Reason #204 why I prefer a Bus Conversion

[luvrbus]

If I had the choice of what I'd be in to lay it on it's side at 70 mph it would surely be a commercial bus over a S&S any day or night.

Buses do good in a roll over they were designed for the passengers safety, head on there not much safety in one the poor driver is the 1st to go.On my CC with the double frame from front to rear with the framing for the generator and the generator up front and the cage for the driver and copilot front end I never worried about a head on anymore, the framing for the 4 slides you could roll it and nothing was going to happen     

[dtcerrato]

Buses do good in a roll over they were designed for the passengers safety, head on there not much safety in one the poor driver is the 1st to go.On my CC with the double frame from front to rear with the framing for the generator and the generator up front and the cage for the driver and copilot front end I never worried about a head on anymore, the framing for the 4 slides you could roll it and nothing was going to happen   

I understand the bus driver is the first on the scene and a chassis frame lends to the driver protection.
What appalls or concerns me (not directly because it doesn't effect me) is how shabby (not the best choice of word) buses have got through the years compared to the old vintage/antique monocoupe design. The driver's corner of our 4104 - that would be the sidewall and front half is laminated layers of aluminum skinning - at least on the very early models which in my mind puts the driver behind more protection then you'd find in newer buses - especially the ones with real low windshields.
While we're on that subject - a question? Are the new modern super buses like the large blue Greyhounds running still aluminum or stainless, monocoupe or frame chassis or have they changes to fiberglass or composites? Just wondering.

[luvrbus]

Buses have changed Prevost has been using fiberglass composites for years and the frame work on newer buses now is beefed up heavy from buses of the past lot have frames now, it is not really a true monoscope construction on buses it is called Integral Structure now,  that changed with the 45 ft buses because of flexing most are using a truss construction above the bays now like the old Eagle buses.Eagle never used a monoscope type   

[windtrader]

If I had the choice of what I'd be in to lay it on it's side at 70 mph it would surely be a commercial bus over a S&S any day or night.

No disagreement Dan. My point is the odds favor major mechanical problems in a 60 year old bus vs a 3 year old new RV. Chance of a brake line failure, steering, tire, or any other issue is far greater than the typically (un)kept/maintained bus we drive; not all, just far more old ones with deferred maintenance.

[luvrbus]

No disagreement Dan. My point is the odds favor major mechanical problems in a 60 year old bus vs a 3 year old new RV. Chance of a brake line failure, steering, tire, or any other issue is far greater than the typically (un)kept/maintained bus we drive; not all, just far more old ones with deferred maintenance.

A lot of truth Don most S&S jobs are not a high mileage bus converted to a RV,the Cummins and Cat engines in the pushers are good for 700,000+ miles the running gear doesn't give any problem, most fall to pieces before needing engine work but people don't keep one that long anyways the ones that do deal with the minior troubles and rattles 

[windtrader]

Agree Clifford,
90% of the S&S body fall apart way before they get driven to wear out mechanical stuff. I love looking at a shiny new SS and say to my wife, in ten years ours will look the same, that thing will be all faded and all the plastic falling apart. LOL

[luvrbus]

Agree Clifford,
90% of the S&S body fall apart way before they get driven to wear out mechanical stuff. I love looking at a shiny new SS and say to my wife, in ten years ours will look the same, that thing will be all faded and all the plastic falling apart. LOL

LOL it may look the same but your wallet won't keeping it up,helping a friend that needs  brakes on his MCI and the front axle rebuilt,6 American made Webb brake drums over $7000.00 the way he wants to do it is going to cost him close to $12,000.00 for parts only,prices are crazy in todays world, he is ok with it though cost him $43,000.00 for a rebuild on his seriess 60 at WW Williams last year   

[windtrader]

The high cost of maintaining the bus conversion is not new newsm, you know better than most. What I think has changed is parts are harder to get, cost more, and harder to get repaired due to fewer skilled mechanics. This whole thing is not for the faint of heart. For that matter one wonders if being addicted to crack is cheaper than owning a bus.

[dtcerrato]

Crack is an hallucinogenic.
Bus is the real thing.