What size bus would you get?

[Bluthebus00]

Originally Posted by WIbluebird

That part isn't necessarily true. All or most school buses that are used solely for trips are flatnose to maximize seating capacity and are equipped with the higher end transmissions for highway driving.

As for the motion sickness I didn't experience any but I've been driving All Americans as a job for the last 6 years but I recall when I first started driving them it took maybe a day to get used to it. The extra visibility is nice especially in city driving.

Agreed mine is a 26' all american with a short wheel base and there aren't too many issues on the highway. Pretty smooth actually. Speed bumps are worst for my short wheel base though. Like riding a 25k lbs bucking bull

[Ranchorossa]

That's a lot of people in a bus. Get the biggest one you can afford. They look really big when all of the seats are out, but start adding furniture and appliances, that space gets used up quite rapidly. Maybe an RV with 3-4 slide outs might be a better idea?

[cowlitzcoach]

Originally Posted by Ranchorossa

That's a lot of people in a bus. Get the biggest one you can afford. They look really big when all of the seats are out, but start adding furniture and appliances, that space gets used up quite rapidly. Maybe an RV with 3-4 slide outs might be a better idea?

Slideouts are the number one headache for RV owners.



Most RV park operators are well versed in how to get a slide back in when the power slide mechanism stops working.



Slides also leak no matter how well the coach is made. The gasket that seals when the slide is deployed or stowed only works if the slide is up tight to the sealing surface. As the RV ages and starts to sag the gasket can never get a really tight seal which results in leaks. It helps if there is an awning to cover the slide but that is just one more piece to the puzzle that can go wrong.

[Flyingmistdragon]

Originally Posted by cowlitzcoach

Slideouts are the number one headache for RV owners.



Most RV park operators are well versed in how to get a slide back in when the power slide mechanism stops working.



Slides also leak no matter how well the coach is made. The gasket that seals when the slide is deployed or stowed only works if the slide is up tight to the sealing surface. As the RV ages and starts to sag the gasket can never get a really tight seal which results in leaks. It helps if there is an awning to cover the slide but that is just one more piece to the puzzle that can go wrong.

Exactly our problem now. Every time in rains, and I'm in Oregon so that's a LOT, the carpet next to the slides completely soaks in a four foot by three foot area. It smells awful. I will never do slides on anything again. It's not worth it at all.

[Ranchorossa]

I had a 37.5' fifth wheel for about 6 years. Never had any leaks but I did burn out a slide motor once. My own fault. If I was going to put five people in one vehicle, I'd want it to be as big as possible. Everybody has their own ideas and there is a bus for everyone.

[Ronnie]

Many museums and other large attractions have bus parking, so I have not had any trouble with size. Use truck stops for fuel and again size does not matter. I am pretty sure most of the national parks have bus parking. Where size could matter is if you use campgrounds, some of the national parks have size limits for RV's. You can look that up online.

I would be inclined to go as big as you can, as you get used to it you will find you can get it into places you never thought possible.

[WIbluebird]

For me, I drive Bluebird AA FE's every day for work so I am more than comfortable with the longer buses. Mine at work is an 82 passenger which is about the same length as my skoolie pusher. Have driven trips all over the Midwest in them and have gotten very used to getting them into tight spots where most skoolie owners would give up.

The difference in wheelbase between FEs and pushers are no joke though. There's lots of parking lots I can zip around in my FE regular bus but wouldn't even think of attempting in my skoolie bus.

I have a hard time justifying paying almost double the price for a shorty of the same year/drivetrain/condition as a full size bus. Add to that the fact that I will most likely have multiple guests with me on many trips, the max length is the way to go for me.

[EastCoastCB]

for 7 people how about a 40' bus pulling a travel trailer?

[WIbluebird]

I have considered adding a cargo trailer or setting up my Tacoma to flat tow behind it. However my Taco is an auto so I'd have to drop $2K on a driveshaft disconnect kit and I refuse to mess with a car trailer.

May have to shop around for a $500 manual trans beater when I get the trailer hitch set up on my skoolie.

[Ronnie]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

for 7 people how about a 40' bus pulling a travel trailer?

Or pull a shorty bus, gutted to be a trailer, front axle removed and trailer hitch installed.

would be fun but maybe not the best direction for the OP.

[Meathead]

Originally Posted by WIbluebird

I have considered adding a cargo trailer or setting up my Tacoma to flat tow behind it. However my Taco is an auto so I'd have to drop $2K on a driveshaft disconnect kit and I refuse to mess with a car trailer.



May have to shop around for a $500 manual trans beater when I get the trailer hitch set up on my skoolie.

Yes. I’m in the same boat. But what does a reliable beater cost these days? And I would have another vehicle to park and maintain. I’m leaning toward fixing up the always reliable Taco.

Dave