| Author |
Message |
Doug J 4104 (Doug_j)
Registered Member
Username: Doug_j
Post Number: 8
Registered: 8-2006
Posted From: 207.199.206.169
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 01, 2006 - 3:39 pm: | |
I am currently busless and looking. Having owned a 4521 # 271, and a 4104 # 4139 I have some experience with a bus. What are the differences between the 4106 and 4905's? I appreciate any and all info. |
H3-40 (Ace)
Registered Member
Username: Ace
Post Number: 378
Registered: 10-2004
Posted From: 75.200.5.151
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 01, 2006 - 4:30 pm: | |
4106 is 35 feet
4905 is 40 feet
4106 has shorter bays than the 4905 as the 4905 is a little taller
Appearance wise, they are close except the 4905 has what they call a hump as in Buffalo and the 4106 is flat.
As far as mechanicals, I'll leave that to the pros!
Ace |
Glenn Williams (Glenn)
Registered Member
Username: Glenn
Post Number: 8
Registered: 6-2006
Posted From: 207.179.92.18
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 01, 2006 - 4:38 pm: | |
The 4106 is 35ft, the 4905 is 40ft. The 4905 has taller storage bays and some models had a pnumatically raied and lowered tag axle in the rear bays. |
Glenn Williams (Glenn)
Registered Member
Username: Glenn
Post Number: 9
Registered: 6-2006
Posted From: 207.179.92.18
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 01, 2006 - 4:43 pm: | |
Whoops. Took a little too long to reply! |
Frank Allen (Frank66)
Registered Member
Username: Frank66
Post Number: 40
Registered: 10-2005
Posted From: 207.200.116.13
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 01, 2006 - 5:16 pm: | |
4106 is 35 ft, smaller bays, no hump, has same engine rear end gears in the 4905 are often the slower version, also 4905 i beleive is 24 volts as opposed to 12 volts for the 06. both came pretty much with a spicer 4 sp but many changed to automatic. 73 and later 05 s have sheppard steering from factory.
Frank allen
4106 |
Tom Caffrey (Pvcces)
Registered Member
Username: Pvcces
Post Number: 1023
Registered: 5-2001
Posted From: 65.74.65.54
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 01, 2006 - 9:45 pm: | |
As to the rear axles; 4106s have a nine tooth pinion and a 33 tooth ring gear, while the 4905 has a nine tooth pinion and a 35 tooth ring gear.
These affect the performance, economy and top speed. The 4106 can do 80 mph, while the 4905 will do about 74 with the usual governor setting of 2100 RPM.
For what it's worth.
Tom Caffrey PD4106-2576
Suncatcher
Ketchikan, Alaska |
Brian Brown (Blue_velvet)
Registered Member
Username: Blue_velvet
Post Number: 400
Registered: 6-2005
Posted From: 72.19.152.144
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, December 02, 2006 - 1:36 am: | |
Also, the '06 has a dry clutch and the Buffs the wet clutch. The wet clutch is typically harder to get into and out of gear when stopped. The wet clutch might have more longevity, due to the lubrication.
Doug, there are also 35' Buffalos, the 4107s and 4108s. The '08 is 24v (a good thing, IMHO) and obviously newer, but otherwise almost identical.
HTH,
Brian Brown
4108-216 w/ V730
Longmont, CO |
FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member
Username: Fast_fred
Post Number: 49
Registered: 10-2006
Posted From: 4.235.250.250
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, December 02, 2006 - 8:17 am: | |
The 40 ft will weigh a few thousand pounds more , and being taller will never get the mileage of the sleeker 06.
The 40 ft also has a longer wheelbase so is less handy in old towns.
The window in the 40 ft roof is a Godsend in dreary rainy days , as it lets in light.
The choice is always the same , you driving or playing house?
