Welcome to the gang Gitano, enjoy here and out in the playground.
I was a transport manager of buses and other vehicles for many moons in a previous life and had 4 cyl coasters in the fleet. All were very reliable. If anything they are a little sluggish going up hills but then most heavy vehicles need to drop down a cog or two then anyway. No 6X 4.2's but I would say maybe a tad better in that situation.
I had 2 Mazda T35's in the fleet and heaps of problems so got rid of them.
There should be heaps of Mitsubishi Rosas out there in the second hand world now so take a peek at those too. I got 2 in the fleet and had no problems, as new anyway.
Hinos are not a bad bus either.
In the final stages of my working life I was with a small bus company that had 2 Nissan Civilians and had heaps of trouble, including getting parts.
Coasters are a very reliable vehicle and make good smaller style motorhomes.
I know I wondered away from your Coaster question a little but thought some options wouldn't hurt.
Keep Safe on the roads.
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The slightly larger have under floor storage . But again it depends on your licence etc ? Motorhomes don't get a hard time like busses . Havnt heard anything bad about the 4 cyl ? I came very close to converting either Rosa or Hino which is 4 cyl turbo diesel . Which is VERY reliable . Could be same engine ? Well they can't be driven too hard due to things flying inside, Mrs is with you ! Plus it's YOURS !! Lol
Thank you both for the inputs, the Mazda did not give me any problems apart of the leaf springs that need resetting and one blade replaced.
The problem with them it is that to keep them going it is necessary to work hard with the gear changing. A hand full really for any "heavy foot"person like me.
I believe that it is possible to keep the Coaster just unde 4 tons to be able to drive it with the car license.
I was looking at the Rosa few years ago and the fuel capacity was very small. Perhaps there are after market tanks with more capacity available.
I THINK staying under 4T with drivers licence is fairly tuff ?? Larger fuel tank imo would be added anyway . It wouldn't be my main reason to knock it back . Yes the other options are larger ., I see we are told to pull into weigh stations now in NT . Others possibly ? The stupid part is the larger vehicle is easier to drive !! Another I have found with turbo diesel . They drive VERY well with auto . I would fit extra cooler, not use top gear ., like how do you expect it to pull a van at or less than 1500 rpm ??.. Just oil change a little more often .,
You can go to 4495 on a c class licence in nsw and I think all states would be the same, my Coaster went about 3300 kg when I blue slipped it, that was fully setup but I had drained water tanks and about half tank fuel and empty cupboards. That included the awning 4.5m. So I still had just under 1200 kg I can add for water food etc.
I'm fairly confident it would be well under 4490 loaded but it is 85 year model with the 3.4 L normally aspirated diesel. I have been towing a 740kg empty bike trailer around lately and it still gets along ok. Did a trip down to Cessnock swap meet with a motor bike and a lot of gear in trailer would have went well over the tonne and went well on the 300km round trip.
I think the 4 L engine would go well, mine has just had the exhaust system done right through with a 2.5 inch system right through and it has made a difference, also the motor is loosening up after full reco about 3k ago.
Mind you coming out of Brisbane with the trailer heading into the 8% grade between Ipswich and Warwick qld it settled down at 20km/ph for the 6 km's uphill in 2nd. Took a B-double a long time to catch me and I think he was only going a couple of k's faster. But he had 700 horse power and probably 40 T behind.
I think that a lot depends on the actual year of the engine, and how it had been used or abused
Back in the day, while I was playing around in the employment playground, I always seemed to be the designated bus driver, for a maintenance crew
As a very rough comparison of around year 2000
The Mazda 3500 was compatible with the 4 cylinder Toyota, as the Mazda had a 10 speed split box, while the Toyota had a 5 speed box The 6 cylinder Toyota had a bit more grunt on the hills, but at the cost of using a bit extra diesel
I did not speed, but sat on 110 KPH, on the flat, and used the gearbox to climb the hills, and to slow on the descents
The comparison was on the same (about 130 kilometres each way) daily run, for about two years
You can pretty much tell if engine etc is ok . I listen to how they start from cold . Being a few years old . You get to know the better engines or models to buy . Been a few new vehicles that havint done too well durability wise . They seem to be built for economy or light road driving when it comes to light trucks .. Compared to 15 / 20 years ago ., then there's the thought of fitting latter model power train ? Options ..
