Introduce yourself here.

[jimmy193]

Hi Neil,
Welcome to the site, hope all the legal stuff doesn't put you off what will probably become a passion for you.
Just about all of the questions possible on this topic have been asked and answered at the front of the site in General:Legal:Licence, just scroll down the front page.

From the information you have supplied I would think you are "entitled" to drive a 2-axle rigid body including a coach or bus within the weight restrictions noted on your licence (providing your passengers are not fee-paying).
The actual info codes (107 - 101 - 119) I can't comment on as all the notes on my licence range between 1 and 7, but mine is as old as the hills. I have also looked on the DVLA site and can find no reference to them but I am sure you will receive many more replies to your questions before very long.

Everyone I know who has converted a coach or bus will tell you that you should only consider taking this on if you are confident and competant in driving such a large vehicle. There are threads pointing out the pitfalls and dangers driving one of these vehicles and I am sure all of the site members will agree you should take some lessons if you are new to driving large vehicles - remember most coaches and buses have long overhangs at the front and rear and your driving skills need to adapt to cope with this or you will be taking out the odd lampost/pedestrian/traffic light as you turn corners. Not to mention damaging your own tyres.

The actual weight of a bus or coach varies depending on what it was originally intended for use as. For example, both Jonathan and myself have similar "size" vehicles, but his was built as a single-decker bus whereas mine was a coach and the MAM (maximum authorised mass) differ by around 6000kg.
If you have a look at my "George" at: www.freewebs.com/georgethebus/index.htm
you will see that it was a 45 seater coach and originally had a MAM of 10,200kg. When I had finished the conversion I was able to downgrade that to 7500kg and drive it legally on my licence. (Even though the weight is linked to HGV vehicles and not Motor Caravans). ;D
Have fun reading all the threads already posted and the answers you will receive on this one - choose your base vehicle - plan your layout - then enjoy doing the conversion. All you have to do after that is hit the road.

Regards,

[neilandco]

Thanks Jim,

We have been looking at your website, George looks very good and on sets to inspire us further.

I am used to driving weird and wonderful vehicles including long vehicles. I was brought up on a farm and have been in farming all my life, Now 39 i have driven allsorts from tractors and trailors to forage harvestors and combines. So a coach does not bother me too much, also my car and caravan total 38' 6 inches. what really bothers me is breaking down in a vehical of this size, Not sure which would be first, the bus or me..

Anyway can't wait to find our baby and get stuck in......

Thanks again...

Neil

[Gary Deverson]

Hi

So please I have found people as mad as me.
I have bought a Bova 40 ft of course 8.5 litre engine
Have stripped it out but found there is not enough head room, so am taking on the task of raising the roof by about 12 inches and then re-panelling the outside, now is anybody as mad as me?
I was trying to save for the project but that is never going to come, so am now going for it and just have to pay as I go along

Gary

[jimmy193]

Hi Gary,
Welcome to the site. 40ft with a 8.5l engine sounds like a big beastie but we wont think you are mad at all.
The world may think we are mad but we know better .
Seeing as you need to "raise the roof" literally I assume you are fairly tall
Can't think of anyone raising the roof by 12" and panelling to suit but it sounds very interesting - got any pics you can post yet?
As far as the finances go, I just see what it will cost me for individual items/jobs, divide the cost by 2, then tell my "chancellor" the good news - worked so far ;D Besides, if you try to work out what the whole project will cost, then realise that you will never be happy, why bother trying to save an unknown sum of money?
Looking forward to your posts as the project progresses

Regards.

[gary]

Hi Jim

Been talking to a few people in the USA and it seems to be common place to raise the roof over there. I am 6'2" and feel uncomfortable with the height at the moment. I want to take out all the windows and make it look more like a motor home.

[fredwhitworth]

gary said:

Hi Jim

Been talking to a few people in the USA and it seems to be common place to raise the roof over there. I am 6'2" and feel uncomfortable with the height at the moment. I want to take out all the windows and make it look more like a motor home.

__. Yes, it's quite common for busses with frame and panel construction to be raised over here (a number of busses -- "Greyhound" and local transit type -- were "monocoque" construction and these are not suitable for "raising"). For frame and panel buses, it's often done in the ovner's driveway or storage paddock. The body panels are removed and guage pieces (often plywood are installed. Then jacks are placed at a few strategic points, the frame all the way around is cut, the roof is jacked up until the amount of lift is measured to be correct at all ooints, and extension steel tubing is welded in. Then alloy panelling is applied to cover the outside and insulation and finishing is applied to the inside.
__. It's really quite a simple and lo-tech project for the sides. I've heard it said that dealing with the front end and rear end is by far the most complicated and takes much of the time -- particularly placing a section of panel or other structure to cover from the front of the windscreen to the raised roof. The way that's generally handled is to use "caps" which are made by fibreglass suppliers. They're pre-moulded to cover the gaps, front and rear. Cutting and fitting is pretty painstaking, but they're the best way to go about this. Of course, it's necessary to find a moulder who has a moulding prepared for your type and variant of vehicle and I'd guess you'd be hard pressed to find "caps" in stock for your vehicle. Since commissioning a set of "custom" caps would be extraordinarily expensive, I'm guessing your only practical route would be panel building the curved and complex shapes to cover the front and rear ends and especially their corners.

