Bill w/bus

I would suspect that your supplier is operating close to the tank bottom.  

I have  never seen a seperator type trap for a grill. Hmmm,  if there is a need there could be an imformercial!!

Seriously I have never encountered or heard of this problem. Good luck. If you find the problem please let us know.

Bill

Unless the price is really cheap, don't buy.  There are a lot of conversions available. 

In the older coaches it's all Detroit 71 or 92 series engines.  Detroit named the engine series by cylinder displacement. 71 series at 71 cubic inches per cylinder.  Inline was 671. V engines 6V71.  92 series for buses were usually 6V92T or 6V92 TA, turbo and Turbo Aftercooled.  An 8V81 is a solid engine with rebuilds in motorhome service at  300K to 500Kmiles.  They do leak oil. I have seen a couple of engines that didn't leak any oil. Both had been built by long time mechanics. One guy spent six months on the rebuild of a 671. And then he used Imron to paint the engine. 

There are quite a few conversions available for sale. 

Last GM bus build date was 1980. For MCI look for 102A3, C3 that starts in the mid 80's through early 90's. All Detroit 2 stroke engine in the 92 series on 

There are bus conversions on the road  that  come from buses built in the  late 40's and early 50's. I know a couple that I wouldn't hesitate to take cross country tomorrow. 

Check  the BNO, Bus Nuts Online, and the Bus Conversions Magazine boards for the wealth of information available.

On Utube  it is "Bus Grease Monkey" to see what it takes to maintain a bus. Can be expensive but then again the major maintenance is every ten years. 

Good luck,,

Bill

When you go to the expense of two new batteries think lithium.  I know expensive however they can handle a full discharge  to zero without damage.  So one battery takes the place of two.  They can be put almost anywhere.  Change over the Li with one and add another as you have the cash. 

Bill

Standard truckers route. Max grade 6%, except once in a while maybe 7/8% for a short distance.  Not a winter drive. From October through April  is winter in the mountains. I80 was closed early June 2020 due to snow.

Figure 5days to drive without beating yourself to death.  You will find that driving ,8_9 hours a day is very rough on a body not used to that.  Good news is that when you get rid of the Denver bound drivers in western Nebraska you are on easy street until western Nevada. 

Enjoy 

Bill

Second trip to Alaska. A five month trip from the Rio Grande Valley and return.  First trip was time limited. Second was great as there was no time pressure. Still didn't get everywhere but close.  And we would do the trip again. 

Or the Dakota's with the Badlands, Teddy Roosevelt NP,  Minot,  fields of Sunflowers,  

Or Duluth, Lake Superior, Soo Locks, Whitefish Bay , Mackinac Island another good trip.

Bill

Do not drive through or near New York City. If for some reason you do get on the wrong road be very careful of the signage many roads do not allow trucks. Tolls are outrageous.  Really high. 

I do advocate touring the Northeast.  Places to visit: New Jersey shore,  MysticCT for the Seaport and the Submarine Base with the USS Nautilus,  Cape Cod, Sturbridge Village,  the coast of Maine starting at Boothbay and going Downeast. Camden/Rockland pretty harbors, Acadia NP with Cadillac Mountain,  a Reversing falls in Pembroke,  all the way to Calais (pronounced Callus),  then loop back on RT 9 to Bangor then on west on US2 through NH and on to VT or slide south towards Sebago Lake  And over to Mount Washington  and Cog Railway, overnight allowed in lower parking lot.

Don't forget Cape Hatteras and the Outer Banks of NC. The cross over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel to the Eastern Shore through VA, MD and DE. You could take the ferry to Cape May, NJ  and go along the Jersey Shore.

Do avoid Washington/Baltimore area as the traffic is miserable and you will be  besieged with expensive tolls.

Enjoy,

Bill

Nothing against the law to  be reimbursed for your expenses. As long as there is no charge based on time or miles then you didn't hire on for a job. You are doing a service.

Bill

There are a couple of advantages for higher mounting. Air flow for cooling and ease of clearing the debris.  Minus are the extra height of your unit, potential for wind speed to remove the panel and inability to walk on your roof for inspection and repair.

Bill

2X on vinyl plank flooring.  Waterproof, easy installation and looks good.  Repair is easy with hair dryer and a spare plank.

I don't like the laminate plank flooring as it can be very noisy. With the correct  underlayment it can be relatively quiet. But  repair is difficult.

My vote is the vinyl plank flooring.

Bill

Stop at the NP, Black Canyon of the Gunnison.  Very few visitors on an annual basis. 

