GM PD-4106 S/N 1113 performed her duties in the Southeast until her million miles rolled over on the odometer. After that, she was sold into obscurity, only to resurface in the late 1980s. 1113 was purchased new by Southeastern Stages in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1962. She was bought along with GM PD 4106 S/N 1112, which remains missing to this day.

A church group from the northeast part of Indiana purchased her to convert into a tour bus for their choir. They removed the original 41 seats and replaced them with 31 reclining seats to facilitate overnight sojourns. Only after these modifications did the church group seek approval from the Indiana Department of Transportation, which determined that the vehicle was not suitable for its intended purpose. The nature of the problem has been lost to history, but suffice it to say that the project was scrapped and the bus sat fallow for a few years until the former owner (the family from whom we bought the bus) entered the scene. 

The family owns a dairy farm in the southeast part of Indiana. As a side note, they are salt-of-the-earth people with whom we remain very good friends to this day. The family patriarch wanted a coach so he and the family could “see some country.” He contacted Bremen Coach in Indianapolis and began a conversation with them. A representative of Bremen offered his services, and the project got underway. 

First, he located 1113 at the church group, and a purchase was completed. Here’s where it gets interesting. The representative already owned two 4106 buses and needed a place to convert them. The farmer has several very large shops on his property, so he agreed to allow for the building of the three buses on the farm. The layout of 1113 was agreed upon, and the work began. The Bremen representative is Amish, so the quality of the woodwork in the coach is a given. It is beautiful and meant to stand the ages.

The farmer and his family enjoyed the bus for 27 years until the farmer’s wife began to show signs of dementia. Her health steadily declined until it was clear that her travelling days were over. They decided to sell the bus. 

Enter the Triple Nickel Ranch. Susan and I had kicked around the idea of “seeing some country”, but couldn’t figure out how to do it because the ranch required our attention. After 40 years of raising cattle, we finally decided that if we were to get out on the road, we would have to sell the ranch and fully commit to the lifestyle. 

Susan was in her 11^th year working for an RV dealership, so we were both aware of what could be had through that market. She had seen the shortcomings of modern production RVs, so we started looking into vintage bus conversions. We chose 35 feet as our length limit because many national parks do not allow longer units in their campgrounds. 

We both liked the GM 4701 “buffalo” because of the huge storage bays and the “theater seating” in the front three rows, but were unable to find good, ready-to-live-in examples during our few weeks of searching. The next obvious choice was the 4106. We really liked the look of this style, so the hunt was on. 

After a couple of weeks of searching, we located 1113 and contacted the owner. We drove our Jeep from Montana to Indiana, purchased the bus, and drove it to Elkhart, where we had our Blue Ox/Air Force One/Roadmaster Falcon tow hitch installed. Back to Montana to overwinter on the now-for-sale ranch. 

Luckily for us, a couple had been eyeing our property for some time, and when it went on the market, they bought it immediately. They were not ready to take occupancy until spring, so we waited until the roads were clear in spring to make our getaway. We located a coach conversion company in Spokane and drove the bus right over to get started on the process of making the changes that we thought necessary for us to enjoy the bus. 

Obviously, we could not live in the bus while it was being worked on, so we opted for a roof-top tent for our 2016 Jeep Rubicon. We chose the ARB model and found it entirely to our liking. By “our” I mean us and our two Burmese cats. We knew a couple in Spokane, and in the first days of our “Spokane Adventure,” he mentioned that the Spokane Gun Club had a nice campground, so we checked it out. 

Where we lived while our bus improvements were being made.

Sure enough, it was very nice and only $14/day. Problem solved. We had the run of the place. The showers and bathroom facilities were great, and during our 4 ½ months there, we only had to share the place with other campers on one weekend. We set up and tore down the tent every day; it takes about six minutes to fully set up and about 10 minutes to secure. 

We spent our days “running parts” for the bus. One day, it was the new bathroom sink, the next day, the upholstered cushions for the breakfast nook and dining table, the next day, the door, and so on. We had the weekends to ourselves, and since there is so much to do in Spokane, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

Refitting the bus was enjoyable. We removed the old flooring and dismantled the old factory's “hot water” heating pipes, which ran along the floor on each side of the bus. This gave us more floor space and made the area look a lot cleaner. We removed the jackknife sofa and replaced it with a worktop with drawers.

