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Old 09-28-2016, 11:28 AM   #1
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deciding on length

i am going back and forth between the idea of a longer bus with more room or a shorter bus with an enclosed trailer behind it. basically im trying to decide between a 30 foot bus with a 25 foot trailer or a 40 foot bus. i want to haul my car around. any advice? i am also debating between a newer school bus (2000ish) or an older coach (1985ish). any reason not to go with a coach if i decide bigger is better?

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Old 09-28-2016, 06:19 PM   #2
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Hi Jim,

I am curious if you are hauling a car in an enclosed trailer, is it a race car?

I would bet either old or new would work well, i like older gas motors because they are simple; block, carburetor, distributor, alternator. I'm sure i forgot something, but not much

Good luck!
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Old 09-28-2016, 07:09 PM   #3
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New vs. old, long vs. short, its up to you and what you want. A newer bus will have more electronic "Doo-Dads" that can fail, but they should also have fewer miles and be generally nicer and can be more comfortable. Older buses are going to be simpler, less electronic stuff, more manual controls, less electrics on the engine and more basic. However they will have more miles(often) and less creature comforts.
As far as short vs. long, your going to get more engine (size,power) in a bigger bus, a short bus will have a smaller engine to move less weight. Be sure that the bus you pick, if you go short, will have the power to haul the extra weight of a trailer, many will not.
For every rule there is an exception, you may find a short bus with a big powerful engine, or an old bus with low miles, a new bus with basic creature comforts etc.
Also consider where you will be taking it, the length and and turning radius of a long bus vs. a shorter one with 24 ft trailer. Camp grounds may have a total limit on the length also. 30ft of bus and 24ft of trailer, 6ft of tongue and you are at 60 feet! however a long but is 40 feet.
Also think about if you want front engine or rear, flat front or conventional (dog nose). A rear engine can not be converted to a flat bed to haul a car, front engine can. Many rear engine buses are long (40ft-ish) and powerful.
How much do you plan to camp in it vs. using it as a tow truck? Are you in Texas where it is all flat (or Kansas) or are you going over the Rockies with it? I can tell you a 30 ft with a 24 ft trailer hauling a car over the Rockies with a 5.9L Diesel or an old gas engine would be a VERY slow trip.
My personnel opinion would be to find the bus with the biggest most powerful engine you can get in a front engine bus, then go from there.
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Old 09-28-2016, 09:30 PM   #4
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It's not a race car. Just a civic. But I figured the enclosed trailer route would let me store more stuff and be easier to drive. I'm used to backing up trailers. Not used to having 10 feet swinging behind the back tires though.
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Old 09-29-2016, 12:18 AM   #5
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Most RV parks are 45ft max. You just make sure were your going is good and all the options are fine. My dad halls a 32ft enclosed trailer behind his 45ft monaco and you cant tell its there. 80ft over all i think.
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