Converting a heavy-duty bus/coach/truck into a motorhome (page 45 of 161)

WEEKEND OF SEPTEMBER 16-17 IN THE DRÔME

Participants will meet at the following address:

« CAMPING A LA FERME - LES ROSIERS » 26120 CHABEUIL Phone: 04 75 59 06 71 (mention that it's for the converted bus meetup). No need to book—I've already arranged everything with them.

You'll receive a warm, special welcome in this beautiful green, shaded space at the foot of the Vercors cliffs.

Arrivals are flexible, from Friday evening (Sept 15) through Saturday noon (Sept 16). Saturday's midday meal will be communal-style! (Shared table where you can either bring food for your group or eat what we have—it's all pooled together. So think about bringing regional specialties!)

I'm currently negotiating with GABY CHARIOTS (a bus dealer 15 minutes from the venue) to get exclusive access to their fleet of used vehicles (around 40), with one of their mechanics on hand. This will give you a chance to see firsthand the different vehicles available on the market and their potential for conversion. The visit is optional, and there's no obligation to buy!!!!(just kidding!)

I'm also trying to arrange a visit to BIERON, which is 40 minutes from the venue and is Europe's biggest bus salvage yard! I'm less confident I'll get a yes on that one!

These visits would happen Saturday afternoon.

Saturday evening: GIANT BARBECUE!

Everyone gathers around the grill to chat about the day, share your projects, etc.

The evening will continue on this theme (bring your questions and your files—paper or digital) (if anyone has a projector, let me know)

Sector professionals will be there (still waiting for confirmations...) including: a carpenter specializing in custom conversions from Polycomposit in Valence (custom motorhome modules) who can share tips, tricks, and hands-on advice. a bus and coach dealer (a surprise awaits you! keep an open mind!). He's not coming to sell, but can give you insights by model, type, etc. and offer tips for anyone hunting for the perfect vehicle. a welder specializing in sheet metal work on heavy vehicles who can advise those who want to customize their windows, cut openings, etc. I'm on the fence about inviting my DRIRE contact... (what do you think?) 34 years old, young and friendly... but an engineer at the DRIRE.

THE GIANT BARBECUE COST WILL BE SHARED AMONG PARTICIPANTS, EXCLUDING THE SPEAKERS WHO WILL OF COURSE BE OUR GUESTS.

Sunday will be low-key. A picnic on the Vercors plateau could be arranged (15 km from the venue), or just a walk in the afternoon. (We can sort out the details on site Saturday or Sunday morning).

If all goes as planned, we'll have over 15 adults as of now, plus some kids.

Those traveling from far away will be driving about 700 km! Some Swiss guests will be joining us (unless there are last-minute cancellations), with a converted bus!

Some are coming by train, others by motorcycle, others by car, etc. Mobile homes and caravans can be rented on-site for the weekend. If that's your plan, let me know. I'm handling the coordination! Please don't bother the campground owners too much—they're kindly letting us use their lovely space and facilities.

PATRICK26

Thanks Patrick, great organization... Have you seen this on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.fr/tres-beau-bus-saviem-s-45gt-de-1977-amenage-loisirs_W0QQitemZ290023894290QQihZ019QQcategoryZ79058QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem What do you think of it? See you in two weeks...

and also that one:?????????????????????????????????? Setra motorhome with new V8 Mercedes engine (32,000 km - warranty on invoices)Certified for 9 passengers in 1999, inspected at 75,000 km in 2003solar panels, automatic satellite antenna, microwave, current converter, awning, potable water 400L, fridge + AES 186L freezer etc.. trailer hitch + lockable storage, pneumatic suspension, Telma etc.... if you want more photos or information, please contact us Select a photo

Another one... for sale: Renault PR14 bus, 12 meters Year 1981 260,500 km 220 hp VASP-certified + Inspection valid until April 2007

Excellent mechanics (documentation available)

Fully equipped (kitchen, bathroom, 200 liters of fresh water, multiple sleeping berths, etc.)

* * Price negotiable

Available in September Rennes region in Brittany.

Feel free to call for more information

Phone: 0662 196794

Here are some photos: (Some were taken while the interior work was still being completed)

About the white S45: it doesn't meet standards 🤪 it has a van registration with a non-compliant tachograph it has a wood stove inside I wish the owner well if things go wrong... 🏴‍☠️

Hi everyone.

Lately we've been seeing buses or bus conversions where not a single one is registered as a VASP-MOTORHOME (or MOTORHOME).

