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Tony & Kim Rian (Rianrts)

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Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 7:52 pm:   

Ok guys lets try this again
1. What fluids do I need to buy in Austin for the trip?
2. What equipment would you bring or buy ie tape, wire, extra airlines, fuses, tester?
3. What have I missed?

P.S. I will be bring my tools with me.
My last bus 1963 old GMC with a 6 cylinder gas motor went across the U.S. 4 times on an enlisted USMC budget with family. Only one breakdown that required a tow into the shop. The clutch broke in the middle of the intersection.
Brian Brown (Fishbowlbrian)

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Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 8:02 pm:   

Stop at Napa when you get there and get some fuel filters.

Call ahead and ask for a case of straight 40w Rotella CF-2 spec. so it'll be there when you get there.

Get a couple gals. of antifreeze.

Get a big tarp to lay on to inspect under the bus.

Bring/ get one of those headlamp/ "miner" lights (Eveready makes a nice affordable one).

Get some hand cleaner and ShopTowels.

An infrared IR temp. gun would be handy, as would a multitester.

Bring some old clothes to get oily and dirty with.

Buy/ bring some two-way radios for backing up, mashing the throttle, hitting the brakes and other 40' conversations.

Don't forget to bring along your sense of adventure! (couldn't resist)

Good luck!
Brian Brown
PD4106-1175
T8H-5305-021
Don/TX

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Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 8:12 pm:   

I like to have some extra wire to make an emergency new path for electricity, tape and wire nuts work well too. A test lamp of appropriate voltage is essential. I like vise grips and angle nose pliers to substitute for a full tool box, and always a hammer. Most buses have nearly no fuses, just circuit breakers. I never needed any air fittings or hose, but some good old wire can come in handy.
After years on the road with a diesel, I would never leave home without spare fuel filters, you can plug a set from only one bad fuel stop, and in your case, who knows how many bugs have grown in that fuel that has set for some time.
Extra engine oil and transmission fluid are wise to pick up in Austin also, along with a couple jugs of coolant.
As previously suggested, an infared thermometer is now on my list too. Not only checking cyl exhaust temps, but coolant temp and most importantly tire and wheel bearing temps at a simple walkaround at rest stops.
jimmci9 #2

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Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 8:45 pm:   

duct tape!!!!!!!... filter pliers.. several extra fuel filters... an electic ice pick... (test light)... extra wire, 1157 bulbs... gallon or so of clean fuel to fill filters...and throw-away cameras.... gotta record this for posterity!!!!!!
TWODOGS (Twodogs)

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Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 9:06 pm:   

some cardboard and a marks-a-lot for makeing a sign
Jim (Jim_in_california)

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Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 9:47 pm:   

Old coathangers. You can fix a hell of a lot with old wire coathangers :-).
James Maxwell (Jmaxwell)

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Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 10:34 pm:   

Jim: I know a farmer in Kansas that says JB Weld is better than wire. But, TD gets the award on this one! Only 2 things I can think of that is missing from the other suggestions is the size of the UHaul truck to carry it all to Austin and a fairly clean balance Platinum Plus credit card.
ChuckMC9 (Chucks)

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Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 10:41 pm:   

This is probably more than you wanted to know, but I saved portions of this thread awhile back:

I take ALL of my tools, period. Two toolboxes and even the power tools as well. And one of my big drawers (the 4' wide one that the wife really wanted) is dedicated to plastic organizers full of small parts, screws, plumbing parts, crimps, electrical parts, etc. Quite thorough actually. In one of the storage bays I keep a big plastic bucket with a container or two of every type of fluid, engine oil, tranny oil, steering fluid, antifreeze, grease gun, etc.
And every trip, it has been a good thing... makes nasty emergencies into simple fixes, then back on the road. It's all part of the experience of making an "unknown" bus into something you finally know and can trust. At first there are many little bugs that you didn't anticipate. Then later it's just routine things that need attention as you go...
So far my trips have each had one thing go wrong- sometimes big and somtimes not:

*blown radiator hose (a little short hidden one)
*exhaust brake cylinder packing failure (caught in the brake check area at the top of a nasty grade)
*windshield pushed out of it's gasket
*throttle stuck wide open
*headlight thermal breaker failed, old age
*original dash- heater core blew a hole
*steering assist seriously out of adjustment
*rattles galore (no longer)
*various dash-gauge failures
*various light failures
*Major oil leaks discovered AFTER you're on the road
*windshield wiper motor failure
*Schrader valve lost a plug (caused compressor to turn on 100% of the time and overpressure the brake system)

I'm in the process of adding one more storage bay in which I'll keep my air powered 30 ton jack, 1" impact wrench, and an air tank (powered by the brake system) to operate them. That with a tire-plug gun should keep me totally on the road almost anywhere...

