| Author | Message | ||
| R. TERRY (207.230.128.240)
Rating: N/A |
As the proud new owner of a 741,000-mile city transit RTS II, I had some serious questions for our local transit shop mechanic. I can't say he told me anything I wanted to hear; rather, it sounded like the opinion of a 21-year veteran who hated his job, couldn't wait to retire and never wanted to see a bus again, ever. Lovely. So I am here to get a second opinion. I was bluntly told to get rid of the RTS as soon as possible. Take it to Mexico and sell it for $15,000. It will not make a decent motorhome conversion for a zillion reasons -- it only goes 60 mph; the engine will overheat on extended trips; all of the tires will disintegrate; there's no room for storage; the doors won't lock; the brakes are lousy and not designed for the road, just stop and go city driving; they are hard to cool inside; etc., etc. When on the road, I was told, you can only drive the bus for two hours, then you have to let the bus sit for two hours. Generally, they make bad motorhomes because they weren't designed to be used as tour buses. He finished by saying I should never have bought it in the first place. (When I initially told him I bought one of the retired RTS IIs, he simply said, "Why?") I don't buy it. I know Cory Dane, Phil Smith, Geoff, Steve, and an army of happy RTS owners (Robin Mills, soon to be one) wouldn't buy it either. What a sour puss! I am well aware of some of the RTS's limitations with respect to conversions and that it will never be a 4905: it has interior wheelwells; no real baggage bays; expansive windows; wheelchair lifts and split air doors to deal with; and a reduced highway top speed (so I was told). But as far as I know, the workarounds for these inconveniences are manageable and certainly offset by the pleasure of owning and driving an RTS. I was deliciously surprised how well my old, worn out RTS drove and handled. Even at 40-ft., turning was a breeze! I think it will be a fun bus to drive and a nice addition to my menagerie of motorcoaches. I also think the transit mechanic I spoke with has been having a bad hair day for 21 years. I think no one is going to give me $15,000 for a surplus transit bus and I think my kids and I are going to have fun turning it into a game room and entertainment center. I think I like my RTS even more now that I have been told to get rid of it. What do you think? I'd like to get that second opinion. Happy busin'! R. TERRY | ||
| willem van spronsen (64.154.186.190)
Rating: N/A |
like you said, there are a lot of really satisfied rts owners out there- people who have found ways to work with the wheelwells, engineer bays which will accomodate all their needs and generally have a great time converting these coaches into their dream homes on wheels. i know, because i'm one of them. kinda reminds me of uninformed windows users who bash the mac without really knowing what they're about. as in all areas of life, ignorance breeds contempt. | ||
| FAST FRED (65.58.187.143) Rating: N/A |
"I am well aware of some of the RTS's limitations with respect to conversions and that it will never be a 4905: it has interior wheelwells; no real baggage bays; expansive windows; wheelchair lifts and split air doors to deal with; and a reduced highway top speed ." A good running 4905 is under $5000 , so why beat your head against the wall with NO bays , a $2000 pumpkin change ect? Yes there low and very sleek but what about use? For us the bays MAKE the coach hundreds of times more usefull than an RV . {http://n6ecv.net/bus.htm,http://n6ecv.net/bus.htm} IS the site for Old Jim who has a fine unconverted 4905 for sale , cheap as any transit. Yes you can drive screws with a hammer , or install a nail be hammering with a screw driver , but WHY BOTHER? A coach is a coach , a transit is a transit, there NOT the same. FAST FRED | ||
| Johnny (63.159.184.155)
Rating: N/A |
This line: "the brakes are lousy and not designed for the road, just stop and go city driving" ...makes me think the guy has absolutely no clue. City driving is MURDER on brakes--especially the slow-to-cool drums. | ||
| Quest (198.29.191.148) Rating: N/A |
