| Author |
Message |
Gerald Adams (209.240.220.192)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 19, 2001 - 1:54 pm: | |
I am a wannabe, (and a gonna be!) and I am fascinated with the idea of converting an articulated coach. Great to have the towed inside the unit. Seems such a good idea to me, I have to wonder why I am not finding any conversations on the topic. I saw where one brave soul commenced, but his web site has not been updated for nigh unto 3 years. And I hear somethings about length restrictions in some states, like "60 feet is a no-no". Zat-so?
Wassup with articulateds? |
Jack Conrad (Jackconrad) (204.193.117.66)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 19, 2001 - 2:25 pm: | |
Most states limit motorhomes (which is what the vehicle should be titled as) to 40 or 45'. Varies by state, but as far as I know, no state would allow a 60'. If titled as a bus you would have to have CDL, commercial insurance, commerial license, etc. Another problem would be a place to park this rig, as most campgrounds cannot handle a 60' vehicle. Jack |
Henry, eh (24.70.95.206)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 19, 2001 - 5:20 pm: | |
Going further than the issue of length is the issue of repair. Here in Edmonton, we just received 6 new 60ft articulated buses from New Flyer. DD Series 50 engine with Allison trannys. It's a beautiful bus but we've been told if we ever have a problem with the swivel joint, it is not repairable in North America. It has to be removed from the bus and sent to Germany. The other choice is to have an extra joint on hand for the low, low price of just $75,000 CAD. LOL!Needless to say, in our training, we've been warned to never over steer these puppies!!
Henry |
Gerry Adams (Kingsman) (209.240.220.232)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 19, 2001 - 9:36 pm: | |
Guys, thanx. I appreciate the inputs. Guess I gotta' re-think that articulation. |
Dave Wheat (209.32.226.182)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 20, 2001 - 2:48 pm: | |
Gerald: After you remove your car from its "garage" then you are towing around an empty garage. :-)
Dave |
Scott Whitney (24.25.211.164)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 20, 2001 - 8:23 pm: | |
My initial thought on an articualted was that it had potential to be just about coolest luxury rolling condo you could imagine. However, after driving my 40 footer around, I can't even fathom dealing with a full articulated - with absolutely NO possibility of unhitching a toad or trailer to make a three point turnabout. In other words, if you make a wrong turn and end up down a dead-end street, you're royally screwed. I think the decreased life span one would experience stressing out over where to park would outweigh the benefits of all that space.
There are articulateds running around here in San Diego, but those guys know every last turn on their very specific route I am sure.
Scott |
Mark Domeck (Prevost3406b) (64.12.104.29)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 20, 2001 - 10:23 pm: | |
I have heard about the Prevost H5-60's that they drive like a 35' coach. Prevost only produced the H5-60's 88-90. I have heard about only one of them being converted. Jacksonville Prevost had one a few years ago seated that I believe was $145,000. |
Ol Jim, hisself (163.205.18.138)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, June 22, 2001 - 9:50 am: | |
As regards the 40' limit, I believe that the back half would qualify as a trailer. Most, if not all, states will allow a 60' combination vehicle.
I looked into buying one, but could not figure out where to park it. |
steward (38.37.124.243)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 25, 2001 - 8:20 am: | |
Hi Gerry, We bought a Crown-Ikarus at an auction.....cheap, I think.....with plans to put our Suburban in the back....it will fit....when you are using the "toad", you then have a nice indoor work area....I checked into the road regulations and received various results.....from required overlength permits (ie. Idaho, Montana) to no permits required......states such as Fla and Calif. limit "single" vehicle length to 45' or 40' "except articulated buses" which are limited to 60'.....all of this should relate to the turning radius of the "rig" ( 40' for the Crown-Ikarus which is better than my 35' school bus) but reason does not seem to prevail in gov't......one big disadvantage is backing up.....the Crown-I has warning buzzers to inform you of pre-damage maneuvers, which is not far from a strait line back up......hope this helped....Steward |
Gerry Adams (Kingsman) (209.240.221.71)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 8:26 pm: | |
Dave,
I see it that I would not be towing around an empty garage. When I was towing - going down the road - the car would be IN the garage. (Along with its collection of tools and work benches.) But thanks for your input.
