Converting a heavy-duty bus/coach/truck into a motorhome (page 5 of 161)

Hi Patrick,

I mention Africa because most Europeans first head to Africa. And I especially designed my vehicle for that destination. If I had to go to North America and didn't have different regulations to deal with, I would have chosen an American campervan at the same price without hesitation. But it's true that getting approval in France is not straightforward. But not impossible.

As for gas, the other problem is cost. A 26-liter gas tank costs the price of 10 bottles plus deposits. I don't see the point. But that's a personal choice.

As for tanks, I think it's already difficult to find fairly clean water in many parts of the world. So dealing with the oxidation problem on top of that, especially on equipment you want to keep nice, doesn't make sense to me. I paid 25 to 60 euros each for my new tanks. That's not going to be the issue. Plus their shape makes them easier to fit than a diesel tank. They're rectangular, you drill the outlets wherever you want and so on.

Plus it's illegal to have water tanks of more than 100 liters (125 with an exemption), otherwise the tank must have separate internal compartments of less than 100 liters each. So you need to modify all the tanks unless you go with smaller ones.

But for me the main problem remains interior oxidation. For the fixed equipment, you're right, except I have a non-fixed generator and I wasn't going to change it for customs. The tax—we'll see.

Good luck with your work

Jean Claude

🙂 Hi Magalie and Franck!

Tibo and I (Mélaine) are happy to welcome you to this Forum that François did a great job creating!!!

We also bought a Mercedes 613D mini-coach two weeks ago, a great deal at 6T9 GVWR (I have a Class D license). It belonged to the town hall and was used for school routes. The fact is that since the town didn't have an in-house mechanic, all maintenance and repairs were done at Mercedes-Benz; we have all the maintenance records from the first technical inspection and first oil change right up to the last wiper blade changed!!! And the "little" bonus: 2 years ago Mercedes changed everything: engine, clutch, gearbox, steering, brakes, new rear tires; the town spent just under 100,000 francs on it!... In short, the chassis has 300,000 km and the engine 80,000 km! I'm a mechanics enthusiast and I never would have thought I'd find such an old coach (23 years old) in such good mechanical and bodywork condition. To give you an idea: it's 7 meters long by 2.45m wide, and it has a 6-cylinder 130 hp engine, with a very interesting payload: 4T4 and 6T9 GVWR.

So, with Tibo, we already have quite a few ideas and information to convert it into a campervan. Regarding the messages from Patrick and Jean-Claude above, we want to build a campervan that's "road-worthy", we prefer to take our time but have something that's well and properly done. We're private individuals and our own finances will dictate the pace of the conversion, but we hope to have done the bulk of the essential work over the next 6 months.

In any case, as far as you're concerned, I recommend (as everyone here will tell you) getting the "Campervan Conversion Guide" from AFNOR:

AFNOR 11, avenue Francis de Pressencé 93571 Saint Denis La Plaine Cedex Tel:01.41.62.80.00 Fax:01.49.17.90.00

Next, a nice thing that gives plenty of ideas when you really don't know anything about campervans is "The Solutions Guide" from Narbonne Accessories (#1 for campervan and caravan accessories in France). I came across it by chance at the Super U bookstore, just to say you'll find it easily, and you probably have a store nearby. The guide is basically a catalog of everything you need in a campervan from A to Z, covering everything from insulation to electrics to water...etc, and plus they explain roughly how to install all of this. But of course you can't do everything with just this catalog, and that's exactly why a forum like this is essential to our projects.

How's your 308D? What tonnage? The engine? What do you want to have inside?

It's been 2 weeks we've had our mini-coach and we've already started:

1st step: we removed 10 two-seater benches and kept only 4 benches (which makes 10 seats with the driver and escort seat so it stays in the car category, otherwise with fewer seats it would become a heavy vehicle and would require a Class C license). Then we started removing the trim—that is the carpet, the side panels in fine plywood and the fiberglass. We're going to go through the entire bodywork with a fine-tooth comb and if needed sand and apply rust inhibitor, and we'll definitely need to!

For now the big question is the windows: the coach is completely glazed, it has 3 coach windows on each side. At first we thought about replacing some with panels but given the messages above we won't be able to do it ourselves if it requires stretching the panel at 3 tons of pressure!!! So we'll probably film them and cover them from the inside.

What a pleasure we'll all have driving around with our vehicles finally ready, but all in good time! Best of luck to everyone!

Tibo and Mélaine

Hey, don't take everything Patrick26 says at face value... on many points, his opinions are either exaggerated or inaccurate. For the metal sheets, nothing stops you from riveting them and sealing the joints with a caulking gun! Plus, welding the sheets directly to the frame creates the problem of metal on the other side of the weld that will rust... I'm reminding you that I converted my S53 to VASP without any issues in 2003 without a driver's door. (see previous posts)

Hi everyone,

About that door, I need to be clear. If anyone thinks I'm exaggerating, go visit any vehicle registration office in France!

Seems like back in 1930 seatbelts weren't mandatory either... But regulations evolve, and between 2003 when SPUTNIK got his homologated and today, his bus wouldn't pass certification without a door!