NOW FF I am surprised at you, or maybe not. THE RTSII IS NOT A BAD BUS. All Buses have their places in the chain of motorhome conversions as well as each indiviuals thoughts of how they want to use them. It is THEIR WAY as you like to tout and eacy of us deserves a chance to do it our way. You like the 4905, god bless, others like the RTSII, GOD BLESSES THEM TOO. Shame on you pushing your opinion in view of a multi bus mfgr BBS. Everyone has their likes and dislikes, why not HELP the RTS owners instead of STOMPING on them?? We, I, need and use your expertise in the conversion side of this hobby BUT when someone has ALREADY made their decision of type of bus, why can't you help and assist them along the way? Everyone else, NO, I am not picking nor putting FF down, merely asking him to be a bit nicer when he "HELPS" us bus guys when he posts. I respect his entries and help and would never put him down. For the record/quest | ||
| Quest (198.29.191.147) Rating: N/A |
Speaking of which, exactly WHY IS OLD JIM Selling that Bus so soon after he bought it?? Seems he put it up for sale almost immediately after he became owner. Maybe He Wanted Wheel wells! quest | ||
| Larry (208.18.102.185)
Rating: N/A |
I have seen several converted, with very proud owners. Don't pay much heed to what you hear, infact don't pay any to a wore out mechanic. I had one of those mechanics cost me many bucks to fix what he screwed up. The main thing is do you like it? Many have said on this site - no hurry just enjoy the sites when on the road. I agree with that, mine (4106) runs 70 - 80 mph and my wife is saying oh you missed that & that & that, so I slowed down and found the reason people like these buses and the sites they have seen. Now that I have slowed down - I will have to go back to trips I had made, to see what I missed. Enjoy life and have fun & you will have as much fun as the rest of us, just use a different frame of mind and you will have fun with your RTS. You can overcome wheel wells by locating cabinets, beds, closets & etc over them. You have same problem with others such as 4106's. you can build flat tanks and install them on floor with - low profile potty on top, bath on top, sink on top & etc. Fresh water under booths. Plus no freeze problem. I did a 80 Flex bus like that and no one even realized it until I mentioned it to them. A flat horizonal des gen will fit under bus or remove rear stair well, or where hany cap stairs were (if you have them and choose to remove them). Plus a low profile bus looks neat. So build on, have fun enjoy life. | ||
| FAST FRED (65.58.185.102) Rating: N/A |
Sorry Quest, the question was: "So I am here to get a second opinion." While I have been aboard a number of transit RV's , there is not one I would swop for my coach. "Everyone has their likes and dislikes, why not HELP the RTS owners " I do attempt to help RTS folks , but this was an OPINION that was asked for , and an OPINION that was given. " BUT when someone has ALREADY made their decision of type of bus, why can't you help and assist them along the way" Seems this fellow was either having "buyers remorse" or seriously attempting to decide if he actually wants to Convert an RTS. Rah ,Rah, Rah, may be Politically Correct , but is totally useless as a Second OPINION! I like ALL the conversions , including the sleek RTS , but my OPINION is there too much work for what you end up with after those thousands of conversion dollars and hours. Sorry if I LOVE those bays and work very hard to have them empty of conversion junk , but to me the bays are the topping on the desert. Desert is driving a fine coach. FAST FRED | ||
| Ace (24.28.44.126) Rating: N/A |
Looks like FF might be on a diet then! No desert on his menu!  Ace | ||
| Geoff (64.1.4.8)
Rating: N/A |
"But as far as I know, the workarounds for these inconveniences are manageable and certainly offset by the pleasure of owning and driving an RTS. " I think you say it all right there. That mechanic was definitely a sourpuss (and wrong about most everything)! Any bus that you buy will have to be modified in some way for RV conversion-- the RTS has the potential to be a fine conversion and with 4:10 gears you can be flying down the highway at 80 mph (you'll think you are doing 65 the bus is so smooth). R&M makes replacement panels for the rear doors, window inserts, bays doors, front and rear caps, and a one-piece door. There is no need to raise the roof, and the floor is flat from the front to the rear with only three entry steps. Bays are a breeze to make and there is plenty of room for holding tanks and a generator, etc. I could go on and on but if you are interested in learning more about one of the greatest buses to convert come join us at the RTS Yahoo group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RTS-bus-nuts --Geoff '82 RTS CA | ||