50 is a great drive. Monarch Pass was 17 to 23 MPH.  First gear for an HT 70 all the way to the top. Took us four days from Montrose to Canon City. Then on to Colorado Springs the next day. 

Yeah 50 Isa great drive.

Bill

Several items pop up:

Quarantine when you get to Oakland.  Last I saw was two weeks.  Make sure you have a place to stay before you leave Chicago.

There are no rules for how many hours/miles per day you drive or don't.  I would suggest three or four hours until lunch. After lunch drive for night stop. Now if can find something to stop and visit during the day!!!

Passport America for inexpensive camping. Ideal for travelers who only want a night or two. Ask here, on the forums, for a sponsor. With a sponsor you an extra 6 months, so 18 months for one year subscription, and the sponsor gets 6 months added to their membership. 

Use apps as in RV Parky, great trip planner, and RV Discount, you can search by area for the best discount available. 

Places to stop. Pioneer Village in eastern. Nebraska.  North Platte for Bailey railroad yard. Scottsbluff /Oregon Trail. 

The above was just a couple of visit stops . If you do some searching you will find more.  Many more!

Since it is your first long trip, I would figure on 7 to 10 days point to point. 

If you decide to do an A to B trip without playing tourist, I will give you my system.  Usually four hours then lunch break with a walk around. Then run until supper.  Maybe a short nap. Then run three to four hours.  That should yield about twelve hours and 600 miles.  Classic rest area or Walmart for overnight. 

We travel the non interstates as much as possible.  Obviously around the big cities the interstate is the only option.  Look at using some of the two lanes. Especially as you move west. 

Hope that helps.  Good luck. And let us know how your trip progressed. 

Bill

Your coach has air suspension. DO NOT go underneath unless it is blocked to prevent a suspension collapse that will make your body thinner. A thinner body is a good thing except circulating blood and breathing are difficult. Air suspensions are known  to drop suddenly without any indication of imminent failure. 

Be careful.

Bill is

We have a Directv 5 channel receiver in the living room and a 2 channel receiver in the bedroom. 

Just recently, three days ago, I cannot view the recorded programs on the bedroom receiver using the  forward receiver.

Any thoughts?  I have verified that the "Whole House" option is active.  After that I have no great ideas. 

Thanks,

Bill

Ray,

We went through DeSoto county.  Vehicles were registered in Clay county,  home of St Brendan Isle mail service. No problem. Took maybe 15 mins.

I would make a phone call to ensure business hours which vary by county.

Welcome to the forum..

Bill

Investigated FCIS, FMCA,Miller and two or three more a couple of years ago as we officially went full-time.  Miller provided the most complete information and education of all we contacted.  We had a problem  with Progressive, their mistake, contacted Cheryl at Miller.  Without hesitation or stalling she found the problem.  She worked with an underwriting supervisor and problem resolved.  Cheryl kept us informed by email at each step in the resolution. Great service.

Bill

All the writing about commercial status is moot when the vehicle is involved in an accident.  Registration details are now exposed for the lawyers to see.  Expect the insurance company to walk away. 

Bill

Are you retired?  If yes then use US2 one way and the I roads the other. 

If not then learn to enjoy the I roads to 'make time'. 

To your list of places to see add:  Medora ND. Glacier NP,  Wall Drug,  Yellowstone NP. Cody WY for the museum,  Bailey Yard in North Platte NE,  Scott's Bluff on the Oregon Trail,  that's a few to get you started looking for the great places.

Bill

Update on TSD Logistics with EFS card: list price cash was $2.439/gal  paid $1.678 plus 10% so  about $1.75 final cost per gallon.  You have to check the app for fuel price. The best deal appears to be Love's truck stops. 

On saving fuel speed counts sort of.  Depends on the gearing and the engine efficiency curves. With gas engines the fuel injection system will go to an enrichment curve at high load. Load is easily measured by intake manifold vacuum. Each  engine computer is different but assume that less than 8" Hg of manifold pressure will result in a substantial increase in fuel flow.  In the old days this would have been when the secondaries opened in four barrel carburetor. That was an obvious fuel flow increase based on the noise increase. So for a gas engine invest in a vacuum gauge. That will help you control your fuel usage.

Diesels are different. Power curves and  a curve called Brake Specific Horsepower are useful in finding the best speed.  On the Horsepower curve you find the least fuel is used somewhere between1450 to 1750 RPM.   For instance most big trucks are set to run at 65 to 68 MPH. A friend  consistently averaged  over 8 MPG month after month.  He read the curves and the manual to produce that result.

Food for thought.

