strangeangel Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 This ain't cheap, and it's in France. But, still. It's eight and a half grand, sure, but what does that buy you in the Dubber World of Wob? Plus you can be assured of total uniqueivity on any campsite you grace with your presence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forddeliveryboy Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 Wot storage problem? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/double-decker-bus-bar-pop-up-restaurant-/201656797504?hash=item2ef3ae8940:g:6eAAAOSwU-pXsEIQ Captain Furious, Dick Longbridge, strangeangel and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddie Honda Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 d ). Maintenance - everything is bigger and more expensive than on a car. You'll have at least two batteries to replace for example, the last alternator I bought (for a Leyland Lynx) was £230 (reconditioned), rear shock absorbers for the Tiger are £131 each.... Expensive. [xtriple] Astonishingly cheap! [/xtriple] Dave_Q, Pillock, wuvvum and 7 others 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Furious Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 I was gonna say, those prices don't seem *too* bad to me, not enough to put me off buying one, being 40ft long and the fact I'm struggling for space to store existing cars does though Bus buying guide very interesting though, more please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BorniteIdentity Posted August 31, 2016 Author Share Posted August 31, 2016 Incredible detail and I'm really grateful. Proper bedtime reading tonight! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alf892 Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 How about a compromise? Proper bus........but smaller BorniteIdentity, Cavcraft, anonymous user and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UltraWomble Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 Wasn't Doc restoring a bus or two? I remember the rot he was dealing with on one of them, looked an absolute bastard of a job.Yesh, Ive only got a shitty picture of the Lance but the metric dickload of rust on that thing and problems he has had with it notwithstanding the amount of money he has sunk into it and its still as far as the moon is from Milton Keynes from being finished. Why anyone would want to inflict that on themselves is beyond me, I mean its bad enough welding up a BX but the Lance...... Cavcraft 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0ldCh0d Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 This perhaps?http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-709D-30-SEATER-MIDI-COACH-IDEAL-EXPORT-MOTOR-HOME-CONVERSION-/252519672782?hash=item3acb586bce:g:D~YAAOSw5ClXxp5U BorniteIdentity 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
83C Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 This perhaps?http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-709D-30-SEATER-MIDI-COACH-IDEAL-EXPORT-MOTOR-HOME-CONVERSION-/252519672782?hash=item3acb586bce:g:D~YAAOSw5ClXxp5UThat's about £1694 overpriced. In all seriousness it's about £500 on a good day. No MoT, come from an operator that has just gone to the wall (and had a reputation for iffy maintenance), and has been taken half to bits. Dave_Q 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0ldCh0d Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 That's about £1694 overpriced. In all seriousness it's about £500 on a good day. No MoT, come from an operator that has just gone to the wall (and had a reputation for iffy maintenance), and has been taken half to bits.So in other words.. it's a piece of shit then?.. I know nothing about buses,as demonstrated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiC Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 Part two. Actually buying a bus. Once you've decided to go and look over a certain vehicle, there are a few things to consider. A lot is common to viewing a car, some things not so. Approaching the vehicle (assuming it is parked on reasonably level ground), stop and take a good look at how the vehicle sits. If the vehicle has air suspension (90% of PSVs) it may well be sat lop-sided or down by the bow or stern. This isn't an immediate issue like it would be on many vehicles, however it may point to a levelling valve issue, perished air bag or other issue. Otherwise, take a good look around the vehicle but don't go too in depth yet. Check the fluids (engine oil, coolant), then start the vehicle. This is where having someone experienced with PSVs is really useful - most buses have different places for oil and coolant fillers, and different starting proceedures. They're all variations on a common theme, but it's knowing, for example, where to put the gear lever in a semi-auto Leyland Olympian to allow it to start. Once the vehicle has started, switch on all lights (inside and out), and allow the air pressure to build. Most buses have two air circuits (two gauges or maybe a duplex gauge on the dash) many Leylands had three. Each should build to around 8 bar within 5-8 minutes. If any are below 6 bar a warning buzzer should sound as well as a lamp illuminating on the dash. Whilst the air is building, check the interior lights, seats for cuts and damage, and the emergency exit(s) open and close from the inside. Opening the emergency exits should also trigger another buzzer (and dashboard lamp if fitted). The cosmetics aren't really an issue unless loads of seats are damaged. Once the air system is fully charged (i.e all air gauges showing equal pressure with no warning lamps or buzzers), go outside the vehicle. Check the vehicle is sat level, look at all the exterior lights (including marker lights on the top corners if fitted), and work around the vehicle checking tyres (cuts, splits and scuffing on the sidewalls, minimum 1mm tread depth across 3/4 of the tyre). It's worth mentioning that in many cases vehicles are sold without tyres included in the price, as many operators have a contract with a tyre firm to supply and maintain