I Want a Bus

Tue Feb 27, 2007 11:15 am

Me and the Mrs have been talking about leaving this part of the country and generally we have decided this is not going to happen. I like it around here but get tired of the bitter cold winters. So we are thinking about going the snowbird route. First off we thought about buying an RV and heading out once the crops are in. Most of the RVs I have seen are not that impressive for long term travel and living. The ones that are most impressive are very expensive. I am thinking about making this a long-term project and buying a retired over the road bus and converting it to a motorhome. I'm not talking about a school bus but a real live Greyhound type bus. Since learning to use this infernal computer I have discovered some sights that give lots of good information on converting an old bus and I think this is something I could do as a winter project over the next couple years.

Has anybody here done this or know somebody that has converted a bus?

Mort
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NumbSkull
 
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Tue Feb 27, 2007 2:09 pm

Mort

I know some people who have done it. Here in Oz we call thm Grey Nomads.

One guy who posts to the aussiehomebrewer.com forum has even set up a full AG brewery on board with a temp controlled fermentation area in the lugage area that runs off the aircon. He is spending the next couple of years driving round the country, visiting fellow brewers and gererally taking life easy. Bastard.

If you have the tools and the skills you can get them looking very nice (and comfortable to live in long term too).

Cheers
Dave
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Airgead
 
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Tue Feb 27, 2007 6:25 pm

Well, I've never converted one, but I do have a great interest in busses. My advice to you would be approach with great caution.

I have worked in and around the charter industry for about 7 years in several capacities. One thing I've learned is that maintenence on otr coaches is EXPENSIVE. There is NOTHING cheap on those things.

If you are determined to do this you need to do a few things:

1.) Find a good mechanic with experience working on coaches. They can be your best friend.

2.) Be VERY CAREFUL of what you buy. What looks like a good deal will likely turn out to cost you a great deal of money in the long run. If a company ran that coach and didn't keep up the regular maintence (very common) you will likely have a great headache.

3.) PM me if you find something. I have a very good friend who is a bus historian and can often track the ownership history of used coaches. This is very useful in determining if you want to proceed with that deal.

Good luck in your venture.
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trevmoon
 
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Tue Feb 27, 2007 7:19 pm

Airgead wrote:I know some people who have done it. Here in Oz we call thm Grey Nomads.


An generally the treks they are on are called SKI trips, where SKI stands for Spending the Kid's Inheretence. So Mort, maybe you should be looking at a nice flash impressive RV (the expensive ones), and planning to have a great time...
PLAN, v.t. To bother about the best method of accomplishing an accidental result. - The Devil's Dictionary
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skipper
 
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Tue Feb 27, 2007 7:57 pm

Mort, if you are a farmer then you should have a serious (diesel) truck. I would vote that you go with the fifth wheel. I love mine. You go to the park, drop off the house and you still got your truck. I can even brew in my rig! Well, partial mashes. I can't fit my brew sculpture. :(
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Gucci Pilot
 
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Tue Feb 27, 2007 8:10 pm

Trevmoon thanks for the offer. I have found online resources for tracking ownership too and I have learned a lot about searching for coaches. If I do this I plan to find a bus that has been used in drier, arid climates. I'm told busses that do Vegas turnarounds are good ones as long as the maintenance has been done. I amd looking to do about a 8 inch roof raising, reskin and up to date windows. Because of this I will eliminate any corrosion found along the way. Mechanically I have been working on trucks and tractors all my life. I am fairly certain I will be able to sort most things out but your suggestion of finding a mechanic with coach experience is a good one. I realize this will not be a cheap proposition. Owning and maintaining any kind of motor coach is not cheap it all matters in what you want to do with it. I want to be able to pull a vehicle and run hiway speeds no matter where I go. And wherever I stop I want to be able to live comfortably with or without hookups. If that means boondocking for a week or a month then I need the capacity to do that. I plan to supplement power needs with solar. See? I told you I have been thinking about this awhile.

Mort
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NumbSkull
 
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Tue Feb 27, 2007 9:44 pm

Gucci Pilot wrote: You go to the park, drop off the house and you still got your truck. I can even brew in my rig! Well, partial mashes. I can't fit my brew sculpture. :(


Most of the busses I have seen round here tow a trailer with a small 4WD behind them. Sometimes a boat as well.

Cheers
Dave
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Internet Hosting, Design & Consultancy Services
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Airgead
 
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Wed Feb 28, 2007 7:47 am

Gucci Pilot wrote:Mort, if you are a farmer then you should have a serious (diesel) truck. I would vote that you go with the fifth wheel. I love mine. You go to the park, drop off the house and you still got your truck. I can even brew in my rig! Well, partial mashes. I can't fit my brew sculpture. :(
That's a thought Gucci. I had not really considered a fifth wheel. I know they make some big ones that have to be pulled behind a diesel truck. I even considered building a house truck. Basically taking a truck chassis and building a huge camper on the chassis. I do not know for sure what I do want. I kind of had my mind set on a bus but trevmoon got me thinking maybe that is not the best option. Darn.

Mort
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NumbSkull
 
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