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Post by waywardbus on Feb 19, 2006 20:19:26 GMT
Hannah and Bob We checked out of normal living due to rising house prices, taxes and noisy neighbours! We were living in our motorhome until last October when it got stolen Now looking for a coach/bus - undecided and on a VERY small budget! Would love to hear from/meet up with other travelling folk - feel free to mail/msn/pm me. Hannah
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Post by jamesturn on Feb 28, 2006 21:57:05 GMT
Hi there,
My name is James and I am seriously considering a conversion. Just teetering on the precipice at the moment, but haver been really taken by some classic buses on ebay, and have garnered enough support amongst a few friends.
There seems to be a little animosity towards people who want to convert classic buses - is this fair? I would be intending to convert the bus with style, and although it won't have the original seats I'm not going for the spinal tap tourbus, either.
As I wish to take it around Europe, as well as convert it to run off veg-oil, I'm looking for a decent coach, old enough not to have any chips or electronic wizardry on board. Can anyone advise on a suitable model? I'm thinking single decker, but with the option of a roof deck for extra storage, and solar.
And my main concern at the moment is storage. I've found a couple of fancy looking facilities on the web but they offer things like humidifiers and are very expensive. I want to keep my bus in a safe place, not a spa.
Any ideas would be much appreciated. I'm pretty inexperienced in terms of mechanics, but know a fair amount about organising projects with large numbers of people. The veg / solar conversion is very important to me, so i hope that alone will win me some friends in the community.
all the best,
james.
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Alan
New Member
Posts: 2
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Post by Alan on Mar 3, 2006 19:44:55 GMT
Hi Folks, Hello everybody We are Ruth and Alan, approx a year ago we purchased a 12 metre Volvo B10M this had been rebodied with an MCI body befor we brought it. The inside has been stripped out the side are off. We have raised the roof by approx 12" to give bit of head height. The coach has gone to Wales to have the coach sides fitted and slideouts installed one each side. Then she is coming home to Winchester, and the rest of fit will be completed by yours truely. The idea is to sell up and disappear off around the world and follow the sun. As the majority of the time will be spent driving on the wrong side of the road, does anyone know where I can get left hand drive spares in the UK; ie steering. The bedroom will be at the rear over the garage/boot. I have been looking for sat nav/gps that has the facility of steering us from low bridges and smaller roads any ideas. Regards
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Post by louise on Mar 13, 2006 20:37:03 GMT
Hi everyone My partner and I (well, mostly me really, but my partner's coming round to the idea!) have decided we want to convert a bus. We've wanted to buy a motorhome for years, but have never found anything we like the look of for anywhere near what we can afford - we can't afford £50,000 for a US RV! Years ago, I had the idea of converting a bus into a motorhome, but everyone laughed at me, and now I've found this site and found people who are actually doing it. I really want to convert a double decker. I'm fully aware of how impractical they can be, but I did my PCV training in an old London bus and fell in love with them. One of my friends was trying to tell me why it's such a bad idea, and in the end all he could say was, "But they're so big." Exactly! You don't get that kind of respect in a Fiesta. I'm hoping to find something around 20 years old for a reasonable price and we can do most of the conversion ourselves (have carpentry skills and basic plumbing/electrics). We'd probably leave the windows in place, just black some out and insulate and panel inside to keep it looking as bus-like as possible from the outside. I'm wondering if it's practical to use domestic appliances with batteries/inverter backed up by generator since there aren't the size and weight issues you get with a smaller camper. I read about someone using a domestic fridge in a camper once. I've also heard of someone putting a Rayburn and radiator central heating system in a coach conversion, and think that would be great. We'll be planning to spend a lot of time in it and like our home comforts. A couple of questions if anyone could help ...... I've been looking around for PCV trainers and haven't found much on the internet or in Yellow Pages. Is there anywhere else I should be looking? (I never finished my PCV training because Mum talked me out of it - thought bus driver was not a suitable job for "her little girl".) I know I'll need LGV to drive it once it's converted, but I can sort that out later. I just need to be able to drive it when I first buy it. Or should I just try to get a job as a bus driver and get my training paid for? I still like the idea. And can anyone suggest how to get some basic mechanic training? My local college offers full time courses (a bit more than I want) and "car maintenance for women" (I already know how to top up the oil), but I want something that will teach me how to do basic roadside repairs on a 20 year old bus. Not too much to ask, surely? This site's great - I've found loads of useful stuff here, and enjoyed looking at people's pictures of their conversions.
