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Old 01-22-2020, 06:10 AM   #61
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 119
Year: 2004
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner
Engine: MBE 906 Mercedes Benz Diesel
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Originally Posted by Ronnie View Post
Do you have the seats out? Put a tent inside and you are camping!!! There are showing and bathrooms there.
I don't have the bus yet... lol.. so, this is all pre-game for me... I'm hoping to get what knowledge I need to pull the string in the Feb/March timeframe.. It's like 22 today here in Wilmington, so I'm not super motivated right now... but once it warms up for good, I'm ready.

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Old 01-22-2020, 06:11 AM   #62
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Location: Weeki Wachee, FL
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Year: 1997
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Chassis: TC2000 FE
Engine: Cummins 5.9
Rated Cap: 72
The campground has showers, bathrooms, and a "kitchen" area.. And plenty of folks who can help you out if you need something.
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Old 01-22-2020, 06:24 AM   #63
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Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Virginia
Posts: 2,324
Year: 1971
Coachwork: Wayne
Chassis: International Loadstar 1700
Engine: 345 international V-8
18F here this morning, ECCB says only 34F in Eustis, and that is not far from the campground. Next week it warms back up to normal there. If you have been reading Arctic Family Bus then anything above 0 is warm.
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Old 01-22-2020, 06:25 AM   #64
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
I'm going to the freightliner shop today or tomorrow.
Going to pick up a factory Cat oil filter and fuel filter. I'm going to get a price on the rear u joint.
I've never actually done one myself. How much would yall reckon they'd charge to install one?

If any of you coming to the swarm who are experienced with u-joints wana make a how-to video I'll pay you the labor and we can help folks know how in the future. Also dinner on me.
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Old 01-22-2020, 06:34 AM   #65
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Originally Posted by EastCoastCB View Post
I'm going to the freightliner shop today or tomorrow.
Going to pick up a factory Cat oil filter and fuel filter. I'm going to get a price on the rear u joint.
I've never actually done one myself. How much would yall reckon they'd charge to install one?

If any of you coming to the swarm who are experienced with u-joints wana make a how-to video I'll pay you the labor and we can help folks know how in the future. Also dinner on me.
I am not thrilled to do it at the Swarm.. However I will be in the area for the week before the swarm doing boat repair. So maybe we can get together and do it where you have your bus. I would be glad to do that. Make a day or part day of servicing your bus. Call me
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Old 01-22-2020, 07:10 AM   #66
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This sounds fantastic! As a pre-conversion skoolie owner, I would just be there to meet people and peep their skoolies. What, in your opinions, would be a good bribe/gift to give people to get a tour?
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Old 01-22-2020, 08:10 AM   #67
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ronnie View Post
I am not thrilled to do it at the Swarm.. However I will be in the area for the week before the swarm doing boat repair. So maybe we can get together and do it where you have your bus. I would be glad to do that. Make a day or part day of servicing your bus. Call me
Ronnie, you're amazing. Looking forward to seeing yall again!

I'm gonna get that u-joint, some filters, oil, grease, and another pneumatic grease gun.
Will see about a press at HF.
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Old 01-22-2020, 10:46 AM   #68
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You do not always need a press for a u-joint, big ones are usually held in with circlips (snap rings)
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Old 01-22-2020, 11:01 AM   #69
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Yes true but nice to have a press, more controlled that way. Will do it without if need be.
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Old 01-22-2020, 01:15 PM   #70
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Just looked at the bus and mine are the circlips that you pinch out with pliers. There are straps with a couple 10mm 12 point fasteners holding it on.
I've watched a couple videos of folks doing it pretty easily with a hammer.
Decided I'd try to see if there was any play in the rear torque arm. Biggest pry bar I could find was a 4 footer. Couldn't get it to budge from any of my prying and the bushings look ok.
Looking at the bushings on the rear suspension arms they're visibly worn out and I can hear em creaking and knocking.
I'm thinking a new rear u-joint and replacing these bushings will probably end my rear end shakes. Will also replace the rear shocks since they're original and looking real tired.
Will start with an oil change and the u-joint.

