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Old 02-03-2017, 10:20 PM   #1
Skoolie
 
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Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Manitou Springs, CO
Posts: 219
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Ward
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DT466
Rated Cap: 65 passenger
How would you like this bus?




This would be an interesting conversion!

Its in the Denver Craigslist.

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Old 02-03-2017, 11:40 PM   #2
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Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 1,497
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: Bluebird
Engine: 5.9 Cummins 24v
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Quote:
Originally Posted by karrlot View Post



This would be an interesting conversion!

Its in the Denver Craigslist.
That's the skoolie version of a mcmansion.

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Old 02-04-2017, 01:27 AM   #3
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Those buses have some special issues attached to them due to their length. In some jurisdictions you will need an over length permit once you are off a Federal highway.

They also have some really funky drive systems. Since I do not see any radiator grilles in the tractor section but do see some in the trailer section that might be a dual drive bus.

Dual drive buses used poles to attach to overhead wires to run as trackless trolleys in downtown urban settings. Once out of downtown on the road to the suburbs the poles would be retracted and the bus would then run under diesel power.

The problem for a convertor is the diesel drivetrain is in the trailer. When under diesel power the trailer actually pushes the tractor section.

Needless to say, having a trailer push the tractor can have some very interesting driving characteristics. Those characteristics become glaringly apparent when the roads get slick. Even when fully chained up on the trailer drive axle those buses are next to useless on ice and snow.

You also have the additional problem of what sort of power package might be hiding back there. One would hope it was something common and easy on which to work and find parts. Something like a Cummins L10 or M11 with an Allison transmission. But some had MAN diesel engines with ZF transmissions. You don't exactly go down to NAPA and find parts for a MAN or ZF.

The one real advantage is you do have 60' of coach to convert. That is a LOT of real estate on which to build.

I have never driven one but I understand they can be a real pistol to back up.

If the price was below scrap price I might take a flyer on it. But to my way of thinking it would be a major PITA every inch of the way.
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Old 02-04-2017, 09:14 AM   #4
Bus Crazy
 
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Join Date: May 2015
Location: Oklahoma aka "God's blind spot"
Posts: 2,446
Year: 1989
Coachwork: 1853FC International/Navistar
Chassis: 35' Retired Air Force Ambulance
Engine: DT466, MT643
Rated Cap: 6 souls and a driver
Hopefully one day we'll get a member with an articulated bus, and we can hear all about it's conversion.
This would be so cool!
Living area, kitchen area, and sleeping area!
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Old 02-04-2017, 09:32 AM   #5
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Location: Richmond Virginia
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Year: 1984
Engine: 366 Big block Chevy! :) w/ Stick shift
Goodness and i thought this 35ft GMC was tricky to find a place to park!

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Old 02-06-2017, 09:05 PM   #6
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Location: Oakland, Ca
Posts: 58
Chassis: Crown Supercoach
Engine: Detroit Diesel 6-71 Mid-ship
Rated Cap: 78
I dare you.

No, I double dare you.

You'll be a legend.
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Old 02-06-2017, 09:14 PM   #7
Bus Geek
 
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Location: Eustis FLORIDA
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Year: 1999
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Chassis: Freighliner FS65
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Originally Posted by yeggs View Post
I dare you.

No, I double dare you.

You'll be a legend.
I DOUBLE DOG DARE YOU!!!

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Old 02-06-2017, 09:16 PM   #8
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I DOUBLE DOG DARE YOU!!!

I wouldn't touch it with a 39 1/2 ft pole.

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Old 02-06-2017, 09:24 PM   #9
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Location: Eustis FLORIDA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by karrlot View Post



This would be an interesting conversion!

Its in the Denver Craigslist.
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Old 02-06-2017, 09:25 PM   #10
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Location: Danglebury, Tejas
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Year: 1999
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: IH 3800
Engine: Navistar DT466E
Rated Cap: 72 passenger
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Originally Posted by EastCoastCB View Post
I DOUBLE DOG DARE YOU!!!

