Who knows about coaches?

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Originally Posted by V8Ian

It's always been an ambition Chucky. I think using a coach with a 350ish hp L 10, M 11 or 6V92, OD box turning a 3.7 diff would give better economy than a mini bus, ex school bus or Land Rover towing a big van. I could tow the Disco and bike, and if I ever get an ultra light, that too. In this instance I think the cart should go before the horse. :D
I would have almost 12 metres of living area, needed for comfortable, extended touring.
I'd like to go and look at all the places I've only ever raced through in the dark. ;)

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The Detroit 6V92 it is an awesome engine but not as cheap to run as the Perkins copy on the Mazda T3500 with a performance of 10lt per 100 :D
After havi a bus conversion, lived and tour for 2 1/2 years if I have to do something like that again it will be base on a 4X4 Isuzu twin cab truck with a nice conversion camper box at the back like the All Terrain Warriors vehicles
I hope that your dreams come true, we live only once :)

Just had another thought too.

Not sure how big people are on open windows, but regardless of what the unit it is "we" end up with, it will have fully opening windows.

Running aircon endlessly is really expensive, and most times, all you need is air flow. Our Bedford has a reverse cycle split system, so we run,, its either a 5.5 or 7.5Kva generator, cant remember which, and it all ends up costing.

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Originally Posted by V8Ian

Brian, your mission, should you choose to accept it, is.............;):D

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Haven't seen one of either for a while but I do like the detroit with a RR.

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Originally Posted by Chucaro

The Detroit 6V92 it is an awesome engine but not as cheap to run as the Perkins copy on the Mazda T3500 with a performance of 10lt per 100 :D
After havi a bus conversion, lived and tour for 2 1/2 years if I have to do something like that again it will be base on a 4X4 Isuzu twin cab truck with a nice conversion camper box at the back like the All Terrain Warriors vehicles
I hope that your dreams come true, we live only once :)

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A Mazda T3500 is just a little bitty truck. Nowhere the same class of vehicle as a 40' or 45' three axle highway coach with a 6V92TA. By the way, the reason bussies liked the little Detroits was their light weight. Lighter weight engine meant more bums.

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Originally Posted by harlie

from memory (long time ago in a previous life)
1. 190ish cm
2. seat base no idea. would be about 20ish cm between the floor under seat and aisle
3. lowering the entire floor would require the chassis to be completely remodeled, so no. lowering just the aisle may be possible- too long ago to remember exactly whats there.
4. no clue, but they are solid.

Out of the 2, Austral is much nicer to drive, they have better cockpit layout (seat/pedals/wheel) with more adjustment, they handle better and ride better but they all suffered from rust in the frame - some unbelievably bad. The Landseers were in very good condition when the skin was removed, they are pretty much bullet proof.

I always thought the pick for a "camper" conversion was the Apollo high decker built for SunLiner on a Scania in the mid-late 80s (SunLiner went broke not long after Expo would have been early 89). But the running gear in the Denning/Austral will outlast the Scania especially the gearbox (you will have synchro and duel range shift problems) as apposed to single 6 or 7 speed Fuller or Spicer.

The 2 stroke 6v92 knows how to drink.

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I need a minimum of two metres head room, those who have met me will confirm.
Does the aisle sit between the chassis? Is the chassis a space frame? I have considered a deck and a half or double, heaps of space but at the expense of headroom. I certainly prefer the bulletproof simplicity of American running gear, it's easier for me to fix on the side of the road and get a country spanner man who knows about them. The two stroke can be very economical if driven gently.

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Originally Posted by Bearman

Haven't seen one of either for a while but I do like the detroit with a RR.

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I prefer the Eaton to Spicer, a nine speed double overdrive would make for low revs at 100 kays. Or :twisted:
I didn't think Eaton built a gearbox suitable for a coach in normal service.

