| Author | Message | ||
| Pete/RTS Daytona (Pete_rtsdaytona)
Registered Member Username: Pete_rtsdaytona Post Number: 586 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 97.104.18.110  Rating: N/A |
FYI Folks--> RTS Conversion on Ebay - very interesting http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220524090129&viewitem=&sspag ename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT Ebay Item# 22052409012 | ||
| Bruce Henderson (Oonrahnjay)
Registered Member Username: Oonrahnjay Post Number: 497 Registered: 8-2004 Posted From: 70.60.107.113  Rating: N/A |
You'll notice that that bus has the original "double panel" door. I really like what Gary Throneberry has done with his bus, closing in that door and putting a passenger seat location there, and installing a single door just behind the wheel with a "stair" step into the bus. I don't know how well (or not) the double door seals against water and wind but Gary's door is *real* seal. And I have adopted the "driver and passenger" compartment" concept for my bus, too. | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 1027 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 75.211.183.71 Rating: N/A |
Thanx, as usual, Pete...if I had the $$$$...think I'd play the game...  Nice coach! RCB | ||
| Dale Waller (Happycampersrus)
Registered Member Username: Happycampersrus Post Number: 348 Registered: 7-2005 Posted From: 166.225.138.136 Rating: N/A |
That would make someone a super starter bus!! FWIW, You can get a 1 piece front door through R&M Fiberglass that looks really sweet on these buses. | ||
| Bruce Henderson (Oonrahnjay)
Registered Member Username: Oonrahnjay Post Number: 499 Registered: 8-2004 Posted From: 70.60.107.113 Rating: N/A |
Yes, Dale. But my bus, like the RTS's and most transits, have a door opposite the driver, often with something like a ramp or stairs up. Passengers enter and pay. It works really great to take that area and level the floor out across from the driver's position; you can add a passenger's seat, build in a dashboard with map pockets and cup holders and armrests. The area under can be used as storage. That makes the entire front area into a "driver/passenger compartment". Will that one-piece fiberglass door fit in the area behind the front wheel on the right-hand side if you cut a new door position there? | ||
| Dale Waller (Happycampersrus)
Registered Member Username: Happycampersrus Post Number: 349 Registered: 7-2005 Posted From: 166.231.128.64 Rating: N/A |
The reason I brought up the R&M door was it's a direct fit made just for the RTS bus to get away from the double door. You could probably make the door work on your bus, but I would think you would probably be better off making your own door frame and skin it because of how you want to do your door behind the wheel. Your bus appears to be more flat sided than an RTS. Putting the door behind the wheel is not a bad idea. It will just require some work. I know all about the transits and the problems,(LOL)but I love my Fishbowls. I framed mine in and used a camper door for an entrance door. I still need to make the window larger, I just haven't got to it. I also removed the back door and skinned it over and behind that is my shower.  | ||
| Bruce Henderson (Oonrahnjay)
Registered Member Username: Oonrahnjay Post Number: 500 Registered: 8-2004 Posted From: 70.60.107.113 Rating: N/A |
Yeah, Dale, I had the additional problem that the original doors on my bus were on the left hand side; every time the bus was stopped on the street, you'd have to walk out in traffic to get to the door. So, I framed and skinned in both doors on the left-hand side and cut a new door just in front of the rear wheel on the right side (that's just to the rear of the stair that goes upstairs on my bus). And, you're right, my bus is totally flat sided and I've built a door following the general outline of the info given in Gene Lewis's post on his website of how he built his door (except that his door had to have a curve at the top of his door; he did a good job of it but I'm glad that I didn't need to). My bus is steel frame with aluminum sheet siding and the door will be the same thing. It's installed in the frame, the step (it only needs a single step, not a set of stairs) is in and I'm in the middle of installing the window (it's a "Peninsula Window" unit, total width about 2" narrower than the door) and the latch/lock mechanism. My original doors were four-panel folding doors and they had pretty much no sealing ability -- in fact, about all they'd keep out were small birds and large gravel. They had to go. The original entry door across from the driver's position in my bus was about 51" wide. I put in a big Peninsula window in it's place (see: http://s45.photobucket.com/albums/f60/oonrahnjay/Bus/?action=view¤t=000_0621.jpg or  and that gives me lots of visibility out there as well as giving "The Management" a nice window at her side, too. I really like the layout of the driver/passenger compartment. We don't have kids so it's not important to us to have a "family travel area" with seats grouped around and it's pretty accessible to a couch seat along the wall behind the passenger's seat anyway. | ||
| Bruce Henderson (Oonrahnjay)
Registered Member Username: Oonrahnjay Post Number: 501 Registered: 8-2004 Posted From: 70.60.107.113 Rating: N/A |
