2002 Nova RTS Conversion

I purchased a former TAMU transit bus. This video highlights the first year and a half of ownership, and the conversion from transit vehicle to family recreation vehicle.
Background music: "Journey" by Tatami

[@warrencarman1561]

Awesome job! Hope to see you on the road!

[@darrenmonroe4757]

Driver for NYCT absolutely love these buses. I drive them until the final one left the garage. We would get in new equipment. I would go grab old faithful. Like what u did with the bus enjoy

[@sctransit]

Beautiful bus! Great job on the body work, paint and interior! You made it into a nice family vehicle!

[@mikelyon5595]

The best-looking designs of American buses since the Flexible Clipper!

[@westerlywinds5684]

These RTS style buses never seem to outdate. The style is timeless in my opinion.

[@circleinforthecube5170]

its gonna age a hell of a lot better than generic 2010s/2020s buses

[@javierjavier7291]

Good information Thank you so much

[@robleeg]

Dang I became a city bus driver too late (April 2019). Guess I'll never get to drive one of these babies.

[@sexystate6562]

I just want to give a real big shout out to everybody who bought a GMC RTS much much love and respect

[@barfoonisland2003]

Ralph Kramden would be proud.

[@jkimrey]

So glad to see 207 get live on!

[@isaacsims6203]

Love to see an rts used as a convertion hope to do the same soon

[@jameswise3971]

Amazing work!!

[@javierjavier7291]

I love the RTS
what were the gear changes and new speed?

[@RonKStevens]

Changed the rear from 5.13 to 4.10. Top speed went from 62 to 78 at 2100rpm. I do 65 around 1800rpm

[@milestone_achiever4634]

I do prefer the 40 foot models. And the last Nova RTS buses from 2000-2002 had the Cummins C8 engine

[@RonKStevens]

@@milestone_achiever4634 some may have. But the A&M busses had Detroit Series 50 engines

[@chawnjackson9445]

Nice bus I was behind you on route 55 and then passed you on 42 with 18110

[@RonKStevens]

Thank you.

[@saasione]

I'm looking at purchasing a 2001 RTS Nova bus. Can you give me any advice on what to look for when checking it out?
Thank you for your time. 😊

[@milestone_achiever4634]

Is this the same gentleman that had a retired Texas A&M RTS bus?
I was reading about it in an article

[@RonKStevens]

@milestone_achiever4634 yes it is. Featured in an article for Bus Conversion Magazine March 2024.

[@madelinebell4554]

I just bought a 2002 Nova Bus. Do you have the program to reprogram the sign?

[@GeorgeStar]

Great job!

[@adventureoflinkmk2]

Great job! However... isnt that gonna be a pain in the ass to service the engine bay from inside with the bunk beds there?

[@RonKStevens]

Not at all. When I had the bunk beds built I specifically made sure that the panel to access the engine bay would be accessible without having to take everything apart. Only one cover needs to be removed..

[@jorgefigueroa4437]

Excellent, hoy do you program the toteboard with plenty of messages like On Vacation and Walt Disney World?

[@RonKStevens]

It varies by manufacturer and model of the destination sign. I have a Luminator unit, so I needed to purchase special software from Luminator, as well as get some outdated hardware from eBay. We're talking hardware and software for the system that was designed during the Windows 98/Windows XP era. I think modern systems are now just a USB plugin

[@jorgefigueroa4437]

@@RonKStevens great conversion from transit seats to motorcoach express seats

[@madelinebell4554]

​@@RonKStevens I can't get a reply from Laminator. What did the software cost?

[@reutzelfred]

Very nice