| Author | Message | ||
| Thomas Weeks
Rating: N/A |
Hello, my name is Tom and this is my first post to BusNuts, so please forgive me if I should fail some rule of protocol here, I'm sure I'll learn as I go along. As you can tell, I am a newbie to the bus thing and I come here seeking the collective knowledge of those who've gone before me. I'll make this as short as I can, and thank you for your indulgence. For the last several years I've been considering a bus conversion, primarily for use as a mobile shop/office for my electronics service business and living space for when I travel. I've seen many wonderful buses for sale, but they are usually set up either more for recreational travel and living space, or entertainer touring, and I would need a coach designed and constructed to accomodate my unique and specific set of requirements. Not having the funds to pay a professional converter to construct what I want, and having a reasonably broad skill base, I feel I should probably undertake the conversion myself as a whole, contracting services as necessary. Therefore, my questions to the kind and experienced members of this group, are as follows: a) What type bus, if there is any particular one in your experience, lends itself easier to modifications and conversion? Is there any particular one to get, or to stay away from? I have been looking at MCI's, Eagles, GMC's and Prevost. I've seen more conversion info out there on Eagles and MCI's, but what's the consensus for the best conversion candidate on a budget? b) I have been around (and on) tour buses all my professional life (entertainment industry), but I have never driven one. My experience driving anything longer than my Cadillac Fleetwood is limited to the occasional 24ft box truck. Should I get professional bus driver training in order to undertake being able to safely and successfully handle one of these? c) I am well versed in electronics, carpentry and other general areas. To a degree I am theoretically versed in mechanics, but sorely short practical experience so I know to leave the engine and transmission to the pro's. I am considering taking welding at the local community college so that I may do most of that sort of thing myself. Any other course of study you could suggest? d) I estimate a budget of $50,000 to $80,000 (including the initial cost of bus) would allow me to successfully complete this over a 5 year period doing most of it myself. I am sure that millions could be spent doing this, but am I in a range of reasonability here? e) The kicker question, Am I Crazy for Considering This? Thanks for your indulgence Tom analogdinosaur@yahoo.com | ||
| Chuck Lott (Chuckmc8)
Rating: N/A |
Tom, If you have the $50 to $80K to spend up front, you can buy a very nice bus that is already converted. Converted from new buses show up on ebay quite often in that price range, and may just need some updating with fabrics & such, but are extremely low mile coaches. If you have the same budget and just would like to do the work yourself,You can do that, but all your labor contributed on the project will be "free" (and 2000+ hours). I compare the bus to a bass boat and the labor "fishing". Working on the bus is fun.But, you rarely recover your labor when you sell the bus. Shopping for a quality conversion in a solid bus you get soemone elses labor for 'free' and get to play right away. If the conversion is not a pro job, just be careful of the materials and labor skills. However,there are some awesome owner converter coaches that rival or exceed many pro conversions. You're in good company here either way you go. Folks here have the gamut of experiences and stories. Welcome. | ||
| Rob King Rating: N/A |
Hi Tom Crazy, hardly, because if you are then most of us here are in the same boat with you for we share many of the same reasons for doing a conversion ourselves. Now to the questions: a. I choose a Prevost because I like the looks but it is not a budget bus, in fact no bus is but there are less expensive ones in initial purchase. Those tend to be MCI, Eagle and GMC.If you consider raising the roof important then don't choose an MCI or GMC because their construction makes doing so not advised. b. My experience was as a farm kid and I drove my Prevost from Las Vegas to Missouri without a hitch. c. Even though I was taught welding at home as a kid, I took it in local vo-tech, probably didn't need to but I feel better that I did and that is key. Psychology for self analysis when you have those moments when you wonder what the heck caused you to start this "process". Course, I am just kidding about the last one!!! d. Yes, toward the mid to upper end of the range. e. Like I said earlier, not unless all the rest of us are to AND I know I am not so neither are you!!! Shall I say, "Welcome to the insanity of busnutville". Rob 91 Prevost LeMirage Missouri | ||
| Ed Jewett (Kristinsgrandpa)
Rating: N/A |