their tyres. Make sure a set of legal tyres is part of the deal. Check the engine - is the exhaust still smoking even when the engine has warmed up? Many older diesels will produce some white smoke when cold, usually nothing to worry about. If it's still doing so when warmed up there may be a head gasket issue. Also pull/push the emergency stop button (it should be marked with the correct directional instruction). Whilst outside check the emergency exits open and close where possible (the upstairs rear window on a decker isn't so-able without a ladder), and if all this checks out, look at a test drive. Move the bus from where it is and check where it was parked for fluid leaks. On the test drive the vehicle should behave like any other - brakes work evenly and smoothly (if a retarder is fitted there should be quite a noticeable increase in brake force as it cuts in), accelerate and hold speed without hesitation or misfire. Check the exhaust as you are driving (if possible - many buses' exhausts are on the offside of the vehicle and are visible in the mirror) for smoke - some black smoke is ok, blue or white indicates problems. Thick clouds of black indicate fuel system issues. Steering will probably feel rather vague, and may have some play in it. Suspension rattles and knocks aren't the easiest to check for on a test drive as service buses especially have a habit of developing rattles in the bodywork with age. Again, this is where having someone experienced with you will help. Once you're back at the sellers yard, check what is included in the deal - tyres (as previously mentioned), destination gear and seats are things the operator may wish to retain, and normally they will remove any ticket issuing equipment. When agreeing a price check whether it's including or excluding VAT. If it all checks out, insure it, tax it and drive it away!This is fantastic! I don't want to buy a bus, but that was a fascinating read. adw1977, PiperCub, BorniteIdentity and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeRover Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 Doesn't camper = class 4 MOT? Or you could lead a double life as a travelling showman and enjoy reduced road tax and MOT exemption.... How about a nice Dodge 50 with 6-247 or phaser perkins power? There's still a fair few about on the festival scene and a small but dedicated enthusiatic owners club on the net/ farcebook. Have a look on http://www.travellerhomes.co.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddie Honda Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 The dream: The AutoShite reality: The Moog, 83C, cms206 and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
83C Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 A few extra bits: I said a few posts ago about upscaling the toolbox: On the left is a 36mm 1/2 drive impact socket. On the right is the hub nut spanner for a Tiger. No expenses spared fuel gauge! That said, once you know what the vehicle does roughly to the gallon, along with how much you've put in, you can work out the distance you can travel before refuelling. Going back to the price of parts, tyres are probably the single biggest expense, short of major repair work. 295/80/R22.5 Michelins are around £500 each. Cheapo tyres in that size can be had from £150 upwards, but that's still £900 to replace all 6. However, a new tyre starts with 15mm of tread and most are regroovable, giving an extra 5-8mm. On something that does minimal mileage, they'll probably perish before they are down to the minimum. Sigmund Fraud, mat_the_cat, scruff and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Furious Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 What happens in the scenario where the tyres are on contract/hire or whatever. They come round and take them back, or do you have the option to take on the contract, buy out of it etc? Also what's the reason for no fuel gauge? I can see that if they're on a regular schedule it's not so much of an issue, but there doesn't seem to be a huge saving by omitting it, just pure mingebaggery? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inspector Morose Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 Just one more gauge for the driver to complain about. In reality they just don't need one. Most tanks are about 200-300 litres and last one day in service. As most buses are fuelled up every night in the yard/garage there's no point in having one. That's of course you use it as a bus. We use Dennis tridents as exhibition vehicles. The Nottingham one we have will do 300km before looking for a garage and the lothians will do about 400km. Unbelievably the Lothian I used for a two week tour a couple of weeks ago was achieving 8.2mpg. Having had far too many buses to be healthy to my bank account (when I played buses, they managed to bankrupt me twice) I can't think of any other advice than be careful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiC Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 I know it's not the AutoShite spirit, but given there looks to be a whole load of cheap buses coming on the market soon, could you not just find a decent ish one with a full test and then drive it till it went bang? Surely a half decent one should keep motoring along with lowish miles p/a. Some of the local bus company buses I use are true shite and seem pretty solid and generally reliable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