In all of these cases it's been very nice to have my entire toolset along, as well as a big bucket of bolts and hose clamps, extra wire, hose parts, spare belts, filters, etc. Heck a bus is definitely big enough for all this stuff, so why not!!
All you have to do is wait once at a truckstop for *8 HOURS* to have their busy mechanic do a simple 5 minute fix for you because you didn't bring your own tools (happened to me three years ago) and you'll bring everything from then on....

Gary



Oh, I forgot an important addition for a air suspension coach. A spare air bag(s). More than anything, the electrical schematics for the coach, a good voltmeter, and a long wire with alligator clips for troubleshooting. Even if you can't read the schematics, a shop guy must have them to quickly fix something electric.

By Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat) (68.7.217.217) on Tuesday, September 16, 2003

Bob..oil change & filters 100.00...be sure,every time,to get in the habit of bumping the tires EVERY time ,before you get in the bus...sounds like too much trouble ,BUT,100 feet & you can ruin a tire,300.00 mistake...I use a 1/2 inch breakover to bump them,some people use a hammer,the tire will "RING" if it's up & "THUD" if it's flat...listen to the noise it makes..watch the oil pressure going down the road,and DON'T run out of diesel,EVEN if you have to walk to a station...

Tools on board are like good luck charms to a certain extent.

BTW, I do carry one of each spare air bag. (The best take-off last time they were changed.) Not cause the new ones will age, but for in case a new one chafes or something gets thrown up from the road, etc. Have already had one chafed due to a brake air hose that shifted. Look carefully for this every time you are underneath adjusting the brakes. If you have a shop do the brakes, ask them to check that nothing can touch the bags.

If you must limit what you bring, then figure that you may be able to fix wiring issues & light repairs. Regular hand tools incl. wrenches to 1", a GOOD set of jumper cables, truck tire gauge, meter, roll of #12 wire, wire strippers & crimpers, selection of butt splices & terminals, elec tape & duct tape, selection of various sized hose clamps & some wire coat hangers. Put the loose stuff in a 5 gallon pail (with a top) which you can use for water or fuel if needed. Take some coveralls, a tarp to lay on if needed, and rags & hand cleaner.

After you buy the bus, (& have somewhere to carry this stuff) go buy some pieces of 2 x 10 (2 ea 3', 5' & 7') that you can stack up as stepped ramps to pull the bus up onto if you have to get under it. You will need about 8 pcs of 4x4x12" or similar to block up the body of the bus because YOU NEVER GET UNDER A NON BLOCKED UP AIR BAG VEHICLE! You will use the boards & blocks for campground levelling and maintenance anyway.
When they change the oil & filters, get a case of gallons of the oil & spare fuel filters. Get a 3-5 gal jug (full) of diesel in case you have to prime filters. A few quarts of whatever fluids the steering & trans. take will be good.

Keep your speed down to 55-60 for the first 1-200 miles till you know what shape she's in. You should be going on a 30-50 mile test drive anyway before you buy. Pay the expenses & the seller's time if needed, there's no better way to find out how roadworthy it is. It takes 30-50 miles just for the tires to really warm up. I usually let the owner drive most of the way & I roam around front to back listening & feeling vibration, noise etc. That way he isn't worried about you driving & you aren't "charmed" by driving "your" new bus.

By jim-bob (12.46.52.74) on Wednesday, September 17, 2003 - 10:24 am

Here's what I do on my Harley.

I have a roll-up tool kit I carry in my saddlebag, when I'm in my shop, working on the bike, I only use the tools from the roll up bag.

So if I run across something I don't have I add it to my kit.

I'll do the same on the bus.

