Converting a heavy-duty bus/coach/truck into a motorhome (page 3 of 161)

Hi Sputnick,

Thanks so much for your reply, we just have a quick clarification to ask you:

Do you drive your bus with fewer than 10 seats, with a Category D license, and is all of this completely legal?

Anyway, we went and picked up the vehicle modification paperwork for converting to a motorhome from the administrative office and it already gave us a lot of useful information about what needs to be done.

For now, we're waiting for the garage selling it to us to get it registered with the authorities.

Tell me Sputnick, what kind of music do you like? We're really into electronic music (I do live music on PC). If you're into that, maybe we could meet up at a festival sometime.

Hi BomBaKlak,

For insurance, you need to visit all of them in person. For us, the quotes ranged from basic to triple the cost. But in any case, go in person—don't call.

Well, thanks everyone for chatting on this forum. It's really helpful. See you later!

Mélaine and Tibo.

Hey Mélaine and Tibo,

"Are you driving your bus with fewer than 10 seats, your category D license, and all of this completely legally?"

Yeah, I only have 6+1 seats on my registration card and I have an official stamped letter from the Rennes prefecture and everything (if you can do more, you can do less). But I really struggled to get that info—my category D driving instructors, the cops, everyone was clueless. But in the end the person at the prefecture checked the highway code and it's fine...

"Tell me Sputnick, what's your music taste? We're passionate about electronic music (I make live music on PC). If you're into that, we could maybe meet up at a future 'festival'."

I'm a tech and drum DJ http://jillcorro.free.fr, no worries. Where are you guys from?

Feel free to reach out to me on MSN or by email... Ciao

Hi!

My first attempt at an answer didn't work, so let me try again 😉 You mentioned collector vehicle insurance at €35 a year.

I looked into that insurance too, but I was told there were quite a few drawbacks, like restrictions on traveling with the bus, and so on. What do you think about it? What are the terms of that kind of insurance? How did you manage to convert your bus to a collector vehicle? Thanks for your help...

Hey

I never said I'd put my car into collection status – I have a standard registration. But once a vehicle is from before 1988, you can insure it under collection insurance. They just ask you to have a regular vehicle insured elsewhere.

I don't have any restrictions – I can go abroad, in France, anywhere, anytime.

It's just that my insurance doesn't cover certain countries like Macedonia (MK).

But Bosnia's OK, Serbia...

Do a Google search – you'll find tons of info.

luss

Hi all,

We've been following your discussions with lots of interest ever since we've had the dream of setting up a motorhome! So we're doing our research, searching online and finding goldmines of information like this one!... The certification regulations seem a bit complicated, but nothing to discourage us...

Anyway, we came across a listing for a converted bus for sale on eBay and I'd really like to get the opinion of experts on the subject. Apart from the pleasure of converting the bus yourself, is it really more economical than buying one that's already partly converted?

Thanks for your valuable advice.

http://cgi.ebay.fr/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=79058&item=4500445276&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

Listing details:

Heavy-duty motorhome vehicle, Renault S53 model. This vehicle is a 1983 bus that belonged to a public transport company called "Aunis Saintonge" where it received proper garage maintenance. I'll provide its service log. I designed the interior conversion myself, which is certified. This vehicle is a heavy-duty motorhome and requires a Class C license. It now includes, at the back, a bathroom (with bathtub), a kitchen (with gas cooktop), double sink, Andalusian tile countertop and plenty of storage. Water tanks are 100 liters (possibility of 200 liters). The lounge has two L-shaped benches (2.50m and 1.50m) with a storage unit and a television as well as a wood stove. A bedroom with a raised platform, a 140cm bed convertible to a sofa and a small wardrobe. The walls are insulated and paneled with wood paneling. The partitions between each room are in wood, with a door partition between the driver's cabin and the bus interior. The lighting is 12 volts + generator. On the exterior, the vehicle has storage compartments on each side as well as a deep storage area at the back. The mechanics are in very good condition, equipped with a 190 hp MAN diesel engine, 420,000 km. Average fuel consumption 18L/100km. Number of seats: 3 It has some paint runs on the exterior, a chip on the front bumper, 4 small rust spots on the bodywork. Length: 11.70 m Width: 2.50 m Technical inspection is OK, this vehicle is ready to travel. The bus is viewable in La Rochelle (17).

Hey,

Looks pretty good, but the 18l/100km fuel consumption seems unlikely—more like 23 in my opinion. A Class D license is possible, and you're missing the main thing...

THE PRICE!

If the vehicle is officially approved and you're not too handy with DIY, then it's definitely a great deal.

(the eBay link is dead)

Sorry, the price and photos are on eBay...starting bid = 7000 euros but it's likely to climb quite a bit (already 4 people have placed higher bids in the last hour!)...

Thanks for your response anyway.

If the conversion is good quality and has all the equipment, that's about the price...

but anyway, you should see the bus in person...

Hi everyone,

Things are getting complicated!

I got 2 calls this week...

The first from a company in the Grenoble region, a professional vehicle converter, who just had a VanHool BUS refused by the mining authorities in Isère for lack of a driver's door! This categorical ban prevents them from delivering the fully finished bus to their client. Plus, the modification turns out to be nearly impossible because parts of the steering system prevent any changes to this model (well, that's a fine mess!). The bus is ready to hit the road, but without papers!

Worse for the second one, a private individual from the Drôme who's planning an S53 (he'll recognize himself because he hangs around this forum), who's seeing the mining authorities ask him for the manufacturer's authorization to drill a driver's door! Application refused for this reason.