-Gerry |
Gerry Adams (Kingsman) (209.240.221.71)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 8:33 pm: | |
Steward,
Does the Suburban fit in the Ikarus' weight requirements. We are thinking about something like a Sidekick, etc. |
Gerry Adams (Kingsman) (209.240.221.71)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 8:38 pm: | |
The folks I have talked to, who have driven an articulated, report that they drive and 'back-up' like a dream. Do the rear wheels "steer" on an Ikarus, or a Man? I saw some articulated buses in use in Philadelphia this past week, but they had the engine in the rear section; not like an Ikarus or a Man. |
Luke Bonagura (Lukeatuscoach) (63.24.146.23)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 27, 2001 - 8:54 pm: | |
Hi Gerry:
The artics you saw in Philadelphia are probably their NEW Neoplans, built in Lamar, Colorado.
The replaced a group of older units that were well used.
LUKE @ US COACH |
Steward (38.37.124.150)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 28, 2001 - 12:45 am: | |
Hi again Gerry, The specs. I have on the 86 Crown-Ikarus give it a Curb Weight of 37,100# and Max.GVW at 54,040#, axle cap. as follows....Frt.18000#, Drive 23000#, Trlr.18000#. The capability is there to handle any size vehicle, I think....better off with a smaller vehicle. I drove the C-Ikarus about 50miles from the auction in Post Falls, Id. to Hope, Id. and it handled just fine (my five year old fell asleep on one of the seats). Yes, the "trailer" wheels do steer on the C-Ikarus....as they do on all articulated buses, I think....Steward |
RJ Long (24.130.101.25)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 28, 2001 - 2:01 am: | |
Steward -
If the front of the artic is the power unit, then it's not uncommon to find "steering" rear axles.
Rear-engined artics use a solid rear drive axle, therefore are non-steering.
One of the reasons artics turn so tightly is a combination of the front unit typically having the same wheelbase as a 35' coach, and the location of the fifth wheel pivot point for the trailer.
Most 18-wheelers have the fifth wheel over the drivers, but an artic's is located considerably behind the axle, which changes the pivot point of the trailer unit, reducing it's tendency to "cheat" on corners. Most pusher artic's rear axle will follow the same arc as the middle axle.
"Portable parking lots" (automobile haulers) are set up quite similar. Next time you see one at your friendly new car dealer, take a look at where the fifth wheel is located, especially in relation to the rear axle.
Hope this helps,
RJ
PD4106-2784 |
steward (38.37.124.80)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 28, 2001 - 11:00 am: | |
RJ....So not all articulated buses have steering "trailer" axles.....and that must be why Gerry was told that artics "back up" like a dream.....the C-Ikarus didn't seem to....but it could be I just wasn't used to it.....I'm definately not a professional.....Thanks for the enlightenment RJ.....Steward |
Gerry Adams (Kingsman) (209.240.221.103)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, June 30, 2001 - 11:25 pm: | |
Does anyone have any information about how you get and keep the wheels aligned on the artics.
And does anyone know someone who has actually completed a conversion. There is a Man artic on the "Buses in Conversion" column, but the author has not added anything to the article for over 2 years. |
frankmerxbauer (198.81.16.182)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 01, 2001 - 1:02 am: | |
I live in Seattle we have three types of articulated the Man bus are med motored the oil filters is 100.00 no U.S. available you have to get them from man. Some of Seattle bus are motor in the back and electric in the front for the trolley over head wire system. Then we have some back Motor only. If you try one of them you are as in for a handful of work. Like I am with my 49f.t. double Decker. This thing I've got has 2 stir axles in the front and the tag steers. |
madbrit (216.67.207.161)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 01, 2001 - 3:43 am: | |
There was one being built by a company in Phoenix Az. It came to the Bus Conversions Show in Laughlin a few years ago. Never heard of it since. It was stripped out and the interior plywood and fitted furniture was being installed at that time.
Peter. |