Bus - we have one of those. It can be - interesting - getting parts/repairs. Not to mention expensive. Ours is a 1990 MAN (Mercedes) chassis with an Australian built body. We did a very basic fit-out, and hit the road.
The only way to know is to ask questions, ask questions, then ask more questions. And go with your gut. We travelled more looking than we have since we bought the damn thing - even took a trip to FNQ once, met the guy, saw the bus and walked. We had been talking/negotiating for 3 months at that stage. My gut said 'No!' so we walked.
If you go for a bus, go for a Hino or a Coaster. Both quite popular, especially the Coaster; parts are (according the the guy who did work on the beast in Tassie) fairly easy to find.
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The Mobile Madhouse: me (Rosie), him (Troy), a kelpie, a kelpie-dingo, a husky & a rainbow lorikeet.
It's more to do with how well it's been serviced etc .. Just check engine and running gear has running gear of vehicle here . Like late Coaster is to Landcruiser. I bought the Fuso 9m bus as it has under floor storage .. The older engines maybe more durable . At the expense of higher fuel usage .diesels in most cases.. I Listen when they first start from cold . Being a compression ignition motor they require good compression to start well ..
Be careful when people say you can drive a Coaster on a car licence - this might be true for a standard, unmodified bus but once it's converted to a motorhome the extra weight of the fitout is sure to take the Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) over the car licence limit of 4.5 tonnes, without considering the stuff you will want to travel with. It will more than likely need to be re-certified from a bus to a motorhome - there are a few coaster owners on the forum who may be able to elaborate. My Hino Rainbow's GVM was lifted to 5.725 tonnes after being re-certified (don't know what it was before, but I believe the weight of an empty bus with all seats removed is right on the 4.5-tonne limit). Took it to a weighbridge immediately after the fitout and it came in at 4.994 tonnes with about 30 litres of water in the tank and about a quarter of a tank of fuel.
Most Coasters have the 1HZ 4.2 litre diesel engine which I believe was also fitted to a lot of Landcruisers, so parts and servicing shouldn't be a problem.
Cheers
Joe
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Hino Rainbow motorhome conversion towing a Daihatsu Terios
Makes of vehicle Toyota Mercedes... I would advise to stick to well known brands, like Toyota in the smaller buses. Truck based MHs then any Japanese brand. For the engine is there any make which are better than others if the have more Km on them, or the engine is better equipped to handle it age? Hmm, how many Kms and the service history is important. Old buses my have been run to near death so be wise buying. What about weird makes or imported motor homes, does it make it hard to maintain them or find parts to service them? YES YES YES
Which is better, or less likely to break, a converted bus or a manufactured motor home? Both OK depending on the Ks and servicing.
I see a lot of converted motor homes which are from the 80's and 90's that have low km on them. Hmm Yes a bit suspect isn't it !!
Have they driven it backwards for a couple of years, or do they have new motors and is this really for real at all? YES perhaps.
That ft thing for the motor home. When they state the length is it for the entire vehicle or just the living bit when you are not in the driver seat? Overall length
Mad hatter signing out My UHF channel is: Is there ever a time that there is not a car driving up and down the street, don't people ever stay home.
The Dreaded suburbs
Thanks guys can't wait for you valued info. ( if I can ever figure out how to get these emotions to work I might use them)
Hi,
There are a lot of old buses and MHs that are suitable for PROJECTS if you want to work on them. If you just want to use them then IMHO be careful and selective looking. When you see something interesting then get a person who knows to look it over before going further. Many people buy a bomb and spend too much time and money getting it ready and then give up. Life is too short.
I went down to Victoria to look over a good looking converted bus but walked away from it because it was not as good as it looked on the computer. Older Japanese buses are very prone to RUST. People like to camp near the sea ! Old buses are OLD and suffer multiple age related problems.
I could go on. I currently have a converted Mercedes Sprinter bus. It is older 2000 but has only done 130000 Kms and been serviced. Had some minor rust ( fixed). Some importers bring in Toyota buses that have very low Ks for their age and sell them converted. However they may need some more servicing and work than you might expect due to their age.
Jaahn
PS to use the emoticons just go to the spot in the text and left click where you want it. Then go to the emoticon you desire and left click on it. It just goes there like magic !
PS to use the emoticons just go to the spot in the text and left click where you want it. Then go to the emoticon you desire and left click on it. biggrin It just goes there like magic !
Oh the simplest things are always the hardest.
I think with the latest comments that a car license only will not cut it. Looking at it from the very beginning (no license at all) it will be at least a 3 year process.
I kind of suspected that an odd make would not be very easy to maintain.
Thanks guys you have been most helpful.
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How do you think I've remained interested in life this long?
There is a lot of coaster buses around, I know you can drive a coaster on a car license but what about a Rhino?