Good luck "Whitworth Fred", Bruce Henderson, NC USA

[fredwhitworth]

Gary -- I've found my book with the info on "raising the roof" on US/"Greyhound" buses but my scanner won't work. I'll be at "The Management's" this weekend and I'll use hers and get the info to you.
Sorry for the delay, BH, NC USA

[gary]

Thank you very much, I appreciate it

[Graham Webb]

I've probalby put this info. somewhere else on the site.. oh well.

I'm Graham, after a mechanical engineering apprenticeship and electrical engineering degree I'm now working as a science technician in a school in Plymouth. Please don't get me started about the state of UK industry, jobs, education etc..

I'd like to convert a bus or coach (single or double decked) and live in it to solve the financial problems of being a recent graduate in bedsit land. I'd work and live in it in the UK for a while to get things up and running.

I'd eventually like to travel around the world and use my skills where they would be appreciated.. in Africa and poorer parts of this planet. My housebus would be a mobile workshop. I'd live a spartan life and find an income by working online in journalism or writing? or running guns across borders

Other than a bloody great big petrol or diesel engine the bus will be as eco friendly as possible and given my background it would be quite hightech. I'd then retire and live off of a patch of land when the vehicle gives up all together.

I'll go through some of the thoughts I'm having at the moment, please chip in with comments ..


This is on a very tight budget


Double deck coach or bus. Or single deck coach?

I imagine height is only a problem if you don't plan your journeys or you take lots of hilly country lane type holidays. I'd like two decks because of the long term committment .. this is going to be my first and only home. If I go for two decks it would have to be a bus, due to the cost (I'd prefer a more economical, faster engine but I think the costs preclude that).

I'd embed solar panels into the roof (lower a centre section of the roof) and attempt to keep the original height of a double decker bus. Likewise with clever satellite dish and aerial placements.

So surely the engine and transmission type and condition must be the deciding factor when buying a vehicle. How long do engines last? What is the best to go for? how old? how available are the spares? how much can one person do to repair an engine, on their own in the middle of Ethiopia for example?

Likewise with transmission and other bulky lumps of engineering.

That's really the biggy.. I'm pretty resourcefull but I guess you need a few years working in the trade to undertake anything major. Having said that, by living on top of the thing in the middle of nowhere there'd be plenty of time to learn.

I'm going to spend a year of so saving up before I buy something.. and with my engineers hat on I'd like to put together a detailed design and plan so I know that it is do-able. I haven't got a house to sell to pay for the project and unlike the guys on ourodyssey.blogspot.com/

I'm not a CEO in silicon valley.. it's an 'all eggs in one basket' type of project.

Any help can be rewarded with a drive around Europe! And I hope I can help you out with any digital electronics or IT stuff as the years progress.

Graham

[steve]

Graham,

The way it was explained to me is like a brush! How many heads and handles has it had.

A service bus in its time may have had many engines or gear boxes, so its generally impossible to compare like for like or use age or even price to guide you.

A decker recently was on ebay with a recent reconditioned engine from memory the bus didnt meet its reserve and direct contact would have got a good deal.

Spares: They were a concern for my 20 yearold MCW but i was assured by a fleet factor that all the ERF and GKN running gear all parts are available. Gardner engine also no problems there. Smaller operators are still buying the buses for service use.

[matthewdidier]

(Scene from a church basement... A group of men sit in a semi-circle on craptacular folding chairs... I stand up...)

Me: "Hi. My name is Matthew... and I have a problem."

The group of men respond in a weary chorus of "Hi Matthew."

Me: "It's been several years since I last had even a ride on a double-decker bus, but it's something I know I'm still addicted to."

Okay, enough comedy...

I'm in Toronto, Ontario, Canada... and am hoping to "rescue" two old double-deckers... an AEC RLH that's currently languishing in California and an ancient Leyland TD/5 impounded in my home province of Ontario and am VERY actively trying to build support as I am one of the "Great Unwashed"... a computer technician "downsized" from my company after seven years... and am still unemployed... but hopefully, will be back to the rat race shortly. So, I have a site basically begging someone to help me find meaningful employment (although I'm trying VERY hard meself, help is always appreciated) and to help me save these two beauties from being scrapped.

