^^^^^^^
That's why nobody ever gets divorced...
You know, the one your buddies tried to talk you out of, but you were "in love."
^^^^^^^
That's why nobody ever gets divorced...
You know, the one your buddies tried to talk you out of, but you were "in love."
In reply to maj75 (Forum Supporter) :
I will agree that he shouldn't produce any mini vans that he needs to take care of for the next 18 years, but other than that, rock on.
What kinda budget are we talking here? Building out a Sprinter is like $10k on the low end if you DIY it. And that's like 1/4-1/3 the interior volume of these buses.
Also remember that being a full on nomad in a vehicle that size would be insanely difficult because you cant fit it/park it anywhere.
In reply to thedoc :
I ve a friend who lives in the desert in a pick up camper. He stays in a given area until someone runs him off. He does his business on a folding chair with a toilet seat replacing the bottom. Next to it is a shovel that he tosses dirt over it as soon as he's finished. He has a whole bunch of water jugs he runs and gets water when needed.
Wandering around he picks up sun bleached wood and paints sea scapes on it. That's his income. 2 times a year he go to the California coast and sells it to souvenir shops.
My point is anything will work if you want it to. But you accept the good with the bad. No moveable home will appreciate, only land does that.
The single rear axle, like this:
Is much more desirable than the dual rear axle like this:
The single will be more maneuverable as well as fewer really expensive tires. Take the word maneuverable with a grain of salt. There ain't nothing maneuverable about these hulks.
This is a link to a place in Metro Toledo, Ohio that is about 45 minutes from me. They specialize in used busses. I just want to add this site as a way for you to see a lot of configurations in one place. None of what they carry is converted to RV (specifically) but still a lot to see.
https://www.tescobus.com/used-buses-for-sale/
I might recommend something like this. Not based on a van but based on a real medium duty chassis. A vehicle of real substance without being a vehicle of too much substance. https://www.tescobus.com/buses-for-sale/2005-Mid-Bus-Chevrolet-42-Passengers-and-0-Wheelchairs_U10121/
In reply to John Welsh :
Thanks John, now I just spent my lunch break looking at buses.
Stampie (FS) said:In reply to John Welsh :
Thanks John, now I just spent my lunch break looking at buses.
And not just busses... Mobile Dental Clinic
We need fewer grown ups in this thread and more dreamers.
Guys. I love you all. But if I can't look cool doing this, it's just being difficult for the sake of being difficult.
Does Steve still use mongo? That would be the easy button here.
In reply to mazdeuce - Seth :
X 2 for enabling, way more practical talk here than I expected. We're supposed to wait until he buys something to point out the down sides.
Edited to add a link to John in Kansas' build thread: Why I won't be ready for the $2020 Challenge| Builds and Project Cars forum | (grassrootsmotorsports.com)
In reply to John Welsh :
How about converting a prison bus?
In reply to LarryNH (Forum Supporter) :
Wouldn't a prison bus be more work, taking out the partitions? I am intrigued by the how to do this. Do you start with bus that is a blank slate, or buy a trashy motor coach and remodel to your specs? How large or small do you go with this? I have seen some school bus conversions that were gorgeous. I have seen some short bus conversions that were down and dirty,but totally functional. It's times like these I am glad I don't have the space for a project like this.
My advice to you would be to do the toter-home thing with a semi. I have done and still own a bus conversion. It is an awkward driveline to work on and if the bus ages the living area loses value also. Another truck under your cube and its modern again.
Just trust me bus services if you can find anyone to work on them are expensive. The parts are not always the standard heavy duty truck stuff either.
The bus idea was always my dream. I got to live it and loved it. I just would do it differently now.
I hate to bring reality into this but something you can haul with a truck may be better option. you can setup show and then have a vehicle to go out and do work with. Opens up a ton of options as well. I could pretty comfortably live in a 27-30 foot airstream or something like it if the weather was nice and I could put a motorcycle on the back and hve a decent truck to do work with when I got where I was going.
But I am the last person who would live like this so take everything with a grain of salt.
Following along with this craziness/awesomness!
All these posts and I'm surprised no one has mentioned this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furthur_(bus)
I always thought it would be cool to turn a 40' shipping container into a house, then just have it shipped from place to place. Last year I stayed in a hotel in Valparaiso, Chile that was built out of old shipping containers, it was very cool and worked very well.
gumby (Forum Supporter) said:
Well said, sir!
Having traveled in vans (class 1, and 2) medium duty trucks (class 5 and 6) and semi’s (class 8) (professionaly, rv toters and full blown motor home )and driven a privately owned bus converted to a flatbed hauler (366 gas), I found the medium duty trucks are more expensive, for less hauling ability than going on up to a class 8 semi.
Cool factor is there as well. A semi converted to single rear wheel, flatbed for car and or motorcycle, and tow a easy to find camper.
Doesn't have the same “hippy” vibe a a converted bus, though.
Why haven't you bought some $500 hulk of a bus and started cutting and welding yet?
RevRico said:Why haven't you bought some $500 hulk of a bus and started cutting and welding yet?
This.
RevRico said:Why haven't you bought some $500 hulk of a bus and started cutting and welding yet?
Trying a new strategy this time.
03Panther said:Having traveled in vans (class 1, and 2) medium duty trucks (class 5 and 6) and semi’s (class 8) (professionaly, rv toters and full blown motor home )and driven a privately owned bus converted to a flatbed hauler (366 gas), I found the medium duty trucks are more expensive, for less hauling ability than going on up to a class 8 semi.
Cool factor is there as well. A semi converted to single rear wheel, flatbed for car and or motorcycle, and tow a easy to find camper.
Doesn't have the same “hippy” vibe a a converted bus, though.
My opinion; A 379 Peterbuilt with either a 3406 Cat or Cummins big cam Has a cool factor of it's own. Not exactly Hippie but more of a classical good looks.
No it won't get the same fuel mileage/per ton that more Modern trucks will. But those engines are capable of up to million miles, and the rest of the chassis is capable of even more.
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