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09-15-2018, 05:42 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: NC
Posts: 155
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Trailways or Greyhound bus conversions
I had a friend a few years back that bought these used at auction. Converted them to campers. I have thought about trying this since I retired.
Anyone tried this? I had this in my brain a few months back but don't think I ever posted the question. Slides would be tough but plenty of room.
Imagine pulling into a Class A only campground I would think with a fancy paint job it would pass.
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09-15-2018, 05:55 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Zebulon, NC
Posts: 5,208
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Many have a rule about "bus conversions". Otherwise, you have a pretty much clean slate to start with.
__________________
Kelly and Jerry Powell with Halo (Lethal White Aussie), Nash the Rat Terrorist, and now Reid, the "Brindle we have no idea puppy"
2020 Grand Design Solitude 390RK-R
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09-25-2018, 02:21 PM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: full timing the USA
Posts: 88
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Quote:
Originally Posted by deltam
I had a friend a few years back that bought these used at auction. Converted them to campers. I have thought about trying this since I retired.
Anyone tried this? I had this in my brain a few months back but don't think I ever posted the question. Slides would be tough but plenty of room.
Imagine pulling into a Class A only campground I would think with a fancy paint job it would pass.
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I did it with a GMC buffalo bus. Never had an issue at any campgrounds. However, the GMC couldn't have a slide built it because it has no conventional frame. Slides have been put in MCI and Silver Eagle buses.
I wrote about our conversion if you have an interest.
https://lifeisacarnivalblog.wordpress.com/2017/04/
__________________
There's No straight lines make up my life, And all my roads have bends. There's no clear-cut beginnings,
And so far no dead-ends.
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09-26-2018, 05:54 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: NC
Posts: 155
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FastEagle
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Wonder what Henry Ford would have done about this? Stifling innovation?
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10-12-2018, 06:44 PM
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#6
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Member
Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Castle Pines, Co
Posts: 82
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I built a 4106 GM bus. Started in 1995 and finished it 4 1/2 years later. Did it right with quality parts. Started with rebuilt engine, auto trans, tires and everything inside. Four solar panels, electric fridge, satelite, full paint and then used it for 5 years. Would I do it again. Not on your life.
It just about ruined a marriage. I wanted to stop and my wife wouldn't let me. Had a lot of fun in it but the money I spent (if your doing it right) I could have bought a nice motorhome and retired even earlier. Just my humble opinion.
__________________
Jim, 2016 Tiffin Allegro Open Road 36LA, 2017 Jeep Cherokee. Castle Pines, Colorado
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12-10-2018, 04:33 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: huntsville ontario canada
Posts: 116
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we took a M C I and converted it into a nice rv with a slide ,infloor heat split unit a/c
invested $110 k into it and sold it 10 years later . we enjoyed it and only sold it because I wanted MORE POWER . I do miss the simple things that were in it like air leveling that did not need a computer to screw up . would I build one again ? nope I have less then 1/2 the money in the Fatherlite I have now . spend your money on a high end older rv and revamp it
__________________
dave , karen
2000 featherlite vogue cat 550 hp
home base huntsville ont canada
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01-12-2019, 08:58 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 344
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Quote:
Originally Posted by deltam
Wonder what Henry Ford would have done about this? Stifling innovation?
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I am not sure what FastEagle meant by this link to the 49CFR but the following seems to indicate that it does not cover Used buses and conversions AFTER THE FIRST SALE.
"Altered vehicle means a completed vehicle previously certified in accordance with § 567.4 or § 567.5 that has been altered other than by the addition, substitution, or removal of readily attachable components, such as mirrors or tire and rim assemblies, or by minor finishing operations such as painting, before the first purchase of the vehicle other than for resale, in such a manner as may affect the conformity of the vehicle with one or more Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard(s) or the validity of the vehicle's stated weight ratings or vehicle type classification."
So I am curious what part of this applies to used buses for conversion?
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01-12-2019, 11:05 AM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Deer Lodge, Tn.
Posts: 77
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Check out the bus nuts group
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01-13-2019, 09:04 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 344
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenaleslie
Check out the bus nuts group
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The statement was posted in a response in this thread. That is why I am asking it here.
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01-14-2019, 02:51 AM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Deer Lodge, Tn.
Posts: 77
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BTFT
The statement was posted in a response in this thread. That is why I am asking it here.
