I need a man!!!!!

[cobraboy]

Originally Posted by laurajane

I was thinking of buying a smaller bus and a trailer, but i can not find a trailer here in the DR and the cost of importing one costs more than the trailer itself, it would actually suit us better but it's a case of making do with what is actually avaliable.

I imported a serious trailer and 15 passenger van/mini-bus for under $30,000. My trailer is overkill for what you need, as is my van. You could do both, a dual-axel 14x7 basic trailer with electric brakes and 9 passenger American van with a real motor that can pull the rig for under $22,000.

When you compromise your equipment, you compromise your business plan.

[bachata]

One of the bigest manufacture industry in Santiago. The name is " Interamericana Products " .( Today colsed ) Usally have many Diesel international buses in very good condition for the transportation of employs.
Maybe you can find the way to contact some one that can help you to find information about this company.

JJ.

[laurajane]

Originally Posted by cobraboy

I imported a serious trailer and 15 passenger van/mini-bus for under $30,000. My trailer is overkill for what you need, as is my van. You could do both, a dual-axel 14x7 basic trailer with electric brakes and 9 passenger American van with a real motor that can pull the rig for under $22,000.

When you compromise your equipment, you compromise your business plan.

The trailer you mentioned is perfect for out equipment but i need a bus big enough for 30 people, The other thing that struck me today is that whichever transport we use we have to be able to get it near the theatre area in the hotels and some of these have limited access, so a smaller bus and trailer i think would be easier than a huge school bus, well i would imagine. At the moment we are rent a diahatsu open back camion but the equipment is too expensive to continue to be exposed to the elements and we then have to have seperate transport for the employees and that is two lots of gas and two drivers we have to pay.

Thanks

[Rocky]

Let's talk bigger vehicle vs smaller with trailer.
I seriously considered a trailer for my truck when I was in the fruit and veggie biz.
In the end, I bought a bigger truck for the following reasons.
The inherent dangers of driving rapidly with a truck & trailer combo are at least 10 times more dangerous than truck alone.
Stopping those things is hard enough, but a fast maneuver around a pothole or to avoid collision, can yank you right off the road.
I come from a family who had several camper trailers and I was witness to the inconveniences of accessing tight spots, as well as reversing.
Reversing with a trailer is an art and some folks can never get it down pat.
Conversely, the combo does have a certain advantage, in that you can remove it when you only need the truck, and the smaller truck/bus is obviously easier to drive than a big one.

So this info is not to determine which is better for you.
It is meant to bring to light some of the advantages and disadvantages of either one.
Hopefully, it'll assist you in making the best choice for your needs.

[cobraboy]

Originally Posted by Rocky

Let's talk bigger vehicle vs smaller with trailer.
I seriously considered a trailer for my truck when I was in the fruit and veggie biz.
In the end, I bought a bigger truck for the following reasons.
The inherent dangers of driving rapidly with a truck & trailer combo are at least 10 times more dangerous than truck alone.
Stopping those things is hard enough, but a fast maneuver around a pothole or to avoid collision, can yank you right off the road.
I come from a family who had several camper trailers and I was witness to the inconveniences of accessing tight spots, as well as reversing.
Reversing with a trailer is an art and some folks can never get it down pat.
Conversely, the combo does have a certain advantage, in that you can remove it when you only need the truck, and the smaller truck/bus is obviously easier to drive than a big one.

So this info is not to determine which is better for you.
It is meant to bring to light some of the advantages and disadvantages of either one.
Hopefully, it'll assist you in making the best choice for your needs.

Much of what you say is true. A large trailer in the narrow streets can be quite the challenge. We got ours stuck in traffic in downtown Moca because ( shock ) some ~payaso~ double parked. We had to track him down before we could pass. Our future solution is to take another route, the one the big trucks take.

Our trailer has electric brakes on each the double axels, so braking is not a problem. It's over-built for our task, and I don't worry about potholes and things as much. I drive it at a reduced, safe speed, never exceeding the posted limits. It also has an electric "breakaway" brake should it become disconnected from the van. It was built with custom features specifically for our needs.

