Has anyone done it?
Thinking of one of the Dennis Dart Plaxton Mini kind of things - unladen weight 6.7 tonnes; 8m long, 2.5 wide. Strip the seats 25 ish at 20kgs is
500kgs so an empty weight 6.2tonnes so plenty spare to fit it out and drive on car licence 
I know coaches are preferable but buses have much better access for bikes (inc m/c's)
I have done a couple of people carriers in the past. I always fancied one of those small municipal buses....
I currently have a library bus on my drive....watch this space... ;-)
I know someone that can plat dreadlocks 
quote:
Originally posted by The Knobs
I know someone that can plat dreadlocks
Go for it! I converted a bedford TK into a motorhome and used it for years. Sad to see it go but i'll do another conversion one day.
http://sbmcc.co.uk was quite useful for me
At one stage, I did have a fetish to use an American school bus. A few were available at the time, less now.
A converted coach sounds great, though difficult to drive through the Alps without singing '...self preservation society...'
I ended up with a much smaller (more sensible for me sadly) 4WD DAF 7.5t (1977, ex. military). Not so good for access, but this was an advantage in
some 'hostile' locations....
I have considered doing something, however for me I would be looking at a GMC Jimmy or similar from the 40's, no MOT, no Tax and really cheap
insurance to offset against the fuel bills which I am sure a modern diesel would sort out.
This is a fugly thing, one with full canvas would be a lot nicer
http://www.milweb.net/classifieds/view_large.php?ad=90978&cat=3
[Edited on 19/7/17 by mark chandler]
What you need is a Carabus!
"In this gadgety-gimmicky world of ours engineers are forever dreaming up some new mechanical masterpiece ..."
does your car licence cover a bus? I was under the impression 3.5 tons was the limit for a cat B
just had a quick look...
B+E
This category allows you to drive a vehicle with a trailer over the usual combined MAM limit of 3,500kg. You’ll have this entitlement on your licence
as standard if you passed your test before January 1, 1997, in which case you’ll be limited to a MAM of 8,250kg.
However, if you passed your test after that date, you’ll have to take another test in order to obtain this category. Anyone who passed their B+E test
before January 19, 2013, can tow any size trailer, though those who passed their trailer test thereafter are limited to a trailer which itself has a
MAM of 3,500kg.
[Edited on 19/7/17 by Mr Whippy]
As Mr Whippy says, does you driving licence allow you to drive above 3.5 tonnes? mine does but then I'm old most people lost this entitlement after 1997 I believe.
My neighbour has a converted a UniMog. Looks huge on the driveway.
quote:
Originally posted by Toprivetguns
My neighbour has a converted a UniMog. Looks huge on the driveway.
quote:
Originally posted by Toprivetguns
My neighbour has a converted a UniMog. Looks huge on the driveway.
Hi,
If you ever need any help with insurance for this type of project then please feel free to drop me a line. We have schemes that can cater for bus
conversions with no issues.
Regards,
Dan.
This is one Ive been building with a mate,
Based on a DAF LF. ex bed delivery truck so drivers have always been clean, the box clean and not carrying massive weight.
http://www.corsasport.co.uk/board/garage.php?action=usergarage&owner=Ste&carid=8929&page=all
quote:
Originally posted by ste
This is one Ive been building with a mate,
Based on a DAF LF. ex bed delivery truck so drivers have always been clean, the box clean and not carrying massive weight.
http://www.corsasport.co.uk/board/garage.php?action=usergarage&owner=Ste&carid=8929&page=all
I used to work in automotive consultancy and visited Dennis once to quote for some work. i remember asking what the fundamental difference was between
a bus and a coach and it is all to do with suspension travel. Buses have very little wheel travel to allow for the low floor required and to minimise
the wheel arch intrusion in the vehicle to allow wheelchair access and for the seats to be on top of the wheels. this means they can't really do
more than about 40mph comfortably which is why they have small engines for the size of vehicle (typically 4-6 litre, 140-180 bhp) as they don't
need anything more for low speed use. Caoches are built much higher off the ground with the deck above the wheels so don't have the same
restrictions and are suitable for high speed use.
the low speed would be my biggest concern to actually get anywhere!
The problem with a lorry is loading the car, very long ramps or some form of lift required.
Mini pointer darts are good little buses i work on them a lot and have thought they would convert great as a motor home
you could put a bulk head at the top of the rear steps and have a bed room up there
a sink above the front nearside wheel arch
the only down side is where your other half sits while travelling ?
Jacko
quote:
Originally posted by jacko
Mini pointer darts are good little buses i work on them a lot and have thought they would convert great as a motor home
you could put a bulk head at the top of the rear steps and have a bed room up there
a sink above the front nearside wheel arch
the only down side is where your other half sits while travelling ?
Jacko
Rules for a motorhome on a car licence are 7.5 tonnes so I'm ok but bizarrely if you register a bus/coach (eg double decker over 7.5 tonnes) you
need an HGV licence rather than PCV!!!
Cheers