La Tortuga...updated 05-03-15

[bansil]

First off
wow what a rush,the folks that say the drive home was good or not special are full of it.
I have driven a lot of big stuff over the years,M1a1 tanks,deuce 1/2's,5tons and even hemitt's nothing compared to sitting behind this beast!
I was antsy at work and finally said it's now or never,turned my computer off and headed to Bristol
This is what greeted me

check fluid levels again as well as the floors etc
Ron (the seller for school district) said "take her for a spin"
I was like ,it is actually happening...i said i have never driven anything that has steer wheels behind me...

The mechanic said"**** I'll go with you"

So we jump in,i check the mirrors and pop off brakes and creep forward...the first application of the brakes sent both guys into the seats in front of them i said sorry

talk about brakes...my lordy this is unlike any air brake military rig i have driven.

About the roads in Bristol,if you go off the right side,it's not good....period

after about 1/2 hr of driving we pulled back in...they offered me a job and said they were very impressed.

So as Ron was talking with some of the drivers coming back in,the mechanic and I crawled under the bus,he was showing me everything from the thickness of the brake pads and drums to the auto tank drains etc.
we went inside and he showed me new drums and pads..this really did have 3month old brakes on it.

anyways onto the journey home.

We did paperwork and they filled the tank up with diesel!

 

[bansil]

Re: El Tortuga

so with tag in hand I bid farewell and approached the beast...nervous,excited everything

Hit the key and she roared to life,adjusted mirrors clicked seat belt and I seemed to look for things to keep me in that lot

I released the brakes and pulled off heading south.

The weather was beautiful and I felt like a king riding high,she cruised at 1900 rpm at 55mph...plenty fast for first time driving

had several folks blow horns and give thumbs up...**** it still looks like a bus...

then guess what?
It started to rain
So I am trying to keep 8feet of bus in my lane with traffic and find the stupid switches...will they work?...yes thank goodness
the sweep sucks big time..i need to adjust drivers side a spline of two
.
.
Finally got into the mountains,i breathed a sigh of relief

you don't realize how narrow turns are until you have a 40 foot bus on them

I get home....crap where to park????

so I leave here near the road and come up and move vehicles and crap out of the way

a few pictures as I walk back down....she was wider than the driveway and i spun up the yard...but she is resting in a temp park space.....

oh finally note before I hit the road for a 9hr drive south for a race this weekend
.
.
you might be a redneck if:
.
.
A vehicle in your driveway is half as wide and half as long as your home

 

[TheRainbowBoxer]

Re: El Tortuga

Congrats Man!

 

[chev49]

Re: El Tortuga

were you driving with your feet when you were taking the pictures on the road?

 

[Newfiedogs]

Re: El Tortuga

Welcome to your new obsession...Do your smile muscles still hurt? Now when you look out the window of your house "IT" is going to be there.
Tracy

 

[GreyEagle-SKO]

Re: El Tortuga

B-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l B-u-s

Where did you find that one.....
a Crown, new brakes and tank full diesel........... Sweet

 

[browncrown]

Re: El Tortuga

Great looking bus...congratulations!!!

 

[yankeflyer]

Re: El Tortuga

Fun write up - it was many years ago for some of us - the first day you close those doors and release the brakes.

 

[bansil]

Re: El Tortuga

B-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l B-u-s

Where did you find that one.....
a Crown, new brakes and tank full diesel........... Sweet

I bought it from Holstein Bus Co in Bristol TN,he will have 2 or 3 more in the next few weeks,pm me for contact info

Thanks everyone for the welcome...I have to finish cleaning yard up so I can work on the ole girl..

 

[atcc77]

Re: El Tortuga

Thats a good looking bus! I bet you can't wait to get started.
Good luck with it!

 

[TygerCub]

Re: El Tortuga

Hmmm.... sight of that roof reminds me I need to get cracking on building my own roof rack before the temps climb to OMG levels!

 

[lornaschinske]

Re: El Tortuga

Hmmm.... sight of that roof reminds me I need to get cracking on building my own roof rack before the temps climb to OMG levels!

Too late! Temps here are supposed to be 99°F on Wednesday. Earlier it was forecast to be 102°F. They could still change that.

