Need a BIGGER Motorhome?

[16ACE27]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbaaTlpL4mM

[Popfla]

I'll bet it's fun backing that rig into a campsite !

[16ACE27]

He said they rarely use campsites, they don't even have an external electrical or water connection.

[Bob Denman]

That thing looks big enough to be generating it's own gravitional field...

[JamieGeek]

Its The Big Bus!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68dTwJNvE1E

[The Gritz Carlton]

Albatross for sure but if they're happy...I'm happy for them. Reminds me of a shotgun house in Mississippi. Wonder what insurance for that thing runs?

[ducksface]

We considered a city bus years and years ago.
I was told they wouldn't pull a grade at any reasonable speed.
Maybe things have changed.
I think the one we looked at was a two speed transmission.
There's not much reason for anything different.

Thank goodness for a nice man at the auction who edumadated us.

Maybe the one in the video was purpose built for inter city or something.

[Chance]

One of the more desirable buses to convert is the classic Flxible. Years ago we stayed at Jackson Lake Lodge in Grand Teton National Park and found a completely restored and mechanically updated example used to transport guests. The driver gave us quite a bit of information about it, including new engine type, etc. My father owned and drove buses like these when he was a young man and really enjoyed sitting behind the wheel for pictures. It was a great opportunity for him that brought back memories.

A couple of years ago we (wife and I) went by again and saw the bus was still there, although not yet in service at the time. Picture below.

The January 2020 Motorhome Magazine has an article “Purple People Seater” showing one of these Flxible buses converted to a motorhome. The bus at Jackson Lodge may be a little shorter than the one converted to motorhome but still larger than smaller Class As. The biggest difference is how low they are. I like that a lot. Anyway, this is a bit more practical to convert to an RV.

[The Gritz Carlton]

Classic buses are really cool...especially the old round models! We bought an old '78 International "short bus" from a local county auction a few years ago and converted it to a race bus...used it twice a year at the local NASCAR in ATL. Redneck for sure but it had overhead cabinets, RV 3 burner stove, sink and water supply, ladies room with porta-potti in the back, window A/C unit in back, generator bracket welded on rear and 10 speaker 600W sound system....plus a lot more junk. It ran great. The custom license plate was "NASBUS". Biggest factor is the gearing and how they were purpose-built. Local municipalities and school buses are built for slow speeds...low gearing. OTR charter types are built for the highway...high gearing. We tried taking the NASBUS to Daytona...got about 100 miles from ATL and turned back. Wouldn't run much over 55 and stalled on the slightest hill at this speed. It was so over the torque curve at 55MPH it was pathetic.

[Chance]

In the old days it wasn’t necessarily the gearing but lack of engine power that was most limiting. Gearing was selected so the bus would run maximum speed when engine was at maximum power, which was close to maximum governed RPM. My dad said his earlier buses had 4-speed manual transmissions, but the old 2-cycle 4-cylinder 71-series GM engines only made 80 to 100 HP. Downshifting with significant reduction in speed was a must on any kind of hill. There’s only so much 80~100 HP can do.

I was told the restored bus we saw at Jackson Lodge had a modern (???) Cummins V6 engine and new auto transmission, along with new axles, brakes, etc. I didn’t get to see the components but it sounded like a new bus except for the outer shell.