| Author | Message | ||
| Jim (Jim_in_california)
Rating: |
Folks, It seems sometimes like WAY too high a proportion of "reported crisis situations" around here and on every other bus forum involve "air problems" - bags, valves, hoses, etc. At this point, my top candidate rig is a spring-suspension-era 34' Bluebird. And I'm *glad*. Is my perception off? Or are these old buses sitting long enough that the rubber is crystalizing and leaking like the White House during a Democratic administration? | ||
| FAST FRED Rating: N/A |
The air bags last a long time at under $100 EACH, the Leveling valves are $35 or so , and usually need replacement if you want the coach to stay UP for months. The metal springs under a BB sag and eventually crack, as they work hard . A replacement Rear set on my 31 ft was about $600 installed , so its a wash. Air bags can easily be modified to be used to level the coach (I intend to use a push pull cable to recenter the leveling valve ) at low cost. As usual , you pays your money and get what you want. FAST FRED | ||
| John that newguy Rating: N/A |
Air bags are sold and added to vehicles with spring suspension to add to their carrying capacity, adjust for height problems, and to give a better ride. Holes in air bags? How about cracked spring leafs? Although I'd rather have the Eagle's torsion bar suspension and it's characteristic firm ride, over anything with spring suspension, I ended up buying an MCI with air bags... I can now say that I'd prefer to have air bags or torsion bars, rather than springs. Springs are great for bouncing things all over... Watch the kids in the back of a school bus on a bumpy road.... | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
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most people feel that"as long as it works,I don't have to KNOW anything".....the AIR is just as important as fuel...even more so...because air stops the bus,& in reality ,you can't move without air... | ||
| James Maxwell (Jmaxwell)
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You're perception is off, and not just as it applies to airbags either! | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
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talk about airbags | ||
| Brian Brown (Fishbowlbrian)
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Don't forget that a lot of our coaches are up to 50 years old, and many haven't been maintained well before we got a hold of them. So, you'll read about a lot of issues related to maintaining busses here. Once an air-ride system is properly repaired, and used regularly, it will likely remain maintenence-free for 20 years. I just replaced two of the bags on the front pax side of my new 4106 that were in the sun for the 15 years it was parked. It took maybe a couple of hours to change 'em. Just under $100 ea. from LUKE. The rest of the bags (that still hold air) are maybe 25 years old and hold air just fine. If the leveling valves end up needing overhaul, it's probably cheaper to just replace them. After driving a 26' Winnie, a 40' MC8, and a 40' Fishbowl for a few thousand miles: I much prefer the air ride to the spring one. The eight-bag, two axle Fishbowl was the best ride of the three. I haven't yet had the pleasure of driving my new "Sportscar" (4106) on a long trip, but I'll probably soon have a new favorite (two-axles, 8 bags, and big sway bars). I've never driven an Eagle to compare torsalastics to air. RJ, who's driven just about everything, should chime in on this one. The biggest upsides for me from stepping up to highway coach from a Class A RV (other than their inherent safety) is the engine in the back and the air suspension. A Skoolie (or even an FC Wonderlodge) gives you neither of those. Skoolies are safe, and are great for off-highway camping, with their ground clearance and spring travel... but I don't think they're near as good a candidate as a highway coach for miles and miles of superslab driving. But, as the great FF always says, "do it YOUR way." Brian Brown My Bus Site | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
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Hello Jim. As noted above, "crisis situations" is another way to describe "the occurrence of poor maintenance catching up with he who has chosen not to do it" A highway coach is a very reliable machine, unlike a personal automobile, a bus's mechanical parts are designed to be rebuilt over and over. If one chooses to ignore whether some critical system is showing the signs of deterioration, one risks paying the price out on the road somewhere. Very little in our coaches "just gives up". The failure is usually tied back to some shortcut, reused part, lack of attention, and similiar limitations. The 25 page major inspection SOP for an old fleet I knew took 2 mechanics 40 hours to complete. They scheduled the bus in for the week so the same guys did it all. There was nothing untouched, untested or unmeasured. Every grease zerk, and I mean EVERY one was done, pressures, levels, tolerances, filters, including the inline ones in the air system. You name it. Drive train was budgetted for rebuild according to mileage, not condition. Expensive? maybe, but the fleet enjoyed a reputation for minimum break downs, and top dollar for their used buses at trade in time. Learn how to take care of whatever you drive, and it will take care of you! happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| John Rigbyj
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If you get to a problem like I did and needed to either replace all fittinggs and levelers, or go to the 4-way air/gauge control to each bag con troled by the driver. I switched to the 4-way works great. John | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
