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03-02-2018, 04:49 PM
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#1
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Sandpoint, ID
Posts: 533
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Girardin Microbird MB-IV
Chassis: Ford E450
Engine: 7.3 Diesel
Rated Cap: 25
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New Skoolie Season
Must be new skoolie season, 'cause I just won one at auction too. Er, well won two by mistake, HAHA. Auction newbie move. I've been gleaning all I could from you guys for the past few months. Fell for the Vista bus style that Brokedown started with.
I bid on one in the Mesa, AZ auction yesterday and in a confused state somehow entered a bid on a second one! Public Surplus wouldn't connect me with the runner up to offer it to them. Well, apparently I can let it default and lose a $50 deposit.
So now I've got a 1998 International 3800 Thomas Vista. 206k miles, Good brakes and tires, 2011 Allyson 543 (hey, at least its newer). Looking into getting it home to Idaho now. And looking forward to converting it!
https://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/do...docid=25930155
Thinking I should have a mechanic give it a look over before setting out. Any recommendations? I'm going to try to get the service records before heading down to see what is up to date.
Chris
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03-02-2018, 06:05 PM
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#2
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Willamina, Oregon
Posts: 6,409
Coachwork: 97 Bluebird TC1000 5.9
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That's a fine looking acquisition there. I also particularly like that model but never see them around here.
Congrats.
__________________
Robin
Nobody's Business
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03-02-2018, 08:32 PM
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#3
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Sandpoint, ID
Posts: 533
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Girardin Microbird MB-IV
Chassis: Ford E450
Engine: 7.3 Diesel
Rated Cap: 25
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Thanks, I also really like the flat noses like yours Robin, but then I saw Brokedown's and the size works well for me. My wife thinks the size is a little less intimidating too.
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03-02-2018, 08:41 PM
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#4
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Willamina, Oregon
Posts: 6,409
Coachwork: 97 Bluebird TC1000 5.9
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Yeah but, people get out of the way better if you're intimidating.
__________________
Robin
Nobody's Business
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03-02-2018, 08:44 PM
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#5
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Sandpoint, ID
Posts: 533
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Girardin Microbird MB-IV
Chassis: Ford E450
Engine: 7.3 Diesel
Rated Cap: 25
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Haha, too true. When I test drove the first bus I looked at, people were pulling over for me. Wish I could keep it yellow!
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03-02-2018, 08:58 PM
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#6
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Willamina, Oregon
Posts: 6,409
Coachwork: 97 Bluebird TC1000 5.9
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I painted my bus and drove to town in the same normal traffic, but drivers weren't polite anymore. Noticeable difference.
__________________
Robin
Nobody's Business
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03-02-2018, 09:18 PM
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#7
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Fayetteville Arkansas
Posts: 419
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: GMC G3500 Vandura
Engine: V-8 5.7L Gas
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Robin I think you should paint a wicked Grim Reaper on the side and rule the road.
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03-02-2018, 09:36 PM
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#8
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Willamina, Oregon
Posts: 6,409
Coachwork: 97 Bluebird TC1000 5.9
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I was thinking a locomotive train horn to make my presence known. My whole design premise has been to be very unremarkable. My deal is to park this big pig out in the woods and not be noticed, in theory.
__________________
Robin
Nobody's Business
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03-02-2018, 10:38 PM
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#9
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Sandpoint, ID
Posts: 533
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Girardin Microbird MB-IV
Chassis: Ford E450
Engine: 7.3 Diesel
Rated Cap: 25
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Anyone know if on a public surplus auction, I would only loose my deposit for not paying for "my" second bus? That's what Mr. Busbarn told me.
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03-02-2018, 10:42 PM
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#10
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Owasso, OK
Posts: 2,627
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner MVP ER
Engine: Cummins 6CTA8.3 Mechanical MD3060
Rated Cap: 46 Coach Seats, 40 foot
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Quote:
Originally Posted by peakbus
Anyone know if on a public surplus auction, I would only loose my deposit for not paying for "my" second bus? That's what Mr. Busbarn told me.
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They will lock your account and prevent you from future bidding.
This might not be a problem for you, but if you open a second account in, say, your wife's name, then she will have to be present at any future pick-ups.
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03-02-2018, 10:59 PM
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#11
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Sandpoint, ID
Posts: 533
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Girardin Microbird MB-IV
Chassis: Ford E450
Engine: 7.3 Diesel
Rated Cap: 25
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I might not be too concerned with that, but don't want to get hung out for the price of a bus I mistakenly bid on. I tried to get Public Surplus to pass the offer on to the number two bidder, but they are pretty rigid. Figure the runner up would be happy to get it.
