2 strokes and Kalifornia

[dtcerrato]

I figure most bus nuts don't think this way but as far as we're concerned, after 40 years of same bus ownership some of it full time and most of it "an investment" as all the per diem was pocketed due to the bus option - if the day comes where regulations, fuel prices, etc., etc. Is too much a hardship - we will just drive it to a good resting place & park it for a tiny home.

[richard5933]

I know it's possible that CARB can change things, but right now it's just conjecture unless you've heard something about them pulling the exemption after more than a decade.

There is no way to predict lots things that may affect our buses in the future or what new regulation may come around regarding them.

If I lived in California I'd be contacting whatever RV owners group there is out there to see if any lobbying efforts are underway on this. There can't be more than a few dozen two strokes out there in motor homes right now, so I just don't see this as a target worth going after.

Will parts become more difficult with support from DD stopped? Of course. Remember though that there are still aftermarket channels out there, like the ones still supplying parts for cars which were manufactured 60+ years ago.

Unless something has changed, 2-strokes in California can still be sold if the buyer is out-of-state and certain requirements are met. I looked into buying one a year or so ago and the seller tried to explain to me all the details. It sounded difficult, but not impossible.

[luvrbus]

The aftermarket parts made off shore for the 2 strokes is pure junk I won't waste my time or the owners money installing the junk it pissies you off when the box says made in the USA and contents have made in China on the sleeve and piston set, I came across doing a piston in series 60 

[windtrader]

Come on guys! I had to reread the original post for reason for all the hysteria about our old 2 strokes buses. I'll take any bet that our exclusion will endure until well after we are all dead and gone.
The only reason we (2 stroke bus conversions and RV) were addressed at all was that CARB had to account for all vehicles falling under this vehicle classification. Remember, the reason for any of this was to get gross pollution emitters off the road.

It looks like ONE person actually read the document that I posted. Open and read that PDF and this second one too. It will stop the confusion once and for all.

The entire deal was to target commercial vehicles and get them off the road in a planned and staged manner. Read the exclusions in both documents.

There is no need for any lobby as there is nothing to lobby about. Old timers may have better ideas of how involved the RV industry was with shaping the rules back then. They had a reason to lobby to make sure the impact on their industry was minimal, even though the larger 2 stroke units were are small part of the total production.
Others can provide insight to the situation today but I suspect any new large 4 stroke diesel pusher needs to follow the standard issued CARB standards for regular commercial vehicles. I'd bet the RV industry does pay to watch for any new regulations that affect the industry; it just does not seem emissions is a battleground any longer. I'm sure vehicle safety standards is on their radar.
Please take a toke or a drink and relax while watching the sun set at the beach or desert.

[Nova Eona]

I'd say that so long as CA is loaded with rich people and classic car collecting remains a rich people hobby, there probably won't be anyone in the recreational categories getting kicked off the road.  There are people with way more money and time than us folks making sure they can still cruise around in ancient vehicles.

[buswarrior]

I'd say that so long as CA is loaded with rich people and classic car collecting remains a rich people hobby, there probably won't be anyone in the recreational categories getting kicked off the road.  There are people with way more money and time than us folks making sure they can still cruise around in ancient vehicles.

These are the mother's skirt that we will hide behind. Until some bureaucrat slips some words into a document, and nobody is there to yell to remove them.

When your life is based on an exemption, it is folly to assume it will continue, without attention. Bureaucrats hate exemptions in anything... trust us, we're from the government...

Regular encouragement to one's camper association to stay engaged, so their lazy asses don't stop paying attention...

Silence is the biggest danger.

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

[ktmossman]

I don't doubt that recreational owners of 2-strokes are well below the radar of the politicians.  However, a significant portion of the menace of government comes from unintended consequences.  The danger is some green-eyed lobbyist having a "wonderful" idea to further limit emissions from commercial vehicles but, once passed into law, the bureaucrats realize the way it was worded, it isn't actually limited to commercial.  But, no one is going to vote to change it for fear of running afoul of the green police.  Oops...

[oltrunt]

I'd have to agree with Buswarrior on this. I'd ad that keeping our buses as smoke free as possible is also an important strategy.  All it will take is for one bus blowing coal directly in front of an enterprising (though well meaning I'm sure) legislator on his way to work for the guy to suddenly link the pieces and make the corrections.  Sort of like the look on the face of my old cat when in his youth he caught his first bird.  Jack
.

[luvrbus]

There is over 60 years of CARB ruling it would take years to read the stuff,they don't enforce RV engines much but they have plenty of loop holes when and if they decide too LOL why would Detroit build a engine just for CA in RV's use with special cams,injectors, positive crankcase ventilation, catalytic mufflers and Walker catch can for the air box drains,they can get the 2-stroke engines anytime they choose ,like Dave said they will give you a repair ticket for smoke in a RV when that happens here I just make a air gap adjustment for the people and send them on their way make the engine a dog though     

[windtrader]

Please provide the political rationale why resources, time, energy would be spent on targeting our nearly invisible numbers? I agree totally our tiny safe haven can be inadvertently caught up in a larger political and law changing issue.
There simply is no interest to pursue us - identify a single company funded lobby or politician or special interest group that gives a crap about old converted OTR buses.

As to blowing smoke down the road. Really? Maybe around Q you'll see some but out in the wild on any average metro area, how many old bus conversions do you see? Right, hard to make an argument out of thin air. In the grand scheme of things we do not exist.
I assure you massive battles are being fought between governments and automakers over how current road infrastructure funding needs to change as every single new EV escapes paying fuel taxes that maintain and build roads and bridges. All the battles in the domestic petroleum production fields is another one; huge money and huge global impact. Examples like this illustrate the magnitude and breath of change where things are headed.
 

[luvrbus]

LOL makes no difference in 15 years CA is going to total electric or Hydrogen if your governor has his way,there hasn't been any diesel trucks allowed in the ports in CA in several years only CNG powered trucks 

[Dave5Cs]

Nope they tried Hydrogen when Arnie was in office here. He got it stopped because he found it wouldn't bring in enough revenue and the car makers would only make really small cars to test.
So now it is electric and flex fuel. When the experiments fail they just raise the Taxes if the people vote it down they add it to the price at the pump.

[luvrbus]

I wonder how and when CA an other states will start taxing the Telsa charging stations

[richard5933]

I wonder how and when CA an other states will start taxing the Telsa charging stations

If EVs take off and become a larger chunk of the US 'fleet' I'm sure that something will be done, and not just in California. Of course, electricity is already taxed in most places so they'll have to figure all that out so we're not double taxed.

Federal fuel tax hasn't been raised since 1993, and that was long before anyone had an inkling that EVs would come along like they have.

[Dave5Cs]

Back in the 70's wasn't it when Ford tried it with the Electric cars and then when the batteries went and it was a lot to replace them we saw many of them stacked up in wreaking yards and no one wanted them.
We already are double taxed and triple taxed on everything.