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10-24-2012, 10:16 PM
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#1
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Portsmouth, NH
Posts: 43
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Frieghtliner
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 77
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The Man-Venture
My friend and I are building a bus to go cross country on our winter break from college. We plan to run the bus on veggie oil. The bus is a 2001 Freightliner Thomas 77 passenger bus. It has a Caterpillar 3126 engine with an Allison AT 545 tranny. I bought it at a state surplus auction for $1600
This is a crude sketch I made durring one of my classes.
We thought it would be cool to have a covered porch off the back. We plan on using hammocks to sleep in, that will be attached some how from the interior sides.
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10-24-2012, 11:07 PM
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#2
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 8,462
Year: 1946
Coachwork: Chevrolet/Wayne
Chassis: 1- 1/2 ton
Engine: Cummins 4BT
Rated Cap: 15
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Re: The Man-Venture
Great buy and a fun plan! Keep us posted as you go. Love the "Covered Porch".
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10-25-2012, 10:05 AM
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#3
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Bus Nut
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Kelso, WA
Posts: 253
Year: 1989
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DT360
Rated Cap: 72
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Re: The Man-Venture
you got a great deal at $1600....looking forward to watching your conversion in progress.
__________________
"That's,. like,.. your opinion, man...." - the Dude.
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10-30-2012, 08:53 PM
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#4
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Portsmouth, NH
Posts: 43
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Frieghtliner
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 77
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Re: The Man-Venture
I was able to work on the bus this past weekend, thanks to Hurricane Sandy closing the college scene for a couple of days. Me and my brother were able to get all the seats out and 3/4 of the rubber up. My brother is going to work on it a little this week, getting the rest of the rubber up and the rest of the mounts cut off.
We went from this:
To this in a matter of 4 hours
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10-30-2012, 09:42 PM
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#5
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Skoolie
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 238
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Re: The Man-Venture
Isn't it a great feeling to be making progress! It took three years after I bought my skoolie to even begin on it... Keep progressing!
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11-01-2012, 10:19 AM
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#6
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Farmington Hills, Mi (Detroit area)
Posts: 1,968
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Eldorado Aerotech 24'
Chassis: Ford E-450 Cutaway Bus
Engine: 7.3L Powerstroke
Rated Cap: 19
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Re: The Man-Venture
What did you do with that dead body they left between the seats?
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11-01-2012, 10:27 AM
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#7
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MNT CITY TN
Posts: 5,158
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Re: The Man-Venture
Quote:
Originally Posted by roach711
What did you do with that dead body they left between the seats?
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since they are in college...maybe he was sleeping one off
__________________
Our build La Tortuga
Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory.
George S. Patton
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11-08-2012, 02:32 PM
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#8
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Portsmouth, NH
Posts: 43
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Frieghtliner
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 77
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Re: The Man-Venture
Anybody have any suggestions on how I could hang hammocks from the inside of the bus. I know i could just bolt it right through the wall, but i was wondering if there is any less invasive way of doing it.
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11-08-2012, 02:39 PM
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#9
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MNT CITY TN
Posts: 5,158
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Re: The Man-Venture
Side to side?
mount big eyebolts to 2x4's with large washers on back to spread load, and then drill and tap the studs between the windows, 2x4's fit perfect and still allow windows to open.
__________________
Our build La Tortuga
Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory.
George S. Patton
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11-09-2012, 11:05 AM
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#10
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Montana
Posts: 1,626
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: All-American R/E
Engine: 8.3 Cummins
Rated Cap: 72
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Re: The Man-Venture
You know, veggie fuel is getting harder and harder to come by. Its also a lot of fiddling to do and probably twice as much fiddling in the winter time. Skip the veggie fuel and have a fun trip! Just my $.02.
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11-09-2012, 12:05 PM
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#11
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Portsmouth, NH
Posts: 43
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Frieghtliner
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 77
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Re: The Man-Venture
The only problem is that diesel is very expensive and I am trying to go from New Hampshire to California and back. I was looking for a cheep alternative, to buying thousands of dollars of diesel. I guess a few years back it would have been easier, before all these environmentalists hopped on veggie wagon. Is there any alternatives to veggie oil and diesel? Im only in college and don't have a ton of money to dump into fuel.
