RayMetts wrote:
Kourosh and I will take care of the bus on Friday and after the event.
PM us the location/address.
Where to find the keys.
Fuel payments.
And any special instructions.
Thanks
Special instructions (this is quite old but most should be relevant if you've never driven the rig before)
CARE AND FEEDING OF THE NEW BUS
draft v2.0 05/28/05
1. OVERVIEW
2. QUICK REFERENCE
3. BUS STORAGE
4. DRIVING THE BUS
5. USING THE BUS AT THE EVENT
6. OTHER INSTRUCTIONS AND INFO
7. EMERGENCIES ON THE ROAD
8. MAINTENANCE
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1. OVERVIEW
The bus is a 1994 Ford E350 "cutaway" or RV chassis vehicle with the International/Navistar 7.3l diesel motor. It is a Starcraft Candidate model and was built in Goshen, Indiana. At the time of purchase there were about 150k miles.
The trailer is a Pace Journey 14x7' tandem 3500# drop-axle trailer. It weighs approximately 2000# and this has a max capacity of about 5000# of our stuff. The trailer was purchased new in 2005 at HGR trailer sales.
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2. QUICK REFERENCE
- Fill out the driver log and note any problems!
- Keys are usually in the front cap to the left of the plastic bin
- Complete spare key set is in the trailer, in the "BUS PARTS" bin
- Be sure to observe the "WAIT TO START" light when starting
- Padlock combination is 16-38-32
- Bus is DIESEL FUEL only!
- Registration and insurance cards are with the manual in the map tray
- Some clicking and popping from the hitch is normal when turning!
- Tow in OD. Yes, there will be a lot of full-throttle driving, especially on hills.
- The key has a ACCESSORY position (turn back) which will connect the bus batteries to the accessory battery.
- Vehicle dimensions: About 9'high, 40'long.
- Vehicle weights: Bus is about 8000lb, trailer is about 5000lb
- There is a beer bottle opener mounted to the right of the swing door
- Be sure to read the checkists below!
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3. BUS STORAGE
The bus is being stored temporarily at John Perry's (a former THSCC member) place northeast of the intersection of Hwy 751 & Hwy 64 near the Wake / Chatham county line. Luther Rd connects 751 and Green Level Rd. The simplest and most bus-friendly directions from most of our sites: Take Hwy 64 to Hwy 751 north. Go about 1 mile north and turn right on Luther. Go about 1 mile and John's place is on the left. Look for the big sailboat in the yard, and the bus near that (it's visible from the road).
A few miles of driving can be saved through the backroads: From Hwy 55 & High House / Green Level Rd, go west on Green Level about 5-6 miles, through Green Level and just into Chatham County. After going through the sharp (posted 35MPH) S-curve with long rock wall near the road, Luther is the next left. John's house is about 1/2 mile down on the right -- it's easy to miss. Look for the bus and/or the sailboat.
LEAVING: When leaving the parking spot be aware you need to turn sharp past the bushes. Try not to run the bushes over! Leave the 2 orange cones as parking guidance for whomever is returning the bus. Also, when leaving, put an orange cone at his mailbox so the driveway will be easier to spot when returning -- there are very few good places to turn that bus + trailer around in the area.
RETURNING: When returning please grab any cone left by the mailbox and leave it in the bus. John would prefer we back the trailer up in the front yard next to the Triumph under the tree. There are 2 orange cones marking the spot to back into -- those can be left in the yard. The easiest way to park is to pull the bus straight down the driveway, then back up left through the bushes, past some of the junk cars, and in between the orange cones. Back all the way up until the trailer is touching the big bush behind it.
It's backed into a space and it's close enough to the house and other houses that I doubt it's a security risk. He used to be a club member in the 70's, has a Lotus Europa and some TR7s in need of some love. I'm hoping he will come out and play eventually. I think we'd like to keep looking for long-term storage but maybe we should consider keeping it there longer-term if John is happy. I'd prefer to be able to let John know if/when someone is coming to get it.
At this point, please let me handle all contact with John Perry. Call me whenever plans change, or something needs to be picked up / dropped off. I'd like to give him warning that people are coming. My numbers: 919-454-5445m, 919-387-4949h, 919-486-2979w
John Perry
1365 Luther Rd
Apex, NC 27523
(only use his number as a last resort if I can't be reached: 303-7573)
http://maps.yahoo.com/py/maps.py?Pyt=Tm ... ap=Get+Map
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4. DRIVING THE BUS
BEFORE DEPARTING
- Visually check inflation of tires
- Check the hitch connection
- Hitch locked
- Trailer plugged
- Jack up
- Chains and breakaway wire connected
- Sway control and load bars secure
- Check that all bus and trailer doors are latched
- Check fuel level and plan accordingly
- Check that brake controller green light is on
AFTER THE EVENT
- Check bus doors latched
- Trailer side door locked from INSIDE
- Trailer rear door latched and locked
- All THREE power switches are OFF
- Filing cabinet bar is secured
- Check fuel level and plan accordingly
WHILE DRIVING
- The transmission shifts very slowly from 1-2 and when engaging reverse. This doesn't appear to be a problem.