Were I to look for another coach to start on, it would be and MCI 102 C-3. They have a 6' 10" ceiling and don't need a roof raise. I decided not to raise my roof and am sorry I didn't every day. It's not too late for me but I'm way behind on my schedule and won't take the time. Also drive the thing and see what the max speed is. I drove mine but am changing tire and wheel size to give me a little more top end speed. Just keep reading the BB's and checking the archives. Don't be afraid to ask questions no one will criticize (Ian will bar them, I think). No question is too small and some of the smartest people in the world answer them on here. When I go to bed at night I lay thinking "Wow its going to be a long day tomorrow, it doesnt get dark till 9PM and I can get a lot done". Ed | ||
| Thomas Weeks
Rating: N/A |
Thanks to Chuck and Rob for the great knowledge and encouragement. I really only budgeted at absolute most $20k for the initial purchase of the bus, with the rest of the funds coming from my cash flow over the next 3-5 years. I've seen many great coaches on Ebay and elsewhere, but what I need in the interior of a conversion is so specific to me that I would never find it, so I'm left once again to do it myself. I know I'd never get my money out of the coach if I sold it, so it would be for life, unless someone bought my business with it. Looks like I'm in good company though. Thanks Tom Weeks analogdinosaur@yahoo.com | ||
| sylverstone (Sylverstone_pd4501864)
Rating: N/A |
hey tom, love your e mail address  ... anyway, what special needs do you have for the bus? i would be really surprised if whatever you need hasn'tbeen done by at least one of us before welcome aboard -dd | ||
| Greg Peterson Rating: N/A |
I think there are two important factors to consider when thinking about doing a bus conversion. 1. How fast do you need to finish it? If you need this for a business or want to use it with your kids before they go off to college, then your time frame is fairly short. If you are doing it for a hobby or diversion and will eventually go traveling when you retire then the time for completion may not be very critical. In fact some people like to use the bus as a reason to get out of the “ house environment”. These guys would like it to last forever or until they get divorced. 2. How much free time do you have? You may be retired or independently wealthy and have a lot of free time available. The other scenario is you have a demanding full time job or have other family commitments that consume a lot of your spare time. Considering the above two factors the common problem is that a bus conversion is going to take many man-hours to complete. Obviously, if you need the bus quickly and have no spare time… that’s a problem. If you don’t need the bus quickly and have a lot of spare time…. that would be the best and least stressful condition. Suggestions: If you have no time and want it done fast then Chuck’s suggestion about buying a converted bus is good. Maybe you can find one that you can modify the interior somewhat in order to fit your requirements. Having some of the basic conversion requirements done will save you valuable time. The other option is to get help. This is what I have done. I have done some work on the bus myself but have got a lot of help from a couple guys in Florida. Without doing this I might be dead before I ever finished the conversion. This is going to be more expensive then doing it all yourself. The good side is things will get done. What ever you do don’t convince yourself that you can do all the required work really fast. Once you get into it, like I did, you will find that there are a lot of details that can take time especially if you have never done them before. Unless you are a superhero like Capt. Ron, you should figure on extensive man-hours. I would not worry too much about learning to drive a bus. Just watch your turns and remember you can’t stop like a car but dumb car drivers will think you can. It is way easier than backing a truck and grain trailer into a corncrib with only a few inches of clearance on each side. I always let my Dad do that so I wouldn’t get yelled at if I scuffed something. Good luck with what ever you do and a bus conversion is an interesting hobby. | ||
| Thomas Weeks
Rating: N/A |
Thanks Ed! I've seen so much discussion regarding "raise or don't raise" that I'm not sure of that issue. 6'10" is a good bit of space, and I need all I can get as I'm a big guy (5' 11"), but how badly does the increased height restrict your access on roads with short overhead clearances? I'd want (and need) to get this bus just about anywhere in the states without a problem. I've seen those MCI's on Ebay for about $25k. Is that about average? Thanks Tom Weeks analogdinosaur@yahoo.com | ||
| Thomas Weeks
Rating: N/A |
