Getting tired of bus drama

[Scott & Heather]

Almost 11 years now fulltiming in two different buses…I’m getting weary of the constant mechanical drama. Just got stranded for the 5th time in this bus pm 322 down a steep grade with a broken ujoint. Had to get towed and of course now waiting to get the part fixed and bus back on the road. It’s always something. Literally about to put the bus up for sale. Those who have known me on here since I joined in 2009 know I’ve been a longtime hard core bus owner and fulltimer with my two little girls and wife. Last year I even swapped engines on this beast myself. Not scared of doing the job, just tired. Someday I just want to take a trip across country without drama. For reference, we drive our coach 15,000 miles a year.

[lostagain]

Don't think a different vehicle will be any easier. They all need maintenance. The all break down from time to time and need fixing.

[buswarrior]

Let out that primal scream, and sleep on it a few times.

So long as the repairs are done well, which you do, you don't re-visit that component again, until it dies another natural death.

Just as the coach is running out of things to wear out, you don't want to pack it in now?

But, just for fun, sit down and cost out the other ways you can do ministry, and feel better when the coach rises to the top of the "all things considered" pile.

Or, if it doesn't, then the right thing to do, is take the other "best" route ... thoughtful use of His resources being a responsibility...

We're pulling for you, no matter which path...

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

[epretot]

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

[Jim Blackwood]

Well, not to be one to bring up the obvious, but I found that when I began "improving" the engines of my vehicles to get more power I began experiencing increased maintenance and failures. Just the type of issues in fact that you have been experiencing if I recall correctly. Experience teaches me that when engine power goes up, either the driveline needs to be beefed up accordingly or service life is reduced, sometimes dramatically. Similar issues with cooling, etc, etc. I know it's wonderful to have the extra power, and also highly addictive, but there is a very real cost involved.

Jim

[luvrbus]

He was doing fine till he gave me all his spare parts  ,he is a tough young man with a great young family he will be ok when he takes a deep breath 

[tr206]

I feel your pain I get it. It's always the first thing on my mind every trip every day of the trip did I pack all the tools and parts I think I'm going to need. I sure hope it starts when I push the button and I should have changed these lines and those hoses boy I hope they will make one more trip. If this breaks where I am I going to find these parts that are rare and hard to find. I guess if I had a ton of money I'd feel better. Not to mention how pissed Mama is going to be if we break down.

[chessie4905]

How old were the ujoints? Greased regularlily?use the premium replacements as the cheaper models don't handle torque as well as long.

[windtrader]

Ditto Jim's point about adding HP that causes more stress on other components built not designed for the added HP. I know when cars are souped up, first the engine, then the driveline, differentials, tranny, brakes, etc.


As Scott states, he's been on the road for many years preceding the recent engine upgrade so he'd need to fill the timeline and incident frequency and types of failures. It is surprising that he's experiencing such failures on only 15k/year.

[DoubleEagle]

I suspect that U-joint was giving signs of being worn well before it failed. Regular maintenance should have caught it.

[dtcerrato]

On the other side of the performance coin is a bus like ours. Oem stock, a true turtle if you will... Running the same U joints & drive line as we did since 79 purchase. We like it that way & if we ever caravanned we'll meet you there cause ya probably wouldn't want to follow... Lol

[Busted Knuckle]

Scott I feel your pain!
After up sizing our fleet by 7 buses in one year, back in 2009-2010 and being super bus year and a SUPER HOT August! We experienced a rash of break downs where dad an I literally went out with parts and tools in a truck and a bus going to a broke down bus, giving the group and driver the bus we drove up in, and working on the broke down bus in hotel parking lots having parts over-nighted to the hotel, getting it running and cleaned up just in time to get another call and taking the bus we just fixed to another driver and doing it all over again 5 times in a row literally bus to bus to bus!
OH we were worn out exhausted and TIRED of BREAK DOWNS, but it was the nature of the beast and part of being in business!
We made it home finally and things slowed back to normal maintenance, but it was tempting to throw in the towel!
Trust me when dad told me in 2014 it just wasn't fun anymore I couldn't have been happier!
We closed the doors and ain't looked back since!
But I still love buses and am still going to convert the one I kept to us as I retire!

I think you'll get it ironed out pretty soon.
The other option might be a used professional conversion with low miles! (after all you know these old revenue buses are wore out before they get in the hands of converters, but even new buses well maintained still break from time to time!)
  BK 

[belfert]

Some friends of mine own a gasoline powered motorhome around 35 feet that they use quite regularly.  They were driving 20k to 25K a year before they moved and now do about 10k to 15k per year.  They have had several major issues with the motorhome over the decade or so they have had it.  They blew the engine one trip and had a new one installed.  I am pretty sure it was out of warranty so on their dime.   They had wheel bearing issues resulting in major work including new front spindles.  It took a week plus to get the spindles and that was pre-COVID.  They are constantly fixing things.

A motorhome is probably not going to be much better than a bus.

[muldoonman]

But cheaper to fix. A new motor in a gasser is $5000 to $7000. Last time I checked
 a few years ago , $25,000 to $30,000 for a rebuild at Stewrart Stevenson on a 8V92. House goodies breaking down would be the same. Wonder if Cliff would chime in and let us know about His fairly new ride in the current one on cost compared to a bus.

[luvrbus]

Trucks and RV with the 650 hp Cummins and Cat engines with 2000 ft lbs of torque  have the same u joint has Scotts bus,the new engine torque of 1500 ft lbs at the most had nothing to do with it