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01-13-2018, 02:22 PM
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#1
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Northern California
Posts: 55
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Models, Engines, where to buy etc. New to the skoolie world.
Hello everyone!
My wife and I are moving to Davis, CA soon and are looking to buy a bus for conversion. At first I was looking into sprinters and box vans (for the overhead cabin), but the durability and amount of windows keep drawing me towards a skoolie. We're planning on finding a spot to park and live in it full time.
Here's what I think I want and have read up on, trying to find what skoolie is right for us:
- Should fit: Bed for two, gas stove for cooking, small fridge, seating/dining area, shower w/ composting toilet, tiny wood stove. Sounds like a lot for a short bus, but I've seen some great layouts for just that.
- 5-6 window short bus. Should fit into most parking spaces and RV campsites, but should also be big enough for a shower and composting toilet. So no big bus, but bigger than the 4-window.
- Diesel over gas for more durable engines.
- If it's a Ford, looking for a pre-2004 7.3L, avoiding a 6.0L.
- No idea for other makes/models. Chevy? GMC? Thomas? International?
- Zero knowledge about transmission. What should I be looking for?
- Read that the 8.3L Cummins is desirable. Why? How hard are these to find? In which models?
- Keep reading about a full size chassis over van cutaway. I'm not even sure what that means. Not only do I not have much knowledge about mechanics, I'm also not american, so not even familiar with the vocabulary and what's common.
- Places to buy: I'm looking into craigslist, ebay motors and facebook marketplace. Then there's these government auction sites on which I have no idea of how they work. Then there's these dealers that sell busses, some even have infos about conversions on their websites. These seem to be the most expensive, but not knowing much I like the idea of buying something a dealer hat checked, and the opportunity to go there if something comes up that I can't fix with tutorials. Some places I found around California:
www.nationalbus.com
BusWest Pre-Owned Buses for Sale. Used School Bus Sales in Los Angeles & Fontana, California. School Buses, Special Needs Buses, Conventional School buses, commercial buses, coaches & more
www.a-zbus.com
Sorry for the long read. I already found loads of useful info through the search bar here, just trying to put the puzzle pieces together for what we're looking to do.
So thank you in advance for all advice on any of these points!!
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01-15-2018, 09:52 AM
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#2
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Northern California
Posts: 55
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Sorry, this thread didn't appear here for two days, so I posted another one because I thought something went wrong. Now suddenly both are up and I don't see a delete-button. Well, rookie mistake.
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01-15-2018, 10:17 AM
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#3
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Stockton, CA
Posts: 17
Year: 1986
Coachwork: Ward / GMC
Engine: 6.0 GMC
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Good Morning Chris.
Im a new Skoolie from Stockton, CA. Just an hour South from you. My parents used to have a Bus company in the area so i know a few places for Busses and Parts.
One good place for looking at All kinds of Used buses are A-Z bus sales....
http://www.a-zbus.com/used-bus-sales/
Most have been services really well. Prices are pretty fair.
As of 1/15/2018 they have 57 Used buses for sale.
I would love to have a chance to talk with you. I can send a private message with my Contact information. But in this area there are MANY places for buses and Parts.
As for Engines, I have always known Diesel over gas for reliability. but it matters your ability's. I just purchased a 1989 GMC B6000 bus with a 6.0 Gas engine because even though i have worked on both and find Diesel Easier to work on. I am still more comfortable to work on a Gas engine by myself without having to ask too many questions.
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01-15-2018, 10:23 AM
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#4
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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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With all due respect, this is not my idea of a "good price":
http://www.a-zbus.com/bus-listings/1...-unit-16u112s/
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01-15-2018, 10:31 AM
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#5
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Traveling
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Midwest
Posts: 2,573
Year: 2003
Coachwork: BlueBird
Chassis: TC2000
Engine: 5.9L Cummins
Rated Cap: '00
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Twigg
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It's a GREAT price, but only from seller's perspective.
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01-15-2018, 11:13 AM
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#7
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2014
Location: West Ohio
Posts: 3,707
Year: 1984
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: International 1753
Engine: 6.9 International
Rated Cap: 65
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Do you plan on travelling with the bus? Or will it be something that is parked and left permanently? If your plans are to park it, it makes 0 sense to pass up on gas engined shorties when the engine won't be utilized anyways.
The reason people like the 8.3 cummins is that it has the most torque/power available of the common engines that you'll likely find in a school bus. They're more commonly found in full size busses and are kind of a rarity(maybe unicorn status?) as far as shorties go.
As far as the layout goes, what you want to do should be attainable, it will just take some planning to get there. Others with shorties can chime in on that.
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01-15-2018, 11:34 AM
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#8
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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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If you are leaning towards a dealer, try these guys:
aaabussales.com - Home
Sure, their prices are dealer prices, but they are way more reasonable and everyone who comments says they were well, and fairly, treated. Their prices are negotiable.
They don't list prices on the website, but they do list the buses, with price, on Phoenix Craigslist.
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01-17-2018, 04:36 PM
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#9
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Northern California
Posts: 55
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Thanks everyone, I find so much helpful information here!
