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 09-11-2017, 02:31 PM   #1
Bus Nut
 
Defjr333's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Culpeper, Virginia
Posts: 302
Chassis: Step Van
Engine: Prefer Diesel
Rated Cap: 14'-16' Step Van
Shuttle Bus Peeps Only

I have tried to find all those of you that have converted Shuttle Buses here in the Forum. I need your help specifically. I have a few questions I think only you all can answer.
1) What are your interior dimensions? (back of drivers seat to rear wall/ side wall to side wall)
2) If you had to do it all over what would you change/ keep the same?
3) What would your biggest recommendations be on choosing the bus?
4) Is there a "standard" amount of space per seat? IE: each seat was 28" deep and 18" of space between seats for legs? (that would help alot to determine an aprox space by # of rows of seats)

I have 80% of all parts for my build stored up in my basement, and it is time to find THE bus. I have seen many online, and a few in person. I am currently watching 4 on Govdeals, and 3 on fleabay to which I do not have time or ability to go check each of them out.

I hope to fit a Queen bed, Bathroom with shower and toilet, kitchen with 4 burner LP stovetop, minifridge, microwave, sink, and a little counterspace. Gonna be tight in some of these units i have seen.

Thank you all for the insights and info in advance!!
Doug

Defjr333 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2017, 04:26 PM   #2
Bus Crazy
 
roach711's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Farmington Hills, Mi (Detroit area)
Posts: 1,968
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Eldorado Aerotech 24'
Chassis: Ford E-450 Cutaway Bus
Engine: 7.3L Powerstroke
Rated Cap: 19
My 24' Eldorado Aerotech has 16' behind the driver's seat and 7.5' wide. Headroom is about 6'6" if memory serves. The Aerotech/Aerolite bodies are pretty solid.

Stay away from Starcraft bodies and Ford 6.0L engines. The Ford 7.3L and the GM Duramax diesels are both good engines. A gasser will get pretty lousy mileage.

The shuttles come with highway gearing and cruise control. Parts and service are easily available. I'd do another one for sure.

Figure 2 1/2 feet per window.
__________________
The Roach Motel
roach711 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-15-2017, 12:12 PM   #3
Bus Nut
 
Defjr333's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Culpeper, Virginia
Posts: 302
Chassis: Step Van
Engine: Prefer Diesel
Rated Cap: 14'-16' Step Van
Thanks for that info Roach. I read through your thread. In the pic showing your cooler I see your furnace unit grill. Is that the Suburban 19SEQ 19k btu unit? If so, how well does it keep up temps in your setup? I ask because I purchased the same unit with a black grill.....
Doug
Defjr333 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-15-2017, 03:26 PM   #4
Bus Crazy
 
roach711's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Farmington Hills, Mi (Detroit area)
Posts: 1,968
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Eldorado Aerotech 24'
Chassis: Ford E-450 Cutaway Bus
Engine: 7.3L Powerstroke
Rated Cap: 19
Ours is a 16000 btu Atwood that works fine for us but we're three season campers and don't use it that much.
__________________
The Roach Motel
roach711 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-03-2017, 01:01 PM   #5
Bus Nut
 
Defjr333's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Culpeper, Virginia
Posts: 302
Chassis: Step Van
Engine: Prefer Diesel
Rated Cap: 14'-16' Step Van
Not sure how high I will go, but this is what i am bidding on. I was trying to find one with passenger door and seat for copilot, but they seem rare and go for more $. Can any of you tell what body/ coach work this is?

https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?f...18&acctid=9448

Doug
Defjr333 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-07-2017, 11:56 PM   #6
New Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 4
I found an 06 with AeroTech body. It needs all new rubber and New brakes, rotors and pads. Do you know what the price tag on each is? I'm assuming 1200 for tires and not sure on breaks.

Thanks,
Mark
saenzm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2017, 10:19 AM   #7
Bus Crazy
 
roach711's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Farmington Hills, Mi (Detroit area)
Posts: 1,968
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Eldorado Aerotech 24'
Chassis: Ford E-450 Cutaway Bus
Engine: 7.3L Powerstroke
Rated Cap: 19
$1200 for tires sounds about right.

IIRC replacing brakes ran around $750 for new rotors, calipers and pads 5 years ago but I did the work myself. I would expect about triple that to have a shop do them. The fronts on my Ford were just an oversized version of car disk brakes but to replace the rear rotors the rear axle shafts had to come out.

