| Author | Message | ||
| Don/TX
Rating: N/A |
I am entertaining the idea of a small bus conversion, 28-30 feet, rear engine diesel of course, commonly called shuttle buses. What seems to be out there as good candidates for such conversions, has anybody gone that route or researched the market? I would enjoy your comments. | ||
| Bob Vandawalker (Rav221)
Rating: N/A |
Don, For the past year I have been converting a 30ft Gillig Phantom Transit. Though I am not converting to an RV, but a Mobile Office, many of the systems remain similar. There are a few problems I have found in using a transit or shuttle, which are even compounded by the shorter length. Problem 1 - There is little room for installation of electrical, plumbing and generator (no bays). This required the removal of the bus heating and air conditioning systems to make space. Anyone that has done this will tell you what a chore it is. Problem 2 - Most transits/shuttles have these nasty wheelwells which protrude about 12" above the floor taking valuable space. This requires building around them. Mine are about 18" wide and 4' long. Problem 3 - At least some transits are designed for rough city streets, this suspension provides for quite a bouncy ride on the highway. Between 50-60 mph any quick highway move can make you sea sick. The benefits of transits/shuttles are manuverability. The turning radius on our Phantom is very short( which can also get you into trouble if you don't leave enough room). Another benefit I found is power, the 6V92TA 350hp in the 30ft Phantom provides good power. The transits/shuttles are also lower in height, which saves on some tree branches and low hanging wires. You have to decide on what your needs are and how much space requirement you have. Remember, without the luggage bays, everything needs to go somewhere inside. I am nearing completion of my present bus project, which the shorter transit fit the bill. I will be starting my own RV conversion next year, and my choice will be a coach. Bob V | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
The "special" conversion? | ||
| Brian Brown (Blue_velvet)
Rating: N/A |
I should say so! Wow, what kind of weight you running, Bob? Sounds like a little speed demon. | ||
| Bob Vandawalker (Rav221)
Rating: N/A |
Brian, Right now I think we are at about 22,000 - 23,000 with what we have in the bus. It's no speed demon due to transit gearing\governing. Top highway speed is about 60 which works well for our application. If we ever needed to make gearing changes, plenty of power to spare. She drives like a really big car. I'll be posting some pictures in the nxt week or two here. Bob V | ||
| Brian Brown (Blue_velvet)
Rating: N/A |
Bob, then I'll bet it's an acceleration demon. Sounds like a cool bus for your application. Can't wait to see it. Don, what's your application for a 28'-30' pocket rocket conversion? Gillig still makes 30' transits and low-floor models. http://www.gillig.com/Products.htm The Baby Fishbowls are sure cute, but I'm told they did not come from the factory with a DD but a small-truck block that did not stand up to transit use. I'd expect a lot of porposing in a short-wheelbase rig. Esp. one with a lot of front/rear overhang. BB | ||
| Don/TX
Rating: N/A |
Well Brian, I have had one or two of most everything, but for my immediate future uses it seems to be the machine of choice. We just got back from a three month sprint living in a 22 ft Class C, just a little bit too small (But the mileage was sure great). We seem to be able to get all the living space we need for life on the road in around 28 feet of length. The 40 foot bus was so cumbersome a toad was needed, making a lot of machinery to tool down the road all the time. Life in a 22 footer with no toad has sure had some advantages, just use it like a car. I realize gearing and ride are cautions to be aware of, as well as them darned wheel wells. | ||
| jimmci9 #2 Rating: N/A |
lets take an '81 mci 9..... remove about 8 feet from the wheelbase... remove the tag axles....plate over the windows like you did on your 4905.... then you'll have a t-drive 8v71 with an allison ht740....btw....i need to pay for my insurance premium.... | ||
| JJJ Rating: N/A |
Greetings, Don, I like the new Sprinter by Dodge (Freightliner). Get the high roof model, long wheelbase and if carefull can probably fit everything in there. Regards, Jeffrey | ||
| Don/TX
Rating: N/A |
I have them over closely, and they ARE nice, especially the Gulfstream models, however they don't offer me as much room as I already have in my little Mercedes Class C | ||
| Brian Brown (Blue_velvet)
Rating: N/A |
