| Author | Message | ||
| Ed Mikesell (Rustytoy)
Registered Member Username: Rustytoy Post Number: 3 Registered: 2-2009 Posted From: 75.88.50.182 Rating: |
Well, For the past 6 or 7 months I have been spending most weekends driving to the farm and working on my 4106. Going through mechanical systems to make sure they were up to snuff. Last week we finally managed to find an insurance company that would cover an unfinished conversion. ( Progressive ). Today I drove out to the farm and bolted on my tags. Checked my tire pressures and all fluids. Ready to go. I eased the one mile down the country road to the highway and waited for it to clear. All clear, off we go! Now, I've driven this bus around the farm somewhat, but never have I been out on the open highway with it. Let me tell ya, if you've ever been through NW Arkansas on these hilly,twisty roads you can imagine how my nerves were for the first few miles. This is way different than a Freightliner or my old Winnebago! We managed to make it home safely without incident. After 10 miles or so, I was quite comfortable behind the wheel. By the time I pulled off the highway onto my road, I was downshifting as if I actually knew what I was doing. Worst part of the whole trip was when the carwash I stopped at to wash off all the tree sap took my money and I had to drive away in a dirty bus. Now that I've got her home, I can start with my conversion in earnest. I'm sure you will be 'hearing' from me quite frequently as I stumble my way through this process. Ed PD4106-2903 | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 592 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 71.53.155.14  Rating: N/A |
Ain't that fun to do?? Congrats on your first trip. Keep up the good work. Gomer | ||
| David Evans (Dmd)
Registered Member Username: Dmd Post Number: 368 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 173.77.211.20  Rating: N/A |
Awesome Ed, congratulations. I'm from north of Memphis and we always went to Arkansas every chance we could (to find clear water ha ha) and i hope the roads are better 30 years later! Good luck with the bus and join Ian's facebook and chart your progress. | ||
| John and Barb Tesser (Bigrigger)
Registered Member Username: Bigrigger Post Number: 257 Registered: 9-2007 Posted From: 24.183.22.6  Rating: N/A |
Congratulations and thanks for the report. Keep us posted as you work through the conversion process. | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 922 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 70.210.224.59 Rating: N/A |
Good show, Ed.....enjoy the experience!!!!!!...all of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  BTDT RCB | ||
| Darrell Black, DVM (Darrelldvm)
Registered Member Username: Darrelldvm Post Number: 51 Registered: 6-2005 Posted From: 209.78.171.84 Rating: N/A |
First time I drove my 4106 was from Las Vegas to Northern CA. I got in the bus & took off, knowing absolutley nothing about shifting, turning, etc. I had to drive THROUGH downtown LV. I discovered after I entered the traffic that my right rear view mirror was out of adjustment, I could not see anything. I had to just slowly move to the right in order to change lanes. What a diaster! I got through town and I was on a 2 lane road to Laughlin AZ, when suddenly my head lights went out. I could not see a thing, totally black. I moved to the right 'till I heard gravel/dirt and I figured I was as close to the side as I wanted to go. After fooling around for a while (I knew nothing) I hit the dimmer switch & my lights went on: a short! The next day I went through Needles and on to the open highway. In the desert in the AM I felt as though driving my bus was one of the best things I had ever experienced. I remember thinking how big the windshield was and what a view! | ||
| clint hunter (Truthhunter)
Registered Member Username: Truthhunter Post Number: 497 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 24.129.237.52  Rating: N/A |
sounds like stories of pair bonding to me ~ machine love a in the making? It is a wonderful disease, this bus nut thing ! | ||
| Kevin Sweeney (Sweeney153)
Registered Member Username: Sweeney153 Post Number: 17 Registered: 1-2008 Posted From: 64.90.250.19  Rating: N/A |
Ed I’m curious. What happened at the car wash? Kevin | ||
| Rob Norgren (Robsedona)
Registered Member Username: Robsedona Post Number: 107 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 75.210.208.34  Rating: N/A |
Yes The First Trip! And then you spend a Lot of Trips Chasing That Feeling LOL. Welcome to the World of BusNuts and Large Land Yachts. Coaches Going Down the Road of Fulfillment! Rob | ||
| Grant Thiessen (Busshawg)
Registered Member Username: Busshawg Post Number: 220 Registered: 10-2007 Posted From: 206.45.93.160  Rating: N/A |
Congrads !!! Feels good doesn't it. | ||
| Ed Mikesell (Rustytoy)
Registered Member Username: Rustytoy Post Number: 4 Registered: 2-2009 Posted From: 75.88.50.182 Rating: N/A |
