Converting a heavy-duty bus/coach/truck into a motorhome (page 31 of 161)

well, that's done🏴‍☠️

I found info that confirms yours🙁🙁

thanks so much, I owe you 4500 (you'll give me your address for the check)🙂

if you know any good deals on campers or other scrap yards that often have old campers in the region, please let me know (because all I find is "recent and it's SUPER EXPENSIVE).

well, I'll leave you to the school transport thing, for me and a bus I'll figure it out later.😛 chewbaakaa@hotmail.com

and thanks again 😛

Hi, I've just arrived on this forum and there's already a lot of helpful information for my project.

I'd like to ask if anyone here can help me get a Mercedes LA 911 homologated in France.

I know it might be very difficult, but it's the only truck that appeals to me and meets my needs, unless someone has ideas about other trucks.

Once this one is homologated, I think it will be simpler to convert it and get it through the inspection. What do you think?

Thanks in advance, David xflymen@hotmail.com

The idea just occurred to me....

for articulated buses, there are 2 options: it's urban (so people standing inside) and GX47 is completely right, it's 50 km/h it's not urban, everyone has a seat and it's like all the coaches!

bieron has an extended coach with the same chassis as mine, and a 90 disc in the rear!

and then, you can drive it with ED or EC license once it's downgraded.

I'm attaching pictures of a Neoplan Jumbocruiser (the white one) and a Vanhool Astro-Mega Monster (the black one)

that gives ideas....

With Mercedes, it's a breeze!

You go to the dealership with your registration document, they make a photocopy and fax it to the French headquarters, homologation department, and you receive free copies of all the documents for the DRIRE!

And that's the same for the latest Mercedes model, just like for the old 507D!

They're not that great at Mercedes.... each day that passes makes me love my E220 CDI more and more.

PATRICK26

As for the bodywork parts (you'll need to tinker), it's still a Mercedes, and parts aren't a problem.

But watch the ceiling height if there's a corridor. Most Mercedes buses have low ceilings.

An address worth bookmarking for bus history: http://www.konrad-auwaerter.de and select omnibus database

And another for fun: http://www.wohnbus.ch/treffen/Wohnbus2005/BilderIsabelle/index.htm those are buses converted into campervans.

And that's it from me—share any more and you'd have all the answers!

PATRICK26

Thanks Patrick for all the info, but based on my first search on the 911s, it's not quite as straightforward because of a brake issue—there's apparently a brake system that's prohibited in France, and this type of truck is often equipped with that kind of brake. Have you heard about that?

Anyway, it's a 1982 truck—what would you recommend for the registration? Should I register it as a collector's vehicle, camper van, leave it as a heavy truck, or downgrade it if possible?

Thanks in advance—once I get the truck I'll post a photo on the forum.

See you soon David

Well, try an S53. I'm 25 and bought one after a year of thinking about it, for €1,500, and it passes inspection. For info, fuel consumption is 20 to 25L/100 (diesel gauge on the bus) whereas a 1999 motorhome mounted on a Ford Transit uses 14/15L.

Otherwise, the problem is "where to park it." I have a neighbor who lends me some land, but otherwise it seems fine to me...

Personal note: I don't even do the oil changes on my Twingo myself, but I trust the mechanics of this bus and it'll help me learn a bit. I've given myself a "time" budget ;-)

Collector's plate registration — avoid (do a search on the forum and you'll find all the detailed posts) — no travel outside your department, neighboring areas off-limits except for planned events announced in advance, and in a few years you'll need an MOT. Anyway, avoid it, because it's irreversible.

See you.

I might have found a coach with registration papers already marked as VASP, but I'm not happy with the interior. If I redo the conversion, do I need to go through homologation again?

Hey,

if you modify the layout plans then in theory yes.

if you're just doing cosmetic work, then no problem.

Hi, I read your message and you're right—it would be really useful to have some info on converting a heavy truck into a motorhome. I'm currently looking for a heavy-duty truck, like a DAF refrigerated truck (7m max), to convert into a camper. If there are things I should do and things to avoid, I'd really love to know more.

Thanks in advance 😉

I'm planning to convert a bus and was wondering if you could recommend a reputable converter who can do the job and get the necessary homologation. Thanks in advance and see you soon.

David

Hi, I called you a few days ago to ask you some questions about conversions. I'm writing because I'd really like you to explain the steps once the bus is bought—how to register it for HGV status and then do the conversion. I've searched online quite a bit, and I can't find many fully converted vehicles. If you know any that are completely fitted out, that would really interest me.

