| Author | Message | ||
| David Clark (24.197.82.121)
Rating: N/A |
Hello. I am a touring musician, presently travelling in a 1971 Ford F-100 pickup with a camper shell. I run a stock 6 cylinder engine with points & condenser. No AC. Manual Trans. I've been on this present tour since about March 9. I've covered 11 states and a wad of miles, and spent most nights in the back of the truck. I'm usually in a different town every day at least 4 days a week when touring. Usually, it's play the show, drive to next town, sleep, play the show, etc... Before I embarked on this tour, I spent a good bit of time looking into getting an RV. Luckily, that didn't work out for various reasons. Over the course of this trip, I've been considering a bus. I've gone and looked at 3 in the flesh while in Ohio (a 4104 and 4905 and some kind of transit bus), and have done a lot of reading. I have sure thought about a bus every time I have 3 hours to kill between sound check and showtime, which is every show. A nap & shower would always work. I have read through all the current year's messages as well as every month for every year of the archives. I have the following comments and questions. Feel free to respond as you will. 1. I appreciate what all of you do in being a part of this board. I've been using the Net since 1987, and have read and/or participated in many boards. I do believe this is the best I've ever seen in terms of info and pure enjoyment, not to mention good manners. 1(a). A note about the web design. I say lose the revolving/changing bus pictures on the home page and the big bus photos on the 'entry' page. They're nifty and all that, but try accessing your site using a cell phone as a modem dialing in at 14.4k and you'll see what I mean. Your info is priceless. I hate that it's hard to get to. Why click on a bus that takes 15 minutes to load? Just get us in there. Luckily I had a 2 day break at a place with DSL so I could access it, but mostly I've been TRYING to read it using the cell @ 14.4k. If your audience is travelling, they are likely doing the same or similar. Either cut the frills that web designers love and no one else cares about, or offer a way into the board without having to navigate that stuff. I've got a direct link now but until I got on the DSL I had to give it up. The perennial question for web designers: Why make it hard or annoying for users to access your site? 2. I have also read every word on Fast Fred's site, as well as every word he's posted on this site. I already noticed in the archives that someone posted appreciation for Fred's wit and wisdom -- and I appreciated that this person said he did it (if I remember right) because of having been to his Dad's funeral and wondering why no one said the good stuff while the man was alive. Anyway, I just wanted to say that Fast Fred is a gem. I like your style, sir, and the way you put things. And I noticed in the archives that somebody got sore about the compliments to Fred and others. Sounds like jealousy to me, from this distance of time and miles. Seems that it was stated "let's get back to buses." That particular topic WAS about buses -- it was about some people who were changing lives and minds of those who are interested in buses. Never kick at people trying to speak well of a man. You don't have to like it, whether jealous or whatever. But my Dad said: "Discretion is the better part of valor, son." I asked what he meant and he said that sometimes that meant keeping your mouth shut, which I will now do about this particular issue. 3. To each their own, of course, but after spending many nights in the back of a pickup with no heat except a down filled sleeping bag and wool blanket, and the bathroom accomodations of 3 quart size pee jars, and lighting provided by a 4-AA battery driven moonlight, I have to laugh at some of the stuff I see people doing in these bus conversions. Most of all, I have to laugh when I see what people worry about and complain about. Fast Fred constantly asks "what do you want to do" and that is a prime question. All this business of trying to turn a bus into a subdivision home is a little off-square in my mind, but bear in mind -- I'm poor, and I've been sleeping in the back of a truck. I have the feeling some of the folks fixing these things up wouldn't be caught dead in a house-trailer, but they're driving one, and trying their dangedest to make it look like something else. I want to ask sometimes, "why don't you just stay home if you have to have solid oak cabinets?" But, the point has been made more than once than a person has earned it and etc... I accept that point. 4. Having said #3, I'd like to state my interests in having a bus, and get the thoughts of the group as it will expound. - to have a place to cook and most of all, to wash dishes. (I presently cook on a Coleman stove and grandma's black iron skillet and get along really well). - to have a place to shower. (I presently shower at truckstops, sometimes when I'm lucky the theatre I'm playing in will have a shower, and sometimes when I'm lucky my theatre contact will let me use their shower, and sometimes I check into an RV park and use their stuff). - to have a desk to work at so I won't have to use the corner table at the diner in whatever town I'm in when I need to make calls and do paperwork. - to have a way to travel sensibly with my wife when she retires from the Navy in Aug., 05. I love her and she loves me but I can tell that neither of us would really like the back of the truck for more than a few nights. - to have a way for one or two or three persons to travel along for very short periods, sleeping in bunks or however. - I don't carry a lot of equipment. My stage rig consists of me and a guitar. But I do have to carry merchandise, two sets of clothes, 3 guitars (1 main and 2 spares), tools for the road, etc... so the bays are very attractive. - I am not the kind of person who likes to entertain guests in my private space,whether home or the back of my truck. I could care less what anyone thinks about the 'look' of my cabinets. - Be able to stop and live any dang place I please (usually behind a theatre), dump and fill at Flying J. What I want is something that works, works, works. Form follows function. If I want something that looks good, I go sit outside and admire nature. One must understand that my current residence is a 100 year old Southeast Georgia farmhouse. I don't have air conditioning and I get along fine. I don't have a TV because I think it's the biggest waste of time invented. I DO like a hot shower, and I really long for a hot bath after driving all night after a show, which I frequently do. I could care less for fancy panelling, air conditioners (I think), tv's, entertainment centers, bars, beer coolers, hot tubs, mirrored ceilings, dogtrots, etc... What I want to end up with is a good working bus that will serve my needs -- and if it will serve my needs then I will run the thing til they put me in the ground. So far, the conversions I've seen on the net and in person have been long on appearance and not so long on practicality, This is not to criticize the person who loves appearance, but I don't have a pension and big savings. I have to make things work as smart and quickly and well as possible. I know how to make my F-100 run no matter what, and I can do it, either in the shop or on the side of the road (which hardly ever happens because I do my work in the shop). And I want to follow that pattern in this bus idea. The talk is long on "how can I get out of this thing in the end" and not near so long as "how the heck do I get this off the ground?" By practicality, I don't mean particular points -- for those are covered well. But the overall scheme. What is the schematic for the general plumbing situation needed? Not HOW to do plumbing, like the one book I looked at showed. I know that stuff. But WHAT do I need to be concerned with in a bus situation. Fred's poop sheets are the best thing I've seen on any topic so far. I still long for some fundamental design sketches -- nothing fancy, not to scale, just the components. Having said all that, I'm wondering: - Take an MCI MC-9. Why? Because they're available reasonably close to where I live for a reasonable price. - Get rid of the seats. - Get the machine to the Detroit folks in Albany, GA, as soon as possible -- hopefully before I buy it -- to get them to tell me where things stand. - Get someone else to tell me about the front end and etc.... - Then -- I must prioritize. All this ripping and resawing and uplifting and flopping around with skins and etc... just sounds like a bunch of busy work to me. I don't care two cents what the thing looks like and what critters are painted on the side of it. I want the machine to crank and run and get me there safely and reliably. From whenever I get this bus, I will have a relatively short period of time in which to get it ready to live in. Not finished, mind you, but able to go and meet my commitments to be in Town X that's 500 miles from home on a certain day at 8 PM. So, in order of priority: (and here is the question needing feedback from you folks)..... it seems to me: STAGE ONE (assumes bus mechanicals are in order) 1. Deal with the floor. a. Is insulating the floor a must? or something that everyone does because everyone else does it? To what degree does this need to be done? 2. Ditto with ceiling. 2(a). Deal with roof. (Koolseal or equiv) 3. Fix up bathroom, which allows me to make workable bedroom and kitchen. This step means all or most plumbing is done or at least planned out quite well. 4. Fix up kitchen to cook and wash dishes. 5. Fix a simple desk. 5(a). Fix simple place to eat, not the same as desk. 6. Add several vents to make that air move (this is all I really have at home for cooling, combined with cool, short shower). 7. Install a CB and hit the road. Does Stage One make sense? STAGE TWO (done next time I'm home for 1.5 months) 1. Deal with electrical issues, such as solar, etc... per Fred's writeups. I really like the idea of no generator, and will investigate that further. Simpler is better. 2. Decide: is there a smart way to do a washing machine? 3. Further insulate the bays or whatever. 4. Replace existing windows with good ones. But really, I see leaving all the windows. Why cover them up? I like light. I like seeing out. I don't care who sees in, and if I do, I'll pull the shade. Why stretch metal and rivet all to hell and back when I can just leave the windows in? Ok. I'm done for now. I've got a lot of stuff mixed in here. One thing I like about Fred is his tendency to mix mechanics with philosophy. For my part, the philosophy is what drives the bus. I can tell you this, no one has complained about the back of my truck, and I don't either. It serves the purpose, therefore, it is beautiful. I just need to wash dishes and take a shower. So, tell me your thoughts, MAINLY on the process I envision. I want to be able to knock out Stage One is about 6 weeks of steadily getting it working, with a little help from another good man, particularly on plumbing/elec stuff. Am I being realistic? Or crazy? Thank you to all of you. David Clark Cochran, Ga. by way of Charleston, WV www.outofthesky.com dclark@outofthesky.com *** | ||
| njt5150 (68.243.128.99) Rating: N/A |
Well first,... Having spent two months in Blakely Ga. I would not take anything to the DD guys in ALBANY... With that said.. I am converting MCI9 and living in it. Might add with a very understanding wife. The bus can be obtain cheaply.. 5k to 9k we spent 9k. The work is easy enough. Striping the bus taking out the junk and then puting in walls and building bedroom... Mounted toliet next. Shower is still being worked on. Using showers at the campgrounds. Flooring is in in all three areas.. Bulkheads are going in. Very liveable. Added this past week used ac (HAS TO HAVE AC) unbearable without. Total spent to date including the pergo flooring, maple walls and bulkheads and doing everything really nice and the cost of the bus and 10kw generator with hotwater heater plumbing parts and electrical wiring. $13.7k we are doing things that make us comfortable and shopping for best bargins. AC 125.00 generator 400.00 etc...3 eye glass top stove new 5.00. As long as you are not in a hurry and can deal with doing the work with a wife that is willing to help and understand. This is very doable on a light budget. | ||
