Which rv/5th wheel solution for full time?

[zmotorsports]

I've been doing some more research on the bus conversion. It'd be a project, that's for sure. I feel like I could handle most of it, but there are a few parts that would be out of my comfort zone:

1) wiring
2) generator
3) water tanks
4) a/c units
5) keeping an older bus mechanically sound all the time

I'm not entirely ruling out a bus, but it'd take a LOT of work to get it where I need. Furthermore, I'd love a slide, and adding a slide to a bus is an enormous undertaking.

I'm also worried about length with a class A towing a trailer. It'd be tough to find spots to camp/boondock with such a huge setup.

Steve, when my wife and I were upgrading in 2006 from our previous coach and not finding the "exact one" I was looking for, I did a lot of research and wanted to do a bus conversion myself. I had seen some that others were building and thought I could do as good if not better job on one. My wife was absolutely against it, wouldn't even discuss it. Her reasoning was two-fold, first I didn't have a shop large enough to do a conversion in and therefore I would have to work on it outside which she knew I would begin to resent in short time, secondly she knows how anal I am about things and figured we would not be able to actually use it for quite some time. Now looking back, I think she was right on both charges.

When I was looking I also saw many for sale on forums that were in the middle of being converted and after talking with the respective owners and inquiring as to why they were selling I got the feeling that the project turned out to be larger than they had anticipated and they probably initially liked the idea of building a bus but were not prepared for the time and money commitment.

Although they are a very intriguing undertaking there is probably a reason why you don't see as many on the road or in campgrounds as you do on the actual bus conversion forums. Just some food for thought, not trying to persuade you one way or the other. Just from personal research.

Mike.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I think you're spot on. To get a bus where I want to live in it full time for a year or two, it's going to take a year or two just to build it, and even then I don't have the expertise or patience needed.

 

[Alcancia]

funny you mention that. heres my old setup. Loved this thing. Nothing fancy at all. Bought the bus for 1100 dollars, ran great. Problem free for the 3 years or so that i owned it. Had access to waste jet fuel at my job and ran it all off that for the whole time. Retitled as a ford motorhome so insurance and registration was dirt cheap. check out skoolie.net for lots of inspiration. some amazing builds on there.

That thing is awesome! I've been pretty obsessed with this idea for a while, may have to pull the trigger on it. Where did you buy the bus?

 

[jeeper]

Just adding another opinion into the pile..

A 5th wheel would get real tiresome with the towing and hitching all the time. Travel will be longer, harder with a 5th wheel.

I would vote motor home with an enclosed trailer. Here's why:
-Motorhome allows access to food, potty, sleep for one of you while the other drives. No stopping involved for those items. You could even get good at the switching drivers without stopping trick!
-enclosed trailer provides plenty of space for bikes, kayaks, tools, etc, along with enough room for the get-around-vehicle. Everything would be safe and secure from theft, weather, etc.
-enclosed trailer keeps any chemicals, spills, parts, etc out of the living quarters. anything spills in a toy hauler and you smell it for months.

My opinion on get around vehicle is something in the small 4x4 range. There will be plenty of times a dirt road calls to you, and plenty of times you need a city vehicle. But you can't have both vehicles. Something like a sidekick, samurai, tracker, (custom bobbed taco ), ect would give you a removable top to feel the wind and sunshine. It would be small enough for city, yet provide enough ability to get out and see behind the scenes stuff.

 

[joshbmx1201]

That thing is awesome! I've been pretty obsessed with this idea for a while, may have to pull the trigger on it. Where did you buy the bus?

thanks, id love to do another one. i bought it from a private school in denver that went out of business. its pretty easy to find nice busses for less than 3k that were well maintained. but like anything, the more you spend you can get better engine/trans combos. that was a old detroit 8.2. not the best engine but did ok. if i did another i would try to find a better engine/trans combo. they are built like tanks though. cutting them up is a good amount of work. the next one i did i might keep it whole for more living space and just pull a trailer with it.

 

[sixstringsteve]

My opinion on get around vehicle is something in the small 4x4 range. There will be plenty of times a dirt road calls to you, and plenty of times you need a city vehicle. But you can't have both vehicles. Something like a sidekick, samurai, tracker, (custom bobbed taco ), ect would give you a removable top to feel the wind and sunshine. It would be small enough for city, yet provide enough ability to get out and see behind the scenes stuff.

I like this idea. I only wish sidekicks were more reliable. Something like a honda crv or a 2 door rav 4 might fit the bill. I think an old TJ could do the job well too. Not knowing the states very well, I wonder how many dirt roads I'll be able to explore outside of Utah. I imagine texas, arizona, and new mexico will have some great 2-track roads.