| Bradd B. Smith (Bbsrtbusproject) (216.18.141.89)
Rating: N/A |
Hi, Not to long ago, several folks commented about power to weight ratios, the lighter the better, etc. Filling bays under a coach with weight seems to negate this advantage. Quite a few rts coaches have all aluminum construction, excellent insulation, low profile, and good speed and handling. There is no perfect platform. They all have limitations. A sleek, light weight, comfortable conversion can be easily done in a transit. You can't take everything with you no matter how much space you have. I doubt that any of us are really wanting anything with us, with or without bays. Yes, they are convinient, but for the price difference between a good otr and a transit, and I mean comparable condition, you can convert or go a long ways towards converting the rts. I wish I could afford a good late model GM or Eagle otr, but it is not possible right now. So I will make do with my 102"x40' flx flyer! Drives like a dream and has a whole bunch of miles left in it. Your mechanic friend is all wet. I drove mine from Indy. to the west coast in 3 days. So much for the stops and overheating. Mine has highway gears in it already. This guy should move back to Mexico and become their problem. Enjoy your rts YOUR way, just my opinion, Bradd | ||
| Busasaurus (24.69.255.205)
Rating: N/A |
As always, a great discussion. I think that there are pros and cons to everything, but in the world of bus conversions, it's important to make an educated choice with no regrets. My observation is that bus conversion re-sales are a small market, and the chances are high that you won't get back what you put in, and I've seen cases on this board where people haven't even recovered the cost when they were forced to "flip" a recent purchase of a seated coach. I think strong opinion such as Fast Fred's is welcome. If I'm watching the Board and thinking of buying a bus, my preferences and research should stand up to adverse opinion. If it doesn't then Fred's done me a service. When our Transit Museum acquired a Flyer D900 transit, we proudly showed it to one of the transit company mechanics and told him that it was the very last of that model, all the rest were scrapped. He looked at us and said "Thank God!". He obviously hated working on them. I like the RTS's for the looks. I don't know why they were never allowed to be sold in Canada. Was it some kind of protection of the coach manufacturing industry, or was there somthing wrong with them? Bryan Vancouver | ||
| will van spronsen (209.245.164.191)
Rating: N/A |
gee, fred, if there are no usable bays under the rts, what are those big open spaces with doors under the floor that i'm putting my grey and black tanks, proheat, hot water tank, battery bank, generator, canopy, chairs, tools etc., etc. into? will van spronsen seattle, wa 1982 rts | ||
| FAST FRED (63.215.237.233) Rating: N/A |
AS many creative folks have found , its do able to stash the RV crap that usually fills the bays of a coach all around the sides of an RTS. Understand that due to the modular construction that mix & match of windows , boddy pannels ect is easy enough. With a welder and enough time a fine RV can be had from a transit, its just not my current choice. Cause when your DONE there is no room to bring home a find like a '52 BMW 500cc . I just laid it down & it fit in the bay fine . I enjoy all the conversions , not just the one I own, But if you ask for an OPINION , fraid you WILL get one. FAST FRED | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong) (24.127.74.29)
Rating: N/A |
Fast Fred giving an opinion?? Seriously?? You must be joking. . . ROFLMAO Just kidding, my friend, just kidding RJ | ||
| DaveD (216.18.113.69)
Rating: N/A |
Bryan, That's something I don't understand. RTS' weren't sold in Candada, can't be imported even now, yet there seems to be a fair number of them (all painted schoolhouse green) running to and from the Vancouver airport. How did the local transit authority manage to get them? And, what was so important that they couldn't be imported? DaveD | ||
| Busasaurus (24.69.255.205)
Rating: N/A |
