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06-02-2010, 01:52 PM
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#201
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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: Wildcat Lodge
I agree. It's a very nice looking bus.
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06-02-2010, 09:14 PM
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#202
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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: Wildcat Lodge
Now you look like a stakeout van. Probably not a bad idea.
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06-21-2010, 04:25 PM
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#203
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Skoolie
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Louisville, Kentucky
Posts: 164
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Ward Senator
Chassis: International
Engine: DTA360
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Re: Wildcat Lodge
Thanks for the comments everyone - much appreciated.
Well, we took the bus on it's first road trip this weekend for an easy overnight camp out. Everything seemed to work just as planned. It was 92 outside and cold on the inside. The shower and hot water heater worked for a constant 45 minutes (the kidos gave it one hell of a stress test) and the grey tank was only 2/3rds full which also included dish washing and stuff. The black water tank got also the star treatment and came out unblemished.
The beds were very comfortable but I could notice not having the extra width of a twin mattress (we went with 30" x 75" x 5" spring camp mattresses). The front couches are a bit too narrow for sleeping, but are good going down the road. We may build some ottomans which can make one of them a wider when sleeping and provide foot rests when going down the road. I need to get a 50 amp extension cord as my current extension plan runs through my adapter (30amp and 15amp plugs) which trips GFI outlets and my current 50 amp cord is only 30 feet long.
Here are some pics of us in the campground surroundings. We did get many looks pulling in and one guy came over and wanted a tour. He noted it was just as nice and we had twice the space as his 5th wheel camper and we got to have the fun of building it.
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06-21-2010, 06:19 PM
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#204
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 1,489
Year: 1996
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/AT545
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Re: Wildcat Lodge
Thanks for the camping pics - I love to see skoolies in action! I see that campground has the utility services on the same side as the picnic tables where you would be hanging out. That is unfortunate because normally you would like to back into a space like that so you have easy access to your entry door side of the bus. I guess that is why we should all consider extra long extension cords and hoses. So you think 50' would have done the trick in that situation?
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06-22-2010, 09:33 AM
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#205
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Skoolie
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Louisville, Kentucky
Posts: 164
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Ward Senator
Chassis: International
Engine: DTA360
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Re: Wildcat Lodge
DD - This campground had shared utilities so there was a pole between two sites. We also needed a longer, flat area (as we don't have jacks and the bus is 40') which limited us. I think I'm going to get an extra 30 or so feet of cord just in case for the next time. For the really long runs I plan to just use 15 amp extension cords through my adapter which are much cheaper than the big honking 50amp 220v cords.
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06-23-2010, 05:30 PM
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#206
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Bakersfield, California
Posts: 1,013
Year: 1976
Coachwork: Crown
Chassis: Supercoach
Engine: Detroit 6-71 Mid-Ship Mounted
Rated Cap: 79 at Birth
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Re: Wildcat Lodge
Wildcat,
Your bus looks fantastic. Looks like a very nice campground as well for a good shakedown cruise.
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07-31-2010, 03:59 AM
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#207
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Elk Plain, WA.
Posts: 513
Year: 1993
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DTA360
Rated Cap: 16
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Re: Wildcat Lodge
Very well played, Wildcat...
I just bought my first bus a few days ago and stumbled across your thread... I've been sitting here four a couple hours reading the whole thing... As a matter of fact, I just bookmarked it...
Very impressed with the build, from start to finish...
Hope you don't mind me plagiarizing some of you work... I've got the 25' version of yours...
Your floor plans are gonna help me a ton... And I'm sure, others as well...
Again, great work and hope to see more pics of you and the family enjoying it...
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05-16-2011, 07:43 AM
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#208
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Skoolie
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Louisville, Kentucky
Posts: 164
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Ward Senator
Chassis: International
Engine: DTA360
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Re: Wildcat Lodge
It saddens me, but due to changing priorities I am selling the bus. This thread describes the Wildcat Lodge better than any posting I can make. Asking $9,500 which is a steal given over $18,000 has been invested. Offers, thoughts, questions or any other comments are welcome.
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05-16-2011, 09:17 PM
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#209
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 14
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Re: Wildcat Lodge
Very sorry to hear that! Your conversion truly turned out to be one of the best I've seen! If I had that kind of money to play with I'd take it in a second.
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05-21-2011, 01:18 AM
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#210
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Skoolie
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 105
Year: 92
Coachwork: ward flat nose
Chassis: international
Engine: dt466 mt643 air ride
Rated Cap: 84
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Re: Wildcat Lodge
You have done a great job converting your bus and I too hate that your forced to sell. I've got the same Ward Senator that I bought from the school system in Lexington, Ky. Kentucky knows how to spec a bus for long, dependable service life so I know you started with a good platform. I'm almost temped to put mine up for sale and buy yours, bc i don't have the skills or patients to match yours.
Have you noticed that below the drivers seat, inside the left frame rail is a fuel/water separator? Also, does your bus have air operator radiator shutters and an air dryer? Air door and air ride suspension? If so, it's built like mine, and would be a great buy for anyone. Best of luck and I hope you find a way to keep your masterpiece in the family.
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05-21-2011, 03:41 PM
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#211
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 801
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Re: Wildcat Lodge
Very impresssive job !!!
Any offers yet???
__________________
GreyEagle
Roll - On...
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05-22-2011, 06:49 PM
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#212
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 34
Year: 1988
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Engine: 8.3 Cummins turbo diesel
Rated Cap: 84
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Re: Wildcat Lodge
Hi Wildcat-
Really nice work!
What do you think about the noise level with your front engine? Before, and after you added the extra insulation?
Could you please tell me what insulation you added, and how it worked out?
Is it loud while driving?
Thanks,
Scott
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06-05-2011, 12:37 AM
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#213
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New Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 1
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Re: Wildcat Lodge
Wildcat,
Did you sell the bus? I'm interested if not.
Regards,
Michael
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06-05-2011, 02:12 PM
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#214
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Bakersfield, California
Posts: 1,013
Year: 1976
Coachwork: Crown
Chassis: Supercoach
Engine: Detroit 6-71 Mid-Ship Mounted
Rated Cap: 79 at Birth
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Re: Wildcat Lodge
Sad to see this up for sale...it's one of the best conversions on the pages
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07-30-2018, 12:02 AM
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#215
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New Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 2
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You made outstanding drawings, thanks for the info.
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07-30-2018, 12:07 AM
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#216
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New Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 2
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Specs for your bus
Can you tell me how long your bus is, how many passenger?
I'm trying to come up with a floor plan and trying to figure out where the wheel wells are.
Do you have any more pics?
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07-31-2018, 10:31 AM
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#217
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,401
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
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Hey EJ,
I'm not sure if you noticed that this thread is 7 years old and Wildcat has not been active on the board for over a year and a half.
Great build thread though.
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