Although RLH 3 and FNW 706 are the "main targets" and deserve saving from the wreckers, I would be THRILLED with any of the old double-deckers... but I admit my fondness for the RLH and the Bristol K buses...

My long term goal is to eventually turn them into "day trippers" (short-term caravans... built for no more than a night or two) and keep them safe for a preservationist after I'm gone...

I've been doing my homework and learning as *much* as I can from the enthusiasts and owners as possible and have loads of help (as far as volunteers) when a bus hopefully lands in my lap. (Ouch!)

I've also been studying "Schoolies" (people that turn old school buses into caravans) and "coach-converters" to learn the tricks of that trade as well.

www.doubledeckerbuses.org/about.htm details my "fetish" (innapropriate word for my obsession, but oft used) for these vehicles... and www.helpmakemydreamcometrue.com/ is the begging website.

Some hard-core enthusiasts are not "warm" to me as they know that my only intention is keeping the "aesthetic" of the vehicle... and some because I want to keep the vehicles in Canada (I've had semi-hate mail from bus enthusiasts who feel that they should all be repratriated), but I'm going to try to work with those who HAVE been accepting of my goals and eventually, I'm hoping to be on here complaining about engine re-builds and the like.

So, there it is... my story in a LONG nutshell!

Remember: If you know anyone in Toronto looking for a good computer tech, I'm here!

Also Remember: If you know anyone in Ontario, Western New York, Western Quebec, Eastern Manitoba, Northern Ohio, Northern Michigan or anywhere that has a double-decker (low bridge) they are just dying to dispose of at a good deal to the purchasers, I'm here!

Also Remember: If anyone can offer information about RLH 3 or it's actual whereabouts and conditions (I do know the last fellow in Santa Rosa who "owned" it's name and snail mail address... but have made no progress), let me know!

[fredwhitworth]

Gary said:

Hi

So please I have found people as mad as me.
I have bought a Bova 40 ft of course 8.5 litre engine
Have stripped it out but found there is not enough head room, so am taking on the task of raising the roof by about 12 inches and then re-panelling the outside, now is anybody as mad as me?
I was trying to save for the project but that is never going to come, so am now going for it and just have to pay as I go along Gary

Gary, I'm having a terrible time trying to get my books and a working scanner in one place but have a look at home.fuse.net/ellbisser/pics2.htm There's a number of photos of a "roof raise".
Good luck, Bruce

[tanglewood7x]

Hi all,

Let me introduce ourselves. We're Adam & Angie (and Lorcan the dog) and are currently the proud owners of a 1961 Ford Thames Trader based Duple Yeoman coach (believed to be the last one on the road in the world - unless you know better...).

She's called Isobel and was converted to a motorhome many years ago - she's now undergoing a bit of a spruce up ready to be taken to France/Spain/Portugal after Christmas. Her history, as far as we know, is that she was found dumped in a layby by a previous owner in the late 70's or early 80's - then converted into a cafe before becoming a home on wheels. She's reputed to have appeared in an episode of "Peak Practice" too...

Anyway, although this is a fairly steep mountain to climb to get her ready (she's stood on a farm here in sunny(?) Cornwall for the past 2 years), we've actually done it before. A couple of years ago we converted a Bedford PJK 8-metre coach in seven weeks and drove it to the south of Spain on holiday over Christmas. That one was a whole 20-years more recent though!

It's really good to know that there are other people out there of a like mind - and having the same problems with parking (and attempting to live in) their vehicles. So, anyone in Cornwall? anyone going on a road trip to europe Jan/Feb 06?? anyone know anything about Hydrovac brakes or repairing a wood-framed coach??? if there is then maybe get in touch for a natter.

Cheers A&A

[lbretth]

Hi folks,

I'm Luke. I'm intending to buy an MCW Metrobus to convert into a full-timer and take of into France\Spain\Portugal\Italy for a year or two. There are three main reasons for this decision. Basically the bottom rung of the property ladder is way beyond my reach, the buerocracy\state of the country is winding me up and i've only ever been abroad twice. So, I think its time for the big adventure and the resultant stories.

BTW, the sites great, I hope you folks will be as helpful sa you seem to have been once i've acctually got the bus.

All the best,

Luke

[graham]

Hi folks and all bus nuts,
My name is graham and i live in jersey channel islands

I have a 1975 ford willowbrock single deck 4 speed box that i have almost finished after 5 years of working on it when i had some spare money.
Hopping to go to Europe with my family in the near future

I have pictures if i can find a way to up load them to this site