| Author | Message | ||
| Jim Schrecengost (Schrec)
Registered Member Username: Schrec Post Number: 1 Registered: 2-2007 Posted From: 67.165.33.150 Rating: N/A |
Thinking of buying a 1964 GM 4106. Does anyone out there have the inside usable dimensions. Trying to do a layout to see if it will work for my family. Also any pros or cons about this year and type of bus. Thanks | ||
| James Stacy (Jimstacy)
Registered Member Username: Jimstacy Post Number: 37 Registered: 1-2001 Posted From: 75.14.7.151 Rating: N/A |
Check under "Articles of Interest" Floor plan for 4104. Dimensions are the same as 4106. How big a family? | ||
| Jim Schrecengost (Schrec)
Registered Member Username: Schrec Post Number: 2 Registered: 2-2007 Posted From: 67.165.33.150 Rating: N/A |
Have a wife and five kids, More than likely it will be me and the two boys all the time, but i got to have sleeping area for everything | ||
| James Stacy (Jimstacy)
Registered Member Username: Jimstacy Post Number: 38 Registered: 1-2001 Posted From: 75.14.7.151 Rating: N/A |
Wheel wells take up a lot of room, limit flexibility of floor plan. Not impossible, just requires more planning. Sleeping for seven is going to require that some get well aquainted. Twin beds work best in back due to large wheel wells, limited headroom at the wall, etc. How about bunk beds on each side in the back? A fold dowm dinette and a "jacknife" sofa can each sleep two smaller critters or one adult. The old sleeping bag on the floor trick is OK for temporary (week end) use. Bunk beds in the back allow use of the upper bunks for much needed storage when they won't be needed for sleeping. Closet storage is always lacking in an RV. My design calls for an eight foot wide closet with furnace on closet floor. Put drawers everywhere you can (under dinette seats, under oven, under frig, under bunks, etc.). Don't forget, the shower can have a rod near the roof to double as a closet. Email if I can help further. | ||
| Jeffrey Smith (Greenhornet)
Registered Member Username: Greenhornet Post Number: 11 Registered: 12-2006 Posted From: 198.136.32.74 Rating: N/A |
I have 3 kids and the wife to think about too! I saw a neat idea about changing a downstairs storage bay into a sleeping area for the kids. It was done on a conversion site for the Motor Cabin. It used a hatch from the floor to gain access. You could use the bay for storage when not in use for sleeping. Otherwise the bunks, like on some Entertainer coaches would be another good use of space. 3 high is do-able on one side, from what I have seen. | ||
| Jim Schrecengost (Schrec)
Registered Member Username: Schrec Post Number: 3 Registered: 2-2007 Posted From: 67.165.33.150 Rating: N/A |
Thats a great idea.. anyone ever do this or have any ideas on how to do it????? | ||
| jim morrison (Jim_morrison)
Registered Member Username: Jim_morrison Post Number: 79 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 72.142.29.218 Rating: N/A |
in mexico the co driver has a sleeping berth in the front bay , so funny to see, he has a cot and fridge, and some have a tv, but he has to wait till the bus stops to use the washroom , or he had bottles lol.....jim | ||
| Bob greenwood (Bob_greenwood)
Registered Member Username: Bob_greenwood Post Number: 694 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 64.136.49.228 Rating: N/A |
I saw one on t.v. a while back,the kids tilted up a cusion on the divan & went below....... | ||
| Harmer (Dave_4104_in_victoria)
Registered Member Username: Dave_4104_in_victoria Post Number: 12 Registered: 2-2007 Posted From: 24.69.65.204 Rating: N/A |
I recall a buffalo conversion done. I think it was called southern comfort. I ran into the fellow who bought the bus, not the original owner, in Holtvill hot springs a couple of years ago. The builder had made the centre bay i believe into the master bedroom, pop up floor with shocks i tink. I think if memory serves me, it had ships port holes for windows. Cool idea, but the con is you lose bay space if you need it. | ||
| Jason Whitaker (Jeepme)
Registered Member Username: Jeepme Post Number: 41 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 216.17.251.109 Rating: N/A |
I set up mine to sleep my wife and I and 4 kids. One requirement was I wanted everyone to have a permanent bed. No rolling out the sofa or converting the dinette when it's the kids bedtime. We put a queen bed in the back (sideways) and four bunks in the hall. Has worked real good on the two long trips we've taken so far. Now though I'm going to have to make room for our 5th that we just had three months ago. She won't take up much room for a while though.  I have the plan for my bus, if you want to take a look I'll scan it in. I don't think you'll want to do a basement bedroom on a 4104/4106. The bays are just too short and you only have two! Jason | ||
