Converting a heavy-duty bus/coach/truck into a motorhome (page 22 of 161)

Hey trompt, I'm not an expert on Saviem🤪, but go ahead and send your photo—I'll try to help you out as best I can. For the model type, I'll need the serial number. cheers

Hi gx47, that'd be really awesome if you could check this out—I'll send it your way ASAP. It's at my place (in the bus) and I'm borrowing internet from a friend at the moment. But anyway: when are we gonna get internet in a truck?!! Does anyone have a solution?

so for internet in a truck: 2 solutions.

look around for someone who hasn't secured their WiFi, or try near universities on campuses—WiFi is available in some spots, or there's a pricier option if you've got a phone subscription at home: Bouygtel's EDGE PCmcia card. EDGE is also available on mobile phones but I don't know how to get it working on the computer.

Great info!

I've learned a lot on this site, but this time I have a more specific project and I'd like to know if I'm on the right track (since I live on a boat and I'm not used to buses...).

I founded an association of about 50 artists and Rhône enthusiasts, and we're being invited further and further away (Belgium, Holland)... at our own expense. We thought about buying a tour coach. Luckily, our president worked in this sector and has his license.

We could transport about forty people and keep maximum space for setting up an exhibition (documents, paintings, small objects in display cases).

I'm considering a SETRA S228 (single deck). Planned budget: €50,000 with conversion, which we're trying to get subsidized and sponsored locally... Apparently we'd stay in TCP, with a category D license and inspections every 6 months? Who should we contact besides DRIRE? Is it possible to put the application together without a professional converter? What would roughly be the annual budget excluding fuel costs?

Any answer or remark is welcome, thanks in advance 😄

I now have my SAVIEM S53R. I haven't paid for it yet but I want to transport it.

I need to insure it. First problem: I haven't found insurance covering heavy vehicles for private individuals. Second problem: heavy vehicle insurers only cover professionals.

How do I insure my 1984 S53 (TCP category) at the lowest cost? Given that I can convert it to an unspecified VASP within about two months, if you have any contacts, I'd appreciate them.

I'm asking for help from anyone who's tried this. Given that I'm 25 years old with a 25% bonus (coefficient 0.75) and am already insured for my vehicle, I've met campervan owners who are insured for 60 to 150 euros per year and I'd like to know if that's realistic.

Furthermore, I'm turning to patrick 26 (aka the sage) to understand the pitfalls of the double conversion. My campervan conversion will take me more than a year, but with a Class C license I need to reclassify it ASAP—first to an unspecified VASP and not a motorhome VASP. The DRIRE tells me "a box truck," "don't worry, there'll always be a solution"... but they're asking me to bring the bus to their site, and I don't want to make 50 pointless trips back.

Given that my goal is simply to remove what's unnecessary—keep 1 or 2 rows of seats (which originally have no seat belts, plus the driver's seat) without installing a load-stop partition—do you have references to text similar to motorhome regulations, namely the same kind of circular you posted above?

Given that on the S53 there's a wall behind the driver that could serve as a load stop, I could also remove all the passenger seats, but as a last resort, since I plan to transport a few passengers during my trips.

Thanks

Don't do this. Before anything, make absolutely sure with your DRIRE that they'll approve it twice. It's easier to convert a motorhome into a commercial vehicle than the other way around because of seating capacity issues, and watch out for seatbelt requirements for passenger seats on a commercial vehicle (you'd be in an extended-cab category).

Plus, insurance-wise, you'll have much more trouble with a commercial vehicle than with a motorhome. While waiting for official approval, I'd suggest trying classic insurance.

WARNING: if you get TYPE: ORIGINAL on your registration document, you won't be able to change the category anymore!

Hi,

I have a livestock truck (heavy-duty vehicle) that I'd like to convert into a motorhome. If I want to get it done by a professional, how much will it cost me? Do you have any contact details for professionals in the Rhône-Alpes region?

I really want something nice to live in for a good part of the year.

Also, I need to replace the air suspension tanks on it this year. Can you tell me where I can get that done and what it would cost?

Best, Sylvain

You're crazy! Don't go to a pro! First off, it'll cost you a fortune. Plus, nothing beats the satisfaction (and the hassle!) of doing it yourself, the way you want it. And you'll end up with something truly personal, not some mass-produced generic thing with no character or originality. What's your rig? About the bottles, don't worry—it's dead simple: do it yourself!!! All you do is unscrew the clamps, unscrew the fittings, and reverse the process with your new bottles. If you put rubber between your clamps and bottles (in the garage we used pieces of inner tube), your bottles are good for 10 years, otherwise just 5. You can find bottles at an HGV breaker's yard (like from a recent damaged truck). No need for the truck to be the same as yours. Just get bottles with the same capacity and inlet/outlet ports in the same spots. For sealing the fittings, Loctite makes a gel in a small bottle (like thread locker) specifically for air-circuit sealing—you can find it at an HGV garage or at AD PL. There you go. Keep us posted and good luck! Drop a photo of your rig!

js59

P.S.: I opened a new discussion to get a rough idea of how many of us are on HGVs or buses and interested in this kind of thing, not the shiny new sterile motorhomes that dominate 95% of the discussions on this site.