I also wonder if I could find a toad (tow-behind vehicle) that's big enough to store the bikes in. Like our honda fit, or maybe a scion xb or something. Though that might suck when we get to the grocery store and all our grocery room is taken up by the bikes.

 

[zmotorsports]

I like this idea. I only wish sidekicks were more reliable. Something like a honda crv or a 2 door rav 4 might fit the bill. I think an old TJ could do the job well too. Not knowing the states very well, I wonder how many dirt roads I'll be able to explore outside of Utah. I imagine texas, arizona, and new mexico will have some great 2-track roads.

I also wonder if I could find a toad (tow-behind vehicle) that's big enough to store the bikes in. Like our honda fit, or maybe a scion xb or something. Though that might suck when we get to the grocery store and all our grocery room is taken up by the bikes.

Steve, a small or mid-size 4x4 pickup with a shell could safely carry your bikes and provide protection from the elements while still being able to be flat towed. There is your run around vehicle, off-road capable vehicle and storage all in one. Most diesel coaches would have no problem towing a 5k plus pound toad. Just another option if the enclosed trailer option is weighing heavy on your mind.

Mike.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Steve, a small or mid-size 4x4 pickup with a shell could safely carry your bikes and provide protection from the elements while still being able to be flat towed. There is your run around vehicle, off-road capable vehicle and storage all in one. Most diesel coaches would have no problem towing a 5k plus pound toad. Just another option if the enclosed trailer option is weighing heavy on your mind.

Mike.

not a bad idea at all. Maybe a little 4 cyl 5 speed tacoma with a shell on the back to hold the bikes. That could be really cool.

 

[Toad]

I have several buddies that use diesel pushers for this same exact thing. We took one down to 5 mile dirt biking a while back. We were hanging out watching TV. Popped some popcorn. Had a few sodas. Before I knew it we were ready to unload. Pulled a 20 foot enclosed trailer with 2 quads and 4 bikes in it. I think it averages about 10 mpg. Cummins with Allison trans. I think you would be better of with a motorhome and a enclosed trailer behind it.

 

[Marsh99]

Steve have you considered a Earth Roamer type of setup?

 

[sixstringsteve]

Earth roamers are super cool, but the biggest one starts $340k and goes up $600k depending on options. That's more than my house. No way I can afford it.

 

[Kevin B.]

not a bad idea at all. Maybe a little 4 cyl 5 speed tacoma with a shell on the back to hold the bikes. That could be really cool.

Too bad you don't like 4cyl 5 speed Tacomas, that'd be perfect.

 

[Marsh99]

Earth roamers are super cool, but the biggest one starts $340k and goes up $600k depending on options. That's more than my house. No way I can afford it.

I totally get that. I was thinking more of DIY Build of one.

Or I found this company
http://www.tigervehicles.com

Even have some used ones.
http://www.tigervehicles.com/invent...hicle-used-vehicle-approximately-15000-miles/

 

[Gravy]

Why did you delete my post About building a box to hold the bikes?

 

[sixstringsteve]

a 4x4 camper would rock, especially for backcountry discovery routes, but if I were building it from scratch, I think I'd be money ahead to just buy a bus and tow a small 4x4 behind for exploration purposes.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Why did you delete my post About building a box to hold the bikes?

Wasn't me, I saw that post. Great idea. Maybe you posted it my other rv chit chat thread.

Where would the box sit? Between the rv and the toad?

 

[jeepin4x4james]

Diesel pushers are not cheap to have worked on... Most shops are $130+/hr... And everything takes longer to work on due to tight spaces.
Do you need huge? Why not a slide in camper with 1 or 2 slides pulling an enclosed. 4 wheel drive pickup of your choice, quick and easy to load/unload. And the new campers are unbelievably roomy.

 

[mbryson]

I wonder if a box type truck towing a travel trailer might be a decent solution? Retired U-haul type thing. You'd have covered, "secure" storage for bikes and tools. A bigger unit wouldn't even blink at a Miata to carry. A medium duty truck wouldn't care at all about towing a travel trailer. They aren't exactly speed demons anyway.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Do you need huge? Why not a slide in camper with 1 or 2 slides pulling an enclosed. 4 wheel drive pickup of your choice, quick and easy to load/unload. And the new campers are unbelievably roomy.

To be honest, I'm not sure how huge we need. I haven't looked at slide-in campers yet, maybe I'll have to check them out. I didn't even know they made camper shells with slides.

 

[Bart]

A slide in camper will get small very fast, even with slide outs.