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Post by busboy on Mar 15, 2006 22:55:56 GMT
Hi all, Just found this site. I have lived in various busses all my life, that's an exageration but 15 years of it anyway. I moved away from my parents, who are living in a double decker bristol VR mark 1. Its a lovely bus and I would post some photo's up but I'm not too good at that sort of thing. When I finish uni I am planning on moving back onto the road, just looking for the right vehicle at the moment. basically what I'm looking for is a "blim bus" basically its well small and has enough room for something like 16 people to sit. Personally I can'y say how many seats they have because I have only seen them when they have been converted.
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cat
New Member
Posts: 3
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Post by cat on Apr 26, 2006 9:17:24 GMT
Hi, I'm part of the Cambridge University Bus Entertainment Society, born last year when a mad friend of mine went and bought a delightful blue double decker bus from ebay so that our drama society (CULES, the Light Entertainment Society) can go on marvellous adventures. We take comedy theatre to people that usually never get to see it, like special needs children, nursing homes and homeless shelters. And now we can take our foolishness even further afield. The engine works (minus the airfilter which was rather full of rust and moss), and we've cleaned it inside (my god did it ming.) We've taken out all the seats in the top deck and are planning on turning that bit into a sleeping area/props store and downstairs into some sort of merry seating area. Eventually we hope to rig up some sort of awning outside to turn the bus into a mobile theatre. Does anyone know if you're allowed to have a bar on a bus? Obviously the driver isn't allowed to drink - but are passengers? So many questions, so much silly fun! There are some pictures of the bus before we started working here: www.srcf.ucam.org:22544/cubes/pics
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Post by edio101 on Apr 27, 2006 13:45:42 GMT
Hello, Im Ed Spring from Presteigne, mid Wales border town. After planning a trip to europe last december with my girlfriend Emma, her sister Vicky and Vicky's partner Dylan we finally decided on a bus as our base and transport. Last week we brought an ex-M.O.D. dodge commando stage coach/bus and plan to convert it into a traveller. Would very much appreciate any tips or pointers anyone can give as to the best way to renevating such a bus. Its 22ft long and rounghly 9ft wide and currently has 15 seats. Also does anybody know about how the bus registration cateogory can be de-classied down to camper status as many people seem to have done, so that it could be driven with a UK car license. The bus weights 7.5 tons. I've only held my license for just over 2 yrs and so may not be able to drive in while in the UK. Cheers. Ed
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Post by bogwoppit on Jun 9, 2006 19:23:18 GMT
Oh. My. God. I cannot believe I've found this place! Like-minded people when I thought I was the only one! Hi, I'm Teejay and I am an alco... oh no, wrong admission, sorry! ;D I'm going to buy a Routemaster to convert to a mobile home in... four and a half years time. Help and advice, and preferably the chance to go see someone's (!) would be GREATLY appreciated!!! ;D I have my PCV, and would be hoping to do the conversion myself if I can. Might need a bit of help with electrics and welding. I want to live in it permanently, and luckily have a couple of good friends, one with a lorry firm and one with a big farm yard, who will be willing to let me park it up. Also, I was wondering about caravan/camp sites during the winter? Has anyone had any experience of this, are they willing to allow a bus to park, does their insurance cover it, etc? Thanks guys, you have no idea how glad I am to be here!