Hi chief, very new to all this, we just bought a Nissan Civillian Bus to convert to a camper or perhaps a panel van? we want to keep the seat behind the passenger's seat and the single seat next to the middle door. we have been told many conflicting stories about the seat belts, apparently the existing lap sashes are needed to be changed to shoulder straps. the 2 seats we are keepin don't have a frame next to them, it is window? Not sure how to attach? any suggestions Also, we were told once everthing is out of the bus the gvm will no longer be 5200 and it can be driven on a c licence instead of a light rigid, now that story has changed? how does the gvm get bought down then? We have asked many questions to many engineers and they all have a different story!! confused and disillusioned by all the red tape. Anyy answers?
Hi chief, very new to all this, we just bought a Nissan Civillian Bus to convert to a camper or perhaps a panel van? we want to keep the seat behind the passenger's seat and the single seat next to the middle door. we have been told many conflicting stories about the seat belts, apparently the existing lap sashes are needed to be changed to shoulder straps. the 2 seats we are keepin don't have a frame next to them, it is window? Not sure how to attach? any suggestions Also, we were told once everthing is out of the bus the gvm will no longer be 5200 and it can be driven on a c licence instead of a light rigid, now that story has changed? how does the gvm get bought down then? We have asked many questions to many engineers and they all have a different story!! confused and disillusioned by all the red tape. Anyy answers?
Thanks civillian
Hi civillian
It depends on your state perhaps but this is the answer for NSW. I had a Mercedes Sprinter bus re-certified last year.
I stripped the wheel chair lifter and all the seats bar 4 (+the front two). The passenger seats had integrated lap sash belts. I contacted all the RTA listed engineers in my area and asked for prices to re-certify and time frames to do it. Then I selected one and talked to him on the phone. He suggested what he would look at and the things that had to be done. So I did those myself. One was fittment of child seat attachment points to rear seats. Another sealing the holes in the floor. The seats had a suitable threaded hole so no problem there.
On the day I went to an accepted weight bridge and got a weight ticket. I left out all extras from the bus for this, as advised, for the lowest weight. The inspection went OK and the engineer used the weigh bridge ticket for the nett weight, and the manufacturers gross weight for final gross as it was lower than 4500Kg. However he could have reduced it to a lower figure if it was above that AND if he considered the load difference would be satisfactory for its use.
In my case the bus was certified as a panel van because to be classified as a motorhome there are some conditions to be satisfied which mine did not. To do with bed and seat numbers matching as well as cooking and washing facilities installed. I am happy with the process as I could install what I want as long as it is safe.
Interestingly it was then re-classified as a private vehicle rather than a bus and the weight category went down too, so I received a small refund on my rego from the RTA, on the day, when I presented the papers to complete the process. And the ongoing cost is lower. Now that is a WIN WIN IMHO.
NOTE the RTA here has a list of approved engineers who they will accept for various re-certifications. Go to their website. Find one you will use and ask him. It is not rocket science, if he signs off it is done ?? You may need to fit lap sash belts(and child anchor points) as it is a new registration. If so It could be easier to fit seats with integrated belts and floor bolt plates underneath from a later bus. These are cheap as many are taken out for conversions and are not in much demand.
Jaahn
-- Edited by Jaahn on Saturday 3rd of September 2016 08:21:40 AM
Hi chief, very new to all this, we just bought a Nissan Civillian Bus to convert to a camper or perhaps a panel van? we want to keep the seat behind the passenger's seat and the single seat next to the middle door. we have been told many conflicting stories about the seat belts, apparently the existing lap sashes are needed to be changed to shoulder straps. the 2 seats we are keepin don't have a frame next to them, it is window? Not sure how to attach? any suggestions Also, we were told once everthing is out of the bus the gvm will no longer be 5200 and it can be driven on a c licence instead of a light rigid, now that story has changed? how does the gvm get bought down then? We have asked many questions to many engineers and they all have a different story!! confused and disillusioned by all the red tape. Anyy answers?
