A new addition to the Family

[kiwijim]

Howdy all,

Well I've done it again, went out chasing another caravan the other day, as usual it turned out to be a heap of junk.

On the way home we spotted this Motor Home for sale,
"Yep" you guessed it, the "Dear One" fell in love with it,
So....... here I go with another re-build, at least it's in the 70's......




The Coaster runs on Petrol and Auto Gas, it has a 100Lt Gas tank in the rear...

She had a double bed across the rear, that's gone, and I'm now building two singles in it's place....

"Yep" hot water and a shower, even room for the Porta Potti......


can't forget the new Micro wave.....


and the stove.....


Well I suppose this means I don't qualify for the Classic Caravan runs with the bus,
Guess I'll just have to keep looking for that old caravan, now that we have the Bus, I'll bet a van turns up in the very near future, I'm still lookin.

Cheers kiwijim

[murray]

If Jean approves it's okay by me
Cheers
Murray

[Deleted]

Hi Jim,
That's a nice looking van mate. Definately looks like a good buy.
Then again if it wasn't you wouldn't have purchased it.
How did you find it. ??
The bus looks like it's around the 70's era.
Put a draw bar on it an that should sort the problem ( caravan ) ha ha
;D
regards
Teflon.

[millard1399]

Wow!! Your very own Toyota Ansett Greyhound bus!!

This is gonna take dashboard photography to a whole NEW level! ;D ;D

Will you be drawing straws to see who sleeps on top of the gas bottle, or have you already been told it will be you?!

And have a go at those stereo speakers above the bed too, will ya?

Crikey! There'll be some noise coming out of this bus, for sure!!


Great find!

cheers,
Al.

[Deleted]

Hey those speakers are so jim can have his own Disco 70's style
Hey jim, you could do your own " Saturday Night Fever " just add a Disco ball and Strobe light, turn the old wireless up and mate, Just stroll down memory lane.
Not enough room for the John Travolta slide though .... damn
;D ;D ;D

[kiwijim]

Howdy Guys,

Yes, Jean took one look inside the bus, saw the nice big shower with running hot water ( from a Hugh 150Lt water tank ) and room for the all-important porta potti, then stated......."We're gonna have this" ...... yes dear

To answer your question Teflon, I first spotted this bus for-sale on the local ( free to advertise ) Gumtree about a week ago, as we were in the area looking for another Classic I thought we would have a gander at it, just to fill in the after-noon but, being a thrifty Bloke I offer the owner $2.500 less than what he wanted, "Dang Me" if he didn't say O.K.

Those speakers in the rear are matched to two more up front in the roof, they're hooked up to a brand new C.D. played sitting in the dash, and "YES" Al .......they do make one heck of a noise when turned up, they can hear "OLE SLIM" miles away.

One last thing, it's the Boss who will be sleeping over the Gas Cylinder, she's always slept one my left and that's where she will stay, I've told her, there's no worry I will have a new Certificate for the Cylinder before we travel, so she'll be right.

The bus is a 77 model, running Petrol/ Gas, manual 5 speed and has had $00,000's spent on it just recently, two new front tires, new radiator, new clutch, front shockies, rebuilt carby, new exhaust, new micro wave, all new wiring and certified, new gas lines and certified. plus new paint, and last but not least a new Air-con hanging on the rear, OH plus a new C.D. and U.H.F. C.B. in the dash.....

What's the hole in the floor for ??
this.....


Already fitted with a tow bar, so still hunting that next Classic. ;D ;D ;D

The reason it was on the market,...... owner caught for the third time D.U.I.... he will be walking for the rest of his natural.

