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 07-08-2016, 01:00 PM   #601
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Garden State (rural NJ)
Posts: 378
I know the coaches I drove 20 years ago had 12Rs on them. I don't know what they cost, however. Can those with 12Rs on their rigs share their cost?

BusFiend is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-08-2016, 01:16 PM   #602
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 dan-fox View Post
Yeah, the guy absolutely does not like to communicate. I've gotten that feedback from the mechanic I hired to do the inspection also.

I think EastCoast put his finger on it when he called it a $4500 bus. I am assuming that I'll need 6 new shoes pronto (like before the trip home); hence my panic when I heard it had 12R's on it.

It's gone on so long, I won't feel any reluctance to walk away if we can't come to a meeting of the mind. There's no magic left here; just an appreciation for the right drivetrain and lo miles.
I get it. My communications with him were strange.

Ever watch the show "Gas Monkey" ? "Hmmm... Pretty rough... This is gonna cost $$, that is gonna cost $$... I think $7500 would be a great price if I this and that didn't need replacement."

Then you count 50 - $100 bills out on the table.

It has worked for me when I felt like the seller was a little too proud of their vehicle. The big stack of Benji's does affect some people's decision making process.

Been a while since I put a set on a bus. I think that I ran 11R24.5's on my last bus. I put 6 on it while on a road trip. Long story but I was limping down I-40 with 2 flats looking for a tire shop. I expected to get raped. Instead I put 6 pretty new Yokohama's for about $1800 installed.

The 22.5 Toyo's on my truck were just a bit more.
PNW_Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-08-2016, 02:52 PM   #603
Bus Geek
 
EastCoastCB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
Quote:
Originally Posted by dan-fox View Post
Yeah, the guy absolutely does not like to communicate. I've gotten that feedback from the mechanic I hired to do the inspection also.

I think EastCoast put his finger on it when he called it a $4500 bus. I am assuming that I'll need 6 new shoes pronto (like before the trip home); hence my panic when I heard it had 12R's on it.

It's gone on so long, I won't feel any reluctance to walk away if we can't come to a meeting of the mind. There's no magic left here; just an appreciation for the right drivetrain and lo miles.
Check out the 2005's in AL
EastCoastCB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-08-2016, 03:04 PM   #604
Bus Crazy
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: SW New Hampshire
Posts: 1,334
Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastCB View Post
Check out the 2005's in AL
Where are they? PublicSurplus? Govdeals? I can't get to any of the fun sites from my work box; just this one.
dan-fox is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-08-2016, 03:10 PM   #605
Bus Geek
 
EastCoastCB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
Quote:
Originally Posted by dan-fox View Post
Where are they? PublicSurplus? Govdeals? I can't get to any of the fun sites from my work box; just this one.
I'd be all over this if I needed a bus!
https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?f...73&acctid=1573



There are three of them. All clean with LOW mileage and maintenance records.
EastCoastCB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-08-2016, 03:21 PM   #606
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Garden State (rural NJ)
Posts: 378
Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastCB View Post
I'd be all over this if I needed a bus!
https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?f...73&acctid=1573
These are three really nice buses for conversion, especially if you're look for a 40ish foot rig.
BusFiend is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-08-2016, 04:05 PM   #607
Bus Crazy
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: SW New Hampshire
Posts: 1,334
Quote:
Originally Posted by BusFiend View Post
These are three really nice buses for conversion, especially if you're look for a 40ish foot rig.
I'll look at them when I get outside this Draconian firewall......
dan-fox is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-08-2016, 09:47 PM   #608
Bus Crazy
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: SW New Hampshire
Posts: 1,334
Quote:
Originally Posted by dan-fox View Post
I'll look at them when I get outside this Draconian firewall......
Sorry guys, nice find but I've got my heart set on a pusher for now.
dan-fox is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2016, 11:19 AM   #609
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 EastCoastCB View Post
I'd be all over this if I needed a bus!
https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?f...73&acctid=1573

There are three of them. All clean with LOW mileage and maintenance records.
Any idea if these are DT466e or MaxxFarce?
PNW_Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2016, 11:50 AM   #610
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Hempstead Tx
Posts: 213
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: International
Engine: t444e
Ok, someone HAS to get/convert this.

Public Surplus: Auction #1632876
ChiliChzPoopTart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2016, 03:29 PM   #611
Bus Crazy
 
WIbluebird's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 1,259
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American
Engine: 8.3 Cummins ISC
Rated Cap: 75
Any opinions on this batch of 1999 - 2001 Bluebird buses? They all have the T444E motor and the Spicer 2500 manual trans. Is the Spicer an overdrive unit or otherwise geared for highway driving? Seller mentions that the buses are currently governed at 55 mph.

