Converting a heavy-duty bus/coach/truck into a motorhome (page 64 of 161)

Hey jose6440 Do you have any photos of your bus? And what's the ceiling height? cyril0603

For a truck, the only problem is the body-to-cab connection. Do you want to make one? (if not, all passengers will have to travel in the cab)

If yes, does your cab have an RTI that allows it?

If yes, then you'll face the same problems as we do with our buses—the bellows and the access door (40 cm from the ground) to deal with!

PATRICK26

Hey everyone, or at least what's left of us

So if I'm getting this right:

* To get a bus classified as a heavy vehicle, you need to get approval from the manufacturer, right?

But then do you still have to submit it to the DRIRE anyway?

As for VASP, when do I need to apply to the DRIRE for a motorhome conversion from a bus - before the work or after I finish the work?

What about doing interior modifications like fit-outs and partitions, or exterior modifications like removing some windows and replacing them with welded sheet metal?

I read through the posts from 1 all the way to page 11, but after getting to page 11 I got lost. If someone could walk me through it step by step, that would be great.

Thanks - tomorrow I'm going to check out Gaby Chariots. I'm from Grenoble so it's not too far for me to see what buses they have available to convert into motorhomes and to ask for advice.

A+

Hi Patrick

I have a little signature idea for you:

IF YOU'RE GOING TO TRAVEL BY MOTORHOME, IT MAY AS WELL BE SPACIOUS! : http://motorhome.blogs-de-voyage.fr

you just copy and paste the 2 lines above into your profile and you get what's below : 😛

IF YOU'RE GOING TO TRAVEL BY MOTORHOME, IT MAY AS WELL BE SPACIOUS! : http://motorhome.blogs-de-voyage.fr

Reading through the 54 pages of this thread is tedious — there are sometimes contradictions and lots of redundant posts. I'd suggest taking notes as you go through it. The first 19 pages are outdated; the regulations have changed since then.

Good luck and welcome to the thread!

http://motorhome.blogs-de-voyage.fr/homologation/

Hi, thanks Cunni!

Great work on your bus, patrick26 😎 I just saw it on your site. But when it comes to the regulations for converting a bus into a motorhome, reading through them is pretty discouraging. 🏴‍☠️

Hey cyril0603 and everyone The interior height is 1.96 m in the hallway and 1.81 m on the sides after removing the luggage compartments

😉Thanks for the measurements What's your project for this beautiful bus (based on the photos)? It'd be great if you showed us the progress all the way through your project. Thanks, catch you later!

😉Hi, I saw the photos on your blog—really great! Your bus is pretty close to what I want to do. Your idea of doing a caravan-style conversion is cool, because I imagine all the salvaged material is approved for our motorhomes. Clever too, those Scenic seats with seatbelts. Is it too forward to ask what the total cost was? You can reply to me in PM!!😕😕

hi

tell me what you think - it has quite a lot of kilometers, 1,000,000 km. Engine brakes with retarder? Maximum total weight 22,950 kg, empty weight 15,350 kg, and the price is €7,774.

Is it a double-decker?

Heuuu well I'm gonna take your box of Temesta after all😐 It's for the neighbor—he's worried about me.🤪🤪🤪 (photo attached)

Do you sell this bus? If so, please contact me at my email address markimsa@voila.fr, or if you prefer, call me at 0689128942 this week after 7pm—the sooner the better. We're interested.

Hi, quick question – can you drive your converted bus with a C license?

Any converted bus that's been officially inspected can be driven with a Class C license (unless it retains more than 10 seats)

PATRICK26

Sorry Patrick, the Veritas and Mines tests haven't come through yet because it's not finished. I think I'll have it done around March or April 2007. I know it's taking a long time, but working 11 hours a day, it's not easy. To be honest, even being handy with my hands, I never would have thought it would take this much time😠. I don't want to discourage readers, but man, it's long!!

In response to Famille de 8: Yes of course, we can meet up, but I'm in the North (59) between Douai and Valenciennes. If you want, you can come, I'll reserve an igloo for you😛 06.80.43.49.96

I completely agree with José 6440 on what he wrote about the FR1 – you have to be under 1m80 to move around comfortably inside it.

In response to Cyril0603 about the overall cost: It's generally taboo to talk about money, whether here or elsewhere. The cost for one person might not be the same as for another depending on their connections, experience, and resourcefulness. Example: I said I needed 2 Scenic interiors – I didn't steal them, don't worry – I have a friend at a scrap yard. For the banquettes, I have an upholsterer friend. Obviously if these friends are doing me favors, I'll return them if they need me to help with work – it's not always a one-way street. I bought a damaged caravan, and after salvaging the furniture, I resold the rest of the caravan as spare parts and got my money back. You have to dig around and find the best deals. We call it the System D approach.🤪

In any case, you can't fool yourself – a project like this costs money, if you want something nice, proper, and reliable. Personally, despite the System D approach, I'm approaching 20,000 euros😊, and it's far from finished. I hope I haven't shocked or discouraged anyone, but let's dream while keeping our feet on the ground. When you realize the work, the human and financial investment it takes, you won't regret not settling for a piece of junk or something that can barely run.

Anyway, I'm going to stop being such a killjoy – keep dreaming and see your projects through.😛

Well, you gotta read that part (more than 9 seats) everyone had already corrected that of course 😉 it's from the tenth onward that you're TCP (hence my old 'troubles' with the DRIRE) Anyway, if anyone's interested in a solid base, 8.63m, already certified with a rear opening: I'm selling my coach! mind you, for professional or leisure use (motocross, MTB, go-kart racing, kayaking, shows...) it can work as-is. Vehicle inspection's all good.😏 but anyway, inquiries by PM only to keep this on-topic😉 thanks

😎 Hey everyone! I might be jumping into this adventure and wanted to know if a 1982 Setra S215 with 750,000 km would be a good base for a conversion?

Thanks in advance and see you soon for your advice!

Your Astromega looks nice, but upstairs you need to be at least 1.68m tall to stand up comfortably in the corridor (check www.vanhool.be anyway and you'll find the specs on their new coaches). As for fuel consumption, I checked with teamnegoce – they just sold one like yours (with 4 doors) and it was guzzling 35L/100 km. Watch out though – with this type of vehicle you won't fit everywhere because of the 4.10m height, and the 12m length can also be an obstacle. Sometimes it really comes down to 50cm – for example, with my Saviem I can just barely squeeze into a parking spot, and at 40cm I was sticking out onto the road, which doesn't work. The price seems right for a 50m² unit, but you need to check the condition.

hey françois57

well, for me it’s not great—I’m 1.95m tall😕 everything I’ve seen was way too tight in height. I think there’s no coach out there that’ll work for my height🏴‍☠️