| I think you’re a little confused (198.81.26.45) Rating: N/A |
based on your comments of... >>>”2. I have also read every word on Fast Fred's site, as well as every word he's posted on this site. I already noticed in the archives that someone posted appreciation for Fred's wit and wisdom -- and I appreciated that this person said he did it (if I remember right) because of having been to his Dad's funeral and wondering why no one said the good stuff while the man was alive. “ >>>”Fred's poop sheets are the best thing I've seen on any topic so far. “ ...I do believe you have confused Fred Tinseth with Fast Fred , two very different people with two very different personalities and two very different approaches to converting buses. Fred Tinseth has converted many coaches, has spent over 20 years fulltiming, offers free seminars on converting coaches, has his own website (poop sheets), (http://www.phrannie.org/phredex.html ), has written numerous magazine articles, and freely offers expert advice based on his many years of experience. Fast Fred owns a single GMC bus, like the vast majority of us busnuts. His conversion is different from most because it is (as he describes it) a “minimalist conversion”, “a large station wagon”. His bus is basically stock, luggage racks still present, and house systems are the minimum necessary for about a week’s vacation. >>>”And I noticed in the archives that somebody got sore about the compliments to Fred and others. Sounds like jealousy to me,” I suggest you reread those posts, I have. Seems to me they are correcting advice they feel is simply old wive’s tales, perhaps true years ago, but not so today. Not all advice posted on bulletin boards withstands the test of time. >>>”So far, the conversions I've seen on the net and in person have been long on appearance and not so long on practicality, “ Yes, some of the million dollar factory glamour rigs are a bit overdone. I think we busnuts are a different breed of bus owners. Perhaps you should attend a few gatherings of busnuts. I think their creativity and practicality in solving problems inexpensively will impress you. I suspect if all us busnuts had a million dollars, most still wouldn’t buy a factory conversion, we’d buy a shell, hire a team of experts and build OUR bus OUR way. >>>”This is not to criticize the person who loves appearance, but I don't have a pension and big savings. I have to make things work as smart and quickly and well as possible.” Perhaps you should also spend some time visiting the schoolie conversion boards. Their conversion efforts are generally aimed more at function over form. Editor's Note: Fast Fred's name has been edited out of this thread at his request. And BrianMCI96A3, you can't be anonymous here, so behave yourself ;-) | ||
| david clark (24.197.82.121) Rating: N/A |
Hello -- Yep, according to what you're saying, I have the two Freds confused. But both Freds have a way of expressing themselves. They may be two different people but they think along the same lines. I just read a sentence of Fast Fred's about heated corian toilet seats. Perfect. Regarding the 'jealousy' comments, what I read had nothing to do with wives' tales. It had to do with complimenting some of the folks on the board for what they offered, and someone got tired of it, I guess. Part of what I am saying with my comments about this board is that it doesn't get overcaught-up-with-itself about fancy stuff. I probably didn't express that well enough beyond the first paragraph or so, but I didn't spend hours rewriting this post and perhaps shouldn't have written that part at all. But what I was getting at was to say that this board is very helpful and ingenious, as opposed to the groups that go strictly for showing off. I have no doubt it would be a pleasure to meet up with any of the folks on this board and will do that at some point. Nothing against school buses, but I can't see it. Thanks, whoever you may be, David Clark | ||
| FAST FRED (65.154.177.193) Rating: N/A |
For your needs I would look at a Superior brand MH from the early 70's. Has all the comforts you could desire and at 20,22, or 24 ft will fit into tiny spaces any car can park in. A really fine unit can be found from the Superior Chapter of the FMCA. Motor homes and coaches are like batterys , you want to purchase a fully charged , (well maintained by an enthusiast) unit. Between $5,000 and $10,000 should get a pristine well maintained & updated unit you can travel in the same day. Superior Bus made Skoolies , so it's the only MH I know of that can roll over a couple of times with out coming unglued. The older 440 engines and 727 trannys are excellent , and if you wear out the engine a rebuilt (Jasper) will go 125,000 miles at 1/5 the cost of a bus engine. At only 7 or 8 mpg you would be burning gas at a slower rate than many slushpump busses do diesel, with a far LOWER maint cost per mile. Your brakes are at NAPA , coach brakes are at the truck store, Not to turn you off a coach conversion, but the question is always , What do you really NEED? FAST FRED (no relation to Phred) | ||
| drivingmisslazy (66.168.168.57) Rating: N/A |
To load the site faster, try this link. It takes you directly to the Last Days Messages and if you click on BOARD at the top of the page, it takes you directly to all the posts. BTY, Ian will probably delete this message as he does not like anyone to bypass all the other information. LOL (URL deleted) Just copy it and paste it into the Address block. Richard Editor's Note: DML, would you please quit doing that!! I answer about 50 emails a month that ask how to get to other parts of the web site, like the Archives for example, because their browser is stuck on the daily view - hard to believe, but not everyone knows to simply truncate the URL in the location line. The proper instruction for David is to tell him to turn off images in his browser. Not that I expect him to have the best and latest browser since he's still driving a '71 Ford F100 and uses a 14.4 modem, but to turn off images, he should turn on his Commodore 64 and go to Edit | Preferences | Privacy & Security | Images, find the Image Acceptance Policy box and select the Do Not Load Any Images radio button. If he is using the inferior IE, go to Tools | Internet Options | Advanced, scroll down to Multimedia and uncheck all the boxes. And, if I may, someone should tell Mr. Clark that there are an unlucky 13 photographs of himself on his photo page. Maybe there's a real hurtin' country tune he could write about that? Hmmm, actually, he has a real nice web site... perhaps I should make BNO look like his... hmmm... | ||
| Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy) (66.168.168.57)
Rating: N/A |
Forgot to add. Be sure you add it to your favorites list. And this board is always at the top of my favorites list. Richard Editor's Note: Sucking up will get you everywhere :-) | ||
| Tim Jones (Torquester) (12.73.176.194)
Rating: N/A |
Hi David, Great post. If I were you, knowing what I know now about converting a bus, here is how I would start. Get the best shell that you can afford. Get the plumbing installed. A toilet and a shower (you can always do the dishes in the shower). Throw in your cot, some folding lawn chairs and tables, and an ice chest. Now you have everything that you need to hit the road and you can work on everything else as time allows. hth, Tim | ||
| Jim-Bob (64.12.116.135) Rating: N/A |
David, my 2 cents worth would be to avoid a skoolie conversion at all costs. Do an RTS transit instead if you must. MANY campgrounds prohibit schoolies & a non mainstream looking vehicle will attract the interest of the security folks at Wal Mart or other sopping spots pretty quick. I see that happen quite a bit. And you are going to use this vehicle in your business. It needs to look decent. People make first time judgements of you by what they see when you roll into the parking lot. We all do that. Fast Fred's motorhome idea is not a bad one. An older Bluebird could work too and you can buy a very functional completed unit for what a bus shell alone would cost. With a decent paint job the average person can't tell how old it is. | ||
| DrivingMissLazy (66.168.175.51) Rating: N/A |
OK, I@n, I got the message finally, and I sure do not want to get booted off the site. LOL Richard | ||
| mark (66.43.13.41) Rating: N/A |
dclark.. Keep your F 100... Buy a 15 foot travel trailer. You have no need for a bus. Keep it SIMPLE! mark 75 Gillig 636D | ||
| David Clark (Dclark) (24.197.82.121)
Rating: N/A |
Hello. Fred, appreciate the thought on Superior. Now that I've seen photo of one, I believe I know where one is and will look at it when I get back home in May. I can appreciate this option. But would you want to do 40,000 miles a year in one? I'm asking, not being smartypants. I'm thinking the bus would be better option over long haul, because of, well, the long haul. I will be on the road pretty constant for the next several years, and will be driving on the order of 6-7000 miles per month. One drawback I originally saw with Gas powered RV was that I would wear out motor is just over a year's time (not counting sticks/staples). I'm thinking that diesel if way to go, and best route to get there is bus. Tim's post is what I had in mind, and I wondered if I was the only person who thought that way. Thanks, Tim. I'd like to hear a ballpark figure on money and time to do "just the plumbing" etc... if you got it. Also, Jim-Bob mentioned older Bluebird. I would be interested in hearing more of what you mean. Bluebird's plant is near where I live -- what I know of they make is school buses, transit, and wanderlodge. Can't see any of these options working well for various reasons but would like to hear your thoughts since what do I know? Also, regarding what computer/browser I use, I use a Macintosh iBook (and have since 1987). I'm not using the latest one or the latest system, but this is a great machine. Running Explorer, which works very well. Machine/browser is not the issue. Modem speed dictated by cell connection, not equipment choices. The modem connection is 14.4, period, the end, whether you're running a supercomputer or an old Mac laptop. Yep, I can turn off images in my browser. Why not make the site so it can be accessed without special hoops being jumped through by user? It's the simplest code to build a text only access page. Anyway, that's your business. Thank you for comment on my web page. Bad luck is not created by how many photos or floors one has. Bad luck in the music business is created by laziness. So, 13 doesn't bother me. 13 was a good year -- still riding a bike, haven't kissed a girl, no bills, no job. I don't buy into the culture's superstition about that stuff, (and yes, I know you're joking). My website is made for fast access by the press, because they help make me money. It's probably the simplest website in America, but I can work on it and make changes at 14.4 over my cell modem from the back of my truck. The press people who have to go there to download a photo for an article they're running love it. I'm not trying to impress anyone with my html code writing skills. I write the code instead of using some software to build the page, and I can write a page and/or update is two shakes. My pages are generally 2-5k. Just my two cents on that, and thank you for compliment. Back when I started writing html code most folks still didn't know what the internet was. Funny, only a very short time ago really. In '87 when I started using the net you had to know unix code to navigate it. It worked great. No ads. Thoughts? David Clark | ||
| David Clark (Dclark) (24.197.82.121)
Rating: N/A |
Mark, Have thought about a trailer. My F100 has a 6 cyl. Pulling trailer would be a bear, I think, for the truck itself. Also, I hate pulling trailers. Pain in the butt in my experience. But, good idea. But, not solving issue of another person with me full time, or being able to have 2 others (merch. people) go from time to time, or room to store merch, etc... without unloading the whole shebang everytime to get to one thing. David | ||