I'm saying this, and this is just my opinion, but what a crazy idea!!!

Why take the risk of doing a complete conversion without following the regulations? As our excellent GX 47 rightly said, if something goes wrong, I wish the owner well.

Imagine an accident in a tunnel, for example. If the vehicle is insured and classified as a truck but used as a motorhome, I doubt the insurer will cover you for liability—or worse, they might even sue you for insurance fraud.

These regulations, which are really just common sense, as tedious as they may seem, are there only to protect us:

Gas compliance—simplified: you just need the right regulator and a sealed system. Besides, you're going to seal the system anyway—if you don't, the gas will leak and, more importantly, you could blow yourself up. Both types of regulators cost about the same. So once it's done, why not get it certified by VERITAS???

Interior fitment compliance—so you don't hurt yourself moving around inside, so nothing opens or falls unexpectedly, and so you're not trapped in case of emergency (accident, fire, etc.).

Electrical compliance—to avoid voltage drops and prevent fires from circuit overloads or short circuits. Besides, who would wire a circuit without protection anyway??

Since all these regulations are just common sense, why not plan the conversion from the start to follow the rules? You just need electrical protection, adequate ventilation, minimum passageway dimensions, stops with standard radii, and a sealed gas system—which you'd do anyway. It's not harder, it's safer, and at least it's legal.

Sure, I'm simplifying a bit, but I bought the regulations manual and there's nothing really complicated in there.

Even if it makes me sound like a rule-obsessed cop, it's worth thinking about.

Cheers. Gasmobil.

Well said 😛!

😊well especially: "the magnificent GX47"! okay I bolded and underlined it just in case anyone missed it😄

And now we're talking, I believe it, because of your nonsense my head just expanded 10 hat sizes😄 Lucky I just busted through my office wall, so now I can get out through the double doors, otherwise I'd be stuck at the temples because of you😄😄

but no, but no you're not some dummy cop😮 well I don't know I'm not in Marseille to check😄, might turn out to be true😏 ...

oh crap I had a traffic ticket to squash! now it's all messed up I'm gonna have to avoid the Marseille suburbs for a bit😄.

Good evening and well done! It's certainly clear that safety comes before everything, for yourself, for your children and for others. I was a firefighter for 1 year in Paris, 15 years in the provinces, and I've seen so many people cry over irreparable things, so I can only agree with gasmobil. Personally, I preferred to postpone the project and do it right. Since it's for my retirement, I'd rather enjoy it for as long as possible. Catch you later and see you on the 16/17!

Damn, 2 YEARS......

2 years I've been harping on about the same thing, felt at times like I was shouting into the void, and now, ..... what a joy!

Three of them, all three at it!

Just voicing the obvious, really..... but what an obvious thing!

Anyway, I'm taking this as support on this forum, and it feels good to see projects committing properly (that is, with real thought and taking their time).

PATRICK26

AND THEN, BECAUSE NO ONE THOUGHT OF IT......

HAPPY BIRTHDAY.... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

and yes, look at the date:

2 years today since I created this discussion thread.....

119,287 views and 918 posts on 39 pages!

(if I'd known, I would've charged! 😉)

one more reason to celebrate in 15 days!

for those who got the summary—please forward it on; for those who want to receive it—speak up!

and here's to VoyageForum, and here's to buses converted into motorhomes!

PATRICK26

Happy birthday, and get the champagne ready. 😛

Quick reminder for those interested in the weekend of the 16th/17th:

Be sure to check your private messages on VoyageForum!

I've posted some info there. For anyone else interested who hasn't reached out yet, feel free to do so!

PATRICK26

😉happy biiiiirthday..........it's a shame we can't play music.

Originally the 16th/17th was meant to launch on the thirtieth page, but there'll be 50 by the 16th! Yeah yeah, 50 so 2 x more Champ.😄 (2 years + 50 pages)

So you're gonna set aside 2 glasses for me, huh?🤪

OK so since we're on SAFETY: I'm going to give a little reminder about gas bottles

Definitely check when you buy a VASP Motorhome -3.5t, or Motor-Home +3.5t or caravan body +3.5t (I'm adding this because it's my category😉)

First, HERE'S the STANDARD:

excerpt from the Afnor guide "Motorhome installation guide" prEN1949 page 109

5.7 the gas bottle compartment must be designed so that: a) the bottles can be firmly secured in vertical position, with the tap in the high position for use exclusively in gas phase and to prevent unexpected movement during journeys. For this, safety fastening devices at high and low levels must be used; A recess of sufficient depth to prevent the bottle from sliding, combined with a strap at the top, is considered to meet the standard.

