The Journey Visvi 1999 Thomas MVP ER

[syke]

Originally Posted by wmkbailey

Here are some photos.

There goes the neighborhood! Damn hippies.

Rear engine, big motor, lockup trans, rock bottom price... way jealous! Kick ass bus dude. Keep the pictures flowing.

[browncrown]

Originally Posted by wmkbailey

There goes the neighborhood! Damn hippies.

Rear engine, big motor, lockup trans, rock bottom price... way jealous! Kick ass bus dude. Keep the pictures flowing.

Ditto!!!

[wmkbailey]

Big dent, ouch



And a little rust

[wmkbailey]

I was looking at the Leaf springs and they look good.



Rear



Front

The only thing I could find is on the front passenger side. It looks like they have been replaced recently.



So maybe it was fixed.

Unless... "#5 Leaf sprint left rear track - broken" means the fifth leaf spring on the drivers side rear is broken. I did not check them. Any ideas?

[bansil]

Awesome score...and by the way!
.
.
.that ain't no big dent ......and the rust you scored on this.....

[bansil]

Look between the rear u bolts

It ooks like you have one big heavy set for the wt* ad a couple to locate (track?)

Cracked/broken will be reallllly obvious

[wmkbailey]

Drivers side tires look good.



Passenger side will need to be replaced soon.



We will see if they pass inspection.

[Redbear]

Congratulations on the auction win! And a high roof, too!

Originally Posted by wmkbailey

. . . .I guess I need to stay under 26,000 lbs
I just love Maryland.

Those are National CDL requirements - and the Gross weight is the figure on the data plate, not the amount you load it to. Some states will figure the gross by the higher of the maximum design weight or the actual overload shown on the scales. Driving an 18,000 lb vehicle would be OK on a Class D until you load it to 18,001!

National law also says RVs are exempt from CDL and truck inspection rules. If you are registered as a 26,000+ pound truck, you need a class B CDL. If you are an RV, some states will have a special heavy RV/air brake endorsement you might have to add to your car license, other states will let you go with any class.

[wmkbailey]

Redbear
National law also says RVs are exempt from CDL and truck inspection rules. If you are registered as a 26,000+ pound truck, you need a class B CDL. If you are an RV, some states will have a special heavy RV/air brake endorsement you might have to add to your car license, other states will let you go with any class.

That is how it is in Maryland for an RV except this is for a Motorhome or RV. They also require the special heavy RV/air brake endorsement, which I'm stuging up for. You have to bring your own vehicle. I will have to wait until I get it inspected.

Gross Vehicle Weight of Motor Home or RV License Class Required
Less than 26,001 lbs. Class C (Non-commercial or Commercial)
26,001 lbs. or more Class B or A (Non-commercial or Commercial)

So if my bus is rated for 30,000 , but it only weighs 21,000, I have to get the class Class B or A Non-commercial license because it is rated over 26,000?

[Redbear]

That's the way it works. 30,000 lb maximum design weight under Federal rules is Class B. If Maryland makes you pass a non-commercial Class B (no driving for hire) to drive a heavy RV, then that is in your future.

[Malkieri]

Here in Texas the rated weight BEFORE the conversion is not an issue. We have to go get a certified weight after conversion and THAT is what they rate the class B needs based upon. At least that is what the lady from the DMV (or whatever they call it here) told me on the phone.

[wmkbailey]

I just checked the bus and the GVWR is 33,000 12,000 front and 22,000 rear.

I will call the MVA and see what they say. Maybe I will get lucky and it will be the certified weight after conversion, I hope.

Otherwise after I get it inspected I will have two test to study for.

[wmkbailey]

The first cut was hard, that surprised me.



Half way, the first twelve seats out.



Only the back two attached to the engine cover left. I will leave them for a while to have a place to rest my wore out...

[wmkbailey]

A view from the rear as I rest my wore out...



After loading up the bus and driving it out to where I'm working on it. Then the two mile walk back home in the rain. Then loading up my station wagon and driving it back to the bus. Realizing I left the hose to attach the propane to the generator, I drive back home. I finally get started at noon. Oh wait it is time for lunch.

Lucky it is only two miles from the bus to my apartment. Home Depot is a mile the other direction. I even have a Lowes a block closer, but like the workers at Home Depot better.

Tomorrow before I head out to celebrate the 4th of July. I plan to start removing all the decals to prep for painting.

Happy 4th everyone.

[LuckyChow]

That's a really nice looking bus. It's almost identical to the Thomas I had. My last motorhome had the 3126 in it. I really liked that engine. I think this is going to make a fine bus for you. Congratulations!

[bansil]

Good show! Happy independence day!

[bapos]

Malkieri

Don't believe every thing the Texas DMV tell you. I have called the same office talked to different people and got different answers. Texas is very bad about what they require for things to be classified as. Most of the time when you do class B license you will be having more that 12 passengers and doing this for commercial purposes. At least that's what I got from the DPS office.

[Malkieri]

Originally Posted by bapos

Malkieri

Don't believe every thing the Texas DMV tell you. I have called the same office talked to different people and got different answers. Texas is very bad about what they require for things to be classified as. Most of the time when you do class B license you will be having more that 12 passengers and doing this for commercial purposes. At least that's what I got from the DPS office.

For class B CDL yes.... but for MOTORHOMES over 26k lbs you need a class B endorsement on your normal driver's license. This includes all those fools with S&S big RV's. It is nothing to do with CDL, A CDL is a whole different ball of wax. I really wish for CDL they would use a different system of letters or numbers for levels. I agree with you concerning the people at DPS (both phone and office) but I verified it via the written laws. I will see where I put those files in a bit and post if I can find them. I actually have the paperwork forms here somewhere that TX requires for motorhome title change. I will post that later as well, probably start a new thread for that though. No need to further hijack.

[wmkbailey]

Back to the bus build

I drove my bus down to Charles Town, WV to visit so friends for the 4th of July, and to show off the bus. Then headed up to York, PA to visit and show off some more. Buy the time I was back home I had logged in 200 miles. The last hour heading home I was very comfortable driving. I used the bus today to run some errands and to pick up what I needed to start removing the decals. The wheel base is short enough to make driving through town not to much of a hassle.

I found out using a speed check that at 50 mph the bus is really going 54 mph. That makes my max speed of 63 more like 67. That explains why I was passing cars at 55, when in reality I was going 59.

I spent about eight hrs today and almost got all the decals and reflectors removed. This is not a fun job in 95 degree heat.







She is cleaning up pretty good. I still have a few reflectors on the rear to remove. I plan to wash and sand down the bus tomorrow. If I get lucky I will start masking it off for paint. I would like to spend Sunday painting the bus. I'm only going to paint the light tan color, and will paint the green later on after I do the roof raise and put in the windows. This is just to get me past inspection.

Oh, I almost forgot. I removed the front thingy on the bumper and the stop sign.

[bansil]

We need to paint also...we can't get more than one day w/o rain,it's been a pain to try ay outdoor bus work

Good job and keep after it