| ChuckMC9 (Chucks) (66.167.95.248)
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David, this thread is refreshing! 1.) I too like Tim's approach. Mine will follow a similar initial path. 2.) Re websites - similar approach to your Conversion ideas. Do what works and works well and get it usable in a few months rather than a few years. 3.) Good man!  RULES!  | ||
| Gary Carter (68.25.19.150)
Rating: N/A |
As a side bar I get twice land line speeds with my cell phone or about 100K up and down. | ||
| BrianMCI96A3 (69.68.96.3) Rating: N/A |
I have to say that I am perplexed, Mr. Editor, at what you meant when you said that I can't be anonymous here? Like my father used to say... "If it isn't worth putting your name to, it isn't worth committing it to words, much less paper." I don't play games like that, and I wonder where you got the idea that I do. Editor's Note: Brian, I erred. I apologize. The anonymous thread came from JS, below... I got the IP addy from another thread and looked one message too far away... "By Jay Smith (198.81.26.45) on Saturday, April 24, 2004 - 09:42 am: Edit >you, the driver, do not "push on the brake", you >are only opening a valve, the air in the tanks >is pushing on the brakes. No air, means no >brakes, means you don't stop. On my Thomas SafTliner, 'no air' means "all brakes", and that I'm not moving until I build up some air pressure. By BrianMCI96A3 (69.68.205.231) on Saturday, April 24, 2004 - 06:03 pm: Edit Jay, while that might be true that you are not moving in your SafTliner if you lose air when you are stopped, that may not be the case if you lose air pressure on the far side of a mountain and your brakes were already begining to fade... Brian" Again, Brian, I apologize. Perhaps I'll just shut my cake hole and get busy on my coding skills in Notepad, without images, to please our latest guest ;-) It is obvious David is enamoured of both Freds, which is his perogative... I have actually complimented Fast Fred in the past, and I can appreciate his dedication to his personal vision of being a Busnut. However on occaision, Fast Fred has had a disturbing tendency to throw out "facts" that are anything but. I suppose the overall effect of that can be informative when the inevitable happens and dozens of people correct Fred's so-called "facts"; So in the end, I suppose we should thank him for that. I agree 100% with the idea that if I were to win a million dollars one of the first things I would do is set aside a portion of it to have someone covert my 96A3 shell... to my idea of a home on wheels. My advice for you David, agrees with Tim Jones, get the best shell you can afford, decide where you are going to want the holding tanks based on the location of the shower and toilet and install your your tanks, shower and toilet.... and I'd be inclined to rough out the plumbing for the bathroom sink and kitchen sink. Brian | ||
| njt5150 (68.243.215.239) Rating: N/A |
I also am limited to cellphone and I am getting nearly 200k up and down from sprint... | ||
| BrianMCI96A3 (206.107.222.215) Rating: N/A |
I forgot to add...Then use it it and convert it as you find time, and are able. Brian | ||
| David Clark (Dclark) (24.197.82.121)
Rating: N/A |
Regarding the state of being enamored: For what it's worth, I would not say I was enamored with either Fred. I would say that I like and, more importantly, respect anyone who is willing to express opinions about things I'm interested in, first of all (since so many people don't have an opinion about anything except ballgames and politics and car races), and then to express their opinion with a touch of wit, with some degree of knowledge, and with a willingness to say that their way is the best way. The man doing so might full of you-know-what, and sometimes, they are exactly that. I know from first hand experience what that feels like, i.e. to be full of you-know-what. But I also know that anyone who's lived any length of time, which I have a feeling both Freds have done, have paid some kind of dues in their life, have made a fair amount of mistakes and seen a lot more mistakes made, and have a good mind that they use, well, then they are going to be right a lot of the time. Sometimes their "right" will be wrong to others, and sometimes they will be just plain wrong. But also, sometimes that man's "right" that everyone else is claiming to be wrong, might be something he has learned to be right through experience. And sometimes people can't stand it that a man has things right sometimes and knows something, and so they love it when he's wrong. And sometimes, some folks are so easily made to jump up and down, that a man who knows his business will sometimes be wrong just to watch folks jump up and down. For my part, give me a man who's willing to say he's right and that he believes in what he knows -- over the know-it-all who only chimes in when someone else is wrong. "I started to tell you about that stop sign back there but I figured you saw it but then when you didn't I thought I ought to tell you I started to tell you." In my experience, the whole purpose of a discussion board is sort of like the round table at the diner back home populated by the old codgers. Everyone's open to speak. Everyone's respected. And everyone, some of the time, is full of you know what. But so what? Nobody holds the times someone is full of you know what against all the times they are right. And back home, at the table, if they DO hold it against them, they are called on that, right there in front of everyone. The power of the round table, and a discussion board, is that it is self-correcting. I lurked on this board quite a while before writing anything, because I wanted to see if it actually worked. And yes, it does work. What I've also found in my life is that sometimes folks resent it when a man who's right is appreciated. Their jealousy is not hard to spot. One must have a sense of humor at the round table, you know. And one must not take themselves too seriously. From what I've seen, neither Fred takes themselves too seriously, though sometimes those who disagree with them do (which, of course, is their prerogative). David Clark | ||