Public Surplus: Auction #1644069
WIbluebird is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2016, 09:02 PM   #612
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Garden State (rural NJ)
Posts: 378
Quote:
Originally Posted by WIbluebird View Post
Any opinions on this batch of 1999 - 2001 Bluebird buses? They all have the T444E motor and the Spicer 2500 manual trans. Is the Spicer an overdrive unit or otherwise geared for highway driving? Seller mentions that the buses are currently governed at 55 mph.

Public Surplus: Auction #1644069
I've never heard of a Spicer 2500 and neither has Google. All the Spicer models I've seen start with a letter (or two) in the designation; ie. ES, CM, PS, HD. I've only ever seen one 5-speed Spicer in the 3800/T444E, with a granny gear and 1:1 top gear. I drove, I believe, the ES43-5. The granny gear is 7.00:1 or lower. Think stump pulling low. The jump from 1st-2nd was huge. I can't remember ever using 1st.

Overdrive required a 6-speed tranny, IIRC.

Good luck!
BusFiend is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2016, 10:01 PM   #613
Bus Geek
 
EastCoastCB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
Yeah I've driven one of the spicer 5 speeds- they have something like 7.20 for first and reverse and 1:1 for the 5th.
Not bad though. I want one of these shorty's to use for utility purposes and hauling stuff around.
EastCoastCB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2016, 11:05 PM   #614
Bus Crazy
 
WIbluebird's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 1,259
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American
Engine: 8.3 Cummins ISC
Rated Cap: 75
Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastCB View Post
Yeah I've driven one of the spicer 5 speeds- they have something like 7.20 for first and reverse and 1:1 for the 5th.
Not bad though. I want one of these shorty's to use for utility purposes and hauling stuff around.
Same here, although I can't decide between the full size 71 passenger ones or the short wheelchair ones. The 2003 has a knock in the motor otherwise they're all solid buses.
WIbluebird is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-15-2016, 11:18 PM   #615
Bus Crazy
 
WIbluebird's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 1,259
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American
Engine: 8.3 Cummins ISC
Rated Cap: 75
Everyone's favorite school district has another batch of Thomas ERs up for bid on Govdeals! Given the popularity of the Montgomery County buses on this site I figured I'd throw up a link.

They appear to be mostly 2002s with the newer style front clip and the offset Freightliner gauge cluster.

https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?f...48&acctid=2489
WIbluebird is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2016, 10:27 AM   #616
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 WIbluebird View Post
Everyone's favorite school district has another batch of Thomas ERs up for bid on Govdeals! Given the popularity of the Montgomery County buses on this site I figured I'd throw up a link.

They appear to be mostly 2002s with the newer style front clip and the offset Freightliner gauge cluster.

https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?f...48&acctid=2489


Anyone have a clue who makes the 7.2l/6.6l engine and which tranny is in these busses?

I have not followed this thread long enough to understand the reference to popularity of the Montgomery busses. Good or Bad??

Thanks
PNW_Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2016, 10:58 AM   #617
Bus Geek
 
EastCoastCB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
Quote:
Originally Posted by PNW_Steve View Post
Anyone have a clue who makes the 7.2l/6.6l engine and which tranny is in these busses?

I have not followed this thread long enough to understand the reference to popularity of the Montgomery busses. Good or Bad??

Thanks
They have a lot of RE buses- so they're known for it.
7.2 is a Cat 3126
EastCoastCB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2016, 11:19 AM   #618
Bus Crazy
 
WIbluebird's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 1,259
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American
Engine: 8.3 Cummins ISC
Rated Cap: 75
Quote:
Originally Posted by PNW_Steve View Post

I have not followed this thread long enough to understand the reference to popularity of the Montgomery busses. Good or Bad??

Thanks
We've had 4 of the Montgomery County buses appear on this site in the build threads.

They're specced out pretty well with the 3126 CAT and the MD3060, plus the Webasto heater and air ride driver's seat are nice to have.
WIbluebird is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2016, 12:53 PM   #619
Bus Crazy
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 1,001
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: International
Engine: TE 444
Rated Cap: 12
I still have a short bus for sale
Kubla is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2016, 01:11 PM   #620
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Garden State (rural NJ)
Posts: 378
Quote:
Originally Posted by WIbluebird View Post
We've had 4 of the Montgomery County buses appear on this site in the build threads.

They're specced out pretty well with the 3126 CAT and the MD3060, plus the Webasto heater and air ride driver's seat are nice to have.
They are specced out very nicely. Their only drawbacks are the CAT 3126 and all the rust. Besides those two issues, nice buses to build on.
BusFiend 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 01:12 PM.


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