The BUS Forum (michael)

The BUS Forum. There are lots of forums on the web now. Everything from sewing to sex. If you have an interest, there is a 95% chance you can find somebody talking about it in a forum. If you have read any of our posts, you will see we have a "new to us" bus. I needed to find some information about it. So I went surfing and found some website with good stuff on it. Yea, it was ok, but I needed more. I needed to ask some real questions. Some hard questions. I needed to find the experts. Not just expert sites. I needed to find the guys that wrote that stuff. That good stuff about my bus. As I wrote before, converting is not for the faint of heart. Its down right tough. You must have passion for your bus. I needed to find the people with that same passion. I FOUND THEM! MAK Publishing Bus and Coach Conversions Bulletin Board. Here is the link: http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php Now don't be afraid. When you fill out your request to join, you will get an e-mail that sounds like an armored 10' tall guard at the iron gates shouting, "Who goes there and what do you want here?" Just answer the questions and you will receive your welcome, link and password. You will find that the cold, stern e-mail voice is in reality a kind, knowledgeable and helpful expert that is ready, willing and able to help you. And not just him. There is a whole team of bus fanatics that can't wait to get involved in what ever question you present. I have only been at MAK for 2-3 weeks, but I have been posting, polling, commenting, helping, asking, chatting and making lots of new friends. I am having a blast. So, if you have a bus or are thinking about getting a bus, come on over and sit a spell. Get comfortable. Have some fun, ask some questions and watch the experts work miracles on a daily basis. But, I must warn you! This is addictive. All the Best, Michael & Christi Please Comment Below

Plumbing, where to begin? (michael)

Plumbing, where to begin?

1st things 1st. Hit the Internet. Hmmm, Busnut, MCI Bus nut, Bus conversion. The plumbing tree, this looks good. Hmm, by Evangelina. "I can do this". OK, make a list. Give it to Christi. She comes back with all the right parts, she's good. Print the picture from the site. Scratch my head a little and Walla. Find and paint a piece of plywood, a little 1x2. Some keepers. Bam, just like Evan did it. "Now, where do I hang this thing?" Scratch, Scratch.

All the Best, Michael & Christi Please Comment Below

Buying Bus Conversion Insurance (michael)

Buying Bus Conversion Insurance What a pain in the B*TT! I have been asking other bus conversion buffs what they have done for insurance. It seems that one has to put their nose to the grindstone and call every insurance co. in the book to find one that offers full-coverage. Christi has been working on this one. Maybe I can get her to comment on it. Are buses a love/hate thing? I found this to be the best explanation on the web offered by Aon Recreation Insurance Co. The world of insurance can sometimes be difficult to navigate-especially when the investment you wish to insure is something as tough to define as a bus conversion. Don't despair, specialty RV insurance providers are very familiar with the unique needs of bus conversion owners. Post-9/11, the insurance market has been experiencing rough times. Insurance companies have experienced big losses and, with the stock market down, do not have the investment dollars to make up for those losses. So, we're seeing insurance companies retreat to lines of coverage that are the most profitable and predictable for them. How does this affect you, the bus conversion owner? You may see certain carriers choosing not to cover RVs or bus conversions anymore, or you may find that, as with most lines of insurance these days, small claims may result in a premium increase or even a loss of coverage. Also, in many cases, rates are increasing. With all these changes in the insurance industry, now's a good time to think about your coverage. Where to Start The first thing to know is there are two different ways to purchase insurance. You may either contact an insurance company directly or you can work with an insurance agent like us. There are a couple of disadvantages to dealing directly with an insurance company. First, it forces you to perform the feat of calling each company for their rates and coverage options to determine the best deal. As an agent, we do this work for you, checking with different insurance companies to find you the best rate and coverage for your vehicle. Insurance companies also give agents like Aon Recreation Insurance special coverage features to offer customers. By contacting an insurance company directly, you may be inadvertently shorting yourself on valuable coverage. Additionally, if problems arise during the claim process, agents become your advocate in dealing with the insurance company. And, contrary to what some RVers believe, agencies do not charge more or add fees to insurance companies' rates. School Bus Conversions With underwriting guidelines being tightened to keep losses in check, insurance companies are avoiding certain types of risk. One of the most well-known risks that most specialty RV insurance providers avoid is the school bus conversion. Very few companies will insure this type of vehicle. The main reason cited for this is the axle of a school bus is generally a narrower axle than that of a regular bus. Thus, when the additional weight of the conversion is added, it can result in a top-heavy vehicle, which is more susceptible to rollover accidents. Historically, more serious accidents have occurred to school-bus conversions as compared to regular bus conversions-enough that many companies are no longer willing to accept this risk. Older Bus Conversions Buses come under additional scrutiny because so many conversions are done on older vehicles. If your bus is older than 20 years, you may be asked to have a mechanic inspect it. This confirms that the bus's systems are up-to-date and working safely. Pre-Conversion Buses Since many of you buy buses you plan to convert yourself, building value in the vehicle as the months go by, you may need to insure it for physical damage before it's converted. You'll certainly want to have liability insurance (to pay for the other party's injuries if you're at fault in an accident) when transporting the bus from the dealership or place of purchase to your home or workshop. Many times, too, you will need to drive the bus to the upholstery shop or to a mechanic during the conversion process. Unfortunately, insurance companies do not offer temporary policies for RVs. You will need to purchase an insurance policy that lasts at least six months. You can get a liability-only policy, and the cost is generally minimal. If you opt for full coverage, a policy for a bus shell will generally have fewer features than a regular, fully-converted-bus policy. You will have less personal contents coverage and lower physical damage coverage because people usually don't carry as much stuff with them when they're in the middle of a conversion. For even a basic policy, most insurance companies requires the seats be removed and stipulate a period of time in which the conversion must be complete-typically a year-in order to continue providing coverage. Appraisals Once you find a policy you like, nearly all insurance companies will require an appraisal unless you are looking for a liability-only policy. The appraisal protects both you and the insurance company by establishing the value of the vehicle up front. It's in your best interest to have the vehicle professionally appraised so the insurance company knows what it's really worth. If you have a total loss and you didn't have an appraisal on record, it could be very difficult for the adjuster to ascertain what your vehicle was worth, since it was a one-of-a-kind custom coach. With a basic Actual Cash Value policy, the appraised value will serve as a starting point for the adjuster if you experience a total loss. The adjuster will consider when the appraisal was done and factor in depreciation to arrive at a settlement amount. To fully protect your investment over time, check with your insurance provider to see if they offer Agreed Value Coverage. Agreed Value Coverage locks in the appraisal value, and that amount is what you're paid if you experience a total loss-with no deduction for depreciation. The appraisal will need to be updated every two to three years. Your insurance provider should be able to refer you to a qualified appraiser or, in some cases, will allow you to do a complete evaluation of your own vehicle's condition. Your assessment can then be submitted to a valuation expert, who will search the market for comparable vehicles and, based on those and your vehicle assessment, place a value on your bus. This "self-evaluation" process allows you to have a hand in the appraisal, which makes sense because no one knows your bus better than you do. Once you get your insurance, don't forget that keeping good records of any improvements, changes or additions will protect you in between appraisals. Additionally, you should let your insurance provider know when you make changes that alter the value of your vehicle. In a total loss, the adjuster will take your updates into consideration. Bus conversions don't neatly fit into one vehicle category or another-unlike manufactured motorhomes-each one is unique. That doesn't mean you have to compromise on insurance. Specialty RV insurance providers have policies custom-made for your custom vehicle. When you purchase insurance, be sure you are working with a company that understands your lifestyle and your vehicle and has provided you with coverage that will amply cover your needs. With nearly four decades of experience insuring bus conversions, no one understands your unique vehicle like Aon Recreation Insurance, The Recreation Insurance Specialist. Aon has multiple carrier options and can provide you with a policy custom-designed for the special nature of your vehicle. Coverages may vary by state and company. Coverages are controlled by the policies issued and are not modified, extended or revised by the descriptions contained herein. Information offered on the web by Aon Recreation Insurance Co. All the Best, Michael & Christi Please Comment Below

