Converting a heavy-duty bus/coach/truck into a motorhome (page 67 of 161)

I meant to ask if there’s a site to check the market value of coaches.

😉For Sputnik,

he’s not selling his bus, it’s another guy who has the same bus

and it’s not written on our foreheads "DJ" at RAVES!!!😛

the DRIRE gave me a file

single-vehicle approval for "special arrangements - motorhomes"

(vehicles converted into motorhomes)

that’s the right file

😊😊😊 Sorry, I made some incorrect statements a while back, and I didn’t verify them😊😊😊—well, I did see it in person, but I really thought it was his😇

So I messed up—my apologies to Sputnik😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

On the other hand, I was half-right—he *is* a DJ, and so are you, right? Do you know him? What’s he up to? We don’t see him on the forum anymore, which is partly why I took the sale info seriously.

Anyway, I remember where the rave info came from—I’m gonna crack down 🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️. That’ll teach him to make me look like an idiot😮—seriously, sometimes😠

🙂 Yes

Hey GX47,

DM me and let me know how much you’d sell your awesome bus for, please? Given what I suspect about you—VASP, caravan?? Homologation?? 😉 Instead of your rear garage, what would you fit out? I’m not really into motorcycles, sniff.. 😕

Cheers, Vendeen😇

Hi Patrick and hi everyone,

I’m new to this site and about to buy a Saviem S53 bus (yep, another one joining the big family of converted S53s). I’ve got a few questions for you all:

Given that the S53 doesn’t have a driver’s door, I assume motorhome homologation is out of the question? So, what’s the best solution for my RTI (roadworthiness inspection) request? What category should I reclassify it as?

Is it difficult to get manufacturer approval? And is it necessary to block the windows by gluing and riveting metal sheets over them?

What should I do first once my bus is home? Remove all the extra seats and install a partition between the cabin and the future living area?

And after that? Where can I find the descriptive manual for the Saviem S53? Does anyone have layout plans to suggest? That would be suuuuuper cool!

What do insurance companies require to insure a converted bus? Is it hard to insure?

I’ll probably have more questions later, but I’d like to thank in advance everyone who’s willing to answer my questions and help me with the administrative steps.

Thanks, and see you soon!

Hey everyone,

I’m planning to switch up my rolling home and I’m torn between buying a heavy-duty vehicle around 10m long and a bus of the same length. For those of you who’ve driven both or have any info—what do you think about maneuverability, chassis height, load capacity, and living space?

Thanks

I’ve got a 1984 S53 myself and I’m converting it in stages—check out the posts I’ve shared in the previous pages: removing the seats, creating unused space in a physical "van" by adding seats you haven’t removed (but that are unusable while driving), or installing fixed furniture to meet VASP NSPC standards. From there, you’ll need the paperwork for heavy-duty vehicle inspection (no longer TCP).

You’ll keep 9 "road" seats and some generic fittings. Once that’s done, you can modify it further and drive it with a Class C license. Install everything, then have it checked by a control bureau like Veritas or Apave.

First, call M. GARNIER at Irisbus in the 69 department—send him a copy of the descriptive notice (the "red-striped" sheet), and he’ll authorize your modifications as long as you respect weight limits.

Next, contact the DRIRE engineer in your department for advice.

For plans, message Benhurd—he gave me a lot of great solutions.

Welcome to this forum! All the answers to your questions are in the previous pages. Especially read from page 19 onward. Happy reading—after that, you’ll see more relevant questions to ask.

hi

which one should I go for to convert a coach into a motorhome for living: VASP, HOM CAR, AUTOCARAVANES😮

which class should I choose😠

Hi François.

It's true, I don't know the case of a license obtained in the military that wasn't converted. I got my B license in 1980 and my D (equivalent to C) in 1985.

Well, it's true that laws change so quickly—I only got the 125cc motorcycle equivalence like everyone else a few years ago (I can't remember if it was 4 or 5 years?), whereas before, there was a time when heavy-duty license holders had a motorcycle license for all engine sizes.

On top of that, when I started my public transport license, two days later precisely, I was told I’d only get a license valid within 50 km of my workplace. I had to do school transport for a year before getting a nice "unrestricted D license."

And now, the cherry on top—they tell me my license is no longer valid because I don’t have the FIMO (not valid for work).