You need to be aware of this.

Let Remy and the VanHool managers rejected in Grenoble, and the other disappointed folks, share on this forum the problems they've run into and the rejections at registration for their vehicles because of that blasted door! (Remy is selling his bus and looking for one with a door, and for the VanHool it's worse—the bus is done, and it's impossible to cut a door because of the power steering linkage, and VanHool refuses to give them the builder authorization to relocate it!)

Go ahead and try... and keep me posted. I'll buy a nice bottle of champagne for whoever manages to pass registration without a driver's door on a motorhome homologation on a heavy chassis, as of today.

As for sheet metal, double-sided tape could work too! Or Velcro...

As for welds that rust, you've gotta do things properly!

After the bodywork, the bus will be primed and repainted inside and out by the book—I don't see where the sheet metal would rust! I'm not going to drive around with bare metal!

And if you think my advice is over the top or inaccurate, don't follow it!

I haven't listed all the private messages, direct emails to my personal inbox, or phone calls from folks (maybe embarrassed to speak up on this forum!) who contacted me asking if I had solutions for this or that registration problem, how to work around builder authorizations because they couldn't get them, or who had their vehicles rejected! etc...

All the info I'm giving that references my file has ALL been validated by Heuliez's homologation department (who approved every modification I requested) and by the Lyon regional registration office (who knows my file perfectly and gave me a preliminary acceptance agreement—just like what manufacturers get, including for truck tanks, cargo ramps, etc...)

I created this discussion space to gather information. My project being complete and having spent more time answering questions than asking them, I'm leaving you all to it and going to focus on my bus!

Good evening to all, and for those who want to reach me, please do so directly by private message or at my contact info. patrick@geyserconcept.com

TUT...TUT....TUT....TUT....

PATRICK26

Hey everyone!!!

I just wanted to point out that I converted my S53 to VASP in Charente Maritime back in 2004 without a driver's cab, and my sheet metal panels are riveted and sealed with adhesive! And you won't believe it: It HOLDS!!!!

Just to say that not everyone has a 40,000 euro budget, but it's possible to create a beautiful home in your own style and within regulations for less than that!!!!

And let's hope it lasts!

Safe travels and long roads to everyone!!!

Xavier.

Daimler Benz OM 407 H combustion engine 4-stroke / 6-cylinder 11,417 ? Compression 18 Max power 177 kW Max torque 80.9 MDAM Admitted power 31 hp

What can you tell me about it?

Apparently, you don't know much about it... 😉 Anyway, it doesn't have a driver's door, so... Thanks anyway... 🙂

Hey everyone

Does your minicar have a driver's door...? Have you looked into that? Apparently the regulations say different things from region to region... After seeing some people's setbacks, I'm trying to research as carefully as possible before buying my bus... but I can't find what I'm looking for... Maybe I should focus on smaller coaches instead—they usually have a driver's door... 😕 Best of luck to you all!

Hey everyone.

I'm going to get my heavy-duty vehicle license soon and I'd like some information before buying the vehicle I'll be using as my home: What are the minimum requirements to convert a heavy-duty vehicle into a motorhome (interior setup...)? How do I get a historic vehicle registration and under what conditions? What are the difficulties in getting a heavy-duty vehicle imported from Germany approved (whether it's already registered as a camper in Germany or as a heavy-duty vehicle)?

Thanks for the info! 😛

Hi Khao,

Our mini-motorhome has a manual driver's door, an air-operated passenger door (like on buses), and double doors across the entire rear.

Our mini-motorhome is 7m long and 2.45m wide—that's already a respectable size for a motorhome.

Empty weight is 4.4T and 6.9T GVWR. We still have 2.5T of payload capacity. That's awesome.

The advice we can give you is to go to the Heavy Vehicles department of the DRIRE where you're planning to get it registered, and ask them for a vehicle modification file—specifying that it's for building a motorhome.

The issue of doors and emergency exits is well explained in their documentation.

See you soon,

Tibo and Mélaine

Hello,

I stumbled upon this forum by accident. I've always been interested in motorhomes, but last night coming back from a friend's place, while driving through a park (in Montreal) I spotted a small school bus parked in a cul-de-sac and it was clearly inhabited (smoke, lights). I mention I'm in Montreal because it was 30°C that night and that changes the perspective a bit.

So I thought to myself, if this guy lives in Parc Lafontaine (for those who don't know, it's pretty much the most central park) even in winter (I've already seen him around the same spot in summer) it must surely be possible for me to live in a motorhome too.

In Quebec, regulations prohibit transporting schoolchildren in vehicles older than 10 years, so as a result, you can buy a 10-year-old bus for $1,000 to $2,000.

So I'm thinking more and more seriously about converting a school bus to live in. First, to stop paying $7k/year in rent and also to be able to travel with it.

I'll add (miscellaneous notes) that an acquaintance of mine just converted his VW (a Golf) to run on used cooking oil. It's greener and above all it costs nothing.