Dave, I heard that those RTS's were given a temporary exemption when imported, and somehow became a fixture. I really don't know the story, but yes, those green airporter buses are RTS's. I've also researched the possibility of buying a bus in the States and importing it and when reading up on the import rules found that RTS's can't be brought in. I don't know if that would apply to an already converted coach, but I wouldn't take the chance. Bryan | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior) (64.229.211.91)
Rating: N/A |
Toronto bought a bunch of brand new RTS a couple of years ago, when David Gunn was running the transit here, so they're up here. Surprise to some to find out a Quebec based company, Nova, owns the RTS and the facility in Roswell, New Mexico. Historically, there were all manner of restrictions on bus sales, artificial protection for the local bus builders, and later, jobs in the various branch plants on either side of the border. Some of these continue. Factor in the mandate that the taxpayer moneys should be spent at home, or as close as possible, and the drum beats on... For instance, if there is a New Flyer plant in Winnepeg, Manitoba, would you expect to find very many Manitoba tax dollars being spent on anything that wasn't a Flyer? Even if there was a superior product being built elsewhere? Of course not! Buy American, Buy Canadian, Buy your neighbour's product all come into play as well. Another one of those cases where the pursuit of inferior product in an entire industry is encouraged by artificial market conditions propped up through a combination of regulation and government funded purchasing decisions. Could this be a reason GM gathered up their marbles and went to play elsewhere? Quality product, long life cycle, higher initial price. Capitalism suggests a winning formula. Current market conditions make it a loser. Shouldn't play in a game that you can't win? Too bad, because this tax payer would like to see more stainless structure RTS on the streets of Toronto, not tubular rust Flyer, Orion, or the other boxes on wheels. And the GM New Looks? More than 500 still on the streets, run through a formal rebuild program, oldest 27 years old, youngest 18 years old, couple hundred younger Flyers already rusted out and scrapped. Who says that buying quality is foolish? happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong) (24.127.74.29)
Rating: N/A |
BusWarrior - you and I sure do think alike! (Maybe that's 'cause you and I have done so much training in some of this junk that now passes for "quality"??) RJ PD4106-2784 Fresno CA | ||
| Dwight (67.213.8.64) Rating: N/A |
I read these post last night and again tonight, I started to comment last night and did not but I would like to say a little tonight.... Fred has what he calls opinions but I read them as .. IF YOU AN'T GOT WHAT I GOT OR DID IT MY WAY, THEN YOU AN'T GOT NOTHING !!! ..... becareful Fred they maybe coming to get you with a Crown of Thorns and a Cross in their hands !!!????? All that chest expansion over bays !!!!???? is that all the difference you can find ????? To hear you, if you had a trailer with bays built on it you would be prod as a pea-cock !! let me see if I can think of more, just to look at it from the other side of the coin.. talking about GMC coaches, since Fred was compairing GMC) I think I can say that the basics are about the same engine, trans, suspension (air), tires...ect.. OTRC 4905 scraches on the roof (trees) more road sway on windy days because of the height sloped floor roof raise, unless you are a short person have to climb 5 steps to get in and out (have to have a good back & legs) tall bays, can stack things on top of each other in them, makes retriving things ><?/.,!!@#$%... older coach, will have to do many updates Transit RTS lower roof ceiling 6' 8" less road sway on windy days have to climb 3 steps to get in and out (back or legs do not have to be so good) bays are 21in. high 5ft. wide and the with of the coach younger coach, may have to change ring and pinion just thought I would do a few compairasons, not opinions, how did the real Mc Coy say it, no brag just fact !!! again it is what you want in a conversion A thought about Resale...all this talk about resale.... I think you can forget about the resale, a non-pro conversion resale ?????????? just look at the pro-conversion resale for the $700,000 bus 10 years old go for as little as $150,000 today, gosh you are going to put from 65 to 100,000 in your bus (you would have to put that much in it to as that much for it, I think), 2 yrs. or better to convert, use it for some 5yrs. or more what do you think you can get for it then ????? think about it ??? now lets say you put $30k to $35k in it in material and bus, use it for 5yrs. sell it for $30 to $35k would you be satisfied ???? I could say more but I need to shut up now.... Thanks for your ear... LOL :-)!(-: | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong) (24.127.74.29)