That's definitely going to be simple to get! Find a guy at Renault who agrees to authorize a modification on a vehicle that left their factory 20 years ago! (I'll try to put him in touch with a guy from Renault's engineering department that I know, and after that, inshallah!).

Following contact with one of the heads of the regional DRIRE (Southeast) with whom I'm on good terms, word is that soon a new regulation should come regarding sleeping arrangements: (European harmonization)

A test for non-ejection of people in bunks through a braking test in motion on a test track should become mandatory (as in Germany).

Explanation of the regulation: placement of dummies, accelerating the bus on the test track and braking. If the dummies move in a 'dangerous manner' or fall from the bunk, the conversion can be refused for vehicles not having seats equipped with safety belts (because in this case, passengers are required to travel seated and strapped in).

It's going to happen before long, but we don't know when...

Bottom line: no more bunks without retention systems, or installed with the opening facing the direction of travel.

For those of you in the process of converting, get informed or modify your setup.

I don't want to come across as the forum's downer by giving this info—just trying to inform those who want to travel 'legally' that things are getting complicated.

See you soon PATRICK26

Hi everyone, I'm Spanish (excuse my French). I live in Hendaye (64). I want to sell my standard motorhome and buy a small bus (to get started) and convert it into a motorhome. I found this model (click on the link) from 1990, 220,000 km, €3,000. I'm looking for advice about buying this model, thanks everyone.

http://www.wistiti.fr/kaxero:tous

hey,

at first glance, it's a good base.

driver's door, lowered rear platform that converts to a cargo hold, decent ceiling height, Heuliez bodywork (so no problem requesting a bodywork conversion), flush windows that can be easily darkened...

unless I'm mistaken the chassis should be a Mercedes or an Iveco.

still need to check the mechanical condition, the brakes, the payload capacity, etc...

be careful about one particular point with this type of bus: the pillars can contribute to the chassis rigidity, and in that case might not be removable.

here's the info based on the photos.

PATRICK26

Hi,

"unless I'm mistaken, the chassis should be a Mercedes or an Iveco" WHY?

"the posts can contribute to the body's rigidity, and in that case may not be able to be removed" HOW TO KNOW THAT BEFORE BUYING

THANKS TO PATRICK26

I'd like to buy a Mercedes 307 bus but I only have a car license. I'd like to know how to reclassify it, if that's even possible, and who I should contact. For now I have a Mercedes 508 set up as a camper, but I need to get the brakes completely overhauled, and I'm thinking it might be better to buy the other one which is in excellent condition. Apparently the minibus would need to pass inspection, but do I need to make any modifications to the engine? To the interior? If someone could help shed some light on this? Thanks

Hey, the best thing's to call them at DRIRE (mines) ciao

😉 thanks for the info. I didn't really know where to turn. Just discovered your forum. It's great to see people on the move. I'm in an apartment right now, but for travels nothing beats a customized truck. I drool 🙂 over the photos.

Hi,

In response to your two questions:

For the chassis, it's just based on experience. Heuliez works a lot on these brands in small buses, and Mercedes and Iveco have chassis that match. Plus, it's typical for conversions with these brands to have the front axle very recessed into the body.

For the posts, contact Heuliez's homologation service directly by phone (search their website online and you'll find their contact details). Only they can reassure you on this point because DRIRE will send you back to them.

Good evening to all

PATRICK26

Hey Kaxero,

I saw the photo of the bus you'd like to buy. Patrick already gave a really good answer.

I just want to tell you that you'd need to look into what this bus was actually designed for. I mean, there's a real difference between a coach and a bus—a bus is designed only for city routes (some are even speed-limited to 50km/h, and have automatic transmissions). Whereas a coach, which is designed to carry only seated passengers, is speed-limited to 100km/h and is built for real highway driving. Obviously, the speed limits I'm giving are for France, and it's very easy to remove the speed limiter anyway! But you really need to know what kind of use you want to make of it and how long you'd like it to last. You'd need to get the engine specs—power and at what RPM, engine torque (Nm), and of course displacement. It's also good to know if it has a decent turning radius, especially if it's long, plus a good wheelbase! But obviously, you can't have it all, and you'd need to win the lottery to get the "perfect bus that does everything"!

Let me give you an example with the small coach that Tibo and I will be getting very soon (Yeah! Here we are, it's ready (new tires and just passed technical inspection) it's just waiting for us at the garage's lot). Anyway! It's a Mercedes 613D, weighing 6.9T GVWR. It has a 6-cylinder engine with 130 hp, and it barely has 80,000 km on it. And engines like this easily last for very high mileage if you maintain them properly!

These days, a lot of small coaches are built on a van chassis with a van engine (Sprinter, Master, ...). They only have 4 or 5 cylinders and are much less "robust" than what they used to make 20 years ago! So will they last over 999,999 km like real heavy-duty engines? I don't think so.

In any case, I hope you find what you're looking for. We're thrilled about the idea of soon having the small bus at home. Actually, we were waiting for the mechanic selling it to pass the small bus through technical inspection, and we thought we'd have to wait at least 3 weeks, maybe even a month, to get an appointment. But he got an appointment through a cancellation—meaning as soon as someone cancels, the inspection office calls him to bring the bus in. He registered on Monday and Tuesday the inspection office was already calling him!!! How cool is that! For people who are in a hurry, that can be really useful.

There you go, good luck to you!

And hi to everyone, Mélaine and Tibo

So with this mini-bus, do you have to get it officially registered because you've fitted it out inside, or to reclassify it as a light vehicle so you can drive it with a standard license? You must have had to modify the engine. I heard it was difficult to do