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This is a group of people who own bus conversions .live built several and used to be a member the isn't any smatasses on that sight or know it all
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02-03-2019, 04:18 PM
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#12
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 10
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Bus conversions
Quote:
Originally Posted by deltam
I had a friend a few years back that bought these used at auction. Converted them to campers. I have thought about trying this since I retired.
Anyone tried this? I had this in my brain a few months back but don't think I ever posted the question. Slides would be tough but plenty of room.
Imagine pulling into a Class A only campground I would think with a fancy paint job it would pass.
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Are used to run a small charter bus company and I started with eight GMC deck and a half then moved on to MCI’s, MC-8 and MC-9 models then Prevost Lemirage’s and I’ve also had a couple of Eagles.
Personally most people seem to like Prevost, I happen to love driving them and as a coach to own and operate I love them but for durability I think the MCI, MC-8 or MC-9 models are great. The MC-9 was probably one of the most popular coaches made and there were thousands of them out there. They’re very durable the later models had 12 V conversions and not just 24 V systems and they’re also easy to re-power into a series 60 engine if you want the most of them came with automatic transmissions although I love driving the five speed.
I personally am not a fan of slide outs because I’m not a full timer nor do I think I could do that. I happen to like just leaving everything the way it is and being able to deal with it Coach running right down the road without having to worry about moving things in and out. I think personally it’s light out so just one more thing to go wrong. But that’s a personal opinion.
If you want to nice coach and can still find a good MC nine or what they called an MC 12 which was Greyhound‘s later model those would be very good very inexpensive and if you can find the right converter very good and easy to convert. Just remember kiss keep it simple stupid. I know I’m not trying to be insulting but putting in a table couple of chairs and a couch couch and or pull out couch simple cooking area with sink convection oven refrigerator freezer and having a good generator with that extra fuel tank is always a good idea make sure you have more than enough fuel and one of the nice things about the X greyhounds as they used to have the very large field tags, 279 gallons or 249 with a 79 gallon auxiliary. Makes a big difference not having to keep fueling up. Also keep an eye on your air-conditioning system make sure they’re converted to 130 for Freon because finding 12 or 22 is nearly impossible and super expensive. Putting solar panels up on the roofs definitely a plus and can definitely help you make sure you have good ventilation and if you get a couple of conversion slide windows will help with the ventilation on the coach as well. Either way just try to make it simple a convenient comfortable layout if you could live with those people do showers rather than any kind of a tub because that takes up too much water into its face. Either way whatever you do enjoy it and remember you running a diesel lead will last you forever but you have to maintain it .
Greyhound at one time would even sell their coaches until they had 1,000,000 miles on them. So getting half 1 million to million miles out of the coach is not a problem just make sure you maintain it that’s all. And make sure you remember it’s going to cost you a lot more than your car or even a smaller RV but having the coach is definitely worthwhile and definitely a lot of fun. .
Greyhound at one time would even sell their coaches until they had 1,000,000 miles on them. So getting half 1 million to million miles out of the coach is not a problem just make sure you maintain it that’s all. And make sure you remember it’s going to cost you a lot more than your car or even a smaller RV but having the coach is definitely worthwhile and definitely a lot of fun.
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02-03-2019, 04:22 PM
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#13
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 10
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4106 and an almost ruined marrage
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcbus
I built a 4106 GM bus. Started in 1995 and finished it 4 1/2 years later. Did it right with quality parts. Started with rebuilt engine, auto trans, tires and everything inside. Four solar panels, electric fridge, satelite, full paint and then used it for 5 years. Would I do it again. Not on your life.
It just about ruined a marriage. I wanted to stop and my wife wouldn't let me. Had a lot of fun in it but the money I spent (if your doing it right) I could have bought a nice motorhome and retired even earlier. Just my humble opinion.
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Yes it’s expensive but it is so much fun traveling around the country and the coach. Personally I would much rather be driving a coach that a motorhome. They write better and they’re much more adorable in my humble opinion. New work coaches today or more like Tronic and so much more to go wrong. The older coaches were just playing tanks and they ran like it and ran forever. You just had to do normal maintenance on them. At my point now I would love to get rid of driving coaches and get a nice conversion and go out on the road part time. Because I am getting totally sick of living in Long Island New York and Not being able to travel the way I want to. I would like to just go to the beach sit there for a month and relax. Don’t have to stay in the hotel every night or even any night don’t have to have cable TV although you can I could just sit at the beach read my books and enjoy myself. Traveling and the coach is very enjoyable and very relaxing. Just find the right. “campground”
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