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Post by indigoinfobus on Jul 3, 2006 21:57:56 GMT
alrighty, my name is james and i am very lucky to own a converted cumbrian library bus,which i am intending to go to festivals in ,tour this country first then europe depending on how things go,as an holistic/spiritual reference library/information point with all the books you would not normally find in a library. i have built and filled the bookshelves but my partner moved out and i ended up insuring and taxing a people carrier instead........priorities need to be looked at~ am going to garage the people carrier as it is a good vehicle and get me bus ont road at last~it has a sorn on it at moment but is not supposed to be parked where it is so the situation is getting sketchy. all work almost complete for mot, just need some flexypipe as a quickfix for the pepperpot exhaust............but the main problem i have encountered is insurance. both times she has been insured it has cost roughly 500 for the year, and that has been with the aa and adrian flux~no no claims bonus but i am 32 so that should bring it down surely.add to that extra low milage at the moment less than 1500miles a year... anyone know if i can get insurance for 6 months at a time just to cover the summer season? it has been a major block but if i can get it sorted i shall be at the big green gathering this year.
any advice greatfully accepted jim/james
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Post by moocher on Jul 30, 2006 19:34:58 GMT
hi,names nigel currently reside in forest of dean,gloucestershire,uk.seen this site,want a bus/coach to convert to camper have 4 boys and 1 due in 7 weeks.couldnt work out if this site is just for british make bus/coaches or uk based converters ,but be good to rob ideas off you lot.found ideal base in a mercedes508d.20 odd seater.have to start saving to buy one.currently have a 9 seater lwb vw t4 as everyday transport and a 1962 series 2a swb landy with3.5v8 and 3 speed auto,with diahatsu powersteering as a toy which is going to be repaired moted and sold to start purchase funds.
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hicks
New Member
Posts: 2
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Post by hicks on Sept 11, 2006 20:28:15 GMT
Hi Does anyone know anything about the 'Original Bus tour' of London that started in 1951? Apparently the tour is different to what is now the tourist tour of the Original Bus Tour of London. Anyone that has any information on this subject would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks
Hicks
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Post by rodntod on Oct 8, 2006 21:20:44 GMT
Hi everyone ,my wife and i have just bought a 1984 DAF SB2300 55 seat coach with a plaxton paramount body to convert to a motorhome.it had been lived in as a security guards home for a couple of years and was partially if roughly converted to suit his needs.it has now been completely stripped out inside and the conversion is about to start for real.After spending the first two weeks fabricating and welding in new panels it has now been seam sealed and protected with stone chip paint underneath(thank god thats over) it 's now time to start planning what to do inside.luckily for us the coach is very well presented on the outside and external bodywork is good so a little less to do there(phew).we are hoping to keep a written and photographic log as we go along.my son is creating a site for us to show the progress and i'll post the address here soon
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Post by mick160365 on Oct 12, 2006 11:25:23 GMT
hello my name is mick i live in a 1980 bedford pjk anyone out there know of useful sites for spares any info much appreciated
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Post by atlanteanliving on Oct 25, 2006 19:07:38 GMT
Hi Folks, Say Hello here, introduce yourself, tell us all about yourself and your vehicle or plans. Hi, I'm Haydn and about a third the way through converting my Atlantean into a home. It'll take me the next few months to finish but I'll get there! It's quite a task but a rewarding one especially after a hard days work on the old girl and then to watch a DVD in front of a log fire on a bus! I wonder if anyone out there has any experience of 'going on the road' with a double decker with reference to enquiring if there are many 'large DIY R.V's friendly' places to park up for a week or two around the country? I also wondered if anyone knew the law on living in a bus on and off the road? [/img][ftp][/ftp]
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Post by rodntod on Nov 22, 2006 16:56:08 GMT
Hi all, my name is Eddie Woodward and my wife and i have bought a 1984 DAF 54 seater with a Plaxton Paramount body and have just started the conversion to motorhome. My son has set up a wee website to mark our progress and we would love to hear from other like minded people even if you just pop in and sign the guest book. We are in Ayrshire in Scotland but hope to be able to see a lot more of the UK next summer when hopefully it will be ready. The site is at www.woody-coach.t83.net/. Hope to hear from others about any helpful tips or problems you encounter during the conversion.
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