Whoa!!! The gauntlet has been thrown!

The last time I saw a triple-dog-dare my cousin was committed to pee'ing on an electric fence. (He hasnt been the same since, according to his wife...)
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Old 02-06-2017, 09:26 PM   #11
Bus Crazy
 
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Chassis: Bluebird
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Originally Posted by GreyCoyote View Post
Whoa!!! The gauntlet has been thrown!

The last time I saw a triple-dog-dare my cousin was committed to pee'ing on an electric fence. (He hasnt been the same since, according to his wife...)
Don't pee on an electric fence or a third rail...

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Old 02-06-2017, 09:54 PM   #12
Bus Nut
 
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Year: 1999
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Don't pee on an electric fence or a third rail...
Pfffft! Wussie!
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Old 02-06-2017, 10:09 PM   #13
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After grabbing the electric fence with my hand, I do not think I would pee on one for less than 10 million dollars
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Old 02-06-2017, 10:10 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by Kubla View Post
After grabbing the electric fence with my hand, I do not think I would pee on one for less than 10 million dollars
I might do it for 10... Might. But no the third rail. Can't spend it if you ain't breathing.

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Old 02-07-2017, 08:35 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GreyCoyote View Post
Whoa!!! The gauntlet has been thrown!

The last time I saw a triple-dog-dare my cousin was committed to pee'ing on an electric fence. (He hasnt been the same since, according to his wife...)
I didn't have to do that to get the kid down the street that didn't mind telling me how much smarter than me he was.Peed on the fence andHe went home real quick!
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Old 02-07-2017, 12:05 PM   #16
Bus Crazy
 
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Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Dowdy Lakes, Colorado
Posts: 1,444
Year: 1989
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner ER
Engine: 3208 CAT/MT643 tranny
Rated Cap: 87
I drove one of those EXACT buses in Houston when I worked for Houston Metro. They SUKED BIG TIME!!!!!!! Absolutely NO acceleration, turning was, at best, tepid. The ride was like riding a 1970's skateboard, NO smooth air ride AT ALL. The drivetrain is located in the very back and is way too underpowered to do anything beyond getting through an intersection in under 2 minutes. I'M NOT JOKING!!!!! It's a piece of junk. Best use is to park it and leave it as a parked conversion. Only drawback is there is NO undercarriage stowage at all. The floor inside the bus is the underside of the bus. RUN AWAY FROM THESE PIECES OF JUNK!!!!! Just my two cents (especially after having driven them)......

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Old 02-08-2017, 06:58 PM   #17
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...and there is this bus ?

https://i.redd.it/6pthm6bmroey.jpg

Saw it on reddit today.
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Old 02-08-2017, 07:03 PM   #18
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Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,758
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
ive ridden these busses in cities.. and I concur the RIDE SUCKED!!!.. and so did the Heat!!! I damn about frozemyself to death sitting near the front... it also seemed like the driver was always on the steering wheel.. unless he didnt know how to drive it.. but seemed he wasalways back N forth and never just relaxing down the street..

the ones I rode werent electric.. it was all diesel all the time..

-Christopher
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Old 02-08-2017, 08:15 PM   #19
Skoolie
 
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Year: 1996
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Engine: Caterpillar 3116
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Quote:
Originally Posted by milkmania View Post
Hopefully one day we'll get a member with an articulated bus, and we can hear all about it's conversion.
This would be so cool!
Living area, kitchen area, and sleeping area!
Wow, when it rounds the corner you're already around the block!
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Old 02-08-2017, 08:37 PM   #20
Bus Nut
 
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Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Posts: 855
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: All American
Engine: Cummins 8.3/Allison MD3060
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Wow, when it rounds the corner you're already around the block!
Crank the wheel all the way and pretend you're a dog chasing its tail!
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