Yeah, Dale, I had the additional problem that the original doors on my bus were on the left hand side; every time the bus was stopped on the street, you'd have to walk out in traffic to get to the door. So, I framed and skinned in both doors on the left-hand side and cut a new door just in front of the rear wheel on the right side (that's just to the rear of the stair that goes upstairs on my bus). And, you're right, my bus is totally flat sided and I've built a door following the general outline of the info given in Gene Lewis's post on his website of how he built his door (except that his door had to have a curve at the top of his door; he did a good job of it but I'm glad that I didn't need to). My bus is steel frame with aluminum sheet siding and the door will be the same thing. It's installed in the frame, the step (it only needs a single step, not a set of stairs) is in and I'm in the middle of installing the window (it's a "Peninsula Window" unit, total width about 2" narrower than the door) and the latch/lock mechanism. My original doors were four-panel folding doors and they had pretty much no sealing ability -- in fact, about all they'd keep out were small birds and large gravel. They had to go. The original entry door across from the driver's position in my bus was about 51" wide. I put in a big Peninsula window in it's place (see: http://s45.photobucket.com/albums/f60/oonrahnjay/Bus/?action=view¤t=000_0621.jpg and that gives me lots of visibility out there as well as giving "The Management" a nice window at her side, too. (Remember, my steering wheel is on the right so everything is "reversed"). I really like the layout of the driver/passenger compartment. We don't have kids so it's not important to us to have a "family travel area" with seats grouped around and it's pretty accessible to a couch seat along the wall behind the passenger's seat anyway. | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 1806 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.71.157  Rating: N/A |
Bruce, you wouldn't have had to go to all that trouble if you just swapped the front and back ends. | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 713 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 71.53.153.91  Rating: N/A |
Chessie!!! | ||
| joe padberg (Joemc7ab)
Registered Member Username: Joemc7ab Post Number: 376 Registered: 6-2004 Posted From: 66.38.159.33 Rating: N/A |
Bruce Where was your skyhook in pix# 6 ? Be carefull, its a long way down. Impressed by your progress. Joe. | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 1028 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 75.208.247.194 Rating: N/A |
I note that as of tonite, Friday...there have been 1260 visits to the site. Seems like a lot of folks looking at buses to buy.....wonder if they are purchasing them...or just looking? Looks like a great buy at the starting price!...and no bidders so far. Just curious. RCB | ||
| Bruce Henderson (Oonrahnjay)
Registered Member Username: Oonrahnjay Post Number: 502 Registered: 8-2004 Posted From: 4.88.12.149 Rating: N/A |
Thanks, Joe - you know progress, just a little more than you're making is what would feel really good. And the picture of me and no floor seems a little more to the point than installing the windows. I found a a couple of pieces of floor rot -- that you could cover with two fingers. I decided that I'd dig them out and patch them in; you can see the result, the more I dug, the more I realized that I needed to take out. Ended up with just about all the floor (lower level) out. But it's going to be pretty with a whole new floor! (Sorry that the pictures are unorganized; I just kinda threw them in there. But there are some good shots in there.) | ||
| Dale Waller (Happycampersrus)
Registered Member Username: Happycampersrus Post Number: 350 Registered: 7-2005 Posted From: 166.233.193.18 Rating: N/A |
WOW! That's some super nice work Bruce! You have a super nice conversion in progress. | ||
| Bruce Henderson (Oonrahnjay)
Registered Member Username: Oonrahnjay Post Number: 503 Registered: 8-2004 Posted From: 4.88.11.8 Rating: N/A |
Thanks, Dale. My "starting point" was so different than what other people are doing that I was forced to "do it my way" ([C) Fast Fred, 2003); it's odd in some things are super easy on my bus and other things are devilishly hard. But overcoming the challenges and having something work well when you're finished with it is kind of the whole point to me. I'm lovin' the process but I sure would like to see it rollin' down the road. | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 1036 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 75.211.116.75 Rating: |
For those who have not followed the RTS on EBAY that Pete (see top of thread) posted...it "ended" at $8650. Where, friends, can one buy a common everyday motor home of that vintage....with so much yet to give, (MHO) for such a small amount of $$$$. The owner wrote me that last year he paid 17,500 for it...surely not over priced even at that time. I offer a suggestion: Before one takes such a hit on coach "of value"....consider donating, offering for charity...a missionary...or other needed use". Our Federal Uncle will, at least give credit for the value (substantiated) as declared. In my particular case, I have built our coach for someone...besides me...and I look forward to the day that that transaction occurs. Hopefully for profit...  . If not...hopefully for someone who can gain from the transaction! FWIW ('tis the season) RCB | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 722 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 71.53.153.91 Rating: N/A |
I had a friend that donated a truck to some center and they gave him a reciept for the high book value and of course he took it off his taxes and got more money for it that way if he had sold it outrite. Just a thought..Thanks RC Gomer | ||
| Tim Brandt (Timb)
Registered Member Username: Timb Post Number: 469 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.165.176.62  Rating: N/A |
Be careful guys I know there have been changes in the deductable value recently. Last I saw you could only claim what the charity was able to resell it for. |