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buswarrior hit it on the head...MAINTENANCE.... grease it...wow,they were made to take care of...look at things while you are under there...cracks in bags,loose things ,hanging things,moveing things,a good flashlight or droplight ...& you catch things before they 'just happen'...lots more fun to fix it at home than on the side of the road with cars whizzing by... | ||
| Brian (Bigbusguy)
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A real bus has air ride  School buses have spring ride and ride like a old truck with squair wheels. The Eagles have some type of rubber bands holding them up but they ride better then the schools buses. So it depends what you like a harsh ride or a nice soft ride . Most the air bags on my bus are the original and hold air with out any leaks some have some cracks in the outer rubber so the worst that can happen is one will get a leak and I will have to replace it. I will wait til that happens. With springs you can have some of the leafs brake but if the main one goes you could crash. Brian 4905 Klamath Falls Oregon | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
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............... | ||
| DMDave Rating: N/A |
Allright, I have a real Highway Coach and it came with leaf springs and rides great. I did have a real bus (ex schoolie) that had leaf springs that would make a log truck seem nice. Not a modern log truck, the ones they skid the logs out to the main road.(dont want to offend any Pulpwooders and such) | ||
| Luke Bonagura (Lukeatuscoach)
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Hi Folks: I read the same Boards as you all do, and talk to folks daily who are looking, or just bought, or are on their way in the conversion process. I constantly read, "well we got the bus home, we have the seat outs, & how do you take out the package racks and the rest room", and I am afraid that many have no knowledge of the coach, nor has it been check out before their purchase??? Well, and I certainly don't mean to criticize, these folks, in my opinion, have their Cart before the Horse!!! The Bus is the FOUNDATION of the HOUSE that you will build!!! Therefore, if the BUS was purchased without the benefit of a thorough inspection by a qualified bus shop or bus mechanic, then there is a real possibility that you are trying to build a MANSION on a SWAMP??? I am trying to make a picture, and I hope it works???? We all pursue Dreams, but we must leave our Blinders home, when we purchase a coach for conversion, lest me make a costly mistake!!! I Hope this HELPS!!! Happy & SAFE!! Bussin' to ALL!!!! LUKE at US COACH | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
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no shit..........uuuuhhhhhh feces | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
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probably the best 2 or 3 hundred you will ever spend..would be have a bus guy look at it | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
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and tell 'em LUKE...if your airbags are 30 years old and cracked...they don't just get a little leak...they blowout during a panic stop or on a sharp curve that you took just a little too fast | ||
| s'Coolbus nut Rating: N/A |
I dunno what some of you guys are talking about- my s'Coolbus rides great - with spring suspension. No complaints! No problems! mark 1975 gillig school bus | ||
| John Jewett (Jayjay)
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You dudes want a real "air-ride, come with me in the Cessna Caravan at umpteen thousand feet while listening to the turbine singing in the background. ...JJ!!! | ||
| FAST FRED Rating: N/A |
"School buses have spring ride and ride like a old truck with squair wheels." This is because the ultimate load aboard is unknown , so the mfg has to plan for the girls Sumo Wrestling team on Da Bus. Wanderodge KNEW what their all up weight would be (pretty close) so the spring ride in a Wanderlodge compares to the spring ride in a 57 Chevvy. Not bad and it doesnt sag down over time , as many air bag RV's do. FAST FRED | ||
| Jim (Jim_in_california)
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Yes, and I've been told that once a "Wanderclone" conversion is finished the springs can be professionally adjusted the same way. | ||
| +Always Positive + (Mr_positive)
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+Mr Positive Says+ Be thankful for what you have, Air ride or Spring ! Our air system has only had 1 little dryer problem. Not bag problems. It was just a matter of cleaning a valve, I took care of it myself. No charge, thanks to some advise from this great information board. Check it out before you buy. Best advise for sure. Take care of it after you buy it and your coach will be as fun as our coach has been. Air systems and bags are no biggie but very important as mentioned. If +Mr Positive+ can handle air bags....anyone can. Think +positive+ No offence eagle owners. Been there done that. My choice is air bags. Saving for a Super Highway Coach has been well worth the wait. Its what the book said to do if I could "afford to do it right". Not usre if we agree with that do it right comment. I am sure folks are having as much fun in their school bus as I am with this Super Highway Coach. But for less money. +Mr Positive+ bought his coach from a dealer. Not a coach resting in the same spot for the last 20 years. A Positive experience. With some kind of assurance. What ever you have, be thankful for it and take care of it. Its time to Spring into action and get some filters and fluids changed on the Super Highway Coach. Its SPRING and warming up here at the North pole ho ho ho. Merry Spring to all and to all a good day ! +Mr Positive+ |