Hey, aren't you into a sound system? Because the folks I know, I'm part of Kataklysm in Nantes myself. Anyway, Patrick's bus isn't for sale as far as I know. Find yourself a bus and file a form with your town's prefecture for the reclassification. It's not impossible but there's still some work to do. See you at a 4/4 in tekos or at the festival. FANTOMATIK

There we go, it's happening!

I'll finally be able to dedicate myself fully to the interior renovation. Indeed, since last week I've been free as a bird until the end of September... I ditched my business!

The employees have been reassigned, the clients transferred to colleagues, and I'm starting an awesome new job in September (no more 60-hour weeks, no more headaches, no more managing staff, no more dealing with the tax office, etc...)

I'll finally have some time. The money's a bit less, but since my wife's car and mine are both less than a year old and paid off, and the house too, it'll work!

I found a campground with a technical area (like the ones at marinas) that'll charge me just 32 euros/month with water and electricity included (and I can make noise between 10am and 5pm Monday to Saturday).

So, to find me: Camping Merle in Chabeuil (26)! (during work hours! I've got a family and friends, you know!)

PATRICK26

So then, that equipment section you had set up at the back for your work isn't any use to you anymore? 🤪

Originally it was like mine - both professional and personal use, right?

You know, if you reinforce the floor you could always load your wife's car in there - that way if she gets on your nerves you just stick her in her car and open the cargo space😄😄😄

I was planning to put my Jeep in there. Heuliez's conversion team was OK with it if I reinforced the floor and went through a local body shop they recommended (or I could pick a different one), though they'd prefer I keep the original rear door since I've got a rare model. And that's what I'm gonna do - I'll add a hitch and buy myself a bigger trailer (the Jeep doesn't fit in my current van), or build one myself? Haven't decided yet - I'm really getting into DRIRE stuff. Right now I'm working on my advanced cabin qualification and it's too straightforward, but a custom dual-body trailer is starting to get their interest and I'm getting into it more too...😏

Have a good holiday (part-time) then😉 and let's see that interior as clean as the exterior🙂 GX47

Your bus must be an Interbus on a Renault or DAF chassis, or a genuine school bus which is even rarer!

I've got loads of documentation on these vehicles, including the original commercial docs and photos of the shell before the interior finishing (which really helped me plan the conversions).

If you're interested, I can pass them along. Just send me a private message with your email and I'll send the folder over.

As for the conversion, there won't be many changes. It's true I no longer need the storage area, and the rear opening will still give access to a large cargo hold. The idea of a tow-bar is increasingly tempting, especially since looking at the regulations, it's all very unclear... (another file where you have to dig around, but I've already got some contacts on it).

I'll keep you in the loop...

PATRICK26

🙂Hey, you're a night owl like me 😛, except I'm back in action by 8am now 😎 (because of the kids and school ) Right, enough jokes. My coach is a GX37 from Heuliez on a Renault E24N1 base, but with the Scolair'bus option mounted at the rear — no side door. So it has no rear boot or anywhere else for storage, and no 5-seater bench either, because you need access to the rear flip-open door to evacuate the kids. So that's 36 seats instead of 47. There are also two ejectable roof hatches to exit through the roof in case of capsizing in water, but I don't have the automatic floats or reinforced bumpers (mine's fiberglass). Heuliez called this model the GX47 to differentiate it from the standard models. I'd tried to post a photo of the rear but couldn't manage it, 😕 and not as an avatar either 😠. You're right that I should have asked 😐 The plans our mutual contact sent me match up with a GX37 — they didn't make any for the GX47, not enough demand. The Scolair'bus was a complete flop; only the prototype was made, no sales, too expensive. Anyway, I'll move this to PM for the address. GX47

Um, this morning I'm acting cool but I'm not fully awake anyway😕😊

You should read 36 seats instead of 37 (not 47) 😉😊 sorry also for the spelling mistakes😊 I didn't proofread GX47

Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum tonight, Over Christmas, I met some drivers who were getting a coach ready for the hillclimb races. This winter I sold my single-seater, my converted Transit, and I'm selling my car trailer. By luck, the military gave me my class C (truck) license back in '92. My dad, recently retired, was a heavy-vehicle mechanic. So naturally, I want a coach too to fit my new car inside (2m wide by 1m high). It'd be great advertising space. I'm planning to access it through the rear window with a ramp with special mechanics. First question: If my future vehicle has a max of 4 seats including the driver, the living area, the "car garage" — can you drive it with a class C license without an additional test? Second question for now: What's the story with the driver's door? Thanks for your help. See you soon, Pat