Bus Conversion Sites & Blogs "BUTS" ( michael )

Bus Conversion Sites & Blogs "BUTS" There are alot of them, at first glance. Some professional and some novice sites. BUT, when you take the time to look at them, there are only a few that are, in my opinion, helpful at best and then they are incomplete. I have found a site that offers the bible for bus conversions for $XX.95. It states that you can read it for free on line at said website, BUT, when you go there it says that you can read part of this guide from this date to this date, then this part from this date to this date, and so on. It would take you 6 mos. to get access to the whole thing. But, I said, "I'll give it a try". It takes time to convert a bus, BUT,there are no good links to the book, they just go nowhere. This is a professional site? The large bus conversion companies have some good bus stats and pictures, BUT no real conversion information. Now, this is not a bad thing. These guys want your biz. BUT, guys like me cannot afford their services so we have to fend for ourselves. The private sites have better results. BUT, I am finding them to be works in progress and incomplete. Some sites start out very descriptive with lots of photos, BUT stop cold after the roof gets raised or the inside gets ripped out. Some sites are very descriptive BUT have no photos that have anything to do with the information given. And I found sites that are quite the opposite. Some websites are just plain confusing with no real value whatsoever. I came upon a site that was very well put together with lots of links to other pages, BUT there is a statement on the front page, "I put the bus in storage until I have time to work on it". That was in 2006! I've found sites that state they have been working on their bus for 2, 3, 5 and even 10 years. TEN YEARS!?! This is not encouraging to me AT ALL! BUT, I also found sites that quickly put in the basics and hit the road within 3 months of buying their bus. BUT, then they are working on it while they travel. I can hear it now, "Is it done yet? Is it done yet?" Try listening to that everyday. Pros & cons for this one. Hmm, another topic to blog about. The bloggers and forums are very helpful on a case by case basis, BUT, you cannot go to a specific category. You have to search the months and years of archives and hope to get lucky. Or you can just ask the specific question and hope for the right answer. Basically start from scratch. If someone could bundle all this information into one user friendly site. Wishful thinking? Perhaps. I think all in all I have found just enough good information for a complete bus conversion. BUT, then again it may be just enough information to get us in alot of trouble. The internet info is still incomplete, BUT its coming along. You cannot find everything you need to convert a bus into a home in one place on the internet. BUT, with lots of research, I'm talking lots of time, you can find just enough to do it. OK, all BUTS aside. It seems to me that you need at least some skills in the building or the mechanics department and alot of time to learn how to convert those skills to fit your bus project. If you don't have some knowledge or someone to guide you, steer clear of the bus thing and buy a manufactured ready for the road RV. BUT, if you do have what it takes, you should find converting a bus one of the most fulfilling events one could experience in ones life time. From planning, buying, building, completing and then traveling with your new family member. It will be a dream, my dream, come true. No "BUTS" about it! All the Best, Michael & Christi Please Comment Below