Hi
That is not totally true. A Coaster may be short wheelbase, ok on a car licence unless it is overloaded, or a long wheelbase which will need a light truck licence, unless it has been recertified as having a GVM(gross vehicle mass) less than 4500 KGs. As was said by others this may not allow much extra for all that stuff that you need. This may also apply to the shorter ones, depending on how it is done out.
Similar things can be said about all Motorhomes that are truck based. So always check as you look, for the weights and licence requirements. 4500Kgs is the maximum loaded weight you can drive on a car licence. Hinos are more than this too. However the size and width of some motorhomes that are just under this limit may be a challenge to a new driver as well as many experienced drivers. There are many scarred MHs out there from trees and poles etc.
My Sprinter is below the car licence limit by a comfortable amount and is good to drive as it is not too wide and comfortable on the road and easy to get into. Not as much room as some inside though. Life is a compromise!
Jaahn
-- Edited by Jaahn on Monday 15th of February 2016 01:00:25 PM
There is a lot of coaster buses around, I know you can drive a coaster on a car license but what about a Rhino?
Hi
That is not totally true. A Coaster may be short wheelbase, ok on a car licence unless it is overloaded, or a long wheelbase which will need a light truck licence, unless it has been recertified as having a GVM(gross vehicle mass) less than 4500 KGs. As was said by others this may not allow much extra for all that stuff that you need. This may also apply to the shorter ones, depending on how it is done out.
Similar things can be said about all Motorhomes that are truck based. So always check as you look, for the weights and licence requirements. 4500Kgs is the maximum loaded weight you can drive on a car licence. Hinos are more than this too. However the size and width of some motorhomes that are just under this limit may be a challenge to a new driver as well as many experienced drivers. There are many scarred MHs out there from trees and poles etc.
My Sprinter is below the car licence limit by a comfortable amount and is good to drive as it is not too wide and comfortable on the road and easy to get into. Not as much room as some inside though. Life is a compromise!
Jaahn
-- Edited by Jaahn on Monday 15th of February 2016 11:49:18 AM
I hear you, had a quick look online at motorhomes in general, the conversions and the made to be motorhomes. While some seem to be around the 3500kg, half are not and I don't want to be restricted on what I am able to pack into my home. I am struggling with the fact that I have not seen any motorhomes in the flesh so it is hard to tell online whether they are going to be big enough. I just have to go look at some in the flesh. I have a tendency to think that I need bigger than I am actually going to need.
A few years ago i got myself a learners license, I thought at the time I wanted a car, but it was going to cost more in rego and insurance, than I was going to drive it, so I didn't do any driving lessons. The license expired in 8/13 I might be able to renew it so that would be a step closer.
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How do you think I've remained interested in life this long?
I'm thinking that down the line I may get my MR. Hubby got his in a 3 hour test - no practice, just in the truck and go. Of course, that was in Tassie.......
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The Mobile Madhouse: me (Rosie), him (Troy), a kelpie, a kelpie-dingo, a husky & a rainbow lorikeet.
I hear you, had a quick look online at motorhomes in general, the conversions and the made to be motorhomes. While some seem to be around the 3500kg, half are not and I don't want to be restricted on what I am able to pack into my home. I am struggling with the fact that I have not seen any motorhomes in the flesh so it is hard to tell online whether they are going to be big enough. I just have to go look at some in the flesh. I have a tendency to think that I need bigger than I am actually going to need.
A few years ago i got myself a learners license, I thought at the time I wanted a car, but it was going to cost more in rego and insurance, than I was going to drive it, so I didn't do any driving lessons. The license expired in 8/13 I might be able to renew it so that would be a step closer.
I like looking a bit ahead for these sort of things so always go out and look at things. There is a big MH dealer here not too far away so I occasionaly drop in if we go past for a sticky beak. Gives you ideas for what is good and what is over the top etc. I have decided on the next type and layout by seeing it there Not at their price though ! I could only urge you to get on the bus and get around to any in the area. They are happy for you to go inside and look and try the seats etc. DO IT SOON.
Caravan and camping show, YES. Not for buying just looking. These decisions cannot be made just on theory. Hands on looking is the way
And be prepared to spend a LOT of time and energy looking........ took us 3 years of looking/asking/swearing to get our bus. Then another 2 to get it to a basic camper fitout........... The looking was the worst part. Exhausting, and often frustrating.
It is a long, painful and frustrating process, but in the end, well worth it.
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The Mobile Madhouse: me (Rosie), him (Troy), a kelpie, a kelpie-dingo, a husky & a rainbow lorikeet.
The good part about a converted bus ? You can change things inside to suit yourself .. Families will like bunks . But retirees prefere lounge area .. In most cases . Plus they generally can take the grand kids better than an expensive Winnebago..
It just goes there like magic !
Not at their price though ! I could only urge you to get on the bus and get around to any in the area. They are happy for you to go inside and look and try the seats etc. DO IT SOON. 
