Seems like an adequate crunch zone can be placed behind the seats.

Smart Car uses a so-called Tridion safety cage all around its occupants;  there's minimal crumple zones, so I get the impression that Smart uses the other car's crumple zone to protect its own occupants.    When Top Gear crashed a Smart into another car at 70 MPH, the Smart's doors still could be opened after the dust had settled.   I think they're safer (less unsafe?) than they look.

John