Kevin, Nothing really. Rinky dink little 2 bay car wash in a rinky dink little population 212 (including pets) town. I weasled the bus into this little wash bay, deposited my money, and nothing happened. No phone numbers anywhere at the carwash to call in case of problems. (go figure) I borrowed the pressure washer from work today to wash the bus when I got home. Pulled on that thing for 30 minutes and still no start. Then the thunderstorm I drove through for an hour to get home caught up with me and I called it a night. Now I know why that washer had been sitting in the corner for so long. I guess I could just be cheap and head out there with a broom and a rainsuit and start scrubbing....NAH, I'd rather sit here and eat this ice cream!! Ed PD4106-2903 | ||
| Rob King (Skykingrob)
Registered Member Username: Skykingrob Post Number: 40 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 72.161.21.232 Rating: N/A |
Hey Ed I am just up the road in Ozark, MO. Glad you had a semi go time on first outing. My first outing was driving back from Jacksonville, FL to Ozark, about 1500 miles. I remember leaving Jacksonville at 6 pm in the winter, so it was dark. Bus quit 20 miles outside Jacksonville. Finally figured out that it was low on water, filled her up in a roadside park, ran again all the way to Ozark. Found a pin hole leak in the radiator hose, repaired and no more problems for 4 years now. Great learning experiences so far. Hope to be finished with the conversion next spring. Rob 91 Prevost LeMirage XL Missouri | ||
| Nellie Wilson (Vivianellie)
Registered Member Username: Vivianellie Post Number: 269 Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 75.178.92.43  Rating: N/A |
Hey Ed - Welcome to the greatest wack-job (as in wacko!) site on the planet, where almost everybody exhibits signs of questionable mental health, particularly when it comes to these huge monstrosities that have captured our collective sanity. Great story and I can sure relate - bet most of us can - so keep the updates coming. And best of luck! Nellie Wilson | ||
| clint hunter (Truthhunter)
Registered Member Username: Truthhunter Post Number: 507 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 24.129.237.52 Rating: N/A |
...perhaps your just sabotaging your bus washing task to create more excuse to take her out again; busnuting is manifesting disease not a choice we make, we just tell the world it is a choice, so they don't lock us up or get the notion we might be unfit to drive... ~the car wash is a better place to get ride of that ancient grease (and about $40 in coins),but when your washing the drivetrain, there is always the chance of making it not start, blasting off marginal wire connections. - Have patients , it is & it isn't one of those instant gratification habits . | ||
| David Lower (Dave_l)
Registered Member Username: Dave_l Post Number: 224 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 67.58.201.132  Rating: N/A |
Welcome to the board Ed! The bug has turned to you. I think we all could find a reason to not wash the beast when there is a bowl of ice cream close by. Dave L | ||
| Ed Mikesell (Rustytoy)
Registered Member Username: Rustytoy Post Number: 5 Registered: 2-2009 Posted From: 67.141.89.88 Rating: N/A |
Sorry I've been out of the loop. The laptop has been in the shop getting deloused. It's not that I've just lost my mind and went out to buy a bus. I've atually been looking to buy one for several years. My wife thought I was nuts though. So....we kept ending up buying stick & staple RVs. The last of which has actually never left my yard since the day I drove it home 3 years ago. It's going to donate ALOT of really good stuff for the conversion. A/C,Stove,Fridge,Holding tanks,Heater,Hot water heater,etc,etc,etc. Last winter I stumbled onto a gentleman who was remodeling his 2007 Winnie. (his wife didn't like the color) Bought all the furnishings in it for $100. Sofa/sleeper,swivel rocker recliner,foldout dining table (with extention),foldout laptop table, kitchen chairs,etc. Couch and chair was Flexsteel and all of looks like new. Anyhow, as for the filthy bus.....This past weekend I went out with a washcloth and a scrub brush and washed the entire thing by hand. Even the roof. After doing that, I'm convinced that a car wash would not have done any good. There was some really crusty stuff up there on that roof.I'm also convinced that there is ALOT more surface area of the bus to wash than either of my motorcycles. At any rate, the bus is clean. I'm getting happier with every step. Ed PD4106-2903 | ||
| thomas flocks (Taflocks)
Registered Member Username: Taflocks Post Number: 22 Registered: 9-2009 Posted From: 69.205.11.117 Rating: N/A |
how about posting some photos????? | ||
| Art Gill (Sandcastle)
Registered Member Username: Sandcastle Post Number: 27 Registered: 5-2004 Posted From: 71.50.158.214 Rating: N/A |
Now, figure out how to work on the conversion and use the coach at the same time. Don't wait until it is finished, which it never will be, before enjoying it. Our first trip was with a bed on cinder blocks and a five gal bucket with a plastic bag and a toilet seat. Art |
