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Old 02-25-2015, 02:39 PM   #1
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NEW - Looking into buying a shortbus TODAY! :)

Greetings all!

I am just about to start a big endeavor...renovating a 37k mile 1983 Chevy G30 6.2L Diesel engine van/shortbus into an apartment for myself upon graduating from college.

I need help!!

Wondering if I should pursue this endeavor and asking for help in terms of cost analysis, renovation ideas, etcetera etcetera.

Please help me, and have a great day
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Old 02-25-2015, 03:10 PM   #2
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Welcome!

First, where will you park it? Second, how do you see yourself using it?

Once we know where you're going with it we can shed some light on the process.
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Old 02-25-2015, 03:13 PM   #3
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Hello and thanks!

The plan is to park it at my father's house, where he has a fully functional shop for use during renovation. I have to make sure he is alright with this, but that is a conversation for tonight when I go view the bus.

As far as using the bus, I will live inside while I pay off student loan debt, working a government job as well to pay off the debt more quickly (terms agreed to by my student loan provider).

I am however uncertain if the mileage is actually 37k...the odometer reads this, but I have heard that older models such as this might jsut reset at 100k?

The owner is asking $2k for the bus as is.
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Old 02-25-2015, 04:55 PM   #4
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Dad has a shop, that's always very good.
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Old 02-25-2015, 05:11 PM   #5
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Having the ability to put the bus indoors is always a plus.

Not having to buy the tools to do the conversion is a massive help.

I have almost the same value in tools as I do in materials and bus.

Nat
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Old 02-25-2015, 08:20 PM   #6
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I was thinking more in terms of where you would be parking after your conversion is done and you've moved in. You don't want to finish your rig then find out that you'll have the local police/HOA/city zoning board hassling you all the time.
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Old 02-26-2015, 02:08 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by roach711 View Post
I was thinking more in terms of where you would be parking after your conversion is done and you've moved in. You don't want to finish your rig then find out that you'll have the local police/HOA/city zoning board hassling you all the time.
This is something to consider.
It gets very real very quickly.

Something I've not suggested to anyone yet but have been thinking is to try out a full size RV for a month. Rent it. See how you like living mobile etc.
Just a thought.
I tell tiny house people something similar. I tell em "buy a small shed and live in it for a summer before pooping 40-60 grand on a fancier shed.
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Old 02-27-2015, 03:32 AM   #8
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See how that conversation goes... a shop/tools would be a huge help.

Would this also be a fallback parking place after it's done, in case of hassles elsewhere? Will the neighbours be able to see it? Will they bitch?

My cautionary tale: I picked up a '97 E350 Corbeil shortbus thinking it would be a fairly quick conversion. Best I could tell, in good shape. Already insulated except for the floor. Seemed like it would be simple! Well, an embarrassing amount of time, later all that insulation with accompanying hidden mold is finally out, along with the floor. I think I've found most of the leaks, and addressed some of them.

If you're trying for a somewhat thorough overhaul/conversion, be prepared for some surprises. If you just want to live in it for a few months and can lower your standards a bit, maybe don't dig too deep looking for said surprises!

Finally, if the main goal is stealth-living in a city/town, a bus is maybe not the ideal choice. A cargo van or cube van might be better.
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Old 02-27-2015, 12:35 PM   #9
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A shuttle bus is very stealth and bigger than a cargo van.
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