Have a good look around before you commit too far Ian.
Commuter buses generally have flatter floors, designed for easier cleaning etc whereas the standard Denning Mono or Austral usually have dropped aisles, but this fact can be looked at from a different positive angle.
If the aisle is a sensible width then it can be an asset as you will find when moving around in a motor home you usually only walk down the centre anyway, so once the seats have been removed ancillaries such as lounges, kitchens, storage spaces etc are usually located along the walls so the fact that the floor under these spaces is higher than the aisle,is really no great problem
Most people look at the two aforementioned coaches for their roadability, but is that really a major requirement. Personally I don't think it is as the thing is a mobile home, not a highway everyday cruiser.
MCA built some nice bodies good for conversion and most major chassis builders supplied chassis at some time but these were cut between the rear of the front suspension and the front of the rear suspension and this section of chassis rail discarded and replaced by fabricated bin section.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...013/12/362.jpg
I personally always had a soft spot for a semi high deck (I wish we kept that one) with a flat floor so that toilets, showers etc can be actually located in the bins with access from the "living deck" or passenger compartment. Saves a lot of floor space above and the top of the toilet/shower section can be utilised up above if you get my drift. (The floor line on that vehicle is about level with the rubber rub strip along the side. 350 cubic feet of luggage space!)
That one was on a Merc 1625 chassis and as far as I am concerned no-one else has come up with a suspension system that even comes anywhere near the Merc airbag system, but then again airbags can be a problem on a mobile home unless you fit stabiliser legs (Chassis to axle) to allow for any air loss over a long standing period without use of the main donk.
That particular vehicle had a roof line that would easily accommodate you Ian and if you are looking for a similar type of vehicle I believe that it is getting close to moving on!
Most coach bins are designed to carry the weight of the luggage corresponding to the passenger content so any weight that you are going to apply should not be a problem unless you want to put a couple of tonnes in one bin rather than spreading it.
I would be looking for a semi coach rather than a coach, but having said that I do know where there is a Denning going begging at the moment.
Ian, one other very important factor that you have to get your head around is engines. The engine that appeals to a driver is very rarely the engine that appeals to an operator, and in your case the engine and drive line should not be the major factor as the vehicle is going to be doing an entirely different task than the one that the vehicle you currently operate does.
If this post doesn't serve any other means, at least it gave me a chance to go through some old coach photos again.
Regards
Glen

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Originally Posted by Chops

Just had another thought too.

Not sure how big people are on open windows, but regardless of what the unit it is "we" end up with, it will have fully opening windows.

Running aircon endlessly is really expensive, and most times, all you need is air flow. Our Bedford has a reverse cycle split system, so we run,, its either a 5.5 or 7.5Kva generator, cant remember which, and it all ends up costing.

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I did briefly consider a truck, but to get similar (but still less) living area I would be restricted to a Kenworth K 100. The cook would have access issues and I've never driven a cab over Kenny that was remotely comfortable. In my years on he road I've often cursed the converted old Leyland and Bedford school busses, ambling up the highway at 60-70 kph; I couldn't do it to my fellow truckies.
Arthur, the Mazda/Coaster etc. will not get the economy you are quoting at 100 kph or towing a Discovery and 350 kg motorcycle.

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Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

A Mazda T3500 is just a little bitty truck. Nowhere the same class of vehicle as a 40' or 45' three axle highway coach with a 6V92TA. By the way, the reason bussies liked the little Detroits was their light weight. Lighter weight engine meant more bums.

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I know,back home, when I done my apprenticeship the Detroit 6-71 series were very popular on the Greyhound Silverside monocoque-bodied buses

Thanks for your opinion Glen, as with all the replies I will consider the advice before committing.
I had considered a commuter bus but they lack bins for water, genny, gas etc.. An ex BCC/STA et al bus would need a diff and gearbox change. The BCC, upto the B58 only had a two speed auto, top speed 80 kph the Panthers only did 60. :o. Venture away from the cities and Hino seem popular with country operators, I am familiar with Yankie running gear and brakes etc. so self maintenance becomes harder.
How do coach toilets work, chemical? Do they have a vacuum cartridge or holding tank?