Converting a heavy-duty bus/coach/truck into a motorhome (page 65 of 161)

Yeah, the S53—right in the middle, scraping the linoleum—you’d probably make it... just kidding! But I’ve got a buddy who’s 6'8" and he has to duck every time he goes through a door. When he takes the train (ours have two levels), he has to tilt his head just to sit down!

But you should consider whether you’re more the type to stay standing or sit all the time. If so, look into a more classic model with a high ceiling (Setra HDH series or VanHool Acron).

Or just buy an Astroméga and tear out the floor! !

How tall are the Setra HDH or the Vanhool Acron? Are they all with flat floors? On the site you gave me, I can't see where they list the height. Length, width, total height — okay, but I didn't see where the height is marked.

A + 😎😎😎 😎 😎 😎😎😎

True, I was told you can't drive a bus just anywhere!

With a coach, you can drive it anywhere.

Hey Patrik; we haven’t been back for a while with my partner, so thanks for your responses. We’ve chosen a PR 14 with 750,000 km—very clean (just from Gaby Charriot). Do you think this is a good base? And for the driver’s door, where can we get it cut and installed to meet standards? Did you do it yourself? Thanks to everyone for all the explanations and tips you’ve shared! 😛

For the "red-lined" part, is that the official acceptance certificate?

Volume 38

The red-striped map is the descriptive notice, which needs to be sent (a copy) to the manufacturer to obtain a reclassification permit.

Zuccheratta

No need for a driver’s door (see Patrick26’s post on page 19).

😉 Oh, well, that works out great for this door—one less thing to do! Otherwise, do you think a PR 14 is a good base?

For a truck, the only issue is the box-to-cab connection. Do you want to do that? (If not, all passengers will have to travel in the cab)

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

If so, then you’ll face the same problems we do with our buses—plus the bellows and the access door (40 cm off the ground)!

PATRICK26

Hey Patrick, Could you expand a bit more on the box-to-cab connection topic? That’s exactly the case I’m interested in (HD vehicle as a motorhome). It’ll actually influence my choice between a double cab or not... Knowing they’re not the easiest to find. Also, do you know of a site like Wohnbus for HD truck conversions (not cars/buses) and, while we’re at it, not in German (it’s frustrating not understanding 😉 )? Thanks for everything! 😎

Here are some truck website addresses:

www.camion4x4.com

www.anautica.free.fr

For your cab-to-box connection, contact both the cab manufacturer AND the box bodybuilder. The ideal is to have it done professionally. The bellows must be installed according to best practices. For seating in the box, it's going to be tricky! Check with the mining engineer you depend on or the bodybuilder you'll be working with for the modifications.

The over-cab bed is obviously a no-go with any tilting cab!

These aren't as simple jobs as one might think. The seats in the box need to be created (anchor points, fixings, position, access, etc...)

If many people opt for coaches, it's also to avoid these issues, which can sometimes be just as complicated as the ones we face with our buses.

The only advantage of a truck... the possibility of 4x4!

PATRICK26

hi

what do you think of a Vanhool 815 Acron for converting into a camper bus?😎

Question: what does "traillis" mean?

(for a motorhome conversion, it's best to avoid buses with a "traillis" (no chassis) because they're harder to convert and more difficult to pass inspection). What do you mean by that?

If anyone has converted this type of bus into a motorhome😐, let me know, thanks😎

A +

trellis = tubular structure: rigidity created by a multitude of square profiles welded together, including vertically (see AMAsxmx's gutted bus). The only layout issue you might have is if you need (like Patrick and others here) to fit a lightweight vehicle inside the belly of your beast, which won't be able to take the load back. You can always store an ATV in a hold (in a VanHool Acron, for example, you have holds almost a meter deep), or a two-wheeler in a storage space accessible via a door.

The chassis allows you to use the full height available.

Otherwise, you can't drive a coach everywhere—only from the driver's seat, which is already not bad. Also, keep in mind that you'll have motorhome status, so "no entry except for buses" signs will apply to you too. The downside of urban buses is generally their short gearbox, which lets you shift quickly but means you'll consume a lot in 5th gear, and their capped speed (in urban areas, you don't usually exceed 50 km/h: the RATP's Agora buses have a top speed of 70 km/h).