| njt5150 (68.243.193.33) Rating: N/A |
IAN Unless you deleted something that is refering to Brian. The post you had edited that was "By I think you’re a little confused (198.81.26.45) " This post was not provided by Brian. | ||
| Derek (24.85.245.203) Rating: N/A |
He's right, you know. The 198 address belongs to AOL, and Brians address belongs to Sprint. | ||
| TWO DOGS (65.177.145.72) Rating: N/A |
dave clark 5....if you really are interisted...here's what ya' should do....you know a little in advance where you are going on your next gig...tell us...some of us will invite you to come see our bus when you are passing thru...or..in our town...sounds like you have made up your mind you ARE going to get a bus...so...look at a bunch of them...we are out here ...I'm in Amarillo | ||
| David Clark (Dclark) (24.197.82.121)
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Hello 2 dogs. Good idea and thank you for the invite. Presently I'm in Charleston, WV. 4/29 I have to be in Thomas, WV. 4/30 I am in York, SC. After that show I'm driving home for a few days. 5/07 Birmingham, AL 5/08 Chattanooga 5/09 Chattanooga Home 5/13 Columbus, GA 5/14 Eufaula, AL 5/15 Hartford, AL 5/16 Columbus, GA Home 5/21 Bishopville, SC Home I figured I'd go visit Sawyer's bus sales in Christiansburg, VA on my way to Thomas since I have time. I would appreciate any chances to see a bus. If anyone's on my route, let me know. As far as having made up my mind, I would love to be argued out of it, in a way. But I've been studying on this transportation thing for about 3 years and living with it the whole time. It just seems like a bus is the right way to do a lot of miles in a year reliably with a sturdy machine. Aside from that, there is the reality of a wife entering the picture in 08/05. She used to drive tractor-trailer so she love driving whatever, but we got to have some space. Looks won't concern her too, too much -- she's been on an aircraft carrier much of last 20 years. I dislike plastic and fiberglass. My old truck is made of metal. I like it. I like the few buses I've looked at close, even if they were shells or not done like I would have done them. The idea is there and there's something to work with. Thanks. David Clark | ||
| TWO DOGS (65.177.145.72) Rating: N/A |
just keep us posted where you are..there is bound to be somebody in that area that will be glad to show you his bus...find out what you like ,what floor plan you like,what the owner has done that you like,you sure sound like you need a 4104 to me...but that's just my opinion.. | ||
| David Clark (Dclark) (24.197.82.121)
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2 D's. I really like the idea of a 4104. Good size etc... Space? Availability of parts? Am going to look at a 4104 in FL in May. Looked at one in Ohio but didn't get to go in it. Main reason for leaning towards MC-9 is ability to have space for some bunks up front, because occasionally I would like to haul 1-3 xtra folks with me easily for a period of time. David Clark | ||
| TWO DOGS (65.177.145.72) Rating: N/A |
there is plenty of room in a 4104...get some of those air matresses...target has them on sale for 29.00 for queen size...get whatever kind of bus turns you on...previous maintenance is the most important thing to look for...bunch of wires hanging...stuff like that...it's easy to tell if a shade tree has been working on it.. O.K. now...somebody in that area volenteer...he just wants to look at your bus..S.C. AL. w.v. bound to be lots of you guys want to show off your baby...by the way dave...talking about the revolving bus pictures...mine is number 4 on the bottom...now you wouldn't want THAT one taken off would you ??? | ||
| David Clark (Dclark) (24.197.82.121)
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Never saw it, 2 dogs. Always disconnected when hooked up on slow connection. In the old days of the net, photos were a luxury because bandwidth was slow/tight. One was given choice of going to or receiving photos, but they were not thrown at him. I like the choice, myself. If I'm going to do research, that might include photos. But if I want to read the words of great minds such as this crowd, then I want nothing in my way. David | ||
| Karl05Eagle (67.251.237.215)
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David, I'm in a situation that is similar to your's. I'm a traveling x-ray tech. I decided to get a bus so I would not have to live out of two suitcases anymore. I eventually bought a 1968 Eagle 05 and am now doing what you were describeing. Its almost ready to live in now. Well as a traveling metal tent anyway. Good luck on your search. Karl | ||
| Bulldogie (69.4.194.144)
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David, Although your home is cool in the summer, on the next hot day just open the windows (no door opening allowed) and sit in the truck for a few hours. Same thing in a bus unless it is well insulated especially the roof. You also might want to see if you can find a bus that has "working" air since your going to be on the road alot and although you might like the heat some of your fellow riders might not hehehe. Big bus is also a good idea since there are few couples in this world who can stand to be together 24/7/365 if you know what I mean. Also I don't know how tall you are but just remember if you put in roof air that the inside units take up some head room. You have plenty of time till wife gets off Carrier (bless her Jesus for she is helping protect us) so you might want to think about not adding to much till you can get most of all the pieces bought and then just take some time after she gets out and put it all together. Some wives would like to help on these kinds of projects (even if it is only Ideas) especially since they will be living in it for a long time. There might even be some bus-nuts who would be willing to help you :>) Don't forget to send her pictures of her new home to see what she thinks hehehe. | ||
| BrianMCI96A3 (65.40.117.27) Rating: N/A |
