Bus Conversion

  • Thread starter Deleted member 27107
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Deleted member 27107

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Hello
Has anyone done a bus conversion?👀
Pros and cons 🤔
Any advice would be great 😁
E.g. licence, insurance, dvla change of V5
Etc etc 🤞
Thanks
 
bikercat said:
Hello
Has anyone done a bus conversion?👀
Pros and cons 🤔
Any advice would be great 😁
E.g. licence, insurance, dvla change of V5
Etc etc 🤞
Thanks
Click to expand...
There is one being well documented as the build progresses on 'motorhome builder' (sister site)
 
i've done 2 d/deckers, a 1 1/2 decker and a few single deckers . i usually took out a lot of the windows . nice to look out of ,but horrible in the heat . you should be able to replace the glass with ally bonded to ply to make the thickness, then insulate and panel on the inside . cut down weight and gives you more wall space . apart from that ,unlike coaches , they're usually flat sided ,so easy to fit out .
 
Same here, widows out and alloy plates rivet or bonded in, insulation and all wiring in before any fit out, secret is draw planes and go over them a few times first before opening a tool box, gather bits when found cheap and store ready when required, remember to do a good job so if you ever want to sell on it will not look like a dogs dinner, no one will buy, good luck with the build.
 
bikercat said:
Hello
Has anyone done a bus conversion?👀
Pros and cons 🤔
Any advice would be great 😁
E.g. licence, insurance, dvla change of V5
Etc etc 🤞
Thanks
Click to expand...
This will show what a silly idea your having ;)

Violating a Princess!

So a new build starts, time will tell how foolish we are being. We have discussed down sizing or even a new build on a chassis bulkhead. In a fit of madness we purchased this old tart, that will be renamed Betty. I hope it doesn't get to many other names. I will post progress as the mood...
motorhomebuilder.com motorhomebuilder.com
 
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bikercat said:
Hello
Has anyone done a bus conversion?👀
Pros and cons 🤔
Any advice would be great 😁
E.g. licence, insurance, dvla change of V5
Etc etc 🤞
Thanks
Click to expand...
Buses come in all kind of shapes and sizes. What were you thinking of?
This one is great and probably done within a €5,000 budget I believe?
 
I done one, left the windows in but painted the glass black inside before insulating over them with 50mm rockwool then panelling over that with t&g boards. Left some windows clear to see out of. Had a bit of a mess trying to reclassify it as a camper so I didn't bother, might try again later. Mine is 2005, any newer than '07 & you will need seatbelts on all the rear seats.
5.5 tonne gvw so pre 97 license needed unless you take another test.
I love my conversion, best described as "semi rustic" I reckon having a full size bed, 70l clean & 70l grey tanks along with full size sink & vintage 2 burner cooker with grill & oven. Road tax is £165 per year as a private HGV.
Crack on & do it, best move I ever made building mine.....
 
i worked on one used as an adventure bus in Russia. the owners kept finding low bridges ,sometimes needing diversions of hundreds of miles . so they completely removed the upper deck and had it rebuilt in about a dozen sections.if they came across a low bridge ,they'd make camp and it would take about a day to dismantle ,get the bus through ,then rebuild . i have never fancied a double decker for many reasons . but the 1 1/2 decker , which i extended myself , worked great for a family of 6
 
wildebus said:
Buses come in all kind of shapes and sizes. What were you thinking of?
This one is great and probably done within a €5,000 budget I believe?
Click to expand...

It actually cost 80,000 Euros including 15,000 for the purchase of the bus.

It's a really well made video and a great vehicle!
 
bikercat said:
Hello
Has anyone done a bus conversion?👀
Pros and cons 🤔
Any advice would be great 😁
E.g. licence, insurance, dvla change of V5
Etc etc 🤞
Thanks
Click to expand...
There are two classes of vehicle to be considered, 1 Service bus, 2 Coach. A service bus has been designed to run along pre-determined routes picking up and dropping off paying passengers, their build is more rudimentary as are their electrical systems, which will have been butchered by various auto electricians. 2 A coach has a lot more in the build and generally will have some insulation, the build quality varies between manufacturers and under the covers there can be some real horrors waiting for you. The electrical systems are complex, and these also will have been mullered by various auto electricians. Now I'm not saying that all auto electricians are cowboys as some of them are excellent. So you can buy what seems a nice looking vehicle, but be prepared for what may lie beneath. Oh, and the ability to weld will come in very handy. May I suggest that you have a look at SquirellCooks build on our sister site, "Motorhome Builder"
 
Debs said:
There are two classes of vehicle to be considered, 1 Service bus, 2 Coach. A service bus has been designed to run along pre-determined routes picking up and dropping off paying passengers, their build is more rudimentary as are their electrical systems, which will have been butchered by various auto electricians. 2 A coach has a lot more in the build and generally will have some insulation, the build quality varies between manufacturers and under the covers there can be some real horrors waiting for you. The electrical systems are complex, and these also will have been mullered by various auto electricians. Now I'm not saying that all auto electricians are cowboys as some of them are excellent. So you can buy what seems a nice looking vehicle, but be prepared for what may lie beneath. Oh, and the ability to weld will come in very handy. May I suggest that you have a look at SquirellCooks build on our sister site, "Motorhome Builder"
Click to expand...
Your comment about the 2 different classes reminded me of something way back.... I used to sometimes get a coach into London instead of the train. One day the allocated coach was broken so the company used one of the regular "service buses" as you put it. We got there but it was a far less comfortable journey, not just the seats, but the noise, the suspension, everything! So I am guessing the whole mechanical side will likely be very different as well between the two options?
 
SquirrellCook said:
Just another note to add to Debs post. Service buses usually have lower gearing and you may find it revs it's nuts of at 50mph. Both of my merc based coaches will do over 70mph if your silly.
Click to expand...
My Iveco is fitted with a limiter, set at 100kmh. Thought about removing it, but didn't as its plenty fast enough. I enjoy the journey as much as the destination, which helps.....
 
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