FAST FRED |
Doug J 4104 (Doug_j)
Registered Member
Username: Doug_j
Post Number: 9
Registered: 8-2006
Posted From: 207.199.206.169
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, December 02, 2006 - 10:38 am: | |
Fred, we will be driving...Camping with the kids, Nascar races etc. I build motorhomes for a living, and have just always loved the power and smooth ride of the old busses. Brian what is better/different about the 24v system? Also are the 4905, 4107, and 4108's aluminum body and frame like the 4104 and 4106's? Do they all have the same airbag suspension, and are they air beam or tanks? What are some unique to the 4905 questions should one ask and what should I be looking out for on this coach? Thanks |
Brian Brown (Blue_velvet)
Registered Member
Username: Blue_velvet
Post Number: 404
Registered: 6-2005
Posted From: 72.19.152.144
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, December 02, 2006 - 12:17 pm: | |
Doug, 24v passes HALF the current of the 12v system. In an old bus... and the inevitable corrosion, this is important. No more so than in the starting/ charging system, where wires are #4/0 (welding cable size) on the 12v starter can be #2/0 on the 24v (and muuch more readily available/ cheaper).
When it gets cold out, it's not uncommon to need over 600A of starting current to a 12v starter.
A 24v starter just fires the engine to life instantly, seems. A 12v has to crank it, at least that's been my experience owning both types (a 4106, then a 4108).
Also with 24v, you have a MONSTER 200+ amp alternator that can easily power an SW Trace unit, 4000w+, if you so desire.
Getting 12v off of a 24v system isn't hard. You can use an equalizer or center-tap the batts if you have small loads. My bus has a completely isolated 12v house system with its own alternator... but I wouldn't do it that way if I was converting one from scratch. I'd go with a 24v inverter and make most everything AC-powered. But that's just me...
And yes, Buffalos are all aluminum body, except for a few parts like caps and small reinforcing. After having Buff bays, I really can't go back to shorter ones. And the Buff bay doors hinge upward instead of outward, like on the earlier models... which makes a difference in campgrounds (and no "head-knockers").
I prefer the 35' coach myself, since we don't have a toad and use ours like a car. We've driven our busses all over... beaches, big towns, small towns, even downtowns... no problem. My 4108 with the automatic makes it a lot easier in this respect. I had to give up about 5mph top end and 1mpg over the 4spd 4106... but it was worth it. The 4spd wouldn't even back the bus into my driveway without burning the clutch. And now those 8-point turns are a lot less nerve-wracking! But that's just me...
Another point: a 40' Buff has a massive wheelbase and takes FOREVER to turn it. More so than any three-axle coach, so this is an important consideration.
HTH,
Brian |
Brian Brown (Blue_velvet)
Registered Member
Username: Blue_velvet
Post Number: 405
Registered: 6-2005
Posted From: 72.19.152.144
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, December 02, 2006 - 12:22 pm: | |
Oh, and all parlor suspensions from 4106 on had eight rolling-lobe bellows, no air beams. On Buffs, watch for rust/ corrosion around the D windows and at the skylights. Also check where the caps are riveted on for leakage and rust. My Buff came with fiberglass front and rear caps (looks more like an Eagle).
Check rear bulkheads for cracks/ deterioration, esp. if an automatic was installed at some point.
HTH,
Brian |
Jerry Liebler (Jerry_liebler)
Registered Member
Username: Jerry_liebler
Post Number: 235
Registered: 3-2005
Posted From: 71.31.2.245
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, December 02, 2006 - 5:17 pm: | |
Doug,
Another advantage of the bufalos over the 4106 is the absolutely flat floor in the bedroom, no wheel wells. I'll contradict one of the previous posts and say that the sidewalls of the bufalos, from floor to drip rail are steel and hence the warning about rust around windows.
Regards
Jerry 4107 1120 |
FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member
Username: Fast_fred
Post Number: 52
Registered: 10-2006
Posted From: 4.235.255.46
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, December 03, 2006 - 1:25 pm: | |
24v lets you use cheaper wire to power a huge inverter.
12V is far cheaper for bulbs , fans and the many RV toys .
Same cost for batteries.
FAST FRED |