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Military - ready to retire. Wife and I have been considering full time RVing - just discovered possibility of bus conversion (we're 46 y/o). I have a house where I have room to convert a bus, and the time to do it very soon. Just ordered book How to Select and Convert Your Bus Into a Motorhome on a Shoestring which I hope to be the start of an education. I don't know about transit vs intercity etc, nor models, engines, trannys etc. Started net search just yesterday. Am on fairly tight budget (3,00 per mo retirement pay, 60k yr right now - still supporting one child), reliable drivetrain first concern. I'm a fair home gas light vehicle mechanic will have to learn deisel. I like "more power" if reliable and I can afford it. Besides book on order where to start research? How about transit vs intercity vs models etc? Much to learn - appologies for multi questions.
Well i'll offer my opinion.......Motor I would suggest a detoit.....there is a reason it is the best selling deisel world wide......Trans Auto is nice, but it leaves you with lno engine breaking while going downhill.....unless you have a jake brake. Also autos are power robbers and will lessen your fuel mileage. I would stay away from transits.....no or little underfloor storage....busses just like cars....would you rather have one with 250,000 city or highway miles.....as for coaches......I'd stay awy fro Eagles.....they had some fish stuff going on and are rust prone. MCI's are great parts all over gods creation.....GM's are probably the sturdiest think around.....a bit more complex as far as interiors go due to curved rooflines.....but not to bad....Everything on the Engine can be accessed easily.where as most everything elce has T drive and it's hard to get to things. Then you have Flexibles......strong owner group, rust prone but there are alot of real clean conversions out there, we have one that is about 90% restored, still seated for sale for 10k I was going to convert it prior to buying my folks GM 4104 after they upgraded. Rides nice, unique looks and cleaner than most 10 yr old buses. Also you want to cosider 35 ft v 40 ft......living space is nice....but if you can't get in some places due to legth or ability to manuver it sucks......and if you plan on towing a car......that even adds more on to the back....and take the ability to back up...... feel free to email me direct with any questions......even if I can't talk you into the Flexible we have
WWW.Backflip.com is a website that lets you keep your favorite URLs bookmarked on their server, free. Wherever you are, you have access to your favorite web pages. And you can share them with others. Like this:
3) Select and convert your bus into a motorhome on a shoestring, by Ben Rosander. The least expensive and most informative book here.
http://www.rv-busconversions.com/
DON'T waste your money on "Classy Cabinets for Converted Coaches", by Dave Galey. Any book on joinery or cabinetmaking will serve your needs better.
Short & to the point Buses come in 2 sizes, 35 & 40 foot. 35 footers are usually older, and most have been converted by now. The few that still have seats are usually church buses.
Best choices, in my far from humble opinion GMC 4106 or MCI MC5, or the special case that will be described below.
40 footers Bigger, more expensive, slower, worse fuel economy.
My choice The Crown Supercoach school bus. Built like a tank - see the Crown Construction images in the Crown folder in my Backflip. DD 6-71 Diesel. Many transmission options; I would find a Fuller 10 or 12 speed Roadranger if I didn't like the trans that came in a Crown. Crown running gear is all standard big-rig stuff, so parts are widely available.
Inexpensive - ranging from <$2000 for something you wouldn't want to drive farther than across town to $13,500 for one fresh out of fleet service, and capable of passing the California CHP school bus inspection.
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