Converting a heavy-duty bus/coach/truck into a motorhome (page 87 of 161)

Hey christobale, Thanks for your reply, but I went to check out the bus you mentioned and honestly, there’s way too much work for me. As for the Setra 215 UL, I personally find it a bit too long—I’m looking for buses that are 10 m max. If anyone has already converted a Setra and could tell me how they handled the height, that’d be great!

Hey pdro,

In your case, you can create a "visual and sound communication" that isn’t a passageway...

It’s for a VASP, but not a MOTORHOME.

In this case, it’s pretty straightforward without major work: You install a window in the body cutout provided at the back of the cab (behind the driver and passenger). Don’t cut just anywhere! Follow the manufacturer’s pre-marked cutouts. The best option is to find a dump truck window. You install a fixed window in your body, right opposite. You set up a 24V home intercom system that works continuously between the body and the cab.

And voilà—you’ve got visual communication (through the two panes) and sound (via the intercom).

That’s how SNCF midliners are set up, with a 3-seater bench in the body in addition to the cab.

No passageway possible between the body and the cab. An emergency exit of 2500 cm² on each side of the body (the access door will count if it’s at least 45 cm wide and 159 cm high), with the bottom of the opening no more than 95 cm from the ground (double-check this) so it’s easy to step over.

The BIG remaining issue is access, which must be via a door with a fixed staircase where the first step is less than 40 cm from the ground... (see if the mining inspector requires it...)

I know for workshop trucks, they don’t enforce this... COME ON PDRO, get to work...😉

PATRICK26

So for Saturday, you need to come up with an excuse not to come! 😛

Haha, those people who can’t make themselves available... 😉

Joking aside, we’re not far from each other, and we’ll organize regular meet-ups.

Too bad 😕

PATRICK26

tortue26,

For your little "how-to" questions, come see us this Saturday!

We’ll talk about it!... DON’T BE SHY

From Saint-Rambert, you’re only 45 minutes away by car, and Mortier is in Saint-Rambert too. We’ll call him to see if he’s coming.

PATRICK26

pdro,

and if you wanna come on Saturday, the "Valence TGV" train station is just 5 minutes from where we are...

up to you (or to those who are interested in letting us know!)

PATRICK26

What do you mean by too much work? If you take a bus, you'll have to work on the inside and the outside... As long as the base is sound... Otherwise, in Avignon there's a 1979 213H for 3200 € where the conversion has already been started...

I’m really disappointed I can’t make it...🙁 But I’ve got work late this afternoon, and at lunchtime I’m having a meal at my place with my parents and in-laws... so there’s just no way I can be there...🤪

We’re not far apart, and I’m up for more regular meet-ups..😏

Thanks Patrick for the tips. I see you're always available when it comes to vehicle conversions! I'm bringing up my question again about visual and sound communication between the living area and the cab. After your idea and a quick reread of the DRIRE text, I realize the type of communication isn't specified at all, nor is its size!! So if we start with an intercom, why not go further and install a camera in the living area with a small monitor in the cab. After all, we're in the 21st century. 😉

I'm seriously considering it, and implementation-wise, it's really easy. So I'm counting on you to tell me if I'm off track... Thanks. PS: Thanks for the invite, but I'm not available this weekend. Next time, I'll definitely be there!

Yeah, of course I know there’s gonna be work involved, and that’s exactly what makes turning a bus into a house so interesting—but I’ve got my limits.

I checked out the buses you mentioned in the rain, and honestly, around the windshields, the corrosion has already started to take hold, and the roof’s the same. So there are puddles of water pretty much everywhere inside the bus. The air tanks expired in 2006. The batteries need replacing. The brakes need a full overhaul. The odometer shows—if I remember right—460,000 km, but in the previous owner’s maintenance log, the last repairs were done at around 600,000 km. So it’s probably got closer to 1,500,000 km on it. Even if it’s a Setra, that’s still a lot of miles.

Since bodywork really isn’t my thing, I think the best bet is to look for a bus that’s in better shape—one that’s still in service with regular technical inspections (every 6 months). I don’t really trust buses that haven’t been driven for a while. Thanks anyway!

pdro,

For the camera, forget it!😕

Communication needs to be "two-way", so you'd need two cameras and two screens. And since your view while driving shouldn't be disturbed by a screen, I doubt that would work (at least, I don't know of any setup like that). The two windows and your rearview mirror, and you're all set! Keep it simple!

As for the time, I'd be talking to my 🏴‍☠️ boiler that acted up last night! These messages were written while it was under surveillance after a nighttime repair😕...

PATRICK26

I sent you a PM—let me know if you got it or where things stand with your contact. Or give me their address and tell me who I should PM, thanks

Yeah Guinsuzuki, you're talking about the 245 and a 211 at RUBEN. To me, that seems normal at that price... There's still the 213H in Avignon with 990,000 km but with a maintenance log... Otherwise, you’ll need to spend over 5,000 € to get a well-maintained vehicle that’s not a SETRA...

😉BUS FOR SALE

http://cgi.ebay.fr/BUS_W0QQitemZ180062407332QQihZ008QQcategoryZ100556QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE REDONE TO MY TASTE AND IT'S A BIT EXPENSIVE, BUT THERE'S A REAR DOOR.

hey GUINSUZUKI I’m desperate to find someone nearby who’ll join us 😏 there are now three of us with GG from Bagnères (registered) we’ll soon be able to have work meetings with a little barbecue and make those in the southeast region drool—they’ll be too far to come 😕 but they’re still welcome 😉 DM me your details so we can meet up—you’ll see how my MOTORHOME’s coming along! see ya, jose

Hey tome38, The bus I told you about is in Poland today—it was in great condition for under 3,000 € (too late now). See ya, jose

thanks for your reply

I just saw the message. Nothing confirmed for this Saturday yet, but I’ll share the info anyway, okay? Thanks!

I'm one of the reps from the East. (lol) And it's true—it's pretty empty around here. There's a forum member 70 km from my place, which is already quite a distance, but I'm looking to meet people who share this passion and are from Thionville (57) or nearby.

The idea of a hangar sounds great, but the issue is that Isère is too far to park my coach... But why not team up with others and rent a barn or storage space if people near me are interested in the idea.

Either way, I’ll be thinking of you all on December 16th—I’m organizing a raclette party to celebrate my birthday and show my coach to some friends who’ve never seen it.

😉Hi François and everyone,

and yes, by doing this I deleted all the old heaters except in the driver’s cabin where I still have the ventilation for the fog.

Check your external engine access—it’s on the right. You need to swap the two big hoses like you saw in the photo. Watch out, it splashes!!! You’ve gotta be quick to lose only a minimum of coolant. Have a bucket ready to catch what’s gonna spill.

Happy showering😉

Hey Pdro I didn’t even have to think about it because I started prepping mine for the conversion and realized there was too much repair work to get it through inspection (rotted chassis, the whole body was eaten by rust, brakes shot, etc.). So I decided to sell it and buy a Saviem S53. I paid a little more for it than the livestock truck, but when you add up the repairs needed on the truck and the administrative hassle, the bus ends up being way cheaper to convert. Plus, you can find some really cheap buses from school transport companies. I paid 2000 € for my S53, MOT passed, engine replaced. Like MrKonn suggested, I’d recommend selling yours for a bus too. That said, you can still go for your heavy-duty project (which’ll be easier to convert since it’s a "box shape"). Anyway, if you’re not planning to carry more than 2 passengers, you don’t have to cut into the cab. Just show the official rules to the DRIRE guy, and he’ll be fine with it. Later and good luck