Bill

I would visit one of those radio installation garages.  They have the knowledge and could at least point you in the right direction.  Then there is the Internet search.

Good luck,

Bill

Used versus new. Used!  Several reasons: all known problems and safety recalls are usually apparent and fixed within the first couple of years,  manufacturers (before the China virus) were delivering RV ,'s to the dealers with 'you fix whatever is not correct under the warranty'.  As a side note I know of two fairly expensive, above $350K,  which had more time at the dealer's lot  than available for travel, due to manufacturer's failure to exercise quality control,  over a two year period.

Extended warranty?  Be careful on the fine print. Research, research and the do some more before paying the money.

Have money available for the unexpected repairs. 

Yes to an inspection of candidate unit. Demand the inspector's  bonafides.  What training?  Certification by what organization?  I knew of three inspector's. All very good at surveying an RV and noting all the problem areas and all the areas or systems which were satisfactory.  Oil samples were analyzed for engine, transmission and differential.  A good inspector will be about four hours on the RV and provide a written report with pictures.  Cost $300 - 500.

Private versus dealer: usually a private sale is less expensive than the dealer.  However,  inspection required.  

Gas versus diesel:  We had three gas front engine gas motorhomes.  Then we converted an over the road bus. Air ride, diesel engine in the rear, huge cargo bays.  Went that route because the function of a bus is to carry passengers in comfort for long distances.  So my vote is diesel . Verify GVW and as presented weight. During your test drive run it through a scale.  Moving companies, trash dumps, truck stops, and scrap yards.  This confirms your carry capacity with real numbers.

Good luck in your purchase.

Bill

On 11/1/2019 at 4:18 PM, sandsys said:

It is my understanding is that an LLC is a business that would own your truck and that has all types of implications including registration, insurance, truck scales, etc. Please, do lots of research before deciding to go that way.

Linda Sand, Class of 2008

So true.. An LLC is a business. Therefore your vehicles are registered to a business. If over 26,000# then you must comply with ALL the regulations that apply to commercial vehicles.  No longer have logbooks but electronic trip log, CDL, annual physical etc.  

I have heard the arguments that none of the above applies. Be involved in an accident and you will find out.  Remember if you did not declare to the insurance company your vehicle status they will not provide coverage when you need it most.

Be careful about saving some dollars.

Bill

During a normal winter you experience temps in the minus 20's to 30's. Snow doesn't melt it just evaporates in the low humidity. 

I wouldn't recommend any wintering that has snow a part of winter. 

We spent two winters in Idaho Falls. Minus 30's intown. Saw minus 48 out on the desert. Summer was warm. Evenings cool.

Good luck. 

Bill

If you drove a lot every day, at 400 plus miles, you could see something of Alaska, Yukon and British Columbia.  

Our first trip in 2001  was. nine week trip. Our youngest was entering Junior year of high school so we were limited to ten weeks. Took three weeks to get to Tok. Three weeks in Alaska. Then three weeks to get home to Central Maine.  We in our first bus conversion. Bus would cruise all day and night at the speed limit plus.

Left on Father's day from our sons home in Mass. Second visit with second grandson. Arrived  St Mary's, MT (Glacier NP) on Friday afternoon. Wife and daughter spent Wednesday at the Mall of America.  Started playing tourist from then until leaving Wall Drug on Wednesday morning. Arrived home just after midnight Friday.  

Second trip was late April from the Rio Grande Valley and returned early November. That was about ten weeks in Alaska. Still not enough time to enjoy everything. 

Looking at the current situation with "pandemic"  conditions I would consider next year.  

Unless you have driven 4-500 miles per day, every day, I don't think you understand just how exhausted you will be.

Good luck,

Bill

We HAD a plan.  Some mechanical work on the coach in Florida, then a grandson's high school graduation in New Hampshire. We were working the routing and timing for an exploration of  Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. 

Hopefully a 60th high school reunion in August is not cancelled. 

We are in a spin.  Still don't have a clue except the reunion.

At least we know that any plans are on hold until our mechanical work is complete. I spent today running around for parts. Found some but need to order the rest. One parts wanted $465 per brake shoe, two per wheel. Talked with USCoach and found the parts at about half that price plus shipping.  Thanks for friends who are great mechanics and listened when I said something not right with the right front during the last 150 miles. So now it's both front brakes complete rebuild.  

And no we are not going to spend the summer in the Southern heat. 

Later 

Bill

Well, our proposed trip to Newfoundland has-been deferred until later. Maybe next year.☹️

Thanks for all the information and ideas from all of you.

Bill