Hi. I've got a heavy truck, VASP type unspecified. I'm insured with FILIA-MAIF (you need to know someone insured with MAIF who sponsors you) and it costs me (0.8 coefficient - 20% bonus) about 400 euros a year. I didn't tell them it was a camper van, otherwise you get tons of regulations blah blah blah and special insurance. I told them I was an artist and that it was used to transport my artwork, but that I wasn't selling it (otherwise it's professional insurance, way too expensive). But anyway, I reckon other insurers could offer similar deals at the same price.

Otherwise, the best option (I didn't do it because back then I only had one vehicle and you need a second vehicle insured with normal insurance for that) is collection insurance. Something like MASCOTTE. Even with normal registration!! (not just collection registration!!) and you'd get away with 60 euros a year!! It works for all vehicles over 20 years old (as long as you don't use them for work).

There you go. I hope that helps!

Leave a message on my new discussion I started this afternoon about camper vans and buses.

js59

X X X

So what exactly are your headaches with the water and gas hookups?

SAVIEM = *** !!!

Mark of quality!

Apart from a few quirks (like the SB2-SB3, which are actually SG2s but with front-wheel drive instead of rear-wheel drive, which have legendary driveshaft problems), SAVIEMs are known for their reliability and sturdiness!

I spent some time in Mercedes (406D from '72), but now I'm in a heavy truck (Renault S130 with a SAVIEM engine). I was initially nervous about leaving the brand with the 3-pointed star, but I don't regret it! Same sturdiness and durability, but on the other hand, much easier to find parts—they're everywhere! (and cheaper too!)

Share the photo so we can see it + !!!

80° is OK, but up to 95° at normal temperature for some vehicles.

The ideal is for the oil and water to be at the same temperatures. It's not always straightforward, especially without a temperature exchanger. That's why the cooling liquid circuit is under pressure. The higher the pressure, the higher the temperature can be without boiling (at 2 bars – that's the pressure in a cooling circuit – water will boil at more than 110°). This allows bringing the "water" closer to the oil's temperature without ending up with air bubbles in the circuit.

Hi sythi,

For the conversion, a professional will definitely charge you a lot, but in the end it'll still cost you less than buying a brand new heavy-duty motorhome!

And if you can afford it, go for it.

You have Polycomposit which does custom units for light and heavy vehicles in Valence. You have smaller converters that advertise in Camping-Car Magazine (usually in the back pages)

In my opinion, the simplest approach is to build a new body to replace the livestock truck, or find a used van body to put in its place. The next challenge will be the connection between the body and cab, which is quite difficult to get certified. After that, the rest of the conversion is standard...

That's the basic info for you.

As for your bottles, are you sure they need to be changed?

Did anyone mention re-testing to you? If that's what it is, you don't need to change the bottles. Just get a pressure test done at any heavy-duty garage (inexpensive).

Have a good evening,

PATRICK26

Do you have Mascotte's exact contact details? Is that the company name?

Because I already have a second vehicle. Thanks in advance, catch you later!

Hi Patrick (and everyone). I'm finally jumping in after all this time reading this really interesting forum.

Of course, I'm also thinking about converting a bus – it's still just in the research phase for now.

I'm trying to research as much as I can before I get started, because I'll have a modest budget and I want to avoid making big rookie mistakes (like installing things in the wrong order).

My question today is about the Webasto (the French brand website isn't very detailed): how exactly does the system work that handles both heating and hot water? I think that's what you installed in your bus.

See you soon,

Eric

Hi everyone,

In the attached file, you'll find a schematic I just put together to answer several requests about additional diesel heaters with integrated hot water.

I hope it'll help some of you move forward with your projects!

Happy tinkering to all,

PATRICK26

Thanks for your reply. To be honest, I haven't fully grasped it all yet... What exactly is this "Hydronic Contact"?

THAT'S THE EBERSPACHER BOILER MODEL NAME!

PATRICK26

😮😉wow what a beautiful drawing😎

Hello everyone. I'm jumping on the moving train, so to speak! I've been an owner and user of British double-deckers for over twenty years. They have their advantages, of course, ...and drawbacks as Patrick mentioned. But they have so much charm... 🙂 I had as many as eight at the same time at one point, when it was quite easy to rent them out for events and entertainment... Today the French market is largely served by our Belgian friends who don't have all the same administrative and legal constraints. Sigh!! 😐 So I've reduced my fleet to two vehicles, and they're potentially for sale. I've also imported quite a few of these vehicles in recent years, and I'm here to help anyone who wants to get into this adventure with advice, research, services, etc... See you soon