So, license types—you’ve got to be an expert to figure it out ;-)

Take care, everyone, and see you soon.

Patrick from the 30.

😉 totally agree with you, the licenses and equivalencies depending on the dates are a real mess 🤪 even the prefecture's civil service has to consult the texts😏

And it's true that to transport goods (people included) you need the FIMO

Didn’t you read the replies I sent you?

Go back and read posts 1340 and 1354.

The file you have is correct. For example, the DRIRE in Sarthe will only give you a motorhome file—that’s what I used to get my vehicle approved. The term "Home-car" will come later on the paperwork. For now, just go with it. Don’t worry, the DRIRE engineers will know the difference. VASP is the new category you’ll see on your registration instead of TCP, and under body type, you’ll have "Caravane" instead of "CAR" or "BUS".

Hey there, magician!

I know someone from the Pays de la Loire who's looking for a coach like yours.

So, question: how much are you asking for it, please?

Let me know if you'd prefer to reply in a PM.

Pascal, aka famillede8, proud new owner of a FR1 PRIVILEGE since last night. I brought it home with Patrick26!!!

See ya!

I'm currently converting a DAF / HEULIEZ MB205 bus.

It's cheaper and more spacious than a light vehicle, and the formalities (in France) aren't insurmountable for homologation.

I'm ready to help those who want to take on this kind of project. Those who know should help those who want to do it....

Hi everyone, so I have a bus license and I want to convert a coach into a camper. 🙂 I want to know if a category D license is enough or if I also need the heavy-duty one. (Does converting a bus require another license???) Thanks for your answers! 😎

Welcome to the forum! I almost replied "read the previous answers," but let’s be more constructive:

Once a bus is converted into a motorhome and approved by the DRIRE, it becomes a heavy-duty vehicle (category: VASP body type: CARAVAN), so you’ll need a heavy-duty license: C. As long as the bus hasn’t undergone any modifications (e.g., removing seats), you can still drive it with a D license, provided it’s up to date (technical inspection within the last 6 months, insurance). Once modifications start, it no longer matches the registration certificate, so you can’t drive it, and the insurance becomes invalid since the vehicle no longer complies. The challenge will be getting the bus to the final DRIRE inspection. Solution: a W garage or making friends with law enforcement. Check out Patrick26’s post.

Reading all 57 pages of this thread is tedious—there are contradictions and a lot of repetitive topics. I’d recommend taking notes as you go. The first 19 pages are old, and regulations have changed since then.

http://www.campingcar-amateur.com/pag_site/construire.htm http://perso.orange.fr/...ion/homologation.htm http://motorhome.blogs-de-voyage.fr/

A few useful links: (source of this list) OTC (Central Technical Organization) - www.utac-otc.com Road Safety - www.securiteroutiere.equipement.gouv.fr Légifrance (public service for legal information) - www.legifrance.gouv.fr DRIRE (Regional Directorate for Industry, Research, and the Environment) - www.drire.gouv.fr Autosecuritas (National Cooperative for Vehicle Technical Inspection) - www.autosecuritas.fr

an extra bit of info: http://www.utac-otc.com/fr/ctpl/vtp.asp

hi everyone I don’t agree with you about going through the DIRECCTE inspection: I called them yesterday and specifically asked this question answer: they’ll send you a summons and with that you’ll be covered in case of an inspection for this trip in short, the DIRECCTE summons acts as a registration certificate for this journey See ya!

Congratulationssss, my little Pascal, and welcome to FR1😉. At this rate, we’re gonna need the equivalent of two football fields for meet-up weekends. I’m dreaming... wildly, but I only live through dreams...🤪🤪.

Oh! Speaking of fields, watch out before and after buying your RV—even inside my fence, the local council members are looking into how to kick my bus off my property.😏😏😏😏 Hahahahahaha, they tried to psych me out to slow me down. I call this (when I talk to myself) a code 6 in sector 9🏴‍☠️🙂🤪😐

No panic... First: every problem has a solution. Second: women and children first—I don’t know how to do that😏😏😏

If they ever manage it, which I half doubt, they’ll pay for it, word of Jessy James (boss of Monster Garage for those in the know) hahahahahahaha

But since there are several of us in my head, we’ll find a solution... if we haven’t all argued🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪

Good evening everyone, @+ Pascal