83C Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 If you want to keep the tyres that are fitted the tyre firm will measure them and give you a price based on how worn they are to buy them out of the contract. Otherwise they'll take them off and fit scrap tyres. No fuel gauge on service buses because they don't need them in normal service. Most deckers have 200+ litre tanks and will easily do a full day's work without refuelling part way through. They should be fuelled each night upon their return as part of the end of day proceedures. Coaches are a different matter, most have fuel gauges. However once they come off the long distance stuff and start being sold on to smaller operators then most won't bother repairing the gauge if it fails, same as any gauge not essential to passing the MoT. A few different dashboards: Double deckers: 1980 Bristol VRT. SCG semi-auto gearbox to the left of the steering wheel, gauges are (L - R) duplex air gauge, speedo and water temp. 1992 Leyland Olympian. Three air gauges to the left, tachograph in the centre and gearbox temp and oil temp to the right. 1997 Volvo Olympian. Volvo used the same dash panels in all of its products and just added whatever gauges were required. Top left is engine temp, bottom left are the two air gauges. The rev counter has been blacked out, then speedo and finally gearbox temp. A coach: 1996 Dennis Javelin. Cluster of 4 to the left includes fuel gauge, temp gauge and two air gauges, then tacho and rev counter. Quite basic for a coach. Sheefag, mat_the_cat, The Moog and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrcitroen Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 No intention of buying a bus myself, but this is indeed a brilliant read! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Furious Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 I remember those semi-automatic gear leavers from the old school buses we had. I say buses, they were mostly fairly luxury coaches but with the occasional old clunker, Plaxton also rings a bell, I gather they're the coach builder (no pun etc) and then Volvo or whoever would make the oily bits. This is my new favourite thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inspector Morose Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 Yes, unless they made the oily bits as well. See optare, wrights et al. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeeJay Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 Reading 83c's pre-buying check list, the only thing i'd probably check would be if the bell worked. BorniteIdentity and The Moog 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Furious Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 Looking at eBay and what you can get in the bus world vs what you can get in the camper van world, I now officially want a bus. Well, a coach. Needs to have windows that are smooth on the outside - ie you can't see a frame round them, and have the door that swings out and round, and when it shuts it pulls upwards into the frame, if that makes sense. That mechanism used to fascinate me as a child. They're my only two requirements really.. The Moog 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inspector Morose Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 Plug doors. Buses are great fun. Some of the owners and "enthusiasts" can be, shall we say, hard work. They also swallow money like you wouldn't believe. I did own a trolleybus once. All the problems of a bus but you can't use it in the uk on the roads. (Yes, I know it's possible but not without much faffing around and making of generators/filling the lower deck with old fork lift truck batteries, not that I've done that either in my youth...) scruff, rml2345 and Sheefag 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuvvum Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 When we first moved to France they still had trolleybuses running on certain city centre routes. They went like the clappers on electric, but they also had a back-up diesel engine for turning round at the end of the wires or if the power failed or the road was blocked or whatever. They only seemed to be able to manage about 15mph on diesel though, so probably not a great deal of use as a means of transport. Be a bit like hauling a commuter train with a Class 08. Inspector Morose 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuvvum Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 First in Norwich still run a load of ex-London Transport Dennis Tridents, mostly on 02 and 52 plates. They break down quite a lot. If I were going for an old service bus it'd have to be a B10M. I remember years ago when I used to get the bus up the A47 to go to work, it'd either be a Wright-bodied B10M or a Dennis Dart. Pulling out onto the dual carriageway the little hairdryer at the back of the Dart would be screaming its bollocks off, and we'd just about get up to 50 before it was time to slow down again for the roundabout. The B10M would turn onto the slip road, then there would be a growling noise from the back for a few seconds and we'd be doing 50 before we joined the flow of traffic. Dave_Q 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuvvum Posted September 1, 2016 Share Posted September 1, 2016 Serious question: How difficult is it to insure a >30yo bus if one is driving it on a B licence? I've heard differing opinions. Would the fact that I have a provisional D licence help at all? (probably not...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
83C Posted September 1, 2016 Share Posted September 1, 2016 Buses are great fun. Some of the owners and "enthusiasts" can be, shall we say, hard work. Seen in the window of a bus a couple of years ago. andrew e, Eddie Honda, 0ldCh0d and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BorniteIdentity Posted September 1, 2016 Author Share Posted September 1, 2016 Seen in the window of a bus a couple of years ago.You can understand his concern about the bodywork and glass... But masturbation habits really ought to be down to personal preference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
83C Posted September 1, 2016 Share Posted September 1, 2016 care to provide a reference for that assertion , especially as 'mobile project vehicles' can still be driven on a cat B even if brand spanking new ... are you conflating the historic bus driven on cat b with volunteers driving Minibuses NFP or S19 on a cat B ? DVLA leaflet INF 52 http://www.hillsofplumpton.co.uk/INF52.pdfIf you read my posts since I said that, you'll find I've already clarified it, including a link to INF52. DeeJay 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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