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07-22-2015, 03:01 PM
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#1
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New Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Southern California
Posts: 5
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So, about driving...
Hi guys,
I'm new to the board, but introduced myself in the New Member Intros already. I'm so glad I found you all!
My plan is to convert and move into a bus by 2020-2021, and to travel the US, living in my skoolie full-time. I want to be a Nomad when I grow up.
I realize that a huge part of living in a home on wheels is being able to drive and maintain the 'on wheels' part of said home. I have no experience with diesel engines or large vehicles. It seems that lots of you are former truck drivers. Do you think it would benefit me to take a CDL course to familiarize myself with these things? Is there another way to get comfortable with the workings of a bus?
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07-22-2015, 03:31 PM
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#2
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MNT CITY TN
Posts: 5,158
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watch youtube videos
search for things like :
Airbrake test
checking tires
about everything from king pins to rearend lube change is online now, maybe not in a few years when it's turned off, but now it is
and welcome
__________________
Our build La Tortuga
Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory.
George S. Patton
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07-22-2015, 04:48 PM
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#3
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Salt Lake City Utah
Posts: 1,635
Year: 2000
Chassis: Blue Bird
Engine: ISC 8.3
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It'll only take an afternoon to read through the CDL manual from your driver licensing division. Much of it will be dull or non-applicable to your purposes, but then again not much time is lost either. An actual CDL course from a truck driving school is probably overkill; I think they'll be mostly focused on people who want to drive a tractor-trailer rig day in and day out. Also, they won't teach any more about maintenance than is absolutely required for the purpose of doing a suitable pre-trip inspection. You can get that just as well from the driver license manual or Youtube.
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07-22-2015, 05:06 PM
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#4
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 546
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I teach CDL prep. occasionally and the guys are right, go online/dmv and read, read, read.
I drive by the driver's side, that is keep the DS near the line and the rest will follow.
Learn to use your mirrors and how to adjust them for optimum vision. Set up a course with paper cups/cones or anything expendable and practice.
You should be able to parallel park with ease..(we learn with a trailer!), stop with your front bumper touching a target, back to within a couple feet of a target and much more but it will come if you are diligent.
Long bus with lots of overhang? Watch city buses and the tail swing, it goes way out of line if you turn sharp.
Keep your speed reasonable and your eyes/head moving, you'll be fine.
I had a bunch of CDL sample tests that have all kinds of info. They are(were) available online for a few $.
__________________
Don and Mary
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07-22-2015, 06:28 PM
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#5
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Oklahoma aka "God's blind spot"
Posts: 2,446
Year: 1989
Coachwork: 1853FC International/Navistar
Chassis: 35' Retired Air Force Ambulance
Engine: DT466, MT643
Rated Cap: 6 souls and a driver
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bansil
about everything from king pins to rearend lube change is online now, maybe not in a few years when it's turned off, but now it is
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I was eating a pringles chip when I read that, and inhaled the wrong way when I laughed
I figured out to not take a drink when I start reading something... figured food would be safe.
pretty soon, it's not even going to be safe for me to venture outside
__________________
I once complained I had no shoes....
Until I met a man with no feet
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07-22-2015, 07:36 PM
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#6
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MNT CITY TN
Posts: 5,158
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.............
__________________
Our build La Tortuga
Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory.
George S. Patton
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07-22-2015, 11:41 PM
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#7
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Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: NUNYA
Posts: 4,236
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: 3800
Engine: DT408, AT545
Rated Cap: 23 500 gvw
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When you grow up? How old are you? If you are still high school age, enroll in auto shop. Auto shop saved me tens of thousands of dollars when I started my business. I know people that went to the mechanic to have their wipers changed.
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07-22-2015, 11:45 PM
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#8
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New Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Southern California
Posts: 5
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I'm in my mid-thirties. 'When I grow up' was more tongue-in-cheek. Apologies for the confusion. My local college offers car care classes, both for credit and as adult education. Do you think they'd be worth my time?
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07-22-2015, 11:59 PM
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#9
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Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: NUNYA
Posts: 4,236
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: 3800
Engine: DT408, AT545
Rated Cap: 23 500 gvw
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sailor_said
I'm in my mid-thirties. 'When I grow up' was more tongue-in-cheek. Apologies for the confusion. My local college offers car care classes, both for credit and as adult education. Do you think they'd be worth my time?
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Absolutely. Where else are you going to learn? If you don't have the basics down, you will learn nothing online.
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