| Author | Message | ||
| Quest (198.29.191.147) Rating: N/A |
I thought about this string for awhile. I recently talked to someone that had a bus of one type, and had been doing quite a bit of work on it. Then come a deal on a bus more to his choosing so he bought that one, admittedly he prefered the new bus to his old one. The old one was just sold and though he admittedly had mixed feelings about the farewell, he is happy with the new aquisition. So this brings my thought, what great ideas would you like to incorporate into your bus that are not normally found in production units. My mind goes wild as I think of sliding glass doors, wood burning heaters, how about projection TV, large panoramic windows - on the sides, Sauna and a hideaway bed giving extra space for living when not in use. Have you had any wild ideas, would you actually build them in if cost restraints were not prohibitive. What are your great ideas? Q | ||
| Henry R. Bergman, Jr. (Henryofcj) (63.224.197.10)
Rating: N/A |
I would pick out another Crown Super Coach 40-foot 3-axle 10-wheeler (only a later model than my '74) and then I would just spend the money and install one of those 1000 hp Big Cam Cummins diesel engines with all the bells and whistles.... With the appropriate big 13 speed and rear gears sooosss the coach would go at least 120 mph and I could blow off ANY other coach on the road and just pay the tickets since I would be RICH!!! He he he!!! Thanks. | ||
| CoryDaneRTSIIIL (4.17.253.209) Rating: N/A |
- How about what is doable, say, thermostatically controlled heater strips in the air con units, - a fan that mounts in the open skylight for ventilation, when it gets cool, the fan shuts down to keep the coach comfortable. - I am not one for the pull outs, I think they are trouble with a capital "T", but I like the FOLDOUTS. Imagine the extra room, and it can't jam up and need a hydraulic piston to force it back into the coach. - Heaters that use no power at all, hmm I like the fireplace idea. - hallogen lamps that are on a timer and follow a dimming program you selected, - a comfortable hideaway bed, (my dog will love this one) which fits the interior space, - automatic Direct tv dish to find the hiding satalites, with a flat screen, - fold down tv and surround sound, hmmmmmm. - No black water tank! Can be done but quite the talk lately, LOL. - A nice spaceous deck on the roof, incase you are in town when the fireworks begin, LOL, if only I had the space to put one up there. - Loads of storage space and - I love the Large panoramic windows idea. - I still like my RTS so I'll keep her for the shell. - Carpet floors, maybe or perhaps plank type wood style floors with a nice throw carpet on top for easy cleaning. LOL, nothing gaudy, just comfortable and unique. - nice large sky lights for light and star gazing Hmm guess my thoughts are more practicle than amazing and unique, I don't think I will see the Fold out but many other amazing things come to mind LOL - cd | ||
| Johnny (63.159.188.112)
Rating: N/A |
12-valve Cummins with the entire Dr. Pwerformance catalog thrown at it, for ~500HP/1000-1100lb/ft, backed either with a 5+2 Spicer (which I have now) or an Eaton 7-speed.  Seriously, I'd like: A factory raised roof. Higher GVWR--25,500 should be enough, but 30K would be nice. A few Platinum Cat heaters. A bus that holds morer than 25 gallons of gas (working on it). Money falling from the sky. A free generator. | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong) (24.127.74.29)
Rating: N/A |
Henry - Wouldn't you prefer one of the Crown 10-wheelers that's a pusher?? Then you'd have some bays to play with! 8^) Cory - An RTS w/ baggage bins like a 4905 would make you VERY happy, eh? Johnny - Would a nice S-60 w/ a ten-speed OD RoadRanger fit the bill? And there are lots of buses out and about that carry more than 25 gallons of fuel, they're just not dog-nosed skoolies. . . ;^) RJ PD4106-2784 Fresno CA | ||
| FAST FRED (63.215.225.115) Rating: N/A |
