Converting a heavy-duty bus/coach/truck into a motorhome (page 40 of 161)

Hi!

I'm back – it's finally happening! I'm going to be able to buy my bus. Now I just need to find it... I'd like to get an S53 but I absolutely have no idea who to ask. Online ads are hard to find. Where should I look? Thanks for your replies.

Hi,

For Patrick26—is that your motorhome we're seeing there? It's the one from Patrick in the 26 at B-les-V.

If so, congrats!

But I only see one seat, the driver's one.... Does that mean the authorities accept the rear benches as sleeping spaces?

Thanks for your responsiveness.

YES, IT'S MINE!

but the photo is photoshopped....

This photo was taken in the Bacqueyrisses parking lot near Bordeaux. And the two buses are identical in the photo! (they were parked right next to each other! both are yellow and brown, the same!).

To get an idea of what it would look like when finished, we tinkered with it in Photoshop. My ex-partner especially—he went to the European Institute of Design! (a wizard with Illustrator, Photoshop, and... AutoCAD because he studied mechanical engineering before design - all those school years had to count for something!)

Today it's blue and gray—that's my avatar that CUNNI posted large in a comment higher up.

Pretty convincing fake, huh?

Even the sun reflection is in there!

For the seats, they're all in that photo... because the bus hadn't been bought yet.

Alright, let's get into the seats.....

It's the registration date that makes the difference!

The toughest one is buses after 2000: seats with seatbelts that have passed a crash test! That's it, for them, that's all that's allowed.

For buses before '95 (if I'm getting this wrong, correct me, you folks who know!), your seats have to be designed for use in a passenger transport vehicle. Their fixings must meet the rules related to the model (bolted into the rails under the floor provided for this, in my case), and that's it!

Forward-facing, backward-facing, no seatbelt—almost anything goes!

Then there are the benches; 1-Facing forward, not allowed! 2-Facing backward with a system preventing whiplash, allowed as long as the seat is 40 x 45 cm (I forget which dimension is which!) 3-Lengthwise (back to the window, for example), in sections of 2 consecutive seats, separated by an armrest (one armrest per 2 seats).

For mine as an example:

A U-shaped lounge in the back with 5 seats (certified as bus seating with foot spacing in the right dimension to bolt into the rails under the chassis) will go behind the driver, back against the bodywork. That gives me 1 forward-facing seat, 1 backward-facing seat, and 3 lengthwise seats separated by individual folding armrests. With a table that folds down, it makes a 112x190 cm bed. Facing it, I've got 2 heavy-truck seats suspended from armrests with rotating platforms so they can face either way, separated by a game table. All the seats will be upholstered in the same M1-rated fabric (required!).

For the U-shaped bench, it's natural that the spacing works out, because it's the same seat manufacturer as my original seats.

All together it gives me 7 seats plus the driver, and a super comfortable lounge! All approved by the authorities.

There you have it....

PATRICK26

Hi,

Indeed, that's well done.

When I said I only saw one seat, I was referring to your sketch.

Is that the one you went with?

Can you point me toward a supplier for those two benches of yours that fit on an S53 with an armrest between the two spaces?

Thank you in advance, and if you don't mind, I'd love to give you a call, and maybe even stop by to see your work so I can make things easier when I start mine.

Thank you so much.

Hello everyone, my name is Germain, I'm 31 years old. I'm a body shop painter with a passion for motorcycles in Northern France.

For a long time I've been thinking about buying a bus to convert into a motorhome workshop. Recently I saw a couple on a TV show traveling across France in a converted bus and I thought, "well, it's possible!" Then I found this site. I have to admit I haven't read all 34 pages yet—I've just skimmed through—but I've already seen some fascinating things.

However, I'm still thinking it through and I'd really need pictures of interiors, work in progress, etc.

So if you have a bit of time to help me out, I'm leaving my email and MSN. Thanks in advance!

bye!

gerominobike@hotmail.fr harle.germain@neuf.fr

By the way, if you know of any personal websites or anything like that...

For the benches, those in this design would've been custom-built.

The plans have shifted quite a bit, and they're now in several pieces for better precision...

The 45 cm passage is maintained in driving position for the rotating seats and with the dinette table pushed in (it'll be on sliders)

PATRICK26

Hi there,

Sorry Patrick. In the following sentence, if I put two benches facing each other, with a 45cm gap, and these benches are designed for TWO people, do I have to put an armrest?

3-longitudinal (back against the window, for example), per length of 2 consecutive seats, separated by an armrest (one armrest every 2 seats).

I know I seem a bit slow to understand, but I like to be certain and not mess things up.

Okay, I promise I won't bother you anymore tonight, but that's your fault—you're way too good at explaining. 😉

Alright, have a good evening. (see you tomorrow )

And no, you don't need that! A separating armrest every 2 lengthwise seats...

PATRICK26

I visited a friend today who converted an old S53 – it's awesome! But after chatting with him and checking out the vehicle, there's no driver's side door, yet it still passed inspection.

He also had to install just one row of seats behind the driver because the front door is classified as a standard door and therefore can only have one row with seatbelts.

He offered to let me borrow it while I wait to get my own.

He also mentioned that since he has a lattice-frame chassis, he can't tow a trailer. Here's his website for anyone who wants to see a yellow and red S53: http://team6avenue.dataflot.com/le_team/le-camion-atelier.htm

Soon our team will have a bus too in our colors.

I'm currently working on all the installation diagrams, electrical wiring schematics (220V and 24V), and gas system – I'll post them on the forum to get your feedback.

By the way, are there as many 24V accessories available as there are 12V ones? I'm having trouble finding 24V equipment for standard motorhome setups.