Saturday & Sunday is the big "Hike It-Spike It" event. David is working it with a friend of ours. they will be vending.... deep fried funnel cakes and deep fried tangled 'taters. Sounds just like the perfect thing to be doing in the heat! I'm going to make sure David takes plenty of water with him. they did the same thing for a 2 day event earlier this month.

 

[TygerCub]

Re: El Tortuga

Too late! Temps here are supposed to be 99°F on Wednesday. Earlier it was forecast to be 102°F. They could still change that.

OMG I'm gonna DIE this summer on my trip! (what in the world was I thinking???)

 

[bansil]

Re: El Tortuga

This build will be unique like all skoolies.
Plan is to use it as its built,a giant metal taco
First plans after squaring away maint items is:
1)remove seats(save two for nostalgic dinnete says lisa)
2)remove folding door and level floor
3)install a seat for Lisa(a comfortable one)
4)install a door down the side
5)partition front area for "the control center" to allow possible under dash climate control,sound deadening etc
This will mean "the mobile tent" will be ready to use

6)then bedroom,bath kitchen will be completed as we go
I think this will be the slowest build thread I have ever done

 

[chev49]

Re: El Tortuga

make sure you add enough beef...

 

[lornaschinske]

Re: El Tortuga

Too late! Temps here are supposed to be 99°F on Wednesday. Earlier it was forecast to be 102°F. They could still change that.

OMG I'm gonna DIE this summer on my trip! (what in the world was I thinking???)

We learned on our trip out here.... drink water all the time. No sodas, water. Iced tea will work also since it's very weak out here. And we were still very dehydrated by the time we hit NM (important lesson learned... don't travel across TX in July). We still drink lots of water. It's so dry that your sweat evaporates very quickly. You do not realize how dehydrated you are. We also thought we were going to die as well. Temps were 10° or more hotter on the interstate (I-20). So much cooler once we got off it. Our tires were picking up tar off the roads. They had about 1/2 inch or more coating them.

BTW, They are now saying 103°F for Wednesday with 61°F at night for the low. Make sure your air conditioning works and carry extra water for the radiator. Take lots of breaks to give both you and the bus a rest.

 

[bansil]

Re: El Tortuga

make sure you add enough beef...

I have been known to overbuild before...like 4 connections on rock sliders instead of 2...14 point cage in an amigo(because lisa says I drive stupid offroad
I can't wait to get started....the vroom...vroom...noises are getting boring in a bus.....I am itching for the weekend to drive her...after I figure out how to get her out of the driveway and not get her stuck....that would suck....if I gotta winch her out I'll take pics

 

[ol trunt]

Re: El Tortuga

Your Lisa must be a saint! Wish I could just head out for the weekend--but I know better! My spouse wants all the stuff in and working before she sets foot in the can. I guess I could go on my own--but that wouldn't be much fun (besides at this point I'd have to hire a tow truck to take me! Oh well.

 

[bansil]

Re: El Tortuga

Pleasant surprise was found while under the bus last night unsticking the brakes...rear air ride I wondered why it rode so good on the way home

 

[bansil]

Re: El Tortuga

Well today was a good time!
We went and had a picnic and went fishing...we took the bus!!!!!!

Pa paw drove Johnson Co buses for 30 years; so when I mentioned Saturday night that all he could talk about was riding in Our bus(and telling me stories)......Lisa said we could take it out
So I got up and loaded her up...kayaks,food,cooler,grill,propane,burner...ah! shower/crapper tent and toilet's everything I could think of.
I didn't want mom or Lisa to want something and me not have it yes I was a boy scout
loaded up

Picked up folks and headed out
Smile
ma maw and papaw and Lisa...behave in the back

I may have 42's...but at 100 pounds washboard still sucks!

getting there

finally got to the lake

parked

pa paw already at lake...at 87 he can get away from you
checking out lake

So lets setup

setup

El Tortuga had a visitor :mrgreen:

fire up the grill ...cooking

I am hungry food

so we left the lake and hit the road....

next stop the river

ma maw watching

the over view

smile!

we had a ball....
now to make some room and we def. need some security ..in the way of a safe box...so now I have to start dissassembly