Rating: N/A |
Dwight - Have to agree with a lot of your logic regarding coach resale. Those that go into this hobby thinking they're going to make money, or break even, need to find another hobby, 'cause it ain't gonna happen. These things are a labor of love, not a financial investment. This is generally true of ANY depreciating asset, be it a car, motorcycle, bus or plane. . . I know there are exceptions (like a '57 Chevy convertible, or a '57 T-bird), but they're exceptions, not the general rule. IMHE, driving a forty-foot RTS is similar to driving a heavier, stretched 4106. Wonderful road feel, nice handling in the twisties, decent power, very good driver ergonomics, with just about the same overall height. I will also agree that a 4905 will rock 'n roll a little more in crosswinds, but no worse than an MCI or Prevost (which, btw, are just as tall as a 4905 and subject to the same tree limbs!) BTDT. OTOH, the 4905's little brother, the 4107/8, can be a REAL handful in crosswinds, by far my least favorite coach to drive in those conditions! Many folk don't know this little bit of trivia: The forty-foot 4905 has a LONGER wheelbase than many of the current forty-five foot coaches that are so popular today!! And it's wheelbase is nearly two feet longer than the forty-foot RTS, yet the turning radius is almost identical, and shorter than many of the "big boys". That long wheelbase makes for a ride that compares very, very favorably with nearly anything being built today, and actually better than some! Not to mention the savings from one less axle to deal with. . . The point of the above couple of paragraphs is not to plug the 4905 over the RTS, or any other coach for that matter. It is simply that we really shouldn't bash anybody's coach choice. They all have their advantages and their disadvantages, which is again, part of what makes this hobby interesting and challenging! I also think this is one of the things that people fail to note about Fast Fred's posts. To paraphrase the current tag line that Taco Bell's using in their commercials, I think FF tries to get people to "think outside the bus". This rattles and rankles the “status quo” folk, so he gets flamed, simply because he’s challenging us to think about other possibilities. If you read his entire post, then lean back in your chair and think about the “big picture” he’s talking about, often it will take on a different perspective, and that’s his objective. I’ll admit that I, too, sometimes do not agree with what he says. But I rarely fail to see his point, and I frequently chuckle at the humor he uses to get his message out there to us. And he nearly always lets you know that what he’s suggesting is something that has worked for him, but may not be what works for you. But at least think about the options! Or as Taco Bell says: “Think outside the bun!” I'll climb down off my SA-8 box now. . . RJ PD4106-2784 Fresno CA | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong) (24.127.74.29)
Rating: N/A |
Oops! Dwight - the  before your name in my last post was due to a computer operator's snafu, it was NOT intended as any type of $#(%*#$%*! language! (I had composed my message in my word processor, then cut & pasted it to the bbs message area. Since I'd proofread it in the wp, I failed to do it again before it got sent off into cyberspace. Sorry. . .) RJ | ||
| Driving Miss Lazy (66.190.119.82) Rating: N/A |
RJ, the nice thing aboout this board is that YOU can edit your post (nobody else can). Just click on the blue underlined edit and you can remove the unwanted garbage. Richard | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong) (24.127.74.29)
Rating: N/A |
You're right, Richard. . . But not with droopy eyelids at a quarter to one in the morning. . . fingers were working but brain wasn't engaged. . . 8^( RJ | ||
| Ian Giffin (Admin) (64.228.43.9)
Rating: N/A |