Planning to travel, so durability, parts, mpg etc is important. If it would be parked permanently, I'd get a really old shell and make a nice house out of it.
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01-18-2018, 12:52 PM
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#10
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Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Colorado
Posts: 164
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Amtrans
Chassis: Genesis
Engine: DT466
Rated Cap: 20 (9 window handicap)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisHieronimus
- Keep reading about a full size chassis over van cutaway. I'm not even sure what that means. Not only do I not have much knowledge about mechanics, I'm also not american, so not even familiar with the vocabulary and what's common.
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So I will preface this with I am by no means an expert, but maybe an example of a "full sized" Chassis would be something like this https://www.commercialtrucktrader.co...ran--113381636 Although I am not sure if that is a bit long to be considered a shorty.
I think the main thing people are trying to emphasis is that some of the shorties are built on 'cutbody' van (or even pickups) which means the manufacturer delivered a van chassis with a cab and then the coach builder put a school bus body on it. The point being, as an example, a Ford E350 or E450 Van with a 7.3L Diesel with Turbo, is a very FULL engine compartment and access isn't great through either the hood or the doghouse, and working on it can be difficult. Even if you aren't doing your own maintenance, you may end up paying a mechanic alot of money to do certain tasks because they make take alot of time to get at components. Do to limited space for instance, you always have to worry about heat management and cooling, and I doubt for instance you could fit an intercooler for the turbo on most van bodies.
Where if you have a full sized bus chassis (but shorter) you may have a tilt forward hood/body exposing basically the entire engine.
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01-18-2018, 02:22 PM
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#12
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MNT CITY TN
Posts: 5,158
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The number 1 biggest problem for you living in Kalifornia is going to be where to park, I have read too many horror stories over the years from buses,to Rv's to vans and everything else
Good luck, and make sure to carefully plan your "piece of heaven"
__________________
Our build La Tortuga
Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory.
George S. Patton
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02-17-2018, 06:55 PM
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#13
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 15
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Did you ever figure out any answers to this, particularly in regards to cutaway vs conventional? (also manufacturers, such as Chevy/GMC/Thomas/International)
Looks like I'm the same spot as you, about a month later. Thanks!
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02-18-2018, 02:24 PM
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#15
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: California
Posts: 16
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Girardin
Chassis: Ford E350
Engine: 7.3 Powerstroke
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bansil
The number 1 biggest problem for you living in Kalifornia is going to be where to park, I have read too many horror stories over the years from buses,to Rv's to vans and everything else
Good luck, and make sure to carefully plan your "piece of heaven"
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I dont know understand how this is a problem. California has over 50million acres of public land.
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02-18-2018, 03:08 PM
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#16
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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 sugarpinedanny
I dont know understand how this is a problem. California has over 50million acres of public land.
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Kalifornia is it's own unique animal....
I have (in WA) two buses in my yard. The last place I lived in CA they would probably have tried to put me in jail for such a thing.......
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02-18-2018, 04:02 PM
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#17
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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 sugarpinedanny
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What's your idea of a "fair price"?
The only one on the site with a price is a 2002 International CE for $25k
Are there others I missed?
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02-18-2018, 06:34 PM
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#18
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: California
Posts: 16
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Girardin
Chassis: Ford E350
Engine: 7.3 Powerstroke
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PNW_Steve
Kalifornia is it's own unique animal....
I have (in WA) two buses in my yard. The last place I lived in CA they would probably have tried to put me in jail for such a thing.......
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Well I guess it depends on where u live, in any state. I guess if u lived in some suburb or something, they may not like that, but where I live.... i think we can do whatever we want.
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02-18-2018, 06:52 PM
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#19
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: California
Posts: 16
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Girardin
Chassis: Ford E350
Engine: 7.3 Powerstroke
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Twigg
What's your idea of a "fair price"?
The only one on the site with a price is a 2002 International CE for $25k
Are there others I missed?
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Yeah, I think that is probably the list of buses still in service as school buses. I just looked again and they have buses for $ 3500
The nice thing about bus dealers is that at least ur staring with a clean school bus. There are cheaper buses our there for sure, but I know every one that I saw was hacked on by some hack 2 or 3 times.
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02-18-2018, 07:34 PM
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#20
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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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Quote:
Originally Posted by sugarpinedanny
Yeah, I think that is probably the list of buses still in service as school buses. I just looked again and they have buses for $ 3500
The nice thing about bus dealers is that at least ur staring with a clean school bus. There are cheaper buses our there for sure, but I know every one that I saw was hacked on by some hack 2 or 3 times.
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I don't see how buying from a secondary seller improves the bus any. I get my buses from the bus barn where they're maintained by the shoolbus mechanics, or in other words through the Public Surplus auction. Guess where the secondary sellers get their buses from? If you said the bus barn after winning them in the auction, you're right. Yes, they'll buy a bus for $2k and sell it to you for $3.5k. Look at the right dealership and you can find them for over $15k too.
Bus dealers are used car salesmen.
__________________
Robin
Nobody's Business
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