Hello from Las Vegas

[Offgr1d]

I had never posted yet, but wanted to say Hi and hopefully soon Share my bus / coach conversion I've been working on. It has taken longer than expected as I live in it as I am doing the build. (Move stuff - build - move stuff - find tools - build - etc....)

Can't wait to share photos - Im deep in the process, but still ways to go.

Basic Specs:
1998 VanHool T945
45' coach, Allison B500 world
Cummins M11
Silver leaf engine monitor

 

[bansil]

Welcome aboard, nice ride there!

 

[nat_ster]

Welcome.

All that info is waiting for you in the build thread section. I would start with threads over 20 pages. That way you will get passed all the failed builds that never go anywhere.

Asking questions will only get you opinions, not experience. The build threads will share the experience they learned the hard way.

If I can't see someone do it, I don't even want to hear what they have to say. People run their mouths far too much.

Glad to have you here. We always like to see one more.

We all look forward to pics.

Nat

 

[Tango-SKO]

Welcome! --- Sounds like you found a Heavy Cruiser there! What kind of service was the 'Hool in before you got it. The M11 & B500 make it sound like a highway speed road warrior. And Roger the pix...we LOVE pix.

 

[EastCoastCB]

Sounds like a **** of a bus!

 

[Offgr1d]

Thanks for the advice Nat on some threads. I'm always open to looking at ideas and construction techniques. Exited to share some of mine too!

She is quite the bus - past life was for a small charter company running mostly long highway trips. About 600,00 miles but had engine rebuild and Trans rebuild (dealer was guessing by hub meter) only about 140k miles ago.

Seems to run great - shift smooth and have plenty of power. I think it's a kick to drive a VanHool. You sit fairly low compared to most all other bus driver positions so you relate it more to the view from a normal van / truck.

What is the best way to post pictures - as when I tried all mine are too big. Any preferred format?

Jess

 

[Offgr1d]

My bad - just saw the "how to" on photo posting... I'll get that up soon...

 

[Offgr1d]

 

[EastCoastCB]

You have outdone most of us, that's a serious rig.

 

[Offgr1d]

My friends - I love all busses. My neighbor has a veggie oil schoolie conversion. I'm a total geek and bus nut - and went chips all in on my coach because I gave up my loft housing of 3story 2000sf to go live in a bus - lol... That's crazy!!

My other intended goal was to be camoflauge in terms of remote / parking / city offgrid camping. Literally I'm keeping the exterior look all original. In fact - there is not a single mark to show its an RV from outside other than my water heater vent on roof. All city connections are in a compartment and or sewer drain connects underneath the bus. Nothing visible from outside.

When I travel and stop anywhere - everyone assumes it's a passenger coach - and any nap stops they think it's some driver needing a mandatory sleep break for a CDL.

 

[Scooternj]

 

[juliol]

Awesome!, offgr1d you are living my dream, do you need a CDL if the bus is register as an RV since is 45' long?

J

 

[Offgr1d]

In Nevada no CDL is needed it's by weight.. Mine is reg as RV and you do not need CDL.
BUT.... with the gvwr (47,0000lbs) of this size - you DO need a non-commercial class B.

 

[Offgr1d]

I'll start to post more pics and explain my buildout here:

http://www.skoolie.net/forums/f32/1998-vanhool-45-coach-conversion-12097.html#post125234

I'm guessing this is a better way to continue the discussion ....




Jess