Depending on how many miles are on the bus you may also need rear axle bearings/seals and new u-joints. Mine were ready for replacement at 100K.
__________________
The Roach Motel
roach711 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2017, 10:25 AM   #8
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
NOT a shuttle bus, but I've got a REAL NICE 6 window short bus for sale if you're interested. Runs like new and has almost new tires on it.
EastCoastCB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2017, 09:32 PM   #9
New Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 4
Is it in Fl?
saenzm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-09-2017, 03:57 AM   #10
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 saenzm View Post
Is it in Fl?
Yes it is.
EastCoastCB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-09-2017, 10:34 PM   #11
Bus Geek
 
Tango's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 8,462
Year: 1946
Coachwork: Chevrolet/Wayne
Chassis: 1- 1/2 ton
Engine: Cummins 4BT
Rated Cap: 15
And..it's a REAL bus!
Tango is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-04-2018, 12:41 PM   #12
New Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Posts: 1
Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastCB View Post
NOT a shuttle bus, but I've got a REAL NICE 6 window short bus for sale if you're interested. Runs like new and has almost new tires on it.
Do you still have your short bus for sale?
mbmalone is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-04-2018, 02:37 PM   #13
Bus Crazy
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: SW New Hampshire
Posts: 1,334
Quote:
Originally Posted by mbmalone View Post
Do you still have your short bus for sale?
ECCB is off the air around here, at least for the time being. And no, that bus has been sold.
dan-fox is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-04-2018, 03:55 PM   #14
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: League City, Texas
Posts: 221
Did somebody say Shuttle Bus?

dbhost is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-06-2018, 11:25 PM   #15
Mini-Skoolie
 
polomasta's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 14
Here’s is some deets on my 2001 e-450 goshen. IIRC is was 12 seats with wheelchair lift and space.

Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_1358.jpg
Views:	53
Size:	180.5 KB
ID:	20506

Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_2259.JPG
Views:	36
Size:	118.7 KB
ID:	20507

This is a design fitting a king bed:
Click image for larger version

Name:	Pachari Van.skp - SketchUp Make 2017 2017-10-29 22-11-10.jpg
Views:	45
Size:	383.3 KB
ID:	20508

This is a design with queen and sofa instead of full length desk:
Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_2222.jpg
Views:	42
Size:	203.5 KB
ID:	20509

I've just barely started the build so a lot of this can/will change as I get into it.

I was originally looking for just a normal E350 extended body but came across this bus for just $2k so snapped it up. Also, the wife ended up requiring a shower so the toilet will be a shower combo.
polomasta is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-07-2018, 02:33 PM   #16
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: League City, Texas
Posts: 221
Quote:
Originally Posted by polomasta View Post
Here’s is some deets on my 2001 e-450 goshen. IIRC is was 12 seats with wheelchair lift and space.

Attachment 20506

Attachment 20507

This is a design fitting a king bed:
Attachment 20508

This is a design with queen and sofa instead of full length desk:
Attachment 20509

I've just barely started the build so a lot of this can/will change as I get into it.

I was originally looking for just a normal E350 extended body but came across this bus for just $2k so snapped it up. Also, the wife ended up requiring a shower so the toilet will be a shower combo.

Just my own thought here so take it for what its worth... Ditch the desk all together, and keep a couple of folding TV trays to use as a table / desk at the sofa...
dbhost is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-07-2018, 03:40 PM   #17
Mini-Skoolie
 
polomasta's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 14
Quote:
Originally Posted by dbhost View Post
Just my own thought here so take it for what its worth... Ditch the desk all together, and keep a couple of folding TV trays to use as a table / desk at the sofa...


I will be working full time while on the road so a dedicated workspace is important for me. But we’ll see how it evolves and we get deeper into the build
polomasta is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2018, 03:24 PM   #18
New Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 2
Quote:
Originally Posted by polomasta View Post
Here’s is some deets on my 2001 e-450 goshen. IIRC is was 12 seats with wheelchair lift and space.

Attachment 20506

Attachment 20507

This is a design fitting a king bed:
Attachment 20508

This is a design with queen and sofa instead of full length desk:
Attachment 20509

I've just barely started the build so a lot of this can/will change as I get into it.

I was originally looking for just a normal E350 extended body but came across this bus for just $2k so snapped it up. Also, the wife ended up requiring a shower so the toilet will be a shower combo.
Could you tell me what you used to create those great plans?
izifaddag is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2018, 03:26 PM   #19
New Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 2
I am also looking to build an RV out of a shuttle bus. Multiple reasons prompt me. I am going to retire in 5 years and want to prepare for that. I will be living in the conversion full time and I have a ton of questions.
izifaddag is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2018, 03:52 PM   #20
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: League City, Texas
Posts: 221
Quote:
Originally Posted by izifaddag View Post
Could you tell me what you used to create those great plans?
He used a program called "Sketch Up Make".

They replaced that with Sketchup. It's free, online, and fairly easy to learn.

https://www.sketchup.com/
dbhost 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 04:05 AM.


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