| Author |
Message |
Ross Carlisle (Rrc62)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 - 3:38 pm: | |
What have others done in this department? The bus is an MC9. I'm looking for something other than the original steering wheel. Something not so commercial bus looking. Auto parts stores have never even heard of a steering wheel as big as the MC9 stock wheel. When I ask I get those bewildered looks.
Assuming I can find a universal aftermarket wheel, I could probably find an adapter if I knew of something in the auto/light truck world that used the same steering shaft spline as the MC9.
Thanks...Ross |
Chris 85 RTS
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 - 3:44 pm: | |
http://www.vipwheels.com/ |
DebDav (Debdav)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 - 5:00 pm: | |
1800intlbus.com |
Jim Ashworth (Jimnh)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 - 5:18 pm: | |
Ross- I've got a VIP wheel. It's great. Easy to deal with directly.
Jim |
Ross Carlisle (Rrc62)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 - 5:36 pm: | |
I just called VIP. Real easy to get along with and the prices are surprisingly reasonable. I'll order one tomorrow after I measure the factory wheel. I think I need a 20" wheel, but not sure. I'd like to go a little smaller...maybe 18".
Ross |
Joe Bigwind
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 - 9:22 pm: | |
Ross, Stay with the big diameter. VIP makes real nice wheels. I went with a VIP 18" but wish I had just kept the old one when my pwr steering went out. I pulled my back steering thru slow turns. If you get a new VIP, get the same diameter.
Joe Shelton
4106-2119 |
Lew Poppleton (Lewpopp)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 - 9:59 pm: | |
Ross
I had a Vip 18'' wheel installed about 6 months ago and think the size is the sweetest thing that ever happened. I have a 90 Prevost and it suits me well in all areas. I really don't plan on losing the power steering and if I planned on it. I would take measures to circumvent it happening. If the power steering goes, normally the front of the buss is gone. Now everyone admonish me for saying that. |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 8:00 am: | |
I found that as my pants waist size increased the size of the smaller diameter wheel was appreciated. I also think that if you are going to worry about anything that can possibly happen, then you probably should not even be driving a bus. There are hundreds of systems, any one of which can fail at the most inopportune time. However, the bus manufacturers have taken this into consideration and the odds of a power system failing, in a manner that could not be relatively easily repaired at a truck stop, is in my opinion infinestimal.
Richard |
Rich International Bus & Parts
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 8:19 am: | |
We are the distributor for VIP in the bus industry, or so I thought. Sounds like VIP is selling direct to individuals. I have no problem with people getting a good deal. Curious to find out how much they are charging compared to us ? We have not gone up on our price in (5) years. We are $146 for the Polyurethane wheels & $209 for the leather wrapped.
Rich
800-468-5287 |
Ross Carlisle (Rrc62)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 9:59 am: | |
Rich...I ordered the VIP11, brushed nickel center and leather rim for $130.21. The VIP11 is 20" and the stock wheel is 22". I figure 20" is a good compromise on diameter. Just a little smaller, but not so small that the loss of power steering would send you into oncoming traffic.
Ross |
mel 4104
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 10:57 am: | |
for you fellows that want a smaller wheel i also was going to replace mine but before i had the time we headed south to AZ and going throughStockton Cal. the front left tire blew out and i was doing over 55m/h on the out side slow lane, well the buse jumped across 3 lanes so fastand i was holding on to that big wheel so hard that my fore arms felt cramped for hours later. the tire had less than 10.000miles on itand i sure did not expect it to go bang on me and when it did that was the last time that i ever though about the under size wheel. also check with you dept. of mot. vel. and see if it islegal to go to the smaller wheel. in Canada you connot and if you get into a accident you may end up the goat.one fellow that did failed his safty inspection and he had to replace the wheel with the same size that the enginiers designed for it before he could drive it on the road again.when i asked a high way patrol about it in AZ. he said it was not legal to change to the smaller whellbut then again he was only a 30 year service sgt.on the HP. |
Jim Stewart (H3jim)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 12:48 pm: | |
Rich,
I bought a VIP 17 for $125. last year. factory blemish, but I couldn't find any defects at all. |
Lew Poppleton (Lewpopp)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 10:28 pm: | |
I am privey to a lot of info from present and past highway troopers and all of them said that if they ran into a problem with a bus, that would be the last of their concerns. Non of them had any idea that a bus would change the size of the steering wheel.
I have a steer-safe and expect that will help with control if something should arise. |