What are Must Haves in a Bus Conversion?

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

A reliable generator is by far the most important thing on the bus. Solar is nice, but it doesn't do sh*t when waiting out a snow storm at the bottom of a mountain pass on the way South in December or January, or North in March.

Snow Storm?  What is that?   

[chessie4905]

An on board air compressor.

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

An on board air compressor.

For all buses, or only those with Air Bag suspensions?

[Nova Eona]

Ooh, know what?  Second entry of mine here, but a good TPMS.  Was driving home on Christmas day when the TPMS in my Jeep went off to kindly let me know I was losing about 1 psi/second on the highway.  Made all the difference between pulling over and swapping the save-able tire out while it still had air in it vs. potentially blowing it apart at highway speeds.

Really makes me appreciate that I've got a TPMS in the bus as well.  "Low pressure" is not enough, you want one that'll tell you how quick you're losing pressure.

[dtcerrato]

For all buses, or only those with Air Bag suspensions?

Over & above air suspension are air brakes. I know this is a safety concern but I'm gonna share it anyway. In 2016 on our 1st trip to AK from FL we made it as far as Atlanta GA where the engine air compressor drive failed. Luckily we have an electric aux. air compressor and at 6.4 Cu. Ft. / min. we made it to Indianapolis IN where Scott Crosby put us in his bus barn for a week incl. replacing a cylinder head besides the compressor drive repair. So yes for all buses. Oh and I'd like to mention that the compressor drive we put in was from a 1948 Silversides compressor - we love old and old men RULE! 

[dtcerrato]

Ooh, know what?  Second entry of mine here, but a good TPMS.  Was driving home on Christmas day when the TPMS in my Jeep went off to kindly let me know I was losing about 1 psi/second on the highway.  Made all the difference between pulling over and swapping the save-able tire out while it still had air in it vs. potentially blowing it apart at highway speeds.

Really makes me appreciate that I've got a TPMS in the bus as well.  "Low pressure" is not enough, you want one that'll tell you how quick you're losing pressure.

We're installing a TPMS on the bus right now and would like to get one for the toad also. In an earlier year while towing our GMC PU a front bearing pack failed and I pulled it at night for hours (maybe) before I knew it. We had $2700 in front end damage. A TPMS would have warned me earlier as when I discovered it the tire was almost literally gone from the wheel & bearing locking up. Geeze! 

[luvrbus]

A good TMS will warn when a tire is getting heat build up,I think only the TMS inside the tire and wheel will tell you how fast a tire is leaking though,mine are inside the tire and wheel and tells all even the rpm of the tire