So, with a 1983 VanHool Acron built on a lattice frame—well, that’s not a good idea for a coach.

Here are some truck website addresses:

www.camion4x4.com

www.anautica.free.fr

For your cab-to-box connection, contact both the cab manufacturer AND the box builder. Ideally, have it done professionally. The bellows must be installed according to best practices. As for seating in the box, that’s gonna be tricky! Check with the mining engineer you depend on or the builder you’ll work with for the modifications.

The over-cab bed is obviously a no-go with any tilting cab!

These aren’t as simple jobs as you might think. Seats in the box need to be created (mounting points, fixings, position, access, etc...)

If many people opt for buses, it’s also to avoid these issues, which can sometimes be just as complicated as the ones we deal with in our buses.

The only advantage of a truck... the 4x4 capability!

PATRICK26

Thanks, I know those sites too 😕. I was wondering if there was a big one I might’ve missed.

What interests me about trucks is their off-road capability... Not necessarily 4x4 (for now), but the high ground clearance, crossing ability, payload capacity, and so on. That’s why I’m trying to figure out how to do this cab-to-box connection. All the examples I’ve seen online were done by a professional builder, and my current budget pushes me to try doing it myself. Plus, I’m looking for serious explanations about the pros and cons of cab-to-chassis connections (the ones I’ve found just say: "we chose this solution because it was the best for us"). Actually, I’ve got more time than money right now, and I like understanding the *why* and *how*. If I end up concluding I need to have it done professionally, I want to know it’s because I can’t do it myself 🙂 Well, that’s all for now—thanks to you and everyone else for keeping this forum alive!

Well, it’s doable, but I don’t think you can fit a box inside.

Actually, tome38, it all depends on what you want to do with your coach. I’m jumping into the adventure with a lattice-frame coach, and for my use, there shouldn’t be any weight issues. I think in some cases mentioned by françois57, you absolutely need a bus chassis for the technical reasons they explained. So, as françois says: well, if it works 😉

I wanted to revisit one of the previous posts about the cost of converting a bus into a camper van! I still can’t understand why this should be such a "taboo" topic, as it was written! In my opinion, everyone can only invest the amount they can or want to, so where’s the taboo? Maybe some people don’t want to talk about it because they think it’s indecent to make a profit on resale—other than that, I really don’t see why.😮 I think it’s imperative that this changes on this kind of forum. Let me explain: giant campers make us dream, buying a bus isn’t unaffordable, but it’s hard to estimate the costs of interior conversion. That’s where it gets tricky because there are several options depending on the owner and the budget. So what’s the solution? Maybe it would be wise to give a price range before our dreams lead us into a trap and, in the worst case, a nightmarish disillusionment. I’m writing this because I was shocked when I saw that a conversion had cost 20,000 €! However, it’s clear that if you don’t have a budget limit, the easiest option is to go to professional converters—and that’s not my case. fab

Actually, my coach is built on a chassis with a central engine. It's true that in the photo you might have thought that... Downside: the chassis (side rail) ends right after the rear wheels; the rest is a false chassis. So the weight at the rear needs to be monitored, and I’m not allowed a gross vehicle weight rating (no trailer). The only solution is to go through an approved bodybuilder (way too expeeeensive). But hey, I’ll just put a motorcycle and its gear in there, maybe even extra water reserves.

😊 well, I really got caught out there. At first glance, I was thinking of a trellis. way better for the GVWR, actually, very few coaches have one. It only appeared from a certain date (1985, I think?). Before that, it was on request, and if it wasn’t standard, you couldn’t get it😠. I tried—even with a Merc where a similar model had one—it was a real pain, and on top of that, the cost at Merc🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️ anyway, I had to really struggle to find one under 9m with a GVWR (I absolutely needed it to tow my 860kg empty-weight stage platform), but I never even used it. The platform’s been sitting in the back of the hangar for almost 5 years😏 what a waste!

I’m selling my bus, and who knows, next summer I might end up "breaking my back" on a 1,000 km tour where I’ll have to provide the stage😄

So if it's a chassis, I've got space for a round trip—I can convert the round trip setup to fit a car. Otherwise, if it's a trailer, I can't.