| Author | Message | ||
| coolbus Rating: N/A |
I'm sure not many of you reading this would have the same dileama as me, but for the sake of getting alot of "outside the box" thinking from other bus converters... Currently I have a 35 foot bus. (not converted yet) I am seriously considering replacing it with a 40 footer. My current bus is a 1975 Gillig 636D (skoolie type bus) with a Cat 3208 "throwaway" engine (40k on the reman) Allison 4sp auto (30k on reman) Its got a turbo, highway gears (goes over 70 mph w/ no problem). Spring type suspension. Clean, straight, runs great! I love this bus! (My kids are all in grade school, we like to go camping - we live in the Northwest (Oregon coast) so like to go up into the mountains here locally. Our RVing does not take place all over the country. Mostly weekends and long weekends on occasion. I was thinking about buying an mc9 because of the extra 5' length, larger storage bays, slightly taller ceiling, etc. I've been asking alot of questions HERE about mc9s in general (Thanks for all the varied replies - all very valuable and useful!) Here are my concerns! My anticipated annual mileage will be 1,200 MAX! I believe that low of mileage on ANY diesel engine will cause some problems, as I have read here on BNO The type of roads I may find myself traveling on may not be very good. Yes, I drive on logging roads and back roads to get to our favorite camping spots! I am NOT a diesel mechanic. Not any kind of mechanic! I am somewhat concerned about the complexities of an mc9 as compared to a gillig ! I don't NEED air ride suspension! I don't know for sure, but I've gathered that a Cat diesel mechanic will be much easier to come by than a Detroit Diesel two stroke mechanic. It almost sounds like I'm trying to talk myself out of buying the mc9. I'm NOT! I love the looks of them. and I like the size of them. What would any of you do with this decision if you were in my place? Keep the Gillig? or Buy the MC9? Thanks very much Mark | ||
| T. (Bluegrass)
Rating: N/A |
Mark Keep the Gillig, I have a MCI-7 have had It for 19 years Its a wonderful Bus but it likes the highway,and I am getting rid of It to put an eagle on the rd ( hardest bus you would ever want to convert ) I bought a eagle bus about 5 years ago and have kicked myself a 1000 times for not keeping the mci. Tony | ||
| ED Hackenbruch (Shadowman)
Rating: N/A |
Don't buy any type of hiway bus if you are going to be driving on logging roads...they were not made for that kind use. Your Gillig will be much better for that type of road. From an ex-logger who also built some of those roads. :>) | ||
| sylverstone (Sylverstone_pd4501864)
Rating: N/A |
coolbus: i have a scenicruiser. 96" wide, 40' long, almost 12' high. i live in washington state, and here there are very very few logging roads i would be worried about with it, but i have the air suspension, 10 wheels, liftable tag, etc. now, that said, if it were *me*, having been in ron rutledge's 35' crown, and seeing the ground clearance, etc. of most schol buses, i'd keep yours. if this is what you have: http://www.geocities.com/gilligcoaches/CGBUS2.jpg a highway coach will have much less ground clearance, will most likely be taller, and most likely a lot heavier as well. not to mention the issue about the added length and width. i could, with some effort and money, turn my cruiser into a competent off road machine, but here in washington we have trees, so making it 10 wheel drive with a pair of terra tires on the front and 4 ft wide tracks in the back, wouldn't do me a whole lot of good because of the trees and the like. generally speaking, if a logging truck came up or down it with a load of logs, i can get my cruiser in there and out of there. that does not howerver mean it'll be easy. ... you can however add bays or ground clearance to a schoolbus if you want to, as the frames are high up to protect the children in the case of a broadside. if i were you i would read http://www.robgray.com/motorhomes/index.htm (the construction diary) and then start thinkin outside the box as it were  i mean, with your bus, you could add a second drive axle, a foot of ground clearance, and a 5 ft wide 8 ft long slide to give you a full sized bedroom with a king sized bunk in it, and that would solve a lot of problems wouldn't it? > -dd | ||
| Brian Brown (Blue_velvet)
Rating: N/A |
I'm with the other guys... Skoolie's were MADE for the kind of camping/driving you're talking about. A Gillig or a Crown would be ideal for that. The highway busses were designed for miles upon miles of concrete and ashphalt. And Oil bath air cleaners (if that's what the MCI has) don't do well in dusty/ low rpm conditions, either. Buy a highway bus when you're ready to drive on the highway for thousands of miles. Keep the Gillig until then... or get a 4x4 Class B van RV and *really* go offroad. My $0.02, Brian Brown PD4106-1175 Longmont, CO | ||
| Stan Rating: N/A |
Another out out of the box idea. Consider pulling a trailer that could be used as a children's bedroom and/or additional storage. Even a short (12') trailer will give you more additional space than getting a 40' bus. | ||
| Ron R
Rating: N/A |
OK...Here Go's...I do think you should go with what you have...I would do ALL with it, it build to so...It like trucking, the Road truck will work in the woods. BUT not do well(city & Hyw bus)....I do it all with My Crown, it go good in the woods(loging roads turn back's) and run's down the road at 70+...And the Hills 855 Big Cummins does it all...You need more storage?...Do like the "Hound" did years ago....go to the roof...hahahah....had to said...yes go to a trailer...the inside you can do all...I put in tile, full size tub and shower...Yes it can look as nice as the Best Eagle conversion on the road...Ron | ||
| sylverstone (Sylverstone_pd4501864)
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ron lies. his bus looks better than any eagle conversion i have ever seen. -dd | ||
| David Hartley (Drdave)
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You need excellent steering ability, High ground clearance, wide tires and all the power that you can muster to the ground. Why not a 6X4 Schoolie ( all wheel drive! ) with wides on the front end. Or maybe a Crown with 8 drive wheels on the rear. Raised suspension and turbo'd engine, 10 speed and so on. | ||
| FAST FRED Rating: N/A |
Why not a 6X4 Schoolie ( all wheel drive! ) Just go to West VA and pick up a FACTORY 4 wheel drive Skoolie built by International. The nice DT 466 is very reliable and sure is cheap to rebuild! If we go camping any further North in Canada we might be looking at that option too! Hudson Bay watch those fishies! FAST FRED | ||
| NewbeeMC9 Rating: N/A |
Goto the roof, want expandablity, mount a suplus pop-up camper body up there for the kids. You'll love the view! I spent new years eve getting my MC9 unstuck from my freinds drive way, don't think I would attmpt the logging road in the present set-up. I even try to avoid rr tracks with a hump. And the extra 5 feet have to be dealt with outside the bus also. My $.005 NewbeeMC9 |