Cheers all kiwijim ;D

[drylander]

check the regs re the water heater. I think they are now outlawed. Just a heads up from a former MH user (still own her though) a leyland 26fter unfortunately petrol
Pete

[kiwijim]

G'day drylander,

Yep, you are right, the water heater is on the short list for replacement, just gotta get the beds rebuilt first.

cheers kiwijim ;D

[viscount6116]

G'day Kiwijim
and might I say a very nice setup mate!
Cheers Andy

[bobandjacqui]

Looks great Jim, User friendly for you old people ;D ;D

As Slim sings "Keep on keeping on"

Mate it's great to see that you are both enjoying the journey ;D ;D

Look forward to catching up somewhere on the road ;D ;D ;D

Cheers and beers Bob and Jacqui

[kiwijim]

Howdy Guys,
I got stuck into the bus over the last week,

Ripped out that perfectly good hot water system and found a Suburban Make H.W.S on E Bay complete with door ( usually sold separately ) and with auto ignition, selling for around $300 less that what is on the market here, plus it was offered with free delivery......One happy kiwi ;D ;D ;D

"Yes"... Bobandjacqui, there is a good chance we may meet on the road again, there should be no more Caravan Parks for us now that there is a shower plus loo for the "Dear One" in the bus, plus that washing machine we had in Tamworth will be going in the bus shortly as well. ;D ;D

Jean has always wanted a bus so, I guess she has got her way.....for now
that is until I spot another Classic ;D ;D ;D

[drylander]

Seeing the bus is a '77 modeland most rego depts call them caravans I guess you still have a classic ;D
Pete

[millard1399]

Don't worry, if kiwijim ever tries to delete his forum membership, he'll be met with a "Request Denied!!".

Heck, I'll still talk to him even if he buys a 1990s van, heh heh. ;D

[bobt]

Hey Kiwijim

Like the new tow tug.. bit more luxurious then some of them others floating around. Very versatile too with all them mod cons inside.

Come ta think of it ya hardly need a caravan anymore

They tend to open up some new camping type opportunities and they create a couple of disadvantages too..

Well best ya keep us posted on its development.

yep its still classic ;D

yep we vote it a caravan ;D

[kiwijim]

Howdy Gents,

Pete, the bus is licensed as a Motor home, this knocks the cost down a good amount, about the same as the Nissan.
Yes, I still have the Thomson, The "dear One" wanted to keep all the Stickers we had stuck to the ceiling from our trip "Around the Block"
I have removed all of them "Jez" what a job that was, now I have to repaint the entire ceiling before I advertise it For Sale.

A message for Millard 1399.... from Jean, she thinks you are Luvley for still talking to us , even if we don't have a Classic Van, and she can't wait to start traveling just to photograph some really large pic's of her new Dashboard

You are right Bobt, there are a few draw-backs with having a bus as traveling accommodation, the one thing is, if we want to go to the shops, it means taking every-thing with us,
it has been suggested that we tow Jeans little Holden Apollo behind the bus, the only problem there is, it's automatic, this means more expense with a trailer and I doubt the Bus would have the power to do the job.

Well Guys it's nice to know we are still classed as being Classic Members, and we will keep reporting on our repairs and our future travels. ;D ;D ;D

Cheers kiwijim

[atouchofglass]

Hey Kiwi
Well..... a defector from classic to ..... ?? ??
OK still a classic...

That thing is long enough to have it's own bowling alley.
There's a way of earning a few extra $$$
Rent out the floor as a bowling alley.....

Good to see you are thinking of the next trip around.
After the bus what will you do the next round the block in ??
.... _{bit early to think of that I guess.}

Keep the photos coming she should come up a treat.

All the best to both of you.

Cheers
Atog

[kiwijim]

Howdy Atog,

A Mobile Bowling Alley, Hmmmmmmmmm thats a thought,
only problem is, all the extra junk the Dear One carries would get in the road of the balls. ;D

Now whats next you ask, well we have found the perfect Motor Home on E Bay, the only trouble is we don't have $110.000 to pay for it.

We don't know how far we will travel in the Bus as yet, I hope to get away ( for a shake down cruise ) in the near future, as soon as I have fitted the new H.W.S that's on order at present.

Ya never know Mate, Ya might awake to the sound of a genuine Model A Klaxton Horn, issuing from a blue Bus on the door step one day. ;D ;D ;D

Cheers kiwijim

[bobt]

Hey kiwijim

Best ya add a couple of push bikes to the back, then ya can go shopping and touring with out having to drag the house everywhere. of course IF ya take the Thompson with you on your travels you will have the best of both worlds.. ;D

Should be no excuse for taking photos of the dash board.. with a windscreen that big..