S'alright Ian, I was just a bit taken aback is all... After all, I catch enough flak for the things I DO, without catching flak for something I didn't! Apology not needed...the correction was enough for me. Keep the cakehole open and commenting. (grin) David, some days indeed it seems that people are taking themselves much too seriously... I like to believe I that I am a fairly humorous fellow, (rather than humorless) I tend to see the absurdities in life that present themselves to me as fodder for smiles in the retelling. Having said that, one thing I never take lightly is giving advice. As a Diesel Mechanic with 25 years of experience, I hear the old wives tales and I cringe. One thing I can't abide is misinformation, especially if that misinformation has the potential to get people in trouble, or do damage to their valuable investment. You want to talk about Monty Python's Flying Circus, I'm right there with you, {nudge nudge,wink wink, know what I mean, KNOW what mean?"} I may turn out to be wrong at times, and I'll admit it here, as I have done. And at times, I may even turn out to have been full of what a cow pie is... But I do take giving mechanical advice here very seriously. Now for something completely different! (*(*) Brian | ||
| Johnny (4.174.106.166) Rating: N/A |
"One drawback I originally saw with Gas powered RV was that I would wear out motor is just over a year's time." Not unless you totally neglect it. My friend's 1977 Coachman class C was still running perfectly (Dodge 318) when sold with 167,000 miles last year. Maybe sell the F-100 & buy a newer truck & trailer? | ||
| Bulldogie (69.4.194.50)
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David, another reason to go to a Diesel is that most gas motor homes do not have the weight to withstand the high winds and big trucks that suck you into them if your not very carefull. Had 1 gas first, got rid of it and progressively moved up (had 3 stick motor homes in all) then got rid of the $1,000.00 month motor home and finally bought a bus. | ||
| TWO DOGS (65.179.200.177) Rating: |
Dave...I don't want to make I@N start counting...email me...dosdogs1 @juno.com | ||
| David Clark (Dclark) (24.197.82.121)
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Bulldogie, I don't believe I said my home was cool in the summer. It ain't. It's South Ga. What I'm saying is that I get along fine -- because I have every window open and good fans moving a lot of air. I'm saying that to find out -- how livable is a bus without a/c? I don't have A/C in my truck. Yes it gets hot, but I keep the air moving. Also didn't say I "like" the heat. I'm just used to it. Many folks live in A/C all the time and so are not conditioned at all, whereas I don't have A/C anywhere so I'm more conditioned. I also appreciate idea of big bus for space between wife and myself. I have thought about that, alot. Basic plan is for me to be at the gate with the bus running on wife's last day active duty. She salutes the gang one more time, steps on the bus, and off we go. I've been sending her pictures of what I see, even if I haven't seen it -- representative photos of diff. buses. She's wide open with it all and enjoying the talk of it. I'm also sending her scale drawings of floor plans, which I have done several of, just for kicks. David Clark | ||
| David Clark (Dclark) (24.197.82.121)
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Johnny, You suggest selling my truck. I appreciate that suggestion, but you surely must be out of your mind. All that to say, no way. David Clark | ||
| David Clark (Dclark) (24.197.82.121)
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B-dogie. I can easily see what you mean about the weight of bus vs weight of RV. I haven't noticed any buses getting blown all around. I can't imagine what riding along in an RV is like in high wind, not to mention the big trucks. David Clark | ||
| bsreg (68.243.107.252) Rating: N/A |
Paid 125.00 for good working air for my bus... makes it comfortable in MS Coast heat | ||
| David Clark (Dclark) (24.197.82.121)
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Ah, Mississippi. You know what I'm talking about re: Southern heat. $125 ain't bad. Thank you for this news. David Clark | ||
| Johnny (4.174.112.144) Rating: N/A |
"I can't imagine what riding along in an RV is like in high wind, not to mention the big trucks." It's fine, unless you have mechancial problems. | ||
| dragon (24.237.134.106)
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I realize this is a bus board but this has to be said... All motorhomes are not created equal... I have spent over a year trying to find a bus I liked and could afford (Scenicruiser) but living in Alaska atm the expense of flying to look at them soon became way to high so we decided to get another motorhome to get back to fulltiming so we could go see more buses with far less expense and while we do plan to still get one someday Getting on the road easily and out of Alaska sooner took a higher priority than having to have a bus or nothing. Let me put you on to a brand of motorhome that can be had for very good prices and are built like a tank. The brand name was so well known and liked that it's been sold and now Prevost uses the name for their luxury buses. Vogue motorhomes were first started arround the mid 70s I think and have evolved as the years went on. Our first coach was a 1980 33' rear bath that we bought for 19k in 1994, it's new cost was 186k. We fulltimed in it 7 years for less than 3k in repairs and maintenance and sold it for 12k. Drove like a dream could do 85 w power left over for passing, tracked like an arrow even with a 17' trailer on the back with our toad on it. Passing semis barely wiggled it with their air buffeting and I have driven in 60mph crosswinds and had no trouble holding lane. Its down side was steep passes ( I was really heavy with the tow) and mileage, 4 mpg before I cut the air conditioner belt 7 after I cut it. I have seen 1 that was laid down at freeway speed and while it was well dinged up it didn't come apart, both people inside walked