Gary

By Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (198.88.152.22) on Wednesday, September 17, 200


Well, I carry full tools all the time--so much so, that when my F-350 got hit by a red-light runner, I replaced the mangled box with a Reading utility body. I have:

1/4", 3/8", 1/2" drive rachets & sockets, SAE & metric
Combination wrenches, 1/4" to 7/8" & 4mm-20mm
Screwdrivers, slotted, Phillips, Torx
A set of Allen wrenches
At least one pair each of:
Electrical
Slip-joint
Channel-lock
Needle-nose
...pliers.
Vise-grips (I carry 2)
Something to cut fuel line or radiator hose.
Something capable of cutting through a 1/0-gauge battery cable
Big flashlight (mine is a 3-cell Mag-Lite, I also carry a battery-powered "lantern").
Tarp (I carry 2)
Chocks (I have 2 sets, & suggest painting them orange so you don't break your neck on them at night)
3 warning triangles
Something capable of popping loose the lugs on a bus.
Something capable of tightening said lugs properly.
WD-40
Liquid Wrench
All fluids.
Duct tape
Electrical tape
A box of cotter pins
JB Weld
Something to bypass a blown heater core
Zip ties
4-ton bottle jack

On my bus, which will have on-board air, I'll carry:

1/2" drive Snap-On impact gun & sockets
10-ton jack

This list isn't complete, but that's most of it.

Road spares & supplies
BNO BBS - BNO's Bulletin Board System :The Archives :Year 2003 :April 2003 : Road spares & supplies

By Johnny (67.241.232.30) on Thursday, April 10, 2003 - 06:15 pm: Edit

Just curious--what do you carry with you?

My usual list is pretty thorough (the * items are bus/RV only):

Complete tool set (SAE and metric)
Tire-changing stuff (jack, impact wrench*, long extention*, torque wrench)

Electrical stuff (fuses, bulbs, jumper wires, test light, multimeter)

Spare heater hose

A flex-hose to replace a blown radiator hose

3-cell Mag-Lite

Battery-powered "lantern"

Chemical glow sticks

Warning triangles

*Chocks (I use metal utility-truck chocks I got for $5 at a flea market)

*Air hose

Jumpers--25' of 1/0-gauge cable (I've melted cheapies)

Duct tape

WD-40

Extra fluids

2 gallons of water/antifreeze mix, plus 1 gallon of plain water in warm weather

I like to be ready for almost anything.

Most of this stuff rides in .50 caliber ammo boxes, the best toolboxes ever--rugged, cheap, & watertight.

By Stan (64.158.132.219) on Thursday, April 10, 2003 - 09:14 pm: Edit

Without knowing what kind of bus you have I suggest you look at the bus and decide what parts that are prone to failure would be difficult or time consuming to get when on the road. Certainly anything made of rubber is suspect and that includes belts, hoses, airbags and diaphrams in brakes and air throttle. You must know how readily you could obtain these type of items and base your decision on that. Fuel filters are an absolute necessity and an oil filter comes in handy if you have to get an oil change and the shop doesn't stock your filter. If your bus is like most conversions you are driving an ancient piece of equipment that is not in common use on the highway. If you follow the Fast Fred maintenance schedule and rebuild your entire bus on a regular basis you have little chance of breaking down on the road. If you are more inclined to check everything to the best of your ability and do preventative maintenance then hidden damage may do you in. You just have to use common sense and do the best you can at home to avoid the costly breakdowns on the road.
TWODOGS (Twodogs)

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Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 10:42 pm:   

wheelbarrow to get it all back home
Ron Rutledge

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Posted on Saturday, February 19, 2005 - 3:56 am:   

It's going to be a REAL TRIP!...Good Luck...I drove my bus home by the seat of the ______,I just had to do it in the dark too!...It was a yellow school bus!...And 2 Dog's is right...It took a wheelbarrow to get it home...fuel filters and more fuel for the last 100 ft. to the Barn out back...Ron
John that newguy

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Posted on Saturday, February 19, 2005 - 7:41 am:   

Tony-

Bring a sense of humor, you're going to need -that-, more
than any of the tools and parts.

And I hate to be insulting, but.....