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03-02-2018, 11:15 PM
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#12
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Owasso, OK
Posts: 2,627
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner MVP ER
Engine: Cummins 6CTA8.3 Mechanical MD3060
Rated Cap: 46 Coach Seats, 40 foot
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Quote:
Originally Posted by peakbus
I might not be too concerned with that, but don't want to get hung out for the price of a bus I mistakenly bid on. I tried to get Public Surplus to pass the offer on to the number two bidder, but they are pretty rigid. Figure the runner up would be happy to get it.
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They won't come after you for the money, but they will remind you that you entered a binding contract.
Non-paying bidders are the scourge of auction sites, and they are not very tolerant.
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03-02-2018, 11:34 PM
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#13
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
Posts: 10,482
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
Rated Cap: 77
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Quote:
Originally Posted by peakbus
I might not be too concerned with that, but don't want to get hung out for the price of a bus I mistakenly bid on. I tried to get Public Surplus to pass the offer on to the number two bidder, but they are pretty rigid. Figure the runner up would be happy to get it.
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Public surplus can't make the second chance offer, but the seller can choose to. Contact the seller, not the auction.
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03-02-2018, 11:39 PM
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#14
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Sandpoint, ID
Posts: 533
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Girardin Microbird MB-IV
Chassis: Ford E450
Engine: 7.3 Diesel
Rated Cap: 25
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Good to know Marc. Would the seller have that contact info? I did contact the seller, but I will try another contact. I would like to see someone who wanted it get it. I thought of listing it myself, but trying to do that at a distance sight unseen is daunting. Still have to get my purchase ready to roll.
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03-07-2018, 04:49 PM
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#15
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Sandpoint, ID
Posts: 533
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Girardin Microbird MB-IV
Chassis: Ford E450
Engine: 7.3 Diesel
Rated Cap: 25
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Well, we're off to the races! I was lucky enough to talk to the seller about my mistaken win on a second bus. They were able to request to Public Surplus that I be removed as winner, so now I'm down to one bus with no adverse default to my name. Had points to get a free ticket to Phoenix so I'm flying down tomorrow and trying not to be too nervous about driving 1400 miles home to North Idaho. I pick up the bus in Mesa, and got an appointment for a pre-trip checkup. By chance, I called a shop that happened to be the one who services the school fleet so they have background on the bus! A little nervous about taking this desert bus and driving up into the cold on the way home. One night is supposed to be 15 degrees, and fairly high elevation. Hope she fires well. I wave at 2Kool4skool on the way by!
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03-07-2018, 07:37 PM
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#16
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Sandpoint, ID
Posts: 533
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Girardin Microbird MB-IV
Chassis: Ford E450
Engine: 7.3 Diesel
Rated Cap: 25
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Looks like I can get insurance through State Farm for $159 for 6 months on commercial for personal use. 100/300 coverage
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03-07-2018, 07:44 PM
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#17
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
Posts: 10,482
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
Rated Cap: 77
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Quote:
Originally Posted by peakbus
Looks like I can get insurance through State Farm for $159 for 6 months on commercial for personal use. 100/300 coverage
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I would be very surprised. I, as well as many others here, am with State Farm and there is no way State Farm will insure a bus that way. We've all been directed by State Farm to get the commercial for private use policy from an independent carrier, who usually ends up at Progressive, and then AFTER the conversion State Farm will take over the policy as an RV or Motorhome.
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03-07-2018, 07:48 PM
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#18
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Owasso, OK
Posts: 2,627
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner MVP ER
Engine: Cummins 6CTA8.3 Mechanical MD3060
Rated Cap: 46 Coach Seats, 40 foot
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Quote:
Originally Posted by peakbus
Looks like I can get insurance through State Farm for $159 for 6 months on commercial for personal use. 100/300 coverage
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State Farm wouldn't insure my bus even though they have all of our other vehicles. They will insure it when it's a converted bus.
Maybe this varies by state, much insurance does.
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03-07-2018, 07:59 PM
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#19
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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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Quote:
Originally Posted by peakbus
Looks like I can get insurance through State Farm for $159 for 6 months on commercial for personal use. 100/300 coverage
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Pretty much identical to what I have had through State Farm for the last 18 months.
I have insured three buses through State Farm. I have all ways been happy with the service that we have gotten.
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03-07-2018, 08:01 PM
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#20
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Sandpoint, ID
Posts: 533
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Girardin Microbird MB-IV
Chassis: Ford E450
Engine: 7.3 Diesel
Rated Cap: 25
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Weird! Maybe I shouldn't have posted before it was signed and sealed. I've been reading all of the posts on this topic and I know its tough to come by. I called a bunch of local agents, and this one came out best. My current agent would do Progressive but for like double the amount for the same coverage. We'll find out tomorrow when we confirm. Hope so, I fly in the morning!
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