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11-09-2012, 12:09 PM
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#12
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Montana
Posts: 1,626
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: All-American R/E
Engine: 8.3 Cummins
Rated Cap: 72
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Re: The Man-Venture
No alternatives. There is no cheap way to drive from NH to CA, no matter what you are driving. Maybe ask your President to kick in. ;)
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11-09-2012, 04:23 PM
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#13
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Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: NUNYA
Posts: 4,236
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: 3800
Engine: DT408, AT545
Rated Cap: 23 500 gvw
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Re: The Man-Venture
Maybe if a few more people voted for the other guy we would have the Keystone pipeline. Then diesel wouldn't be $4.50 a gallon in CA.
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11-09-2012, 08:47 PM
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#14
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MNT CITY TN
Posts: 5,158
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Re: The Man-Venture
Quote:
Originally Posted by crazycal
Maybe if a few more people voted for the other guy we would have the Keystone pipeline. Then diesel wouldn't be $4.50 a gallon in CA.
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Topped off at 3.87 today....after "cruzin" town...damn..a lot of small parking lots in this "small" town ....shopping for...shiat...just to drive the bus because its kool....ahahahhaahhhaahhh
__________________
Our build La Tortuga
Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory.
George S. Patton
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11-09-2012, 08:52 PM
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#15
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MNT CITY TN
Posts: 5,158
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Re: The Man-Venture
I've budget'd $5 a gallon at 5mpg this summer/fall...I have avergaged 9mpg at less than $4.00 a gallon...so it has been a win/win so far
__________________
Our build La Tortuga
Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory.
George S. Patton
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11-09-2012, 10:24 PM
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#16
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Montana
Posts: 1,626
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: All-American R/E
Engine: 8.3 Cummins
Rated Cap: 72
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Re: The Man-Venture
This past weekend for us was 1400 miles at $3.98 and 9mpg.
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11-09-2012, 11:36 PM
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#17
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Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: NUNYA
Posts: 4,236
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: 3800
Engine: DT408, AT545
Rated Cap: 23 500 gvw
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Re: The Man-Venture
Quote:
Originally Posted by bansil
Quote:
Originally Posted by crazycal
Maybe if a few more people voted for the other guy we would have the Keystone pipeline. Then diesel wouldn't be $4.50 a gallon in CA.
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Topped off at 3.87 today....after "cruzin" town...damn..a lot of small parking lots in this "small" town ....shopping for...shiat...just to drive the bus because its kool....ahahahhaahhhaahhh
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bansil
I've budget'd $5 a gallon at 5mpg this summer/fall...I have avergaged 9mpg at less than $4.00 a gallon...so it has been a win/win so far
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You're happy with $3.87 and $4 a gallon. You have a tunnel to Fort Knox or sumthin? I don't think that's anything to be happy about unless diesel gets to $8 a gallon.
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11-10-2012, 05:37 AM
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#18
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MNT CITY TN
Posts: 5,158
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Re: The Man-Venture
Happy no,just releived I actually get 9mpg...and everyone knows Fort Knox is empty
__________________
Our build La Tortuga
Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory.
George S. Patton
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11-10-2012, 10:20 AM
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#19
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Montana
Posts: 1,626
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: All-American R/E
Engine: 8.3 Cummins
Rated Cap: 72
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Re: The Man-Venture
Quote:
Originally Posted by bansil
everyone knows Fort Knox is empty
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...................\::::::::::::::::::::::\
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11-10-2012, 10:57 AM
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#20
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Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: NUNYA
Posts: 4,236
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: 3800
Engine: DT408, AT545
Rated Cap: 23 500 gvw
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Re: The Man-Venture
Quote:
Originally Posted by opus
Quote:
Originally Posted by bansil
everyone knows Fort Knox is empty
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........................,,-~*~,,
......................./:.:.:.:.:.|
......................|;.;.;.;.;./
......................|.;.;.;.;.|
............._,,,,,_.).;.;.;.;.|
.........,,-":.:.:.:."~-,;.;.;.|
........(_,,,,---,,_:.:.);.;.;..",,
......,-":.:.:.:.:.""-,,/;.;.;.;.;.",
.....(:.__,,,,,,,,,___);.;.;.;.;.;|
...../"":.:.:.:.:.:.:¯""\;.;.;.;.;.,"
....\",__,,,,,,,,,,,__/;;;;;;;;;/\
.....\.::.:.:.:.:.:.:.;.);;;;;;;;;/:\
.......\,,,,,---~~~~;;;;;;;;,"::::\
.........."""~~--,,,,,,,,,,-"::::::::::\
...................\::::::::::::::::::::::\
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How'd you do that?
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