| Author | Message | ||
| Manny Montesino (Buscrazyinfl)
Rating: N/A |
What suggestions are out there for newcomers to the world of conversion buses? We are particularly interested in MC-9s. We have been looking online and have found some websites.We have also heard about a rally held in Arcadia, FL in Dec. We currently have a 2000 Coachmen Class C Santara, but have really become interested in conversion buses, and are trying to learn as much as we can about them before we make our first purchase. Any help would be greatly appreciated. | ||
| John Jewett (Jayjay)
Rating: N/A |
Jack and Paula Conrad host one of the finest rallyes anywhere over the New Year's holiday each year. Try to go if at all possible. |@n will have info and entry blanks here in the early fall. Lurk on as many bulletin boards as you have time, and don't hesitate to ask questions. It makes no difference whether you are a conversion owner or not, just join the fray. Keep looking and just when you least expect it...... B-O-O-M,- the bus of your dreams will magically appear in your yard!!! Welcome to the hobby, Good Luck, and Cheers...JJ | ||
| Kyle Brandt (Kyle4501)
Rating: N/A |
You need to decide what all you want from the bus, then you will be able to narrow the field. Don't limit yourself to early in your search as there are lots of great buses out there. I had decided on a MC9 when I stumbled across a GM PD4501 that I couldn't pass up. Learn as much as you can about as many as you can, then you can make a better informed choice. | ||
| Greg Peterson Rating: N/A |
Since you haven’t got very many replies I will throw in my two cents worth. You probably have read all the articles on this BB. Another good place for info is coach conversion central. http://users.cwnet.com/%7Ethall/ Fred Hobe has some excellent info on bus conversions and will give you some ideas of what is required in order to convert it correctly. Some of the posters on the boards know it all but Fred has actually done it all. He is a good guy and you can probably get him to answer a couple questions if you email him. Another good source for info is the bus conversion magazine. Get a subscription to it for a year. You might get some good ideas and you will help to support another good BB. In my opinion, I think you should buy the newest and best bus you can afford. Even if the cost makes you slow down on the conversion process until you have more money available. Even though they look cool, I do not like buses that are out of production or the companies have gone bankrupt. Even though many of the parts are standard from trucks many are also specific to the bus. You could have problems getting parts for it especially if you’re out on the road. For example I just bought a new cruise control to replace the old one that is out of production. Trying to buy parts for the old one was more expensive then buying the whole new model. If you can afford a newer 4 stroke you are better off. You will get better fuel mileage and have more torque than the old two strokes. I like my old 2 stroke in my bus but I have found that finding anyone competent to work on it is not easy. You have to find an “old guy” and they are retiring or dieing off. Good luck getting much help at the DD distributor, I already had that experience. Before you buy a used bus get an expert mechanic to look it over. It is well worth the money. Just think how terrible it would be to brake down on the road on your way home. You will have to deal with the problems of having the bus toed to the nearest truck garage and then get hosed good since you’re a desperate man out on the road. The reason the bus companies get rid of old buses is because they are starting to have trouble with them. They are spending time and material in order to keep them running and do not want to put big money into fixing up an old bus. You will read some post where someone has claimed to buy a bus for $5000 that has a new engine, new tranny, new everything in it. Most companies would not put all this money into a bus and then sell it cheap. This is not my luck maybe it is yours but I would rather believe that you will not get more that what you pay for and can easily get less. Good Luck and don’t be in too big of a hurry…do the research before you get bus fever too bad. | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
With one comment to follow that last post? Most of the Gubberment aided companies that run the "line runs", will replace engines and total drive trains, seconds prior to the sale of that same bus. Why? Why ask? They don't care, and needn't should you! You'll be safer to buy from an operator who has buses in service, than from a private party, or a Church. Now, that said.... When you buy any bus, you're buying what the operator feels is too costly to run. When you buy from the second, third or fourth party, You'll be buying a bus that has had it's last fumes exhausted in the worst of ways... Driven hard and put away wet. Grab your wallet and be prepared for the worst. You'll be buying a bus that needs more work than you can afford. If the commercial operator couldn't afford to keep it in service, can you? The plus side? Five years ago, I had an engine replaced (no charge to me), in a 1985 Winnebago, for $12,000. The cost today for any RV engine replacement, is about $10k-$15k. A bus engine is considerably less! A bus is considerably safer to drive, than any commercially made RV A bus will survive an accident, that would destroy any commercially made RV. Yeah, It's worth converting a bus! Do it! | ||
| Manny Montesino (Buscrazyinfl)
Posted From: 68.205.81.241 Rating: N/A |
I appreciate the comments and suggestions written in thus far....thank you to each of you who have taken the time to respond. In reference to "JohnMC9's" posting, can you further explain what you meant by "put away wet." I'm speculating it is in reference to a bus driven in the snow and salt. | ||
| Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Posted From: 207.30.189.43 Rating: N/A |
I think this saying "rode hard and put away wet" dates back to when horses were the main mode of transportation. Even today, when we use horses hard (ie. working cattle, rodeo, barrel racing, etc.), when you finish using a horse and he is soaked with sweat and/or breathing hrad, you must cool them out before putting them up. If they are "put away wet", the abundance of lactic acids in the muscles can cause serious problems such as colic, which in horses can be fatal. The horses are usually gradually cooled with a hose and walked to allow the horses body to get rid of the excess lactic acids. Your trivia for today, Jack | ||
| John MC9 Posted From: 66.217.105.211 Rating: N/A |
Thank you, Jack!! | ||
| Bob Greenwood Posted From: 65.150.45.110 Rating: N/A |
"a bus engine is considerably less" " buy from a church" stick to your sick humor.  | ||
| Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Posted From: 70.105.143.139 Rating: N/A |
Bob, I believe he was referring to NOT buying a bus from a church. Many past posts have referred to the generally very poor condition of a church bus which is due to the general lack of maintenance performed. Richard |