New Skoolie Discussion Board

[Utahclaimjumper]

 Toyo makes a damn good tire to.  The steers do really well on the outside edges..>>>Dan

[windtrader]

My comment was related to DIY conversions, not commercial conversions. It's Apples to Oranges to compare commercial and DIY conversions. AFAIK, DIY bus conversions did not start in any significant numbers until the 80's but I'm open to being enlightened when did pick up momentum.

[dtcerrato]

We performed our diy conversion in April of 1979 and been reworking, upgrading, remodeling, rebuilding it ever since...

[chessie4905]

My father had his 4104 done by Hoffman coach in Warren, Pa. near Erie in about 1984. Was supposedly their second conversion job.

[richard5933]

My comment was related to DIY conversions, not commercial conversions. It's Apples to Oranges to compare commercial and DIY conversions. AFAIK, DIY bus conversions did not start in any significant numbers until the 80's but I'm open to being enlightened when did pick up momentum.

Here's a video about the 1973 FMCA convention/rally. Take a look at the number of members driving converted coaches. Most of these were DIY conversions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epmm1NM-JTA&t=128s

There is nothing new to DIY conversions on highway coaches. It's been going on as long as there have been highway coaches.

[oltrunt]

Richard, thanks for posting the video.  Two or three observations came to mind.  First, how OLD the participants were.  Second, the large number of young members and third, if a convention sponsored a canoe ram and a rope tug of war and the like today the law suits wouldn't be settled in a hundred years.

My personal take away is that we might have missed something by not being FMCA members.  Those folks seemed to be having a grand time.  On the other hand wifey and I have never been what you would call "joiners".  At the time of that convention we were headed (alone) for Alaska in a brand new '73 GMC Suburban 4X4 all decked out for months of dry camping--an unforgettable adventure preceded the year before by a trek to Panama in a similarly outfitted '71 Suburban.

I doubt there is any way back to those days.  People today demand a comfort level that simply wouldn't consider frantic conga line dancing in sweltering 95 degree temps and for people like me, we would think long and hard before heading off for Panama solo.

Still, it is fun to dream and scheme and get out occasionally for a mid week camp out and participate in some of the BCM type gatherings.  Jack

[luvrbus]

Richard, thanks for posting the video.  Two or three observations came to mind.  First, how OLD the participants were.  Second, the large number of young members and third, if a convention sponsored a canoe ram and a rope tug of war and the like today the law suits wouldn't be settled in a hundred years.

My personal take away is that we might have missed something by not being FMCA members.  Those folks seemed to be having a grand time.  On the other hand wifey and I have never been what you would call "joiners".  At the time of that convention we were headed (alone) for Alaska in a brand new '73 GMC Suburban 4X4 all decked out for months of dry camping--an unforgettable adventure preceded the year before by a trek to Panama in a similarly outfitted '71 Suburban.

I doubt there is any way back to those days.  People today demand a comfort level that simply wouldn't consider frantic conga line dancing in sweltering 95 degree temps and for people like me, we would think long and hard before heading off for Panama solo.

Still, it is fun to dream and scheme and get out occasionally for a mid week camp out and participate in some of the BCM type gatherings.  Jack

I am with you Jack everyone knows the person by name and no printed schedule of actives for the day just hang out enjoying the time lol and finding you when it is meal time 

[chessie4905]

If you belong to a particular chapter or more, you can start getting acquainted with others, then after a few will have fun, then know others at a regional and national one. Or buy a newer Prevost and show off how much it shines.lol

[luvrbus]

If you belong to a particular chapter or more, you can start getting acquainted with others, then after a few will have fun, then know others at a regional and national one. Or buy a newer Prevost and show off how much it shines.lol

I don't live far from Quartzsite that is where one will find the largest gathering of buses every Jan plus the skoolie  and RV crowd lot of FMCA chapters in that desert every year

[Utahclaimjumper]

 That's also where you will find me this 23rd consecutive year..>>>Dan

[Dave5Cs]

We still belong to the "Northwest Busnuts" FMCA chapter which we were told it was the oldest chapter in the west of FMCA.
They have Rally's and events in the northwest and California every week.

[oltrunt]

Just kidding but I must have a genetic defect--every week? I find it a struggle to breath in and out day after day let alone do a FMCA outing every week!  Jack

[chessie4905]

our Penn Coachmen chapter has a meet once a month, usually from March through November. One of the members is the host at a location of their choice. They have their annual rally/business meeting at the Centre Hall Grange park. They meet there since 70's. Dad was a member of the Converted Coach chapter. Don't  know if it's  still around.

[windtrader]

Well, early 70's was well before my window of any interest in driving an RV around. The VW bus and painted yellow buses were the go to travel vehicles. I wonder how many bus conversions showed up at Woodstock? I'd take bets  the old white god fearing bunch in the FMCA were off somewhere else.

[richard5933]

No doubt there was a different audience for school buses and coaches then, just like there is now.