We reserved a space over the driver’s side front wheel for a woodstove, but that plan fell through, so the space remains empty. We later found a chest of drawers to fit in that spot, but it has since been donated to Goodwill; however, it was a great use of that space. The free-floating kitchen table and chairs were replaced with a built-in nook. 

The under-seat storage drawers hold a ton of stuff. The flooring was replaced stem to stern with Adura vinyl. The only carpeted surfaces in the bus are alongside the bed and over the rear wheel wells. 

The space between the kitchen table and the single second passenger chair is filled with Susan’s computer table. It is a quarter-round table and is plenty big for her needs. We had lots of extra power ports installed in this area. We have installed a Smart Wi-Fi router and a weBoost signal booster with a trucker antenna for the Wi-Fi Ranger.   

The kitchen has been refitted with a larger Blanco 8441369 Vision stone single-bowl sink. New Corian countertops were installed, matching the work table, the computer table, and the bathroom counter. A Meile commercial chef’s unit replaced the two-burner cooktop. The two drawers below it are cavernous. The backsplash is composite and matches the cloth wallcovering. A Cuisinart toaster oven sits in its alcove and is sufficient for preparing full meals. 

We converted a tall, thin broom closet into a slide-out pantry.

Just opposite that and behind the nook is the Norcold refrigerator/freezer. It operates on electric, propane, or battery power. The headliner is made of white vinyl, and the side valances feature LED strip lighting.

The bathroom was remodeled with convenience and comfort in mind. The old RV toilet was replaced with a Dometic 310 (high-rise) ceramic bowl, and the bathroom sink is a glass above-counter installation. The shower stall is a very large corner unit. We installed waterproof lighting inside the stall and replaced the old door with a clear glass door to give the space a less cramped appearance. There is a small hanging closet in the bathroom. It sacrificed some of its volume to widen the bathroom counter.

All of the original Amish-built cabinetry is still in place. We added to that cabinetry in our refit, but did not remove any of the original carpentry. We did, however, replace the drawer pulls as the original Early American styling was not to our liking, and they were “clothes grabbers”. All of the glass artwork on the walls is backlit. We needed a touch of color, so we contracted with a very talented lady in Spokane to provide us with that. Funnily enough, we replaced the dairy farmer’s-stained glass “cow-themed” artwork with our own cow-themed artwork. 

The bedroom received the most significant makeover. The original single beds were scrapped, and a pedestal was built for the queen-size latex mattress. The pedestal is hinged and has hydraulic lifts. There is quite a lot of space under the bed. 

The cabinetry on the back bulkhead was removed to accommodate the mattress. We installed a 32” television in the overhead cabinet. Overhead cabinets along each side were left as is. 

Up front, the previous owner redesigned the dashboard to include all new gauges. The layout is simple and tasteful. We opted for a slightly smaller diameter steering wheel as the Ross power steering assist unit makes turning quite effortless. A King Cruise Control was fitted and works wonderfully and a Cobra CB radio was installed. 

The captain’s chair is very comfortable and electric. I can easily change the driver’s seat position while on the move. The passenger seat and the second passenger seat are full recliners. The dash has a Garmin GPS. The EZ tire monitor system and rear-view safety wireless backup camera also occupy this space.

The entryway steps are Corian with carpeted side walls. They are easy to keep clean in wet weather. Three small lights on the steps automatically come on when the door opens.

Now let’s head outside. Starting at the front, the headlights have been upgraded to LED units. The mirrors are heated and electrically controlled from the driver’s seat. The windshield wipers are Mercedes-Benz units, and the air valve that controls them is a new one. They work beautifully. The compartment door rubber hinges have recently been replaced. The generator is a Yanmar 25 kW diesel unit that draws power from the main fuel tank. It can be started “on the fly”.

The main compartment extends through to the other side and is remarkably spacious, with a carpeted interior. All of the bays have lights. The water bay is next. We installed electric dump valves on all the tanks. The tanks are specifically designed for this application. The See Level dual tank monitoring system features readouts both inside the bus and at each tank. 

