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Old 11-30-2017, 05:09 PM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Red Oak, TX
Posts: 24
Year: 1999
Engine: Cummins 5.9
New again!

HI there skoolie folks. I joined a while back when I got a different bus. That turned out to be a nightmare. The church I got it from could not agree amongst themselves. There was one standout and he would not release the title. I am thinking it turned out for the best, as I found lots of problems with the bus as I got into it.

A refresh about me... I live in Red Oak, Texas. I plan to live on the bus after the conversion and travel all over the continent.

About the new bus... She is a 40' 2002 Bluebird with a Cummins and an Allison tranny. She was previously converted into a bloodmobile. I hope this doesn't disqualify her as a skoolie. She didn't have a choice in the matter.

https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=shsz7ywLVKy&brand=0 Walk through her and see how I got her.

I already have most of what is going into her. But, there's still a lot to do. I plan to have her completed and on the road before spring. She will have a bedroom in the back, fresh and gray water tanks, 12v DC and 110v AC. 2.1KW of solar on top and 6KWh of battery storage. I also have two 15KW powertech diesel generators. I will be selling one. There are currently 4 rooftop A/C units, I will be selling those and installing a mini-split system. I have a lot more planned.

I'll keep everyone updated the best I can.
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Old 12-01-2017, 05:45 AM   #2
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Looks good and great platform, probably better than a book mobile

and you are more than welcome here
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Old 12-01-2017, 07:37 AM   #3
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Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Illinois
Posts: 17
Year: 2006
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner HDX
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Rated Cap: 76
I'm new to this whole program myself, bring our bus home next Thursday, let the fun begin!
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Old 12-01-2017, 07:38 AM   #4
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Join Date: May 2009
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Engine: DTA360 / MT643
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blood mobiles rock!! and you will likely want 2 Mini splits for a bus that size esp if thats going to be your driver-A/C as well..

awesome looking bus!!
-Christopher
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Old 12-01-2017, 07:48 AM   #5
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Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Illinois
Posts: 17
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Help me here, what is a mini-split? I think I did one when I was a kid fell off a bike...
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Old 12-01-2017, 07:52 AM   #6
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https://www.acwholesalers.com/Ductle...rker1?mainCat=

they are heat / cool A/C units that often riun on 115 volts.. dont surge a generator, are very quiet.. you mount an inside unit up high on your back and / or front bulkheads of the bus.. then you can hang the outside cxompressor unit underneath..

they are pretty efficient and due to their nature of no surge current they tend to be generator / inverter (pure sine wave), and solar friendly..

-Christopher
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Old 12-01-2017, 07:55 AM   #7
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Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Illinois
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That is very helpful, what size and number (2?) would you recommend for a Saf-T-Liner HDX?
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Old 12-01-2017, 08:50 AM   #8
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Originally Posted by AJH3212 View Post
That is very helpful, what size and number (2?) would you recommend for a Saf-T-Liner HDX?
a lot depends on how well you will insulate.. if you are going to spray foam, and put in good RV windows, insulate for floors, etc and plan to travel into hot climates, 2 of them at 12,000 BTU are going to give you a nice reasonable cool down and keep you cool..

driving on the road aside.. theres more than one of us that will tell you that road A/C is a whole different animal if you want it.. if your buss already has it.. think long and hard before you rip it out..

-Christopher
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Old 12-01-2017, 10:09 AM   #9
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Looks good and great platform, probably better than a book mobile

and you are more than welcome here


What's with the bookmobile hate? Bookmobiles are people, too.


Welcome to the new guy and his bloodmobile. I really like the style of those buses.

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Old 12-05-2017, 11:52 AM   #10
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Two mini-splits is exactly where I'm going with this!
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Old 12-07-2017, 01:16 AM   #11
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I got her!

So, after the mechanic checked her out, I know of a few minor issues and I even managed to pay less than I expected. I had her up to 70 on the highway and she drives wonderfully. I set the cruise control at 65 and took her home. She's in the back yard now.

Tomorrow, I start stripping her out.
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Old 12-07-2017, 06:48 AM   #12
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Nice Ride !

Why didn't you get a bigger bus?

The real question is will you be cool enough with 4 rooftops?

Glad to hear she's a runner. Buy some work gloves and contractor bags- your todo list just got longer....
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Old 12-07-2017, 04:14 PM   #13
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Thanks man! I keep work gloves stocked! The funny thing is... I didn't even wear them today. And the rooftop units are going away. I am going with the mini-split, two zone system.
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Old 12-07-2017, 04:31 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nomadic View Post
Thanks man! I keep work gloves stocked! The funny thing is... I didn't even wear them today. And the rooftop units are going away. I am going with the mini-split, two zone system.
use 2 separate smaller mini splits... the 2 zone systems cant often push out the maximum cooling to both units at the same time..

excellent looking bus!!!


-Christopher
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Old 12-07-2017, 05:26 PM   #15
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Location: Farmington, IL
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Gross. LOL

I used to work on one of those things. Lots of blood gets spilled and works its way into all the crevices it can find. I remember one time there was a leaky bag and I ended up completely covered. A little blood goes a long way...
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Old 12-08-2017, 01:37 AM   #16
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I am fine with a little old blood. But can you imagine the blood and other bodily fluids that fill a school bus?
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Old 12-08-2017, 03:37 AM   #17
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Location: Eustis FLORIDA
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I am fine with a little old blood. But can you imagine the blood and other bodily fluids that fill a school bus?
Or a prison bus! They fling EVERY kind of fluid on those things.
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Old 12-08-2017, 09:08 AM   #18
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if there is blood in it cant you just hose it down like they do at hospitals??

or if you are gutting the bus anyway its all gonna be gone or covered up with new interior finishes over the existing..

id say its worth it to get a nice bus like that.. though id probably leave the A/C's and their wiring and not re-invent a wheel there..
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Old 12-08-2017, 11:30 AM   #19
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
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Originally Posted by cadillackid View Post
if there is blood in it cant you just hose it down like they do at hospitals??

or if you are gutting the bus anyway its all gonna be gone or covered up with new interior finishes over the existing..

id say its worth it to get a nice bus like that.. though id probably leave the A/C's and their wiring and not re-invent a wheel there..
I hope I can score one of our local Bloodmobiles one day. They're TOP NOTCH!
5 rooftop units of AC!
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Old 08-01-2018, 06:44 AM   #20
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Location: The Adirondacks
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Year: 03
Chassis: BlueBird
Engine: 5.9 Cummins 24v
Any pics of your build? That unit is AWESOME
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