The Bus: December edition

RichardNuss · **Posted:** Tue Dec 14, 2010 7:59 pm

KouroshNeshat wrote:

I don't know how long it will take to swap the hitch/trailer over.

Does that bus you pictured have a receiver hitch on it (I don't think I see one in the pic). If not, are you saying the F350 hitch will swap over to the F450 chassis? I'm not saying it won't, I'm just not sure that it will.

Dustin Fredrickson · **Posted:** Tue Dec 14, 2010 9:15 pm

KouroshNeshat wrote:

It seems like the seller is giving us a week of trying things out. I know it's cold. But you guys think we can get a mini bus day and try this guys bus? I don't know how long it will take to swap the hitch/trailer over. But could it be worth a shot since there are a lot of theories going on?

Just FYI, our hitch was a custom assembly from a universal uhaul mount - HIGHLY unlikely it will just swap over. That said, I may stop by and grab some measurements on this one to see how it compares.... will PM you if I have troubles finding it.

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

Les Davis wrote:

Not that I'm volunteering to do more bus driving, but after all the talk of how terrible driving the bus was I was very apprehensive about driving it. However I didn't really find it to be all that bad. Of course my most recent towing experience was a '92 full size blazer towing the vette, now that was unpleasant, rarely a moment of relaxation with that thing. Prior to that, my only towing experience was with fully loaded deuce and half and five ton military trucks towing a giant mobile electronics workshop also packed to the roof with equipment. I think the total rig weight was over 40000 lbs and but they were remarkably stable. These trucks can be purchased at surplus stores sometimes, maybe we should go with one of those for the club? :wink:

I'll agree with Les, I didn't think it was THAT terrible, it just wasn't particularly pleasant, but manageable (and I drove it to Laurinburg and back, which FWIW is one of the longest drives we have). It could be better I'm sure, but in my limited towing experience, it was manageable.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Tue Dec 14, 2010 11:07 pm

i agree with Les also. the only thing that might make driving the current bus more enjoyable might be mortar fire just off the preferred line.

i'd be willing to bet that vehicle does not drive like it did the day it rolled off the assembly line. and i drove it probably two years ago. gawd-f-n-ing awful vehicle to pilot.

of course i only drove it once. Lake Jordan to Four Oaks.

Stephen Westerfield · **Posted:** Wed Dec 15, 2010 12:23 am

BriceJohnson wrote:

Les Davis wrote:

Not that I'm volunteering to do more bus driving, but after all the talk of how terrible driving the bus was I was very apprehensive about driving it. However I didn't really find it to be all that bad. Of course my most recent towing experience was a '92 full size blazer towing the vette, now that was unpleasant, rarely a moment of relaxation with that thing. Prior to that, my only towing experience was with fully loaded deuce and half and five ton military trucks towing a giant mobile electronics workshop also packed to the roof with equipment. I think the total rig weight was over 40000 lbs and but they were remarkably stable. These trucks can be purchased at surplus stores sometimes, maybe we should go with one of those for the club? :wink:

I'll agree with Les, I didn't think it was THAT terrible, it just wasn't particularly pleasant, but manageable (and I drove it to Laurinburg and back, which FWIW is one of the longest drives we have). It could be better I'm sure, but in my limited towing experience, it was manageable.

x3 and I've probably got more miles in the bus than most of the people in this thread. I'm more concerned with the the tranny than the handling.

JohnByers · **Posted:** Wed Dec 15, 2010 7:46 am

My experience was only from BMW Farm to Chris's. I suppose my main concern is that we get someone with limited to zero towing experience get in the bus to "do us a favor" in a pinch and gets himself in trouble with the setup. I for one would hate for the main culprits to be inexperience and a sub par towing setup.

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Wed Dec 15, 2010 8:34 am

KouroshNeshat wrote:

It seems like the seller is giving us a week of trying things out. I know it's cold. But you guys think we can get a mini bus day and try this guys bus? I don't know how long it will take to swap the hitch/trailer over. But could it be worth a shot since there are a lot of theories going on?

I have the week after Xmas off, I can help one day.

Matt McGrain · **Posted:** Wed Dec 15, 2010 11:45 am

Ryan Holton wrote:

I have the week after Xmas off, I can help one day.

I'm off Monday and Tuesday that week too burning vacation time and free from around 10-5ish.

Kourosh, if folks think that bus may be a legitimate option I can help too. Also, if we need a PPI (I know we have a lot of folks that could look things over too, but just in case) I can buzz Fleet Service on Capital. They've serviced our delivery box truck(s) for years.

Les Davis · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 2:04 pm **Posts:** 2059

Just to add, even though I didn't find driving the current bus to be all that objectionable, I am still in favor of getting a new one and have been for awhile. Functional air conditioning would be the number one big improvement to driving the bus in my opinion (as well as fans that aren't designed to cut off your finger tips :wink:

), a more stable towing experience certainly wouldn't hurt matters.

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Wed Dec 15, 2010 11:53 am

Les Davis wrote:

Functional air conditioning would be the number one big improvement to driving the bus in my opinion (as well as fans that aren't designed to cut off your finger tips :wink:

),

Those are just character builders...

You know the current bus sure does sound alot like the OLD bus....

Carl Fisher · **Posted:** Wed Dec 15, 2010 11:35 pm

BriceJohnson wrote:

Les Davis wrote:

Not that I'm volunteering to do more bus driving, but after all the talk of how terrible driving the bus was I was very apprehensive about driving it. However I didn't really find it to be all that bad. ...

I'll agree with Les, I didn't think it was THAT terrible, it just wasn't particularly pleasant, but manageable (and I drove it to Laurinburg and back, which FWIW is one of the longest drives we have). It could be better I'm sure, but in my limited towing experience, it was manageable.

It's been a few years now since I've driven it, but I used to drive it from Apex to Four Oaks and BMW Farm a lot, and I've driven it back from Laurinburg at least once, and I didn't really think it was too bad either. It required your attention, but it wasn't unstable. Maybe something's gone bad in the steering or alignment? Or it could be the tires, as others have mentioned.

A lot of work has gone into that bus over the years, customizing it to meet our needs. It seems like perhaps a lot of wasted effort if we replace the thing just because we assumed it couldn't be fixed.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Carl Fisher wrote:

A lot of work has gone into that bus over the years, customizing it to meet our needs. It seems like perhaps a lot of wasted effort if we replace the thing just because we assumed it couldn't be fixed.

In fact the current bus was judged in 2005 when purchased to be a "5 year" throwaway vehicle, and the trailer a "20 year" investment. Decision at the time was to give it 5 or less years and upgrade to a 10-year bus.

Carl Fisher · **Posted:** Wed Dec 15, 2010 11:42 pm

Well OK then.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Wed Dec 15, 2010 11:49 pm

at a glance, the striped like Mike W version is not \\\M worthy of a ten year investment. i'm thinking $15K + price range with a real diesel heritage.

Freightliner, Volvo or the like.

now this is a bus............ http://www.bargainbusnews.com/Buses/239 ... giframediv

25 years easy. CDL required to drive it? I don't know.

RobLupella · **Posted:** Fri Dec 17, 2010 2:15 pm

Ryan Holton wrote:

Les Davis wrote:

You know the current bus sure does sound alot like the OLD bus....

What he said

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