Also in this bay is the 2800 Magnum Pure Sine Wave inverter. A tankless system heats our water. Next is the battery bay. We currently run two AGM batteries, which are sufficient for our needs. 

The back compartment on the driver’s side provides access to the radiator. The radiator has been increased in capacity from 2 to 3 cores, and we had a misting system built for it. It works well in hot conditions. The deck lid has been modified with a “bump” for the Jacobs brakes. 

We added a tow hitch for our 5,000-pound Jeep Rubicon. The combination Blue Ox/Roadmaster hitch system was installed in Elkhart, Indiana, and has functioned perfectly ever since. The bus taillights have also been changed to LEDs. 

Moving around to the passenger side, we installed a 3-filter water purifier system for the freshwater tank. Next is the other side of the main bay, then the 140-gallon fuel tank bay. Next is the 100-pound propane tank bay. The tank does not quite fill the bay, so there is ample storage space available.

OK, let’s go up on the roof. We have six 640-watt solar panels, two Dometic Penguin low-profile air conditioner/heat pump units, a beautiful-sounding pair of air train horns, a pair of WiFi Ranger, WeBoost trucker’s antennas, and a Rear-View Systems RV550 color backup camera. Two Fantastic Fan ceiling fans complete the roof for ventilation inside the bus.

The sliding windows are all Pacific. The front windshields are new. The outside windows have manual awnings, and the inside window coverings are MCD electric day/night shades. The passenger side of the bus has a Carefree power main awning with integral LED lights and automatic wind protection which retracts if it gets too windy. 

The original 22.5 tires on steel rims have been upgraded to 24” tires on Alcoa aluminum rims. The spare steer tire is carried in its stock location in a slide-out tray behind the front bumper. An EEZ Products Tire Pressure Monitor System monitors tire pressures.

The 8V71 Detroit Diesel runs beautifully. We upgraded to an air throttle and Jacobs brakes. The Jacobs brakes work exceptionally well on downhill grades, and we happily tackle the steep ones without hesitation. Power is transmitted through an Allison 730 automatic transmission. A rebuilt starter was installed in 2019. The oil bath air cleaners have been reconditioned. The air dryer was replaced in January 2019.

The fuel tank supports were reinforced with steel bars. The airbag support pads were replaced in the rear, as were all the airbags, as of 2019. A block heater was also installed for those cold morning starts.

The bus was designed (or, rather, redesigned) as a workspace for two people. We sell small items on the Internet, so computer space was necessary. Additionally, countertop space was required for the “packing and shipping department,” hence the large countertop was installed in place of the original (and very uncomfortable) jackknife sofa. I also restore straight razors, so the workspace is appreciated. I use no electrical machines on my restorations, so the bus is free of dust and clutter.

During the two and a half years we spent on the road, we experienced only one mishap, which was a blown hydraulic hose which we immediately replaced. The bus is very roadworthy and handles like a dream.

In 2019, Susan was diagnosed with a primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the brain. She was life-flighted to one of the best brain cancer hospitals in the country and started her treatments immediately. Fast forward to 2025. After many chemo and radiation treatments, she is now producing cancer-free MRIs and has been for almost two years. 

She sailed through the treatments without pain or hair loss but, unfortunately, the chemistry and radiation took a terrible toll on her optic nerves and her eyesight is now what her ophthalmologist describes as like looking through two soda straws with no peripheral vision…and the vision through the soda straws is poor, at best. 

She still spends many hours daily on the computer, but now the type is larger and the text has been switched from black type on a white background to white type on a black background. She requires regular visits with her oncologist and ophthalmologist, so it became apparent that we would have to remain stationary at least until the doctors release her from their care in a few years.

We came to the painful decision that we would have to sell the bus. We were pretty heartbroken about it, but it was the best solution to the problem. Oh, well, we got two and a half years of fun out of it. Now it can be passed on to new owners and provide many miles of fun for them. 

NOTE: You can see this beautiful Amish quality bus in our Classified Ad section. Classified Ads HERE