Mind you the quality of the drive... ;D has a bit to do with the star photographers mobile results.. ;D

[kiwijim]

G'day there Bobt,

Funny you should mention hanging a couple of push bikes on the back,
The "Dear One" only said that yesterday but, her idea of a bike is one of those 4 wheeler types,

I'm getting toooo old to be pushing peddles around so,
I was thinking of one of those with a small motor hanging on the rear. ;D ;D ;D

We sure would have room to spare by hooking the Thomson on the rear but, the poor old Bus is a bit under powered for that,

I have an idea of building a small Tear Drop later, after the Thomson has retired to a good home, time will tell.

By the way, regarding Dash Board pic's by the Navigator.....
She says ....you Guys ain't seen anything yet. ;D ;D

cheers kiwijim.

[drylander]

In SA it would be a toyota caravan and in Vic too I think.
The general concensus is it a classic caravan so its all good
Pete

[kiwijim]

G'day Pete,

It sure seems funny how different States have different classes for licensing.

I am just wondering what is the ruling your way regarding the requirement for a immobilizer,

Here, if a vehicle is more than 30 yrs old, they ain't required to have them fitted to be licensed.

Another question is, the story on seat-belts, I've been told that these are also not required if it's over a certain weight ??
this I have to look into,

the Bus isn't fitted with belts at the moment, but regardless weather required or not, I will be fitting them before we hit the road.

Another thing, (here in the West) is the fact that no examination of any type is required when selling or transferring a vehicle, as long as it is currently licensed, "Boy" there are some heaps of junk on the road.

I personally think, it's about time all States became uniform with road rules and the standard of vehicles for licensing.......

What say all of Ye ? ? ? ? ?

cheers kiwijim

[bobt]

oooooh shudder................ no seat belts.......

I agree with you about the examination on change of ownership thing. I think SA do the same as WA. Not a good thing for you me or anyone else that is on the road. One day we may all get to enjoy similar rules from state to state.

lets see... your retired... check now based on my calculations you should have the washing machine installed and plumbed up ready for use. The singles should have been manufactured and fitted.. just waiting on the boss to decide on the decor..



So when is the first trip?

[kiwijim]

Howdy there Bobt,

The "Dear One" said..... you're such a funny fella,

Your calculations are a mile out, it's winter here, rain, rain, rain.

This old retire likes to stay in the warm sack as long as poss,

So, no the beds ain't installed, the cupboards still have to made,

Can't get a Certification done on the gas cyl until next week ( $350)

The new H.W.S is on it's way from Mexico, hopefully it will be here by the end of the week.

And the Washing Machine is still under wraps in the shed.

apart from that, I have fixed the non-working Rev Counter, called some-one on the C.B. just to see if it worked, ( it does )

Next week should see a increase in pace, ( if it's fine )

Thunder Storms predicted for Perth tomorrow, might stay in bed and think of all you poor Bu##ers out in the rain. ;D ;D ;D

[drylander]

Hi kj rain??? what is this rain that you speak of??
no inspections needed here either. seatbelts I dont know but would fit them anyhow
Pete

[kiwijim]

G'day Pete,

Rain now how can I describe it,

It's that H 2 o stuff that's sometimes rarely seen here in the West,
It comes in a liquid form and is mainly seen in a downwards and quiet often horizontal motion. ;D ;D ;D


"Yep" Seat Belts are a definite addition for the Bus, I know after surviving a bad accident years ago, I wouldn't be here today if I hadn't been wearing a belt at the time.

Now another drama has developed, as the gas Cylinder has to be re-certified it first has to be empty, the darn thing is full at the moment so, I have around 5 days to use up 80l of L.P.G. or loose it.
Guess I will have to grab some seat belts in a hurry, fit them, then do "God knows" how many K M 's just to burn off the gas.