Where am I......

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Mike Lewis

Poor GM-- they decided to get into the motorhome business in 1973, the year the Arab oil embargo hit. Needless to say, they didn't last long. It's a shame, because I remember how pretty they were. I think the motorhomes used the Olds Toronado drivetrain, so they were front-wheel-drive.

Although the timing seems bad, a technical factor which killed the GMC motorhome was the discontinuation of that drivetrain (specifically the transaxle), when the cars moved on to different designs. The whole thing was based around a drivetrain that fit between the front wheels, and was strong enough for six tons of vehicle. Even now GM might not have a suitable drivetrain, since they don't sell a light truck in a front-wheel-drive configuration.

Trailers are much more tolerant of technical change... since there is so little technology in a trailer chassis.

[cpaharley2008]

Coming home from Osoyoos we passed this classic motor coach, it was a classic. If I ever found one of these I'd be tempted to restore it. It was an old Fixable bus, maybe 1940's, reminded me of the early Greyhounds we used to see on the road.

[cpaharley2008]

I just found some more info on it.....https://www.allegrocoffee.com/blog/f...ent_and_future

[padlin]

You'd have to add to your parking pad again.

[cpaharley2008]

Originally Posted by padlin

You'd have to add to your parking pad again.

You remembered that comment I made, very good.

[Iowa Dave]

Hi Jim
Was that auto correct or Freudian Fixable or Flxible . We had one that we obtained from the transit department when I was with the Parks and Rec dept in Council Bluffs. They used it for field trips for day camp kids. I remember driving it back to the shop once after it would not start and we went to start it and bring it back. I only drove over about six curbs on left turns. Course I only made about 6 left hand turns. I needed a lesson from Alf but he was no where around. Bus driver I'm not
Dave

[cpaharley2008]

more like I was not wearing my glasses.....

[Iowa Dave]

What? You heard about my Torque Wrench reading challenges at the Mississippi River Ralley? I was only about 30 when I made my famous Ralph Kramden imitation. Did not need cheaters back then. "Boom, Zoom, Straight to the moon, Alice."
Dave

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

Hi Jim
Was that auto correct or Freudian Fixable or Flxible . We had one that we obtained from the transit department when I was with the Parks and Rec dept in Council Bluffs. They used it for field trips for day camp kids. I remember driving it back to the shop once after it would not start and we went to start it and bring it back. I only drove over about six curbs on left turns. Course I only made about 6 left hand turns. I needed a lesson from Alf but he was no where around. Bus driver I'm not
Dave

Hi: Iowa Dave... cpa's Freudian slip is showing too!!!
There's a listing for a Flxable bus for sale here. Tiny House Talk - Small Space Freedom The trick to a perfect transit turn was to wait till your shoulder passed what you were turning around before you started to crank the steering wheel. The driver compartment was in front of the steered wheels
Old buses never die until... they're towed to!!!
Oops... to late they must have sold it. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[Iowa Dave]

Hi Alf
Thanks for the bus driving tip. It makes a lot of sense. It takes practice to learn how
to operate about anything. When the Dutch Elm Disease was cooking we cut down a lot of them. To keep from hitting houses and fences and tombstones we learned how to do
some pretty innovative techniques. A guy asked me how long it took to learn to run the saw. I told him about 15 minutes to learn how and ten years to get good at it. I suspect bus driving is about the same.
Dave

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by escape artist

... The trick to a perfect transit turn was to wait till your shoulder passed what you were turning around before you started to crank the steering wheel. The driver compartment was in front of the steered wheels

For me, I find it more helpful to think about the location of the rear (non-steered axle) - when the driver turns the wheel, that axle starts around the corner, and if it is too far short of the corner it's starting on the path over the curb. In a bus the driver several metres (typically more than 20 feet) ahead of the rear axle (regardless of the front axle location), so depending on road width and corner radius the driver can be way into an intersection before it's time to turn.

My motorhome is a big shorter than a regular city bus or highway coach, and the axle is further forward in the vehicle than a rear-engined bus (it's proportioned like a conventional school bus), but the idea is the same.

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

Hi Alf
Thanks for the bus driving tip. It makes a lot of sense. It takes practice to learn how
to operate about anything. When the Dutch Elm Disease was cooking we cut down a lot of them. To keep from hitting houses and fences and tombstones we learned how to do
some pretty innovative techniques. A guy asked me how long it took to learn to run the saw. I told him about 15 minutes to learn how and ten years to get good at it. I suspect bus driving is about the same.
Dave

Hi: Iowa Dave... The little plastic safe driving pins I was awarded for 16 of the years I drove for London Transit meant all the world to me. I forgot that we should have consulted the "Motorhome" drivers on this trailer forum for expert input. I do know a transit bus could almost do a 90* turn if positioned properly. I had to do them every time I put my bus into the garage at shifts end. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

My motorhome is a big shorter than a regular city bus or highway coach...

That was supposed to a "bit" shorter, of course (too late to edit the original post).

Originally Posted by escape artist

I forgot that we should have consulted the "Motorhome" drivers on this trailer forum for expert input.

Not "expert", just another way to think of the same thing, that might make sense for some of us with less long-vehicle experience.

I used to be involved in motorsports and knew three city bus drivers who were as well - all were very capable with any size of vehicle... at least one was better in a car than I was.

[Iowa Dave]

About 15 years ago the Iowa dept of transportation initiated a program every August that taught snow plow driving techniques and safe operation. The second half of the second day was reserved for the Snow Plow Rodeo. They had tight turn maneuvers, backing skills, gymkana courses etc. each competing agency used their own plow. Ankeny and West Des Moines won year after year. These were single axle dump trucks. Somebody finally noticed that they had shortened the wheelbase on their trucks to where the driver was just about setting over the front wheels. The fix was in and the jig was up.
Win even if you have to cheat, many times it's the American Way.
Dave

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

About 15 years ago the Iowa dept of transportation initiated a program every August that taught snow plow driving techniques and safe operation. The second half of the second day was reserved for the Snow Plow Rodeo. They had tight turn maneuvers, backing skills, gymkana courses etc. each competing agency used their own plow. Ankeny and West Des Moines won year after year. These were single axle dump trucks. Somebody finally noticed that they had shortened the wheelbase on their trucks to where the driver was just about setting over the front wheels. The fix was in and the jig was up.
Win even if you have to cheat, many times it's the American Way.
Dave

Hi: Iowa Dave... You could say "It was rigged"!!!
My son used to ask me why I didn't drive in the bus rodeo. My answer was "Why would I want to get my uniform on, on a Sunday and drive". Every day was a "Rodeo" out there!!!
Another method for a transit turn was to watch the right side rear view mirror, and when the curb reflection started to break away... start to turn!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[cpaharley2008]

Taken just now, at a new cg not far from home......

[arniesea]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Taken just now, at a new cg not far from home......

Within a 100' or so?

[padlin]

Jim, what's the campground? could use one in the area.

[cpaharley2008]

It just opened, called "My Backyard"......:}

[padlin]

Cool, do they take reservations?