Flat-nosed skoolie's might make a good candidate. Dunno if there's any RC models in that length range, but there's lots of powerplants and chassis choices. School districts tend to maintain them well and upgrade them with relatively few miles. They're built like tanks and have lots of room under them for tankage, etc. A full-frame would make conversion a lot more liberating in terms of structural mods. than on monocoque coaches. Speaking of skoolies, the Blue Bird Co. makes shuttles in the 30' range. Here's their link: http://www.blue-bird.com/products/commercial/ Just a thought, BB | ||
| Don/TX
Rating: N/A |
I did not know that, sure have some pretty candidates there for sure. | ||
| jimmci9 #2 Rating: N/A |
mercedes????........ ahem.....cough....yeah right....just cause you can glue decals on, don't make it so..... | ||
| Don/TX
Rating: N/A |
Shhhhhhhh! | ||
| Mike (Busone)
Rating: N/A |
I like the look of the new Thomas School buses. They even have a mercedes engine option. You could probably get a 30' unit. | ||
| Bob Belter
Rating: N/A |
Ho, Bus nuts, For a thought on a moderate sized coach, friend Andrew Spranza has a 32' Twin Coach Cortez. VERY rare antique. Some of you saw it at Orange County two years ago. Yesterday, he ran the new engine installation for the first time in the bus. A complete Cat 3126b with Allison 3060. He even installed both axles and the power steering. He will have a "new" classic when he is done -- Yuh, a "couple more weeks" -- or more. A very nice running package. Enjoy/s/Bob | ||
| RJL Rating: N/A |
Hey, Don, welcome back!!  Wondered where you'd been. . . Here's a thought: An original, 26-foot GMC Motorhome. . . Wait, never mind, no storage and getting a little long in the tooth. . . Know of a nice 4106 w/ AT not too far from me that a widow has for sale, but now you're back up to 35 feet. . . Long Beach Transit has a bunch of these cute little critters working the free downtown shuttle routes. Low-floor up front, high floor in back, but still headroom for a six-footer. Surprisingly decent ride for such a shorty. http://www.optimabus.com/opus.php IMHO, I'd stay away from any Gillig that only has four air bags underneath, be it 30', 35', or 40'. That Nu-Way suspension system was the source of many a worker's comp claim for back injuries - think of a teeter-totter with an off-set fulcrum, and the driver's on the long end. Anyway, welcome back! RJ PD4106-2784 Fresno CA | ||
| Don/TX
Rating: N/A |
Thanks RJ, that OPUS is one fine looking machine! Don't think I ever seen one. We have been on the road for three months, went to Mt Rushmore, the Badlands, Oshkosh and back home for a couple weeks rest from that 26 state tour, will leave for Reno and San Diego next week, then out to Florida. For Bus Nuts, Oshkosh with 30,000 campers in one campground is a bus spotters paradise, gives one a great cross section of what is currently going on out there. Over the last 15-20 years, the GM's are beoming scarce, the MCI's and transits are out in great numbers, people are getting very innovative in making the large transits work well. | ||
| ChuckMC9 (Chucks)
Rating: N/A |
Yes, Don - good to see you're still, at least, thinkin' about bussin'. Here's your answer - only three ever made, a 30' 4106. Don't ask me how to find it... http://www.cruisermagazineonline.com/frankalbum.html (the last one on the page) I follow a weblog of a guy in a Class C who does serious boondocking and more than once have been conflicted between having room and having nimbleness. Man, the choices in life... | ||
| Brian Brown (Blue_velvet)
Rating: N/A |
Seems everyone I know with a Gas Class A/Class C has it in the shop more than on the road. In fact, my neighbor just plopped down $27k for a late-model Fleetwood or something two months ago. Every camping trip since... it's been towed back home. He's logged less than 400 miles and it's been towed three times. I've gone over 4,000 miles in my "new" 43 year-old bus and haven't been on the side of the road... YET (knock on wood). So how'd your Class C hold up on your journeys, Don? | ||
| Don/TX
Rating: N/A |
Well, I have had no problems with it really. I bought it last year and have done over 22,000 miles with it since then, coast to coast and border to border, more than once, doing better than 15mpg. It is built on a stretched 88 Chev Astrovan chassis, 4.3 engine, longevity seems to favor them. I am probably more maintenance savy than most, don't like tow trucks. I never had any problems with the old bus either. | ||
| Johnny Rating: N/A |
165K on a 1977 Dodge/Coachmen C...slow (2bbl 318/auto, 4.56 gears), but absolutely stone-reliable. Towed once (popped radiator hoseon the Mass Pike--actually did it with an F-450 sling) in ~50K of use. The guy it got sold to is still running it. |