| Jim Schrecengost (Schrec)
Registered Member Username: Schrec Post Number: 4 Registered: 2-2007 Posted From: 67.165.33.150 Rating: N/A |
Jason, if you could send me some pics. Almost got the wife onboard with my new hobby. Just trying to show her how good it could be before I go and spend the money. email schrecengost7@comcast.net | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 423 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.126.56 Rating: N/A |
Jim, if you end up buying the coach. You can make full size mockups of all the interior items out of cardboard and tape them in place. Really cheap to do and you can get the family involved. Keeps the interest and motivation up when some repairs cost more than wife envisioned. SOME? HA!! Anyway...this gives you great visual as to the size of isleways and clearances before you start the permanent conversion. | ||
| Jim Schrecengost (Schrec)
Registered Member Username: Schrec Post Number: 5 Registered: 2-2007 Posted From: 67.165.33.150 Rating: N/A |
John, I was thinking of that. I was just looking for the approx. length and width of usable space. Trying to see if I have the room for 7 or should I go to a 40footer (and more$$$). | ||
| Laryn Christley (Barn_owl)
Registered Member Username: Barn_owl Post Number: 1 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 71.254.45.168 Rating: N/A |
How are you going to use the bus? I have a 4106 a wife and six children, and we go places that would be difficult for a tall and long forty footer. Many of the state parks we stay in were built back in the depression and are hard pressed to handle a 35’ machine. There are places that will not allow 40’ coaches to even drive the scenic route (Calf.maybe? Someone will know more about that). The wheel humps that were mentioned are small and easy to work around; I wouldn’t even worry about them. The problem I had at first is that there are not a lot of examples out there of designs that are creative, sleep a large family, and still have the flexibility to live in during the day. I feel that I have some ideas that work, and you are welcome to them if you want to email me. I don’t want to rehash all of the benefits of the 4106; you can search that information through out the posts on this and the other board. I do believe though that a 4106 is a good one to get started in. A lot of bus for the money. (Message edited by barn_owl on February 18, 2007) | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 426 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.126.56 Rating: N/A |
When I was a kid, my dad converted a 30' 1948 Chevy school bus into a motor home or house car in those days ( 1953 to 1964 ). We were a family of seven and traveled over USA one summer, Rehoboth Beach Del and Key West several times a year for several years till we got too old. It worked but only because we ,all 5 boys were little...ages 3 to 11. I imagine a 35 footer will work and other posters are right; 40 footers are better choice, but you would be amazed how much those extra 5 feet make getting around more difficult or eliminate some roads and parks, also because they are taller. Probably the shorter one would be a better place to start if your family is young, but as they get older they are going to need more room to stretch to to have each ones personal area while traveling. When they get old enough, some probably are going to lose some interest in travelling, girlfriends, boyfriends, etc,. By that time you are probably going to be looking for a newer and or larger coach as your needs will change as to your layout.As for your dimensions, here are the approximate ones from a 4104. Inside width- 90 inches, inside length- 381 inches.( from inside engine cover 3 feet off floor to base of dash.) Engine cover slopes to front of coach at bottom and 06 is going to be an inch or two less. 90 inch measurement is taken at wall between windows. There is also a 7x8 inch box along floor on each side for heat ducting- don't know if 06 is same. Small wheel well humps front and rear both sides. | ||
| Jeffrey Smith (Greenhornet)
Registered Member Username: Greenhornet Post Number: 12 Registered: 12-2006 Posted From: 198.136.32.74 Rating: N/A |
Here are a couple pics of what I was talking about. Scroll down to the bottom and the kids are in the compartment. http://www.motorcabin.com/photos.html |