Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 05-29-2019, 01:30 PM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 33
Year: 2004
Coachwork: Thomas
Gillig school bus? Pros-cons?

Good afternoon!

I starting the hunt for our school bus and recently came across an older Gillig bus. I wanted a newer but, but have really fallen for the look of the Gillig. Does anyone have any experience with them? Good, bad?

Knowing I would be buying an older bus any rough ideas on tune up and maintenance costs to get a bus up to par assuming nothing is “wrong” with it. I know that is a very wide question. I am just curious if I could expect to pay 3-500 or 2-3000 to make sure an older bus is in good working order.

This is what I would love to have...

Thank you so much in advance!
Attached Thumbnails
1A3E0A3A-7510-49CF-AFF7-DA47276FF714.jpeg  

asquarecan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-29-2019, 02:07 PM   #2
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
Gillig has a great reputation as one of the two best school bus builders in the US.

Gillig acquired Kenworth's bus business sometime in the 1950's. The bus pictured looks like a Kenworth to me.

It certainly has the potential to be a beautiful bus. Be warned though, putting a 60 year old bus back in top form can be extremely expensive and challenging.

Anyone seen a rebuild kit for a Hall-Scott 590 lately.?
PNW_Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-29-2019, 02:24 PM   #3
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 33
Year: 2004
Coachwork: Thomas
Thank you!

I did not know that about them being acquired!

When you say real expensive any idea over $5000? To make it road worthy assuming we are just discussing deferred maintenance
asquarecan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-29-2019, 02:54 PM   #4
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 2,831
Year: 2007
Coachwork: Thomas Built
Chassis: Minotour
Engine: Chevy Express 3500 6.6l
I met Alex at the Complete Coach Works in Alameda California. He’s the owner of a party bus company named Gillibus. He’s got six of them I think. He was very nice. I bet he could give you some good info. Here’s his website.

GILLIBUS
Danjo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-29-2019, 05:33 PM   #5
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
Quote:
Originally Posted by asquarecan View Post
Thank you!

I did not know that about them being acquired!

When you say real expensive any idea over $5000? To make it road worthy assuming we are just discussing deferred maintenance
Well.... If you found one with a 671 Detroit and it was in great shape except for a couple of scored liners. If you can fix it yourself then you may only spend a couple of grand. If you have to go to the Detroit shop I would be ready for a $10k repair bill.

If it needs tires add another $2k-$3k.

Seriously, you are looking at a 60 year old vehicle. It is most likely going to need a fair bit of work. The shop down the road from me charges $125 an hour to work on anything that I cannot fix myself.

That is a beautiful bus but if you have a slim budget I think that you may be better served with a newer, lower miles rig.
PNW_Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-29-2019, 11:07 PM   #6
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 33
Year: 2004
Coachwork: Thomas
Thank you for the insight! I think you’re probably right. I plan to spend 15-20k with bus so I think going newer will be a better idea. I can always buy an older one later!
asquarecan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-29-2019, 11:08 PM   #7
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 33
Year: 2004
Coachwork: Thomas
Thank you! I will check him out!
asquarecan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2019, 11:26 AM   #8
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
Someone posted a link to a Thomas MVP RE with a DT-466, MD-3060 and low miles/hours. And it is a church bus so it isn't yellow.

Good luck.
PNW_Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:32 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.