I would like a time machine , so I could go back and convince GM to make a change or two. I would like them to have a version like the Flex VL100 that has a raised rear section. Have been in a few and truely think its a superior set up as the view is great in the upper 2/3. I would also try to convince them to build the Senicruiser with a Flat floor , so the folks that "need" a 40 ft coach would have it loads easier! And could still share the Joy of living in the light. FAST FRED | ||
| Johnny (63.159.125.159)
Rating: N/A |
I found a similar skoolie (Ford/Thomas gasser) with a 60-gallon tank. That's going in mine. 22 gallons at 6MPG does not = a long drive being convenient. <150 miles/tank sucks. What's an S-60? NO ROAD RANGERS! They inspire me to new levels of foul language! 7 gears are plenty, anyway. | ||
| Henry R. Bergman, Jr. (Henryofcj) (63.224.197.10)
Rating: N/A |
Hey RJ; A pusher Crown would be soosss cool but they did not make that many of them. Plus with that configeraton about the biggest (longest) mill that would fit would be some sort of V8. 8V92TI? With the admidships pancake version (like I have nows) one can hang any kind of straight six pancake mill like a Cummins Big Cam IV pumped to 1000 hp or soossss. Maybe even more. Conventional baggage bays would be soooosss neat, but I feel the real need for some real speed. He he he! Besides, why make things easy when they can be difficult in the extreme? Hey Johnny, what's wrong with 10-speeds? I gots one and they are soosss cool! RTO-910. You can shift 5-6 times and still be crossing the street! Broom, broom, broom, snick, snick, snick! He he he! Thank you, I feel better. | ||
| CoryDaneRTSIIil (4.17.253.14) Rating: N/A |
Hey RJ I read somewhere that the RTS actually had drawings for an RTS with baggage bins like a 4905, the problem is, they never made it. I think that would have been the style 2 that Gm never made. As for Lil Ole me, I like my RTS and even though the storage bay space is confined, for my use, it is probably plenty. I have one whole bay, 5' wide, 7+ feet deep and 18 or so inches high. Another 5x7+x15" then the gray water bay, and propane bay. If I add an extra potable water tank, it will go where the air con used to be. What a joy this project can be. with regards to the $$$$$$$ it can take. LOL, well, least I am still laughing - cd | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong) (24.127.74.29)
Rating: N/A |
Henry - Quite a few pusher Crowns in this neighborhood, but just six-wheelers. Both original body and final generation. Some pusher Gilligs, too! Cory - Somewhere I've got a pic of the next generation GM highway coach that never made it into production. If I can find it, I'll post it to the RTS Yahoo group photo files. Johnny - What's wrong w/ a Road Ranger? It's just a five-speed pattern you shift twice. . . and an S-60 is a Detroit Diesel Series 60 - their current production 12.7L 500+ hp four-cycle, turbocharged and aftercooled million-plus MBO straight six. RJ PD4106-2784 Fresno CA | ||
| Johnny (63.159.197.93)
Rating: N/A |
No matter how much I try, I just can't shift a RR without grinding. I can shift a Clark 5-speed, Spicer 5+2's, & Eaton Fuller 7-speeds without grinding, but never a Road Ranger. I'm partial to Cummins ISB 5.9's--500HP is as close as the phone. Wouldn't mind a 450HP Cat, though. What the heck is a Cummins Big Cam? | ||
| Henry R. Bergman, Jr. (Henryofcj) (63.224.197.10)
Rating: N/A |
A Cummins Big Cam IV is the old, no longer made, (I think) 855 cubic inch straight six 4 valve head 4 stroke diesel Cummins made for years for heavy trucks. Very successful and thousands still in daily use. The big cam version was a factory modification using larger cam lobe diameters sossss more injector stroke/pressure/volume could be used resulting in more power/economy/realibility. This mill was made from about 250 hp (what I have) up to and including a rare 475 hp twin turbo version and everything in between. Very common and the used price is still very $cheap$. The secret to having so much fun shifting the famous (infamous?) RT or RTO-910 is to do it quickly. The gear spreads are so close together, it is more like up-shifting a motorcycle. Same thing with down shifting. Just burp the throttle a LITTLE bit while double clutching, then down shift. Very easy once you get the hang of it. Heck----even I can do it. Kinda. Yea, I have heard that Crown did make some rear engine versions with the V6 and V8 Detroits. Very cool indeed. Did they have the square front and rear end design or were they rounded? Thanks. | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong) (24.127.74.29)