Our rig:

This can carry 15 people as well as pull the trailer. The trailer is configured to carry a spare motorcycle, luggage, and all the supplies, toys, and equipment we need for the tours (including spares, genset, invertor, tools, beach toys and supplies, you name it.)

The KEY to properly operasting the unit is the tow van. It's a seriously heavy-duty truck, a Ford E350 chassis with the venerable 351 V-8 engine (255hp, 350ft.lbs. torque). It has ~zero~ problem pulling and securing the trailer behind it, even up the steep mountain roads. The vans typically found in the DR, like guaguas, are small diesels, and are NOT the right tool for the job. They may haul people (slowly), but no way would I EVER trust them to pull a large trailer.

We intend to convert the van to propane using the more advanced injector kit.

[Rocky]

Originally Posted by cobraboy

Much of what you say is true. A large trailer in the narrow streets can be quite the challenge. We got ours stuck in traffic in downtown Moca because ( shock ) some ~payaso~ double parked. We had to track him down before we could pass. Our future solution is to take another route, the one the big trucks take.

Our trailer has electric brakes on each the double axels, so braking is not a problem. It's over-built for our task, and I don't worry about potholes and things as much. I drive it at a reduced, safe speed, never exceeding the posted limits. It also has an electric "breakaway" brake should it become disconnected from the van. It was built with custom features specifically for our needs.

Our rig:

This can carry 15 people as well as pull the trailer. The trailer is configured to carry a spare motorcycle, luggage, and all the supplies, toys, and equipment we need for the tours (including spares, genset, invertor, tools, beach toys and supplies, you name it.)

The KEY to properly operasting the unit is the tow van. It's a seriously heavy-duty truck, a Ford E350 chassis with the venerable 351 V-8 engine (255hp, 350ft.lbs. torque). It has ~zero~ problem pulling and securing the trailer behind it, even up the steep mountain roads. The vans typically found in the DR, like guaguas, are small diesels, and are NOT the right tool for the job. They may haul people (slowly), but no way would I EVER trust them to pull a large trailer.

We intend to convert the van to propane using the more advanced injector kit.

I know you well enough to know that you have gone beyond normal safety precautions, with your truck/trailer set up.
I was giving generalized info, specially for those who drive highway speeds and more.

[cobraboy]

Originally Posted by Rocky

I know you well enough to know that you have gone beyond normal safety precautions, with your truck/trailer set up.
I was giving generalized info, specially for those who drive highway speeds and more.

Prolly true (never thought about it).

I shudder to think about a "typical" Dominican driver pulling a large POS trailer with a rickety POS vehicle. Disaster.

[Rocky]

Originally Posted by cobraboy

Prolly true (never thought about it).

I shudder to think about a "typical" Dominican driver pulling a large POS trailer with a rickety POS vehicle. Disaster.

I have seen with these eyes of mine, one of the AI resort tourist busses on it's way to the POP airport, hauling a small luggage trailer behind, making a quick evasive maneuver to his right, to avoid a head on collision, he then corrected to straighten out, but the trailer kept on going and pulled him right off the road by the bus' rear end.
What happened after, I can't say, as all I saw though my rear view mirror was a cloud of dirt and dust in the air.
He was of course, driving fast, over the speed limit, I imagine.

[laurajane]

[quote=Rocky;653252]I have seen with these eyes of mine, one of the AI resort tourist busses on it's way to the POP airport, hauling a small luggage trailer behind, making a quick evasive maneuver to his right, to avoid a head on collision, he then corrected to straighten out, but the trailer kept on going and pulled him right off the road by the bus' rear end.
What happened after, I can't say, as all I saw though my rear view mirror was a cloud of dirt and dust in the air.
He was of course, driving fast, over the speed limit, I imagine.[/QU



GULP!!!!

OH now i have no idea what to do, Please keep the info coming as the most important thing of course is that it is best thing for the job and SAFE! And of course the vehicle i need to pull it has to be pretty serious by the sounds of it and be able to seat 30 people or so, Yikes i think i am really gonna have to do my homework on this one, Again i really appreciate your help guy's you could be saving me a big headache and a whole lot of money! I may just have to keep the dihatsu for the equipment and a seperate bus for the team, but thats two drivers and quite alot in gas.

Thanks again x