Buying a Bus: Advice please

[Uncle Jimmy]

If I bought a bus I'd be after one of the old Benz models with the panoramic roof.

Keeping a bus out of the elements is the main issue really; that and the vast areas to attend to if you need to do bodywork or respray.

[Cleon-Fonte]

For ease of ownership something van derived is probably best. For instance this Bedford CF with Plaxton Mini Supreme body which was on Gumtree recently (others used to come up frequently in bus classifieds a couple of years ago, not sure if that's still the case):

 

 

17 seats and up to 15-20mpg if you opt for a diesel.

 

Or a 16-seater Mellor-bodied Ford Transit. A few of these still do service as campervans.

 

[Eddie Honda]

Licence... You'll definitely need a licence obtaining as you passed post 1997.

Nope, whether or not the cat B licence was obtained before or after that date, if the bus is over 30 years old, driver over 21, max 8 passengers, non-commercial and providing it is a bus and not converted into something else, then a cat D isn't required.

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inf52-large-vehicles-you-can-drive-using-your-car-or-lorry-licence

 

Section 50(2) Part IV of the Traffic Act and regulations 54 to 57 shall not apply to a passenger-carrying vehicle manufactured more than 30 years before the date when it is driven and not used for hire or reward or for the carriage of more than eight passengers;

Tell me where the weight limits are for PCVs in that. There are none. If it is converted into something else and falls into a different licencing category, then weight limits kick in.

[rml2345]

^ Does make it rather difficult to go camping in.

I've no direct experience in owning large buses but know plenty who do and the biggest thing seems to be the cost of everything. Even basic stuff like engine oil has to be bought in obscene quantities to do a simple service and they drink like fish.

Generally speaking buses don't like standing or living outside for prolonged periods either and long spells of both can lead to serious problems later on, particularly with coaches as there's lots of hard to access frame that likes to rot out. If you've read all the advice and still fancy it, a Mercedes-Benz 709D with Alexander bodywork would be an ideal starting point. Those things are like cockroaches and are small enough to keep in a decent sized driveway. Good spares back up and an aluminium body also make them easier to own rather than trying to find kingpins for a Quest 80 or something.

Thread if you do it PLZ.

[rml2345]

That IVECO/Duple abortion can fuck right off.

[Eddie Honda]

^ Does make it rather difficult to go camping in.

 

Yes. Fanny around converting it and you can end up with goods vehicle. Which is fine...if you have the right licence.

 

Learn to sleep upright?

[BorniteIdentity]

Thanks for all the feedback.  I saw that Bedford thing on a Bus website and spaffed.  A Mercedes 709D would also meet with approval, but the Ford that looks like the bastard child of a mobile library and an ambulance can FRO.  

 

I think it's pretty obvious that a huge 58 seater is going to be out of the question, so something more suitably sized would be a better bet.  I had a Mercedes 609D camper off a mate back in 2008 and, whilst it was a brief tenure, enjoyed it very much.

[castros_bro]

 This was MOT'd, taxed, insured, structurally and mechanically sound pictured in a Kentish public car park 60 miles from where I lived waiting for a slightly dry warm day for painting then redoing the inside and refitting the back window as no other parking place else available. Finding somewhere to park in the UK was the biggest PITA (have I said that already?).   Note the Mitsubishi Colt Mirage turbo just sneaking into the picture.

 

 

[dollywobbler]

I reckon a big, boxy Volkswagen LT is what you actually need. They offer a proper truck/bus driving experience, with far fewer of the downsides. After driving Mat the Cat's, I reckon I could get on with one very nicely.

[Squire_Dawson]

Bedford OB.

 

There used to be loads of the Ford mini-buses in Halifax, I forget who the operator was.

[Captain Furious]

I would really love for someone else to own a big old coach so I could live the experience through their thread updates without any of the logistics to worry about.

 

Top work.

[Skizzer]

I'm just going to leave these here.

 

 

 

Monster Merc in the services carpark. Battered pressed steel plates too.

 

Seems cheap for a mobile maternity unit with half a dozen beds - provided you've got somewhere to keep it.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C770621

[Supernaut]

Autoking of Autoshite!

[BorniteIdentity]

The STATE of that yellow thing.

(!!)

[Skizzer]

I really like the yellow thing.  But then I've always quite liked the idea of bolting half a Portakabin on to the back of an old Unimog and going on tour in it.

 

 

I'm also amazed nobody has scraped the A and the U off the AUTOKING sticker.  The local dubber stoner posse certainly would if you parked it in my street for more than ten minutes.

[Cavcraft]

Ive got a mate with a bus. He used to have a Bristol - this one in fact...

 

He wouldnt recommend it - they are a black hole for expense.

Oh, and ex-service ones are likely to be very rusty.

And they cost a lot to run.

Did I mention the expense?

A trip from Bristol to Cornwall and back cost the GDP of Yorkshire

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.

[John F]

How about an old VW LT camper or perhaps a Commer PB?

 

It just so happens I'll be selling a 1988 LT 35 camper at some point in the not too distant future... shiter's discount will apply

[Guest Hooli]

A point no one seems to have mentioned yet is almost no service buses have fuel gauges. Fine in service as they work it out on mileage & they come in at set point during the day to fill up. Bit more interesting if on holiday.

 

Oh & buses are shit to drive, very slow & uncomfy. Coaches are a different kettle of fish.

[sierraman]

A point no one seems to have mentioned yet is almost no service buses have fuel gauges. Fine in service as they work it out on mileage & they come in at set point during the day to fill up. Bit more interesting if on holiday.

 

Oh & buses are shit to drive, very slow & uncomfy. Coaches are a different kettle of fish.

True, dip the ticket tape in the tank to see how much fuel you've got left.

[ShiteRider]

I've always fancied an ex mobile library. Tend to be relatively low mileage,clean (havn't had dozens of kids spitting, pissing, puking on them everyday for 20 years) and fairly cheap for what they are. Newer ones will usually come with w/c facilities and wheel chair ramps (handy if your into biking or similar).

I remember as nipper in the late 80's early 90's west lancs council still used a couple of bedford tk faced ones, which i think got replaced with leyland road runners.

[Sheefag]

Go and stay with these people instead....

 

http://www.majesticbus.co.uk/majestic-bus.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[sierraman]

A lot of the mobile libraries are being decommissioned so you might get a bargain!

[Sheefag]

Fair play to you BorneIdentity,  You're either mad, or both.

[SiC]

What about a prison van too? Probably all high milers, so cheap, but just seem to always trundling up and down the motorway.

 

Would potentially have some history* to them too.

[Cavcraft]

Having been subjected to a rear compartment of a prison van and the driver's seat of a 609D, sometimes the former was preferable.

[sierraman]

I had a sit in the back of the local police meat van last week. Fortunately it was at the village fete, entrance was optional.

[rml2345]

Pre 1960s would be a very brave choice but worth many many Autoshite points. Pre 1950s is for masochists.

[strangeangel]

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.

[forddeliveryboy]

Wot storage problem? 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/double-decker-bus-bar-pop-up-restaurant-/201656797504?hash=item2ef3ae8940:g:6eAAAOSwU-pXsEIQ

[Eddie Honda]

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]