So, I wanted to get reactions from people who live year-round in their vehicles, to know if it's really doable and what are the potential problems, joys, pitfalls, etc.

Also, I was reading about your problems getting your modified motorhomes accepted by the authorities. I'm also a sailor and since I read a lot of boating magazines and forums, I notice the same problem (in France): overly strict authorities, sometimes excessive regulations, very costly, etc. Let's say North American freedom philosophy saves me from several of these worries, but I wanted to mention that several boaters have gotten around the problem by registering their boats elsewhere (especially in Belgium). So I wanted to throw out the idea, I don't know if it's possible or not.

Regarding gas, I refer you to an excellent nautical website that discusses the gas supply problem when traveling and the different solutions. This site is intended for sailors, but I think it applies here.

(www.banik.org, practical information section, article on gas while traveling)

Etienne

Etienne.mignault@laposte.net

Hey everyone

So after a lot of thinking and research, I'm finally gonna buy my bus

it'll be an S53 like lots of people here

as for the driver's door - the DRIR officer told me that all you need is an emergency exit that meets the dimensions in the standards, so a safety hammer should be enough!!

I'm also planning to modify the engine later to run on rapeseed oil, like I'm doing with my car....

anyway, I don't have the exact conversion plan yet but I've already got lots of ideas on that!

I'm thinking of buying my bus in the next few days.

I'm also planning to keep the first row of seats so I can get it homologated for 5-6 passengers without any problems

there we go I'll give you updates as soon as I have any news!!

Hey there,

I should also be getting mine in a few weeks—it's a Setra Kassbohrer 213 H coach with a driver's door... it has 980,000 km on the odometer... and it's in very good condition... it's got a center aisle, and I need to go back and check if the conversion I had planned is doable, because I can't redo the flooring—I'm too tall, otherwise it's all good... 😉

Regarding modifying the engine to run on rapeseed oil, can you tell me exactly what modifications are needed and what it costs??? for a petrol engine??? I'd like to start with a regular car and depending on how it goes, why not do the same on the coach... Thanks for your answer and best of luck

for modifications to run on oil: 1 diesel only (petrol cannot run on oil) 2 if the vehicle has a Bosch pump you can use 50% max without modifications, 30% max for rotary pump and HDI 3 avoid running on oil when it's too cold (it gels in the cold) 4 to run with more oil, see the modifications on the site http://www.roulemafleur.free.fr/

ps I own a Fiat Croma 2.5L TD Bosch pump currently I haven't made any modifications yet and I'm running at 50% on Lidl oil (€0.80/L) I'm waiting for next year to get some at €0.6/L from a farmer, I'm also planning to soon modify my car for dual-fuel (see Roule Ma Fleur)

that's all the info on my current vehicle while I wait for my bus😉

Hello everyone, I'm looking for answers about my S53. I'd like to know about the driver's door—whether it's necessary or if it depends on the conversion. I heard that if there's a 48cm passage running the entire length of the vehicle, you don't need one. Is that true? Is it possible to cut out a driver's door opening on the S53s? Thank you in advance for your answers raflou

Hi raflou

On my side, the guy at the director's office told me that all you need is an emergency exit with the dimensions they specify, and an emergency hammer would be sufficient.

Plus, the door needs to be at least 45cm wide and a minimum of 2500cm², so a standard RV access hatch could do the trick!

That's the info I've got on my side!!!

😉

HI EVERYONE!!!!

SINCE EVERYONE SEEMS SUPER BUSY WITH THEIR BUS, I'M TAKING THE LIBERTY TO WISH YOU A DAMN GOOD YEAR 2005!!!!!

AND MAY IT LAST!!!!! NEVER STOP THE FIGHT!!!!!

Xavier.

We see people finishing up their buses and finding time to wish everyone a happy new year...

Well, happy new year to everyone since I've got the time!

By the way Albator, you told me you got your bus registered as a heavy vehicle before getting VASP!!

I wanted to know what procedures are involved and if it's complicated? Especially since I don't have a bus license.

I'm going to Saintes on January 20th and 21st to look at a bus, but if I could get the heavy vehicle status first, it'd be way easier to bring it back and move it around even if it's not VASP yet!!

Hi there!! Benhurd of Modern Times....

To reclassify your TCP as a heavy vehicle, you just need to remove the seats and get down to fewer than eight seats so it's no longer classified as public transport. Good luck

Oh the joy of chewing gum stuck under the seats and dust bunnies that proliferate in every corner......

Let's remember the bus drivers from our youth who used to yell because of said chewing gum....HHHHHaaaa....😄

Tell me Behurd, are you going to Saintes to check out the place I recommended to you?

See you! ciao...

I'd like to resell my S53M. How much should I sell it for?

It's a 1979 with 500,000 km, hasn't been decommissioned, and I've just done the wood interior fitout.

I just bought a 1993 Mercedes 208d truck and I'd like to replace the front seats (1 driver seat + 1 two-seat bench) with 2 more comfortable ones. Does anyone know if there's a vehicle (car or van) that would have compatible seats with the same rail size, and of course at a reasonable price, secondhand? Thanks, fellow traveler. ced