| Author | Message | ||
| Jim (Jim_in_california)
Rating: N/A |
So here's where I'm at: $17,000 gets me a good 34ft "very high end Bluebird conversion" that comes close to Wanderlodge visual and functional specs, good mechanical shape, good Cummins motor of a reliable type (504 @ 225hp), 5sp Spicer tranny with syncro and a 2sp rear end (HELL yeah), 10mpg. Front engine "puller" much like a Wanderlodge "FC" series. I found an RV repairs/upgrades shop in my home town of Sacramento via this interesting page: http://rvservicereviews.com/ReviewDetails.asp?Submit=&FacilityID=31&State=CA&Search=&Categ oryID= That takes you to the California page, use "home" and then other states for more of the same. As you can see, "RV Doctor George" has a pair of top-rated reviews. I checked his shop out and came away real impressed - it's a combination of large clean shop and "RV junkyard" but with bits and pieces fully browsable by customers and impeccably organized. 10 man operation total. What George and I worked out is an upgrade whereby we add three 2" square reciever hitches running through the factory back bumper and strongly anchored to the typically "Peterbuilt grade" Bluebird frame. He then builds an add-on that adds 3.5' length to the bus, is the same 8ft width and has a side door allowing motorcycle ramp access. The forward edge of this "box" will follow the contours of the bus rear end, and will have a thick rubber tube around the edge. It will have three square rods pointing forward from under the floor - matching the three recievers. In other words, the box is removable. It'll cost me around $6k, built out of 2" round steel tube frame and skinned in aluminum, much like a modern cargo trailer. A trailer would be cheaper and provide more space. But this will be easier to park in urban areas and far more secure, and big enough for my needs. The rear windows in the bus now will allow watching my bike from bed  and the existing rear door will allow access to the garage from the rig. With the bike out, it's still big enough to allow a drop-down workbench across the side opposite the side door. Other costs: I'll add a moderate inverter in the 1500watt class for about $1,100, a better fridge for a grand, a bigger water tank at a couple hundred, a quality multi-stage charger for a couple hundred more. It's got two 8Ds now less than a year old, they'll do for now and an Onan 4k genset, plenty for my needs. Total costs come in less than $30k, time to completion about six weeks if Dr. George's estimate is close. Starting from scratch with the Crown HPO shell would hit $40 and run six months. And this has a more reliable engine type, more recently rebuilt (65k ago along with the tranny) and this Bluebird will be easier to work on and get parts for. I expect to head for WA state to pick the bus up (pending inspection!) around the 15th of next month, drive it straight to George's place. Yeah, it ain't what I was expecting to end up with, but it works . | ||
| Tim Hoskinson (Tdh37514151)
Rating: N/A |
Best of luck Jim hope everything works out great for you. The most important thing is that what ever you end up it helps you to enjoy your life. Have fun man you only get one chance. Tim | ||
| Tim Strommen (Tim_strommen)
Rating: N/A |
Uh Jim, TrippLite APS2424 (2400Watt inverter/charger) can be had for less than $900 at Halted Specialties in Santa Clara... Just thought you'd like to know... Glad to hear you found a rig to settle on, Keep us posted on the progress. Tim | ||
| Jim (Jim_in_california)
Rating: N/A |
Well the thing is rigged 12v right now...one 8D running the engine starter/external lights, another 8D for the RV stuff, manual interlink/disconnect. See also this thread where I'm thrashing out alternatives here...big point is that I've gotta have true sine wave and a top-quality battery charger with temp sensor on battery: http://www.busnut.com/bbs/messages/11/9388.html?1109550881 |