DML, Another nice thing about this bbs is the moderator moderates it. Feexed! Regards, Ian www.busnut.com | ||
| Dave Smith (66.183.111.183)
Rating: N/A |
Re : Importing RTS's into Canada. Effective Jan. 1st 1971, buses sold in Canada were required to have a "Certificate of Compliance" (ie) certified to meet all Canadian safety standards but enforcement by transport Canada was almost non existant. Several manufacturers chose not to spend the $$$ on testing and certification. Sometime mid 90's the responsible department was privatised as "RIV", the "Registrar of Imported Vehicles" and enforcement is much more strictly applied. Since that time, No Eagle's, no GM's except Canadian built Classic and Newlook, no Flxible except '79-83 870's - the Grumman years and no RTS with a Serial # prior to the one submitted for testing and certified in June 1997. I was told by Transport Canada about three years ago that the Vancouver Airporter Buses were not exempted, they simply came in while regulations were poorly enforced and that at that time RIV was preventing more being shipped from LA. Full list of permitted vehicles and the proceedures to import is available at www.riv.ca | ||
| Wulf P. Ward (63.155.9.46)
Rating: N/A |
I have a finished RTS bus, that I have used for about 2 or 3 years. It must have bin 3 years. Went to Boston the first sommer. Lost 8 Gallons of oil (on a fresh rebuilt engine by "Diesel" Bob Welman). Made it back home. Bob checked it out, went to the Florida Keys (lost 6 Gallons of oil). Made it home. Bob checked it out, went to Yellostone Park (lost 4 gallons of oil). Made it back, barely. Bob rebuilt the engine for "free" (kind off). Went to south Texas to visit my friend Bill Lowman. Did not use any oil what so ever, but did loose about 50 gallon of cooling water. Did find the problem as a clamp missing on the water-heater heat exchanger. Made it back home with no more problems. I did make many short week-end trips with the RTS and all together I put about 17,000 miles on it. I did convert the RTS, because I like it (the way it looks). It was more work (a lot more) then my Eagle and my Spaceliner. I had lots of fun with the RTS and it sure is pretty to look at. Does it make sense to convert a RTS (I have over $ 100,000.00 in my RTS). I am selling my RTS and I am sure I will loose a lot of money on it, when I include my 7 years of labor. But I had fun converting it and to look at the finished product. After finishing my Neoplan Spaceliner, I am a little "bused out". I think any bus makes a good conversion, if you are doing it just for the fun of it and not as an investment. Dina's with 60 series and B500 are under $ 100,000.00, 15/45 Eagle are under $ 50,000.00. MCI 102a's are really cheap and MC9's are under $ 20,000.00. It really does not make sense to convert a transit bus. The RTS to me is like a pretty women (I also like them) they cost more and bring less. Looking and good smelling good, but can't cook. | ||
| Driving Miss Lazy (66.190.119.82) Rating: N/A |
I@n, Sorry, I should have said "ONE of the nice things about this board" instead of "the nice thing about this board". Richard | ||
| Bradd B. Smith (Bbsrtbusproject) (216.18.141.77)
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Wow Wulf, I would really like to see pictures of your rts! 100,000!!! Yeeeeha. Thanks for the input, Bradd | ||
| Wulf P. Ward (63.155.8.173)
Rating: N/A |
Hi Bradd, The cost of the coversion is realy in the shell. If you want to completely do the shell over, like a remanufactured shell it is very easy to spent the $ 100,000.00 just on the shell itself. A nice conversion can be done for about $ 40,000.00. Everything in my RTS is top of the line and it has everything including washer/dryer, Webasto heat, satilite T/V. You name it, my bus has it. Come take a look at my bus in Chicago, it is for sale. | ||
| Scott Whitney (66.82.9.23) Rating: N/A |
Hi Wulf, Couldn't resist your challenge. . . Got a 'Datastorm' high speed Internet dish? Scott Dustyfoot.com (shameless plug) | ||
| Robin Mills (Robinsturn) (205.188.209.11)
Rating: N/A |