Oh- and my two year old batteries are finally done. This cold weather. Couldn't get it started. Got about 5 seconds of slow cranking.
I can charge them but they were cheap and they're old so its time to get some new ones in there. I can clean and paint the compartment while they're out.

IDK if I can muster up the funds to get enough done in time, but I'm trying.
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Old 01-22-2020, 03:09 PM   #71
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Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Moved to Zealand!
Posts: 1,517
Year: 2002
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Chassis: Freightliner FS-65
Engine: 7.2L Cat 3126 turbo diesel
Rated Cap: 71 passenger 30,000 gvwr
Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastCB View Post
Ronnie, you're amazing. Looking forward to seeing yall again!

I'm gonna get that u-joint, some filters, oil, grease, and another pneumatic grease gun.
Will see about a press at HF.
You can borrow (with deposit) a better ball joint press (which is basically a glorified C - clamp) from O'reilly's or autozone etc...

A decent bench vise will work as well.

I've had ol' timers point out to me the "hammer method" is better -- no chance of squeezing the driveshaft ears together. Always thought that was BS till I had a rusty U-joint not slide free and the result was pinching the yoke a thousandth of an inch... Enough to make the new u-joint bind
It was all fixed with a BFH applied to the right spot...

Alas -- too many other trips between now and spring for me to make it to FL... Ya'll have fun!
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Old 01-22-2020, 03:45 PM   #72
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Location: Eustis FLORIDA
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Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
Been watching Celtic beat Kilmarnock this afternoon.

Gona call and price that u-joint. I may do both while the driveshaft is off.
And the carrier/hanger rubber bushing thing looks ok, but if they're not expensive I'm gonna get a new one as it looks like its easy enough to do while all this is going on.
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Old 01-22-2020, 04:40 PM   #73
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Join Date: Sep 2015
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Year: 2002
Coachwork: Thomas Built Bus
Chassis: Freightliner FS65
Engine: Caterpillar 3126E Diesel
Rated Cap: 71 Passenger- 30,000 lbs.
You look to have a bit of service done on your rig, ECCB. I regret I can not join you in the fun. We'll be in touch as our trip progresses though ... we should arrive in own during the early part of the week.
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Old 01-22-2020, 06:19 PM   #74
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Location: Weeki Wachee, FL
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Quote:
Originally Posted by UnicornWizard View Post
This sounds fantastic! As a pre-conversion skoolie owner, I would just be there to meet people and peep their skoolies. What, in your opinions, would be a good bribe/gift to give people to get a tour?
Bring your bus and camp with us at the Swarm. Doesn't matter how far you are with it, throw down an air mattress if that's where you're at. It's a big community, no bribes necessary.
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Old 01-22-2020, 06:54 PM   #75
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Location: Ashtabula, Ohio
Posts: 1,494
Year: 1996
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Chassis: International
Engine: T444E 7.3L
It's gonna be awesome meeting you all at the Swarm! I wish I could stay longer than the 2 day we will be there, but I only took a week off work. From what I can see there is going to be a lot of people there!
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Old 01-23-2020, 12:05 AM   #76
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Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 3,856
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Thomas Built Bus
Chassis: Freightliner FS65
Engine: Caterpillar 3126E Diesel
Rated Cap: 71 Passenger- 30,000 lbs.
It would be cool to have a list of who is attending and when.
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Old 01-23-2020, 05:21 AM   #77
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It would be cool to have a list of who is attending and when.
There is a list on the Skoolie Swarm Facebook page.
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Old 01-23-2020, 06:25 AM   #78
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Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Virginia
Posts: 2,324
Year: 1971
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Chassis: International Loadstar 1700
Engine: 345 international V-8
The list is up to 89 vehicles, buses, vans, even a tractor trailer conversion.
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Old 01-23-2020, 06:54 AM   #79
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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 Ronnie View Post
The list is up to 89 vehicles, buses, vans, even a tractor trailer conversion.
I'd like to see more tractor conversions. To me the Toter is as good as it gets.
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Old 01-23-2020, 06:55 AM   #80
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,753
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
heck im bringing my bus and its all still seats.. I may crash on my air mattress over night, otherwise ill just drive somewhere and get a motel.. no biggie either way.



-Christopher
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