Hi! New member here!

[TakinCareOfBusness]

Hi all!

First, I want to say thanks to all of you who have posted helpful information, both successes and challenges. Came here because I have been looking at RV options as opposed to full-time living, but still looking for some space and safety. Lots of safety. I've spent the last few weeks reading and reading, and have learned a tremendous amount of information that will serve me well by helping me avoid mistakes and find the solution that's right for me.

I have a big trip planned in a few years, so I have sort of a long timeline. That being said, if the right opportunity presents itself I want to be in a position to act upon it. Luck is where preparation meets opportunity, so I'm workin' on that first part.

[brokedown]

Welcome!

Here's something I wrote with the things I thought about when i was in the same spot.

https://wanderlounge.net/are-you-con...us-conversion/

[TakinCareOfBusness]

A late thank you for the reply! I had looked your page over and see a lot of the same thought processes I have had. My objective is not full time living in the bus, but instead to use it as a travel platform. The biggest factor in my decision making is safety. I have two young kids, and I've only found a couple of floor plans that include automotive style seating with seat belts, and they, like everything else, come with compromises that I'm not sure are best for us.

My thinking at this point is finding a mechanically solid platform, using the first two rows of bus seats (with seat belts) to handle from 4-8 people, and building the "house" behind that. I think my first choice would be coach type seating for long distance comfort, although I've been looking at some of the Freedman folding seats in the name of space utilization. Not sure how they'd ride over a few hundred miles/days, though.

Got lots of questions, some I need to sort out myself, some of which I'd like to be able to pose to those who have pondered the same questions and/or have done things I've considered and are willing to share the outcome for better or worse. Right now trying to use the forum search tools to avoid duplicate inquiries (such as, should I repower a nice bus with a broken CAT? Answer, probably not).

Thanks for responding!

[EastCoastCB]

Cat is nothing to fear.
I love mine.

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by TakinCareOfBusness

should I repower a nice bus with a broken CAT? Answer, probably not).

Replacing an engine is going to be difficult and expensive. Better to find a rust-free bus that has the drivetrain you want, and more importantly has a drivetrain that is still working.

[cadillackid]

having done work in the past on repowering Hotrods and also re-transmissioning Busses .. (I havent done a motor swap in a bus yet).. i can safely say that YES to EC's method.. BUY the bus that has the drivetrain youy want.. yes you can build it.. i like building stuff and my busses are not my home, liviliehood, or requirement for life so I have the luxury of working on a swap as i wish when i wish.. makes a difference.. if you want a certain drivetrain then go search for a bus with it in working order... even if a bus costs a couple grand more than what someone else paid for one similar.. its still cheaper than tearing it apart and swapping drivetrains..

-Christopher

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

i can safely say that YES to EC's method..

Uh, EC's method was "CAT is good". I'm not sure he noticed the "broken" part.

[cadillackid]

EC's method is buy the drivetrain not build it.... at least that has been his M.O. in every other thread lol..



CAT is good when it works.. no engine is any good when it doesnt work..

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

EC's method is buy the drivetrain not build it.... at least that has been his M.O. in every other thread lol..



CAT is good when it works.. no engine is any good when it doesnt work..

Aye, that's my protocol.