Ya' know what baffles me? There are so many here that have so
much experience with the mechanics of a bus, all telling you not to
undertake this adventure unless you've personally looked the unit
over and have had a bus garage inspect it for you...... and yet you're
going to attempt to buy it and drive it thousands of miles home......

That's a helluva task for those that have experience.... But for a
guy that has to ask "what should I bring for the trip?:....... It's insane.

I do very sincerely wish you both the best of luck.
John that newguy

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Posted on Saturday, February 19, 2005 - 7:46 am:   

Two Dogs-

Man, you -are- funny! (cardboard, mark-a-lot and a wheelbarrow)
TWODOGS (Twodogs)

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Posted on Saturday, February 19, 2005 - 7:53 am:   

a wheelbarrow over the rockies will be a character building experence :-)
John that newguy

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Posted on Saturday, February 19, 2005 - 9:08 am:   

I wonder why he doesn't read that thread below:
"MC5 Drive Shaft just spins..Oh No! Need help..."
and take the hint....

Man, if we can't learn and benefit from other's bad experiences,
what good is reading anything here?

Opinions are a dime a dozen, but the experiences posted of
having bought something of this magnitude that you know little
about, is near priceless.
TWODOGS (Twodogs)

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Posted on Saturday, February 19, 2005 - 9:10 am:   

going up cabbage with a wheelbarrow should take about 30 years..the three children will be grown by then and have children of their own...the film crew I'm hireing will alredy be retired..
they hired a good mechanic...he told them the injectors needed replaceing,the bus has been drug on the pavement without wheels,the wheels do not fit,the lugnuts are incorrect...FOX wants to buy this to replace 'Married with Children'
DMDave

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Posted on Saturday, February 19, 2005 - 9:57 am:   

what dont kill ya makes ya stronger! you cant teach lessons everyone has to learn themselves. it might be their best adventure.
James Maxwell (Jmaxwell)

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Posted on Saturday, February 19, 2005 - 1:17 pm:   

Wrong DMDave: You can teach, just that some resist learning. This type generally won't even learn by their own mistakes.
BrianMCI

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Posted on Saturday, February 19, 2005 - 10:17 pm:   

"...what dont kill ya makes ya stronger!"

...unless of course it leaves you brain dead... then no, definitely weaker.

Brian
Juan Navarro (Jnavarro)

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Posted on Sunday, February 20, 2005 - 1:07 am:   

Tony and Kim,

Don't forget a couple of band-aids!

Juan PD4104-138
TWODOGS (Twodogs)

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Posted on Sunday, February 20, 2005 - 3:09 pm:   

Kinda quiet out there...nothing on local news yet,guess the Rians are mad at me...but...I wouldn't talk a baby into an intersection either...guess I must be a gentle...loveable person :-)
jimmci9 #2

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Posted on Sunday, February 20, 2005 - 5:18 pm:   

theyre due to fly into austin tuesday night,,, take the bus to gcr (tire dealer) and get the wheels/tires/stud fixed.... then depart wednesday....
TWODOGS (Twodogs)

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Posted on Sunday, February 20, 2005 - 5:26 pm:   

wow...thought it was happening THIS week-end...
Stephen Fessenden (Sffess)

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Posted on Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 8:54 pm:   

Carry aluminum duct tape. It will patch any body problem. Buy it at Home Depot, etc.
bowlingshoegiverouter

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Posted on Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 10:54 pm:   

anybody got an Idea of their route....THIS.....would be interisting....they could drop down to San Antonio & take 10 west.....naaaa..........o.k. they could go up to 40 & go west................but,since winter isn't over,they will go 90.and go west ...yes....that's what they will do..
jimmci9 #2

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Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 5:16 am:   

austin.... alberquerke (sp)... oregon...
jimmci9 #2

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Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 6:18 pm:   

as of about 5 pm, they were headed west on i-10, somewhere around segovia.... said they were gonna try for ft stockton ....
TWODOGS (Twodogs)

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Posted on Thursday, February 24, 2005 - 11:02 pm:   

where are they now ????????????????????????
John that newguy

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Posted on Friday, February 25, 2005 - 7:16 pm:   

Maybe they're waiting for Mac to get there with his 60' rig,
so they can start a convoy

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