- The bus is very stable on flat roads away from other traffic
- When being overtaken by a large vehicle, there is quite a bit of "push" on the trailer that will require steering correction
- The bus and trailer seem to be affected quite a bit by irregular surfaces. Just be sure to keep both hands on the wheel!
PARKING OVERNIGHT - at event sites, hotels, etc
- Lighting
- Theft
TIPS FOR BACKING UP
- To back the bus & trailer into a tight spot be SURE to pull straight for at least 20' before trying to back.
- Back up using the mirrors. Turn the bottom of the steering wheel in the direction you want the trailer to go.
- With the long overhang, the trailer responds VERY quickly to steering inputs.
- Go slow and don't make drastic changes.
- Stop often to jump out and monitor the trailer position.
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5. USING THE BUS AT THE EVENT
PREPARATION
PA INSTRUCTIONS
- wireless mike
-
PACKING UP
DESCRIPTION OF THE POWER SYSTEM / CONSIDERATIONS
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6. OTHER INSTRUCTIONS AND INFO
HOW TO DISCONNECT THE TRAILER
0. Chock the trailer wheels if on an incline
1. Unplug the trailer plug
2. Disconnect the breakaway box cable from the hitch
3. Loosen the sway control screw, pull the foreward cotter pin, and lift off the front ball
4. Pull the cotter pins on the weight distribution cams
5. Using the long handle (in the TOWING box in the trailer) rotate the WD cams to no-load
6. Unhook the chains from the WD cams
7. Support the weight of one WD bar, then pull the spring clip on the hitch backward to release the bar.
8. Store the bar and repeat on the other one.
9. Unlock the hitch lock, rotate the coupler up, and reinsert the lock to hold in position
10. Rotate the jack handle until the trailer clears the ball.
When reconnecting, be aware that the trailer plug SUCKS and is difficult to seat properly. It is fully seated when the plug cover will latch over the plug. It is best to support the receptacle with one hand while plugging (and twisting and turning) to prevent breakage.
KEY DESCRIPTIONS
- FORD KEY - Bus driver's door and ignition.
- HITCH LOCK - For the hitch ball lock AND the receiver tube (not installed)
- BATT TRAY - for the battery tray and the overhead electrical panel
- TRAILER DOOR - unlocks the regular lock and the deadbolt.
- what else is there?
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7. EMERGENCIES ON THE ROAD
FLAT TIRE - There is a 12 ton bottle jack that works fine when used on either the bus or trailer frame. The top of the jack screws up for added height. TRAILER - The trailer spare and blue lug wrench are in the trailer on the shelving. BUS - there is one single spare tire that can be fitted to any corner. There should also be a 22mm socket adapter for the bus lugnuts in the BUS PARTS box. If the single wheel is used in place of a rear dual wheel the bus will be less stable but still safe. The bus spare is lowered from the undercarriage using the swivel handle w/ universal joint by snapping it into the actuator at the right rear under the bus through the frame rail. Recommended torque for the lugnuts is 120 ft-lb.
BUS DEAD - The trailer uses a large 2 5/16" ball, and there is a spare 2 5/16" ballmount in the TOWING box in the trailer. The weight distribution and sway control do NOT need to be used, but the tow vehicle should have a 7-pin adapter and preferrably brake controller. Things to be sure to take from a dead bus: timer, power cord, battery adapters (bottom drawer), printer, loose inverter. Keep in mind the trailer weighs in at probably 4500-5000 lb.
TRAILER DEAD - If for some reason the trailer can't make it to the event, load up all the stuff you can think of that will be needed into the back of the bus, disconnect the trailer as described above and drive carefully!
TOWING ANOTHER TRAILER - If for some reason the bus has to be used to tow another trailer, there is a spare long 2" ball and mount in the TOWING box in the trailer that can be used. The ballmount currently on the bus is secured to the receiver with a bolt which will need to be unfastened to replace the ballmount (this was done to eliminate play). There are locking and non-locking receiver pins in the TOWING box which can be used.
BREAKAWAY ACTUATION (ACCIDENTAL OR PURPOSEFUL) - There is a small plastic pin in the breakaway box on the trailer tongue which is connected to the bus hitch. If removed due to hitch failure OR accidentally from the cable catching on something, the trailer brakes activate to something like 75% stopping power. Just reinsert the pin into the breakaway box to deactivate.
TRAILER OUT OF CONTROL - SWAY OR HITCH FAILURE - If the breakaway has not activated, the trailer brakes can be actuated by pressing the side button on the trailer brake controller. Try to use the bus brakes as little as possible - the trailer will slow the bus down via the safety chains.
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8. MAINTENANCE
Quarterly maintenance schedule
- Tire pressure - 50F, 80R, 60? trailer
- Lube hitch ball, sway balls, WD bars
- Check engine oil
- Check washer fluid
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Yearly maintenance schedule
- Change wiper blades
- Oil change
- Breakaway box charging
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Maintenance history
- brakes
- tires
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SPECIFICATIONS
- tire sizes
- inflation pressures
- oil type and weight
- tank capacity
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