There you go!😠

Bungee cords aren't good either, plus they always snap in your face after a while🏴‍☠️

and I'll just add a comment: horizontal bottles, you only see that in drag racing and custom builds, and it's usually nitrous if you find that in a bus, check that it has a wing and a brake parachute😄

More seriously, just for info from a retired plumber, his grandmother (92-and-a-half, no less) former gas seller, his wife who sells gas at a station, and his buddy and friend plumber-heating engineer: yeah yeah, adding references affirms and backs up what's coming😛 and it always impresses😏

THIS message is for everyone who hasn't followed the discussions from the start so they don't already have the answer and who might be tempted today to try laying gas bottles horizontally during use (even at home):

Know this: This setup is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!!! 🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️ and forbidden😠 why???😮 EXPLANATION: if you use a horizontal bottle, the gas which is always at the top pushes the liquid into the pipes instead of the gas intended, and there's a huge risk that liquid gas gets to the burners, where it will expand back to gas form as soon as the tap opens and it contacts air, which will result in a flame 1 to 1.5 meters high 🏴‍☠️!!!

don't try that as a prank on your mother-in-law, it could also go BOOM! and then divorce! and prison! if you really want to divorce, send me a message I have plenty of other less dangerous suggestions. if it's prison that appeals to you (each to their own taste) ask Gazmobile instead, he'd know more than me 😏

yeah I know I've already been told that and I've also seen there was a photo circulating on the subject that could make you think otherwise but it's a handling error, and the author apologizes for it, they can't change it anymore, and if it hasn't been removed or transformed yet (I'm working on it, I'm working on it, but the magic formula isn't quite ready😏) don't pay attention to it (to the photo not the apologies😏)

There we go GX47

AND YET, BECAUSE NO ONE THOUGHT OF IT......

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY.... HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

and yes, look at the date:

2 years today since I created this discussion topic.....

PATRICK26

Patrick, to celebrate this event, click on the smiley below and turn up the sound:

PS for GX47: you see, we can make some music 😉

🙂 THANKS Christian06, this is so cool, we really needed this! Plus, this version is great😉

Hey GX47! I see you're online... So I wanted to ask you a question about anti-ramming bars for post-'83 CAR vehicles. If that's a problem, how can we work around it? Find a DRIRE that doesn't raise this issue??? Thanks in advance

I had to address the topic of installing a hydraulic lift gate at the rear of a bus.....

Can you explain your issue a bit more precisely?

The problem is quite complex...

PATRICK26

hi patrick...........

actually, according to what was said in one of 'fanan' from Lodève's posts (registered for the 16/17 weekend), all coaches built after '83 converted to heavy-duty vehicles had to imperatively have anti-crash bars. These are the words of agents from every DRIRE office without exception that he would have consulted around his region.

Especially when they wanted to talk about bumpers? Does that also concern "motor homes"??

Plus, with a clear head... it seems to me that about a dozen months ago when I went to get the forms at the DRIRE, the lady who apparently understood nothing, told me about the side door and mandatory bumpers!

The driver-side door, we don't care about it, but damn..... these anti-something bars, what a pain!!!

I'm gonna call them and check with them, and if you or anyone else has any info or heard anything about this, it'd be great if you could keep me posted hoping for no bad news!!!

chat soon patrick thanks

p.s. hi everyone, especially gasmobil and nahochant...........

OK!

That's what I thought!

You're reacting out of professional habit! (heavy vehicles).

Simple bumpers aren't enough on heavy vehicles, and modifications to TRUCKS aren't exempt from side or rear anti-underride bars, even if there are under-chassis storage doors!

This doesn't apply to buses and coaches in their design.

To break it down:

You take a bus: the lower beam of the storage compartments acts as an anti-underride bar.

You modify a truck and make under-chassis storage: your storage needs a system of reinforcement bars placed at the right height to act as an anti-underride bar. Same at the rear.

So be careful in your projects regarding any ideas for storage modifications!

PATRICK26

Pffffffff.... phew..... thanks Patrick!!! That's what I thought, I'm taking notes. The door's fixed. The anti-sinking bars too. Patrick and all of you had given me tons of info on your posts (thanks again!), not counting the weekend of the 16th/17th. I just need to set up storage space in front of my place for my BABY. And then I'm heading to pick up my B10, and then........ ouch ouch ouch mamma mia!!!!!!!!!! Oh well if my wife asks for a divorce, but I'll sleep in it even before the work's done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!