Not a bad idea about the police thing...

but for me, going through VASP NSPC is easier, partly because the place I park at isn't mine, plus I move around a lot for building work, so it's better having the setup with me. And my gas work will be done last (I'll never drive with a connected gas installation...) but there's no risk of explosion - worst case I "transport" a gas bottle, like when you buy one in a car...

I don't think it should cause any problems... true, I'm no longer compliant with the CT, but with VASP NSPC I would be: a few rows of seats, 9 of them (including the driver) marked "road", and storage space for possible exhibitions, for my association for example. The thing is, it's allowed to drive on Sundays and no mandatory disk (only the chrono function during RTI is required, then CT every year...) and it could be the bus's final purpose. If I outfit it, worst case I remove "non-road" seats which doesn't change the number of places, then I do my partitions one by one, my insulation, etc. The tricky part is going from VASP NSPC to VASP homecar after having it as NSPC, which according to the DRIRE guy is doable.

Otherwise for a buddy mechanic I don't know anyone, and a W costs money, then the guy's hours...etc... and finally, well I pay 500 euros for insurance, with exclusive private use without transport of persons (except family or close friends, that's 9 places I think, or a convoy driver, but it's a pretty handy setup)

Alright, it's coming along.

Based on the vehicle registration, 384 on it. Over 20 years old, so I'm assuming we can count it as a classic vehicle. I think the registration is free (or am I wrong?).

For the electrical schematic, good thinking. For the 24V accessories, not ideal. I'm planning to install a voltage reducer 24V -> 12V for the entire rear section, but I'll need to calculate the power requirements first.

Catch you later

Why bother switching to 12V?

Keep 24V and instead install a 24>220V converter to run standard household appliances!

As an example, here's my plan.

Great idea,

Thanks for the diagram, but would you have a BMP or JPEG in higher resolution? I can't read the details.

Thank you.

Patrick du Gard.

Give me your personal email in a private message and I'll send it to you as a PDF.

PATRICK26

Done, thanks.

Hello everyone, I'm Mathieu, 20 years old, living near Saint-Étienne. I just finished my carpentry studies and I'm unemployed at the moment!!

Anyway, I've had a 1976 VW Combi for the last four months in very good condition, which I'm taking to Barcelona for the weekend as I mentioned in another post.

Lately I've fallen in love with traveling and the idea of not having a specific place to live.

There are several reasons, actually one in particular that made me want to leave....😕

Even if it's still far off, I'm planning to start putting money aside so that in 4 or 5 years I can be on the road. But anyway, even though I've read the first messages of this thread several times, I can't find the right one, the coach!! There are plenty of nice ones like the Setra 210 or the Vanhool models, or even the FR1. But I'm looking for a coach where I can really make myself a "living room", a bedroom, a kitchen, a "bathroom"!!!! lol. Not knowing much about mechanics, I need something reliable and sturdy!! I had thought about a two-story coach but I don't think it's that great in the end.

So anyway, I'm not really sure. I think I'll have 10,000 to 12,000 euros for the purchase and conversion. For a coach that can take me from Madrid to Tokyo. Yes, just so you know, it's not for vacations or business trips but to live there every day.

So I'm counting on you for more info.... Thanks in advance.🙂

Adding to the seating discussion: Well, I'm not contradicting anything already mentioned, guys—I'm just adding to this administrative absurdity😐

PRE-1995 for school transport, buses, and military (but that's standard, 7% peacetime loss was authorized😏🤪)

Forward-facing benches were allowed to convert from 2 adult seats to 3 child seats: my GX, like all GXs assigned to school pickup, has registration documentation (mine had) 36 adults for the GX47 and 37 for the GX37, but listed on the PURPLE REGISTRATION CARD total capacity (seated + standing) is 36, and below it CHILDREN'S PUBLIC TRANSPORT: driver 1, children seated excluding jump seats 51 with specification in parentheses 3 (per seat), possible attendant 1, and total (seated + standing) 53 capacity

The interior of mine when I first got it:

Not bad, eh? Well, mine was used to pick up kids from 3 villages to serve 1 kindergarten and primary school (max age 12).

Anyway, when I converted mine for camping, I flipped 2 benches to face away from the road. Since I was required to keep the original seats in their original positions, I ended up with 2 benches facing away from the road without headrests—important for whiplash protection—but there weren't clear specs on this point for caravan bodywork over 3.5T (my category), now classified as Motor-Home. Note that this applies too if a loaded 40T semi-trailer hits me from behind, but I'm at 6.5 to 7T max on the road, so the whiplash risk is real either way🏴‍☠️(that's also why I'm considering replacing the seats)

yes I confirm (as a former electrician by trade) do the interior in 24V you'll also have 12V if needed (the 24V being supplied by 2 12V batteries), I put 12V in mine because, as I said at the beginning, it was designed for my job with just the bare minimum setup required for 3 years before a more serious rework - and I used equipment meant to be swapped out and reused for the Master or C25 (in 12V) plus, at accessory shops you can find 24V for everything - often even more expensive when ordering (but that'll change with the motorhome boom) - but the advantage is greater power and consumption cut in half 😎

GX47

For registration, it's simple: if it's over 10 years old, the price per horsepower is divided by 2. If it's heavy-duty, the price per horsepower is divided by 2 again, but there's a parafiscal tax (usually around 270 euros I think).

For example: for my S53 with 19 horsepower from 1984 in Moselle: 8*19 + 270 = 422 euros.

P.S.: oops, I'm wrong: very very good news:

http://www.moselle.pref.gouv.fr/demarches_administratives/d_a_circ_carte_grise_1.htm

(*) V.T.S.U. and V.A.S.P: exemption from the parafiscal tax

so for my bus I pay 152 dollars for registration, oh wow, I'm so happy

I’ve got a few interesting links—can I post them?

by!