Bus vs Rv

[mfarrell805]

Hi all, thanks for letting me join this forum. I am totally new to either bus conversion or RV ownership, and thought this site would help me begin my journey of education. Any and all advice is much appreciated. My very first question is: are bus conversions superior to an already finished RV? I am leaning towards the bus because I will be towing a vehicle, and I need the storage capacity for a garage full of home building tools. My thoughts are the bus is more durable and has larger cargo capacity. We are selling our house here in sunny Socal and looking for adventure while we are still young enough to enjoy it! Thanks in advance; budget is $200,000.00

Martin

[Mike in GA]

I know no one who opted for a bus over an RV and regretted it.
     The bus will be more durable (all things being equal), have more carrying capacity, and be much safer. That being said, you can find a lemon in the used bus market as easily as you can in the used RV market.
      Number one rule -  have it inspected by a qualified bus mechanic.
      Good luck!
Mike in GA

[Jim Blackwood]

With that budget you can buy an excellent and up to date bus conversion with everything already done. There are also some very nice pusher diesel RV rigs in that price range of very high quality. Maybe the best question might be how long you intend to own it?

Jim

[luvrbus]

After owning buses for 30+ years Eagle,MCI's and Prevost I opted for a higher end RV ,but with a lot research I knew what I was looking for and found it in Texas a 2008 with 35,000 total miles,3 open bays and all the bells and whistles,20,000 lbs towing and 600 hp (now 650) Cummins engine and I love it.The 200k is about what I paid and I have no regrets on my part so far.LOL don't buy any RV thinking of it as a investment that they are not 
   

[TomC]

If you are carrying lots of tools, consider a truck conversion. Much easier to work on-and any truck place will work on them. Your carrying capacity will be higher. Course, ride quality won't be as good, but I think that's minor. Good Luck, TomC

[DoubleEagle]

It's no contest whatsoever, A solid bus conversion, truck conversion, or high-end RV (which mimics a bus) far exceeds a traditional stick and staple RV. There is no need to spend $200,000, there are many good conversions for sale that cost half that, or less. Save your money for upgrades and maintenance costs. The newer the conversion you get, the more depreciation you will suffer. The best value to is to buy a conversion that is basically ready to go directly from the experienced owner that put a lot of time and money into it. If you want to waste money, buy something from a dealer that does not know the details and history of the conversion. Above all, check out many brands and models, and go for the one that suits you layout wise, and is aesthetically appealing to you. Since you have little experience, you had best seek the aid of people who are familiar with the conversion you want to check out. There are hundreds of details to inspect in any candidate, and there are some sellers out there that will cheat you, if you let them. Run your choices through this forum, and you will get many good opinions. 

[Dave5Cs]

Sell ya mine for $199,999.99 LOL

[chessie4905]

Any work on a coach will cost ten times what a regular rv costs. Many places don't work on bus conversions. Both will depreciate tremendously. A bus conversion has more going fot it with years and time compared to an rv. You need to drive both before making a decision. You need to be able to do a good bit of work yourself to enjoy having a conversion.
Cliff now has a nice rv, but the electronics will, at times, make him batty. He had worked hard over the years, so time to enjoy life with Sonja without all the drama, associated with a conversion.

[Bus Lurker]

Based on your "805" handle I assume you are in the Ventura or Santa Barbara area.  I was thinking about buying a bus conversion when I lived in Ventura.  I drove a truck for 35 years so I went around to all the local shops I knew of including authorized Detroit Diesel (DD) shops; there are a few shops which were servicing DDs in the oilfield and marine industries, but the mechanics who knew anything about two stroke DDs were dead or retired and the State of California made the users retire the two stoke DDs.  None of the local shops in the area including DD shops, dealer shops and independent shops would touch a bus with a two stroke engine.  Therefore I would stay away from any bus conversion with a two stroke engine. 

For the time being two stroke engines in converted buses which are titled as RVs are exempted from the emissions rules that trucks, the oilfield engines and marine engines were under.  Who knows when that could change with the stroke of pen.   

There is another regular poster named TomC on this forum; he is in the 805 area; he is very experienced and he may have some more guidance for you regarding what you are up against in the 805 area.

Good Luck!

Mike in Kern

[richard5933]

For us the big issue which pushed us to a bus instead of an RV is safety. I figured that RVs are designed to be comfortable while parked and adequate on the road. A bus is designed to be on the road all the time. My calculation was that a bus would have better road manners and be better able to withstand a crash.

A couple of years ago that was put to the test when we were hit head on by a Honda when the driver fell asleep. We both walked away and the bus was largely intact. Insurance adjuster said most RVs would not have stood up nearly as well.

[dtcerrato]

Ditto what Richard said. We RV'd in a class C for 6 years prior to our accident. When we saw how the S&S came apart - the only thing that kept us RVing was the transition to a bus conversion. We sometimes refer to it as a civilian tank...

[luvrbus]

Buses were designed for passenger safety I have seen my share of bus wrecks the driver does not fair well with a direct hit on the front end ,this guys budget of 200 grand will put him in nice late model Prevost if he shops with cash in he can get into a 2005 Prevost lol and Chesssie it will be loaded with electronics too>To be honest I looked at 6 Prevost Conversion 2003 to 2005 models buy never could find one with a open floor plan and most had a bath and half what waste that is I am happy with my purchase 7000 miles on a oil change and added not one drop of 40W lol   

[Dave5Cs]

I don't care for the Prevost's. When I was touring those there is a Bald, fat, older man that followed me all through the coach. I couldn't get rid of him...

[Fred Mc]

"7000 miles on a oil change and added not one drop of 40W lol"
Ya but I'll bet your motor gets rusty.

[luvrbus]

The great part about buses was you could do it your way,that doesn't happen much anylonger people just buy what is available already converted on the open market simple economics in todays world.People buy the 2 mil+ conversions now for one reason mostly and that is for taxes,a boat or high end conversion is about the only thing the wealthy can buy that will lose a $1000.00 a day in value .I purchased mine from a doctor in the Woodlands Texas it was 12 years old 35,000 miles always in a climate control garage there was no more left to write off in taxes so it was time for it to go.He started over again with a new 3 mil Foretravel Presvost conversion some one will get a buy on later