Wow - Here I am just about to finally pick up my 1981 gmc rtsII which was lovingly converted by a very talented guy into an absolutely beautiful motorhome with fireplace, waterfall, office, entertainment center, beautiful kitchen oak, mirror, brass - private suite in rear of bus.and I decided to check out the board. When I saw this topic I was excited to see all the posts and anxiously started to read..not expecting to have to run to the refrigerator for my pepto bismal lol. Of course you have second thoughts and buyers remorse is always a factor in any large purchase but....I have to admit my heart started beating very fast when I read FF post. I thought to myself oh my what have I done? One thing I wish you guys would remember is that not all the people who subscribe to this site have converted themselves. Many people find this site as a result of searching for an rv period. I found it during my research about whether or not to buy a bus vs. Class A because I noticed that a lot of the people who were trying to sell me their motorhomes were selling theirs to buy a diesal bus conversion. I am hoping that a lot of this is just "male ego" coming into play and that I really don't have to worry about picking up my bus and having it fall apart, explode or eat up enough oil to make Sadam out any richer on my way back home. Wish me luck and pray that this beautiful new home for me provides me the safety we all want in any motor vehicle out on the road. This is a brand new venture for me and I am hoping that FF is totally wrong (no offense Fred but my hard earned money is at stake)lol. All in all I think this discussion board is great and and wondered if perhaps we had more women involved (the ones who can't cook like me) there would be a "kinder, more gentle" way of giving an opinion that wouldnt throw someone into immediate cardiac arrest. We're good at that. By the way Ward... I hope my bus is like a man - sturdy, long lasting and easy to ride lmao! | ||
| Geoff (64.1.0.124)
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Before it is too late I suggest you have the bus checked out by a bus garage or local charter company that works on buses. There is a lot more to a conversion than a pretty interior-- how is the engine,transmission, electrical, brakes and steering; and how much RUST is in the frame? Don't take the seller's word for this. Also, expect to pay out $3,000 or so for a new ring and pinion if the bus is geared for city driving only. There is nothing wrong with an RTS conversion but I would give the same advice for any bus purchase. --Geoff '82 RTS CA | ||
| Robin Mills (Robinsturn) (205.188.209.11)
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Thanks Geoff I do intend to have a detroit deisal mechanic check it out. Yes I know there is more to a bus than a pretty exterior...same goes for women I guess lol! Tell me about the ring and pinion and what question I should ask. Owner swears the bus is in tip top shape and the reason he paid 15,000 for it before conversion was the condition of the engine, etc. | ||
| Geoff (64.1.0.62)
Rating: N/A |
Let me tell you a little story that seems relevant-- in our RTS group at Yahoo (your seller used to be a member) there was another person who paid 15,000 for an RTS and spent a lot of time converting it, then decided to sell it. It ended up on E-Bay and another member of our group bought it on condition it pass inspection by a bus facility. Unfortunately the bus facility declared the bus to be unsafe to drive because of the disintegration of the frame due to rust. The buyer never got his deposit back after refusing the bus, and the seller went on to re-list it on E-Bay in a "private" auction with the identities of the bidders "protected". This is NOT the bus you are buying, but I simply bring up this story to warn you and others of what can happen. Driving the bus will tell you what it is geared at-- take it on the freeway and see what the maximum speed is with the pedal to the floor on a flat road. This is your maximum speed, although you may be able to go a few miles an hour faster if you re-set the governor (which is not good for the engine for sustained driving). If the speedo doesn't work have someone follow you in a car and signal them when you are topped out. When I said it could cost you $3,000 for a ring and pinion, that is a new 4:10 set, parts and labor. You may be able to find a used unit and save some money. Ideally what you want is the 4:10 (80 mph max), or the 4:56 (70 mph max). When I say max, I mean MAX-- this is not where you want to drive it at all the time, so the 4:10 is the best highway gear to have. I'm glad you found someone to inspect the engine-- will he inspect the other systems also? --Geoff '82 RTS CA |