| Author |
Message |
Henry 96A3 (Hank)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 10, 2006 - 3:55 pm: | |
I got my first bus in early Dec of '05. Since then I've been fussing over it on a regular basis, getting it out for a spin every week or so and scouring the manual and this forum to learn as much as I can about these things. Now that spring is upon us I'm itching to take it on a camping trip. We tend to prefer parks that aren't too developed (for lack of a better word). One of the things I wonder if I'll regret about buying a 40' bus is if it will restrict us from going to the type of campsites we like. Many of the sites we've visited in the past have plenty of big stick & staple rigs, 5th wheels, etc but I don't recall seeing buses. Do any of you guys make a habit of visiting your average state park? Does your rig sink into the ground? What are your experiences on decent gravel roads like the ones in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for example? (obviously I know I can't hit the jeep trails!) Have you ever been turned away by the ranger? Hassled by the police? Do "environmentally conscience" folks in VW Westfallias look at you with reproach as you pull up in a huge mountain of roaring oil dripping steel? I'd love to hear about other people's experiences and stories with non "RV" parks.
Henry 96A3 |
Brian Brown (Blue_velvet)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 10, 2006 - 5:10 pm: | |
We've done a handfull of state parks in our rig, a 35' GMC 4106 in the past year. We actually prefer them over the commercial CG's... bigger spaces, more trees, less "upity" folks. Our family prefers the great outdoors to hot tubs and laundry facilities.
Now, some state and federal parks are limited to 35' rigs, so check before you book a site.
As far as busses go, if yours is in good shape (and I suspect a 96A3 would be!), you won't get too many sideways glances. And if you do, who cares? What they don't know is a bus makes for the BEST motorhome: safe, realiable, efficient, and oodles of storage. You will be in the minority, so enjoy your rarified status. And don't be too surprised if you get a lot of envious glances and folks wanting to check out your rig. There's just something about busses...
Oh, and a highway coach should stay on the pavement or VERY hard-packed road-base. The gravel and mud are not good for such a heavy coach and the air cleaners aren't usually designed to handle the dust.
My $0.02,
Brian Brown
PD4106-1175
Longmont, CO
www.brownland.org/bus/ |
JR
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 10, 2006 - 10:14 pm: | |
As one that frequents Bluegrass festivals, I can say, with some authority, that most 40' buses will get soo stuck on wet grass. Even flat wet grass. Mud is an absolute no-no.
However, if you pull into a dry hard place, unless the monsoons hit, you'll probably be able to pull out of most campground parking areas. Buses don't do mud, or any soft surface. Most campgrounds have gravel or pavement. If you're out in the dry west, you'll be okay anywhere other than sand.
As Brian said, depending on the coach, some really stir up some dirt. MCIs aren't that bad, and the air intake is in the LH radiator compartment...which is pretty high.
When parking in unimproved areas, I usually park on high areas so that the exit will be downhill. Don't get more that a buslength from an all-weather road...or you'll be living there if the rains begin. Never park in a low "sump" parking area. A bus will indeed sink into soft ground.
If you buy a tag axle coach, you can unload the tags for improved traction...albeit minimally improved traction.
Keep in mind that a large RV will have the same problems. Most of the nice pusher 36' and up, weigh close to what a light bus conversion may weigh. Just under 30K lbs.
If you ever get stuck, don't dink around trying to get out. You'll tear up the diff, or trans. Get a tractor or wrecker to pull it out. In really bad situations, a small crawler is best. I've managed to get stuck in my horsepasture once, but never at a campsite...improved or otherwise. But you gotta think about how you're going to get out...before you have a problem.
Best, JR |
Timnvt (Timnvt)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 10, 2006 - 10:46 pm: | |
Where ever I park my bus at home, whether on the dirt driveway or out on the grass, I always park it on plywood. The pieces I use are about 2- 2'x4' for the single axle in the rear and 2-1'x4' pieces for the front wheels . I have never had problems on the grass lawn or the mud driveway in spring if I park it on 3/4" plywood. The few times I've parked at a CC where it looked earthy I did the same with smaller pieces to avoid trouble.
FWIW, Tim. |
FAST FRED
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 11, 2006 - 6:15 am: | |
Question "How do you get to Carnegy Hall?"
Practice!
How do you fit into campsites that were created long ago when a 30ft trailer and 35 Buick were "top of the line"
Practice!
The long wheelbase and resultant turning radius WILL keep you out of a very few state and county park fine campsites.
In some you won't even be able to navigate the access road thru the trees to go SEE the site first.
In an old small local place we ALWAYS walk the camp road find the site, and exit as the coach will need to.
So far only ONE place was totally unusable ,
everything was fine till the last U turn , surrounded by trees, at the exit.
This was a power company rec site ,on a nice lake, so there was no demand by owners of 40-45 ft waggons for access.
Remember Blue Bird named their 31 ft Skoolie based Wanderlodges "30's" to get access to these old state parks.
Walk thru and practice, ,,or you WILL be sorry!.
FAST FRED |
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