Rating: N/A |
Henry - Pusher Crowns were built both on the rounded and squared chassis. . . I'll snap some pics next week while I'm out & about & nuke 'em to you. . . Johnny - The RR is easy, once you figure out the shift splits. OTOH, most folk don't like to shift thru seven gears just to get to 35 mph, so they split shift it: 2nd, 4th, pull the button, 6th, 8th, 9th 10th. Especially in a light bus, compared to an 80K 18-wheeler. You just gotta have the "touch", John, you just gotta have the "touch". . . LOL RJ | ||
| Johnny (63.159.194.75)
Rating: N/A |
I can shift EVERY other crash box I've driven--Clarks, Spicers, Eatons, & a mystery 6-speed in a 1990 F-700. I just can't do the Ranger. OTOH, some big trucks have synchros now--weird. | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong) (24.127.74.29)
Rating: N/A |
Hmmmmmm. . . suppose the RR hang-up is being controlled by the same part of the brain that makes you queasy driving a regular bus??? | ||
| Johnny (63.159.194.75)
Rating: N/A |
Beats me--I just can't seem to drive the RR without grinding. Never tried one in a bus; but a couple 10-wheelers (Fords) & a Mack semi tractor. | ||
| William R. Graf (Billfrombrazil) (206.158.10.224)
Rating: N/A |
Say Henry, I would be interested in more on your Crown. I am in the process of redoing the conversion on a 1973 Crown 10 wheeler, 40' with a changed out NHH-250 and Allison HT-70 six speed. Just had the pump rebuilt due to a seal leaking air into it and will get a new throttle cable on Tuesday. I thought the cable would be a problem but Bill's Volume Sales right here in town sells feed boxs for trucks (for cattle feed lots). My neighbor works there and was able with one phone call to order a cable made to my specifications at what I am sure will be a reasonable price compared to something from a bus parts supplier. I am working with what had already been done as much as I can so the water tanks continue to be on top, four @ 50 gal. insulated and covered, holding tanks in rear storage area on both sides and everything piped to them. Looks a bit iffy for an RV type toilet but the guy ahead of me used it that way for some years. I just redid things to get it down to floor level since my wife has one hip joint gone permanently. Put the shower over one wheel well and have storage over the others in the rear. Up front the computer table is on one and a captains chair on a swivel is going on the other. No woodburning stove but do plan to put in a propane fireplace for atmosphere. Trying to do a big job on a rather limited budget and in a short time so working a lot of hours right now. We plan to go full time beginning probably in October. Bill | ||
| Henry R. Bergman, Jr. (Henryofcj) (63.224.197.10)
Rating: N/A |
As all of us fellow Crown Super Coach owners already know sooss well, the bus was just not designed for a motorhome conversion in mind. However, having said that, I am having a ball trying to figure out what can and can't be done doing a Crown conversion. Looks like right now (hopefully) she will have 200 fuel with 200 fresh with 100 gray and 100 black.... ....With 3 roof AC units and a 7500 watt diesel APU with 24 T-105 batts with a Trace 2524 SW invertor (diesel electric--no propane)..... ....And ZERO money left in the bank account when all of this EVER gets said and done. Are we having fun yet? He he. CROWNS FOREVER!!!! | ||
| N. Thomas (205.188.209.11) Rating: N/A |
I would like to see a bus split down the center where both sides pretty much the full length of the bus would slide apart, making the whole floor plan about 22' feet wide by aproxmately 35' long with an open center floor area about 7.5'. would never work with my 4104 but maybe with an Eagle or a Prevost ? | ||
| R.C. Bishop (128.123.62.221)
Rating: N/A |
Wonder if the Queen has ever thought of putting Buckingham on wheels........ Let's see, an above post shows roughly 64 feet of bus and trailer, a car, a motorcycle , and an airplane, Washer Dryer, office and work area. Where's the yacht? As my ole' mom says.....to each his own. LOL RCB |