away. Also one that had caught fire and while gutted down to the walls inside could have been rebuilt I was very suprised at how solid it still all was. They come in all sizes from a class B built on a Dodge tradesman van to 40' class A and the 440-3 engine was a real work horse. The newer ones can get really nice and great deals can be had up to about 1986 or so then the used ones go up to the 100k plus range. We just bought a 1986 Vogue Cosmopolitan 35A This year range had a few custom models built on bus chassis with rear Diesel engines and all the other bus goodies like trans, breaks etc. Most have 3208 turbos in them Ours is on a Crown chassis with an 8v71 turbo in it, 4 speed Allison, air breaks and suspension and has every accesory know to Rving I think. It's one owner rig stored indoors with only 92k original miles on it and every single thing on it works like new even has new Michelins and alcoa polished rims. Cost the gentleman over 350k new plus all the add on goodies, we got it for 25k All it takes is moving aboard and driving off. The layout and interior are very liveable and comfortable. While these are hard to find it's doable, I missed 2 and passed on one other cause of it 210 hp engine, it only took me a couple months to find one. While I am sure Buses have many advantages over motorhomes there's a lot to be said for getting a good motorhome ready to go. As anyone here will tell you theres a huge number of hours involved in making anything but a steel tent not to mention the expense as all those little things add up and you will rarely ever recover your labor time when you sell it. Sorry for the offtopic sorta (well its 1/2 bus ;) but for what your doing ready made could save you a lot of time and money and increase your immediate comfort level. A relaxed Musician Is a Happy Musician | ||
| Geoff (Geoff) (66.238.120.31)
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Perhaps David should have put this tidbit from another thread in this thread: "I have another pretty good while to go before I'm ready to get any bus, simply because at this time I don't have the money to get any bus. " | ||
| David Clark (Dclark) (24.197.82.121)
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Geoff, That tidbit's in there. I say I'm poor. And so that means I'm not fixing to go out and buy any sort of bus. But I'm learning now, so that as things improve and the money comes together, I will know which way to go to the best of my ability, rather than waiting until I have the money to begin learning. I'm not sure what difference it may make to this discussion that I'm not about to buy a bus immediately. I wouldn't think it would make any difference. The questions stand. David Clark | ||
| David Clark (Dclark) (24.197.82.121)
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Dragon, I really appreciate your post about the Vogue. I would not say it was off-topic at all. Thank you -- David Clark | ||
| Geoff (Geoff) (66.238.120.31)
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Okay, David, as long as people know where you are coming from so they won't feel like they have wasted their time answering your questions. --Geoff '82 RTS CA | ||
| David Clark (Dclark) (24.197.82.121)
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Geoff, I don't really see how any posts on a board are wasted. That's the point of a discussion, isn't it -- to give of what one knows? I'm not the only person benefitting from these answers. Plus, these answers are here for anyone who wants to search later. Good anwers and good discussion is something we all have the chance to leave behind. I'd say the giving done on a good discussion board like this one are some of the best effort any of us ever make. We don't know how what we say affects others. I'd also say that a person who's worrying about wasting his time by sharing his knowledge probably will always be disappointed on a discussion board, since there's no "return." I've only known a couple of folks who were born knowing everything. They were the dumbest people I've ever met. We all have to ask questions. I don't mind asking them, because when people ask me questions about what I know, I share the knowledge. It's how we get along in this old world, if we're lucky. And if we're willing, we're lucky. If one ain't willing, then, well, at least one doesn't waste one's time. David Clark | ||
| TWO DOGS (65.179.209.51) Rating: N/A |
ya' got the makins of a song there | ||
| Phil Dumpster (24.16.243.37) Rating: N/A |
Earlier someone posted that a gas engine would wear out in no time with the amount of driving they do. It is a myth that a gasoline engine is only good for 100K. For the average American "put gas it in and go" automobile owner, that may be true but only because such people don't maintain or treat their cars very well. I've had my 1996 F150 with 300 inline six and 5 speed manual transmission since I bought it off lease in 1998 when it had 28,000 miles on it. Now it's up at 155K and still has good compression and consumes about a quart of oil every 20,000 miles. I use synthetic oil (Castrol GTX) and a 20,000 mile oil change interval. I also let it warm up a bit before getting on the freeway every morning. As long as the seals and gaskets in an older car can handle the lower surface tension of synthetic motor oil without leaking then switch to it. Your engine will last much longer. | ||
| Johnny (4.174.106.28) Rating: N/A |
On regular $1.09/quart conventional 5W-30, the 460-powered 1992 F-350 wrecker at work is just short of 300,000 miles (just over 299K, last time I checked) on an untouched engine. It's still a 5MPG gas hog, but runs perfectly. The 454 (1987 GMC R-35 wrecker) went ~280,000 miles before being swapped out due to holding 3psi with straight SAE30 at hot idle. It now has a Goodwrench engine, & the original engine got new rings & bearings, a dingle-ball hone (still running the OEM pistons), a timing chain & oil pump, & is currently in a Suburban. Both of these engines are in high-revving (4.56 gears & an E4OD in the Ford, 3.91's & a TH400 in the GMC), hard-working commercial tow trucks. |
