BusBuilding

Among the resources offered by the Escapees RV Club is a pdf download booklet, “How to Become a Real Texan” detailing how to deal with the issue of domicile once you’ve decided to sell the house and become an RV fulltimer.

Escapees offers a complete support network for the serious RVer. Get the Escapees information kit for further info.

Back when some of us worked on automobiles, we thought nothing of crawling under the car to change the oil or fix a muffler or just bang on a whazzit to get it working.

A. Bus. Is. Different.

The number one safety rule is never, never, never crawl under a bus without the framework being firmly supported. Unlike an automobile, almost all buses depend on an air suspension system to stay “afloat.”

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The World’s Toughest Bus

We bus converters are sometimes a little smug at how tough our vehicles are and sometimes look askance at some of the ’storebought’ rigs. (in a friendly way)

We might consider humbling up a little because none of ours would come close to the toughness of the Rhino Runner. Built by Labock Technologies of Florida, this bus can take anything you throw (or shoot) at it and is in use in some of the world’s most challenging situations.

[Hat tip to Richard, on the BNO Forum for the find]

You want to see bus conversion mastery at work? Take a look at this…

Gary is, from the ground up, almost completely rebuilding a 1973 Model 05 Eagle. I’ve looked at lots of buses under re-construction on the web and have rarely seen this kind of effort put forth.

Just one before-and-after example of his incredible attention to detail on the undercarriage:

Gary has created a Guide for the Inspection of Bus Undercarriages available on CD that showcases the effort he’s put forth and tells the story of his journey from ‘wannabe’ busnut to true bus conversion mastery.

Many folks follow the famed ‘Vagabonders Supreme’ Tioga and George. As they prepare to head north this week after a nice summer in Santa Rosalia, MX, George prepares his garden for his absence during the next many months.

He’s been helping friend Michel get a custom desk and working area built in Michel’s Lazy Daze RV. What got my attention was the beautiful custom cabinetry that cost $250 USD labor and materials for the new office desk.

Man, I’m heading to Mexico for my cabinetmaking and finishout!

UMA, the United Motorcoach Association, the trade organization for professional bus and motorcoach companies, will hold its Motorcoach Expo 2007 in New Orleans, on January 17-21, 2007. UMA’s 2006 convention in Tampa this year, with more than 130 exhibitors, 500 operating companies, and 1,500 attendees, was an apparent success.

Mardi Gras was bigger than many expected in 2006 and the city is working hard to welcome back visitors. One of the city’s upcoming signature events, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is scheduled for April 28-30 and May 5-7, 2006. The Fairgrounds event is boasting as impressive a lineup as ever, with headliners to include Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Gulf Coast native Jimmy Buffett, the Dave Mathews Band and Elvis Costello as well as local legends.

[MCI]