Thanks, Sylverstone and Greg! You bring up some really good issues, Greg, and I'm caught between on many of them. My concept for this is to create the ultimate mobile workspace for my business, as well as to provide myself with a comfortable and functional living arrangement while on the road. My business is primarily recording studio design, installation and service. Coach would need to include a functional workspace setup for my test gear, parts storage, etc. I'd really like to come up with an exact design, but it's a bit hard to do until I commit to a bus and understand its possibilities. Do I consider this business or pleasure? Well, I'd like to consider it business and put such a beast into service tomorrow, but my best efforts to justify it as a true business investment has failed at every turn, because I can't convince myself that my clients would pay an extra dollar for it. So, in reality, what it would really be is the ultimate convenience asset strictly for my comfort. That's the way I justify this. Thanks Tom Weeks analogdinosaur@yahoo.com | ||
| motorcoach1 Rating: N/A |
in my experience on most buses if you need to be on the road and have few failures the bluebird is the road champion in all cases and some will dis agree but i never had a road kill and parts are readily available a .. may not look great but it will be there for you | ||
| motorcoach1 Rating: N/A |
just remember bluebirds go any where there a local school | ||
| james dean boggs (Jd_boggs)
Rating: N/A |
Tom, I converted my bus for that very purpose. I use it for work and play. I build test equipment for the electronics companies in San Jose, CA but I live in the southern part of the state near Palm Springs about 500 miles away. So, I converted the bus to facilitate loading all my tools and parts need to finish my task at the job site. I tow along a small Ford Ranger to get around but my bus is the workhorse. I bring EVERYTHING! For your budget you could get one already converted but you may need to make adjustments to fit your liking. Theres' one bus on auction that is now a mobile blood bank. It has shelving and cabinets already in place. Be patient wait for the right one. And good luck! | ||
| sylverstone (Sylverstone_pd4501864)
Rating: N/A |
tom, don't over analyze it. at it's most basic, a bus is simply an 8'6" wide 40' long room with a lower than standard celing that can move itself. mobile studio? http://www.lemobile.com/ and http://www.treehousemobile.com/mobileRecording.html show how it's done. anechoic chamber? http://www.eckel.ca/project_250hz.html anything is possible -dd | ||
| Bob Greenwood Rating: N/A |
I would suggest that you get a bus with bays...and do the plumbing FIRST.and do the DRAIN lines FIRST. this is usualy over the bays,in the middle of the bus | ||
| Kyle Brandt (Kyle4501)
Rating: N/A |
The guy I bought my bus from replaced it with a long nose Freightliner (sleeper cab) OTR truck. He had the frame stretched & a big box put on. Half the box is bunks & living room, the rest is a seperate area for gear. The waste tanks & generator are side saddle mounted & he has no problems with service at truck stops while on the road. While not a bus, it is an option to consider. kyle4501 | ||
| Bruce Larsen Rating: N/A |
Why tie yourself to a 1/2 Bus Conversion 1/2 Mobile Shop? Buy a nice ready-made Conversion, and tow a really nice BIG TRAILER that you build to your special specs, set up with all your gear! As far as what you need to successfully drive a large Bus/RV, I think one of those funny "Old Man" type HATS, and a pair of the wrap-around "I've Just Been To The Eye Doctor and Had My Pupils Dilated" SUN-GLASSES will suffice. (They seem to work for most everyone else I see driving one!) Best 'o Luck! Bruce Larsen Note: I have been watching and learning from this board for some time now, awaiting completion of my purchase of a '68 4107. | ||
| Robert Wayne Aviles (243bbus)
Posted From: 70.173.224.78 Rating: N/A |
Welcome to "the club", Tom! I'm converting a school bus (1988 International/Carpenter) into my dream motor home. Why a "skoolie"? They're built "battle tank tough", they don't cost as much (my brother-in-law bought this fine bus for me for $1,500.00). So if cost is a factor in your decision, I'd recommend a "skoolie". If you want storage bays (assuming the bus you buy doesn't already have them), who says you can't build your own. You said you're 5'11" tall, well I'm 5'8", and I have a good few inches between my head and the ceiling (near the bus's side wall). But if you find yourself taller than the bus you bought, you could always raise the roof. The only real draw back to a "skoolie" is they're geared real low, so you'd almost need to replace the bus's rear end with that of an 18 wheeler or bread truck. I'm currently at this state, where I want my bus to go 65 (instead of 55) on the freeway. I'm looking for a "donor" rear end, because my bus currently goes uphill at only 10 mph! Once I get this problem solved, It'll be "dang" the torpedoes, full speed ahead. Hope this will help you in your decision. (Message edited by 243bbus on July 06, 2006) |