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Old 04-13-2017, 05:15 PM   #21
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I won't bid against you. I think they look like a good first bus for me.

Just curious, do you know how much shipping a bus from Tn to California might cost(roughly?)?

Do they sell the buses even if the reserve is not meet?

Fuel milage?

Thanks!
I'll PM you the links of the two I really want. There are like four or five all pretty much the same specs and condition. I doubt I'll get any of them, but we'll see. IF the prices go too high for me, I'll try for one. If i get outbid, oh well... This is my bidding system. I bid low and often!

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Old 04-13-2017, 05:50 PM   #22
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If you're insurance is ok with it, and you are the trusting type, you may be able to get someone to drive it cross country. My uncle used to buy Porches, VWs, and other smaller vehicles here in Texas, and pay for gas, to get people to drive them to Ca. And this way long before C/L Rideshare. To the best of my knowledge he only lost 1 car.
You get it delivered cheaply, and they get a free ride out West. Do some homework on this .....it may be the way to go.
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Old 04-13-2017, 08:19 PM   #23
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I think I have seen something like this called U-Ship. You put a job and people will bid on how much they will charge to do it. My friend had a lady drive her cat from Texas to California.

I will most likely drive it.
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Old 04-13-2017, 08:21 PM   #24
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I think I have seen something like this called U-Ship. You put a job and people will bid on how much they will charge to do it. My friend had a lady drive her cat from Texas to California.

I will most likely drive it.
I've had NO luck with Uship. Just sketchy, rude people wanting higher than retail prices to haul stuff.
YOu can do this!
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Old 04-13-2017, 08:45 PM   #25
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Haven't you see that Shipping Wars on TV? That's some of the U-Bid guys and yes they're gleefully rude.
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Old 04-14-2017, 08:31 AM   #26
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Going to drive!!

I have decided that I am definitely going to drive the bus home, from wherever I buy it. It seems like the best way to start the journey and get to know my bus.
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Old 04-14-2017, 08:59 AM   #27
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First tone I drove a bus was test driving mine. Second time I drove a bus was a few minutes later after buying it, and I drove across the state. Fortune favors the bold!

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Old 04-14-2017, 11:08 AM   #28
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Haven't you see that Shipping Wars on TV? That's some of the U-Bid guys and yes they're gleefully rude.
You're kidding, right? Shipping Wars? I thought they'd hit the bottom of the barrel when they made a series about buying the contents of abandoned storage lockers.
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Old 04-14-2017, 12:22 PM   #29
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Storage wars is still on TV too. That kind of makes my stomach contents curdle to see ontrepenurial people acting like that. Acting is the key word. Those shows are scripted. You can tell some of the people are reading from a Q-card.

Rhonda, I'm still searching for your shorty. There's some nice looking buses around with the wrong engines, thus the silence.
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Old 04-14-2017, 12:53 PM   #30
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Storage wars is still on TV too. That kind of makes my stomach contents curdle to see ontrepenurial people acting like that. Acting is the key word. Those shows are scripted. You can tell some of the people are reading from a Q-card.

Rhonda, I'm still searching for your shorty. There's some nice looking buses around with the wrong engines, thus the silence.
I think she'd be wise to go for one of the GM's with the 6.0 gasser.
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Old 04-14-2017, 12:54 PM   #31
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Noooooooo not gas!

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Old 04-14-2017, 01:09 PM   #32
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While the gassers are sacrilage for most of us here, it might be easier for Rhonda. That's a choice she'll have to make eventually. Can we make Rhonda into a mechanic? I think we can.
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Old 04-14-2017, 01:24 PM   #33
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Noooooooo not gas!

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Read through the thread. Its for weekend camping trips. The gasser's got a 6.0, capable of comparable mileage to any diesel offered and with MUCH better parts and service support than a diesel van of the same vintage.
As mentioned earlier- I've got nothing but good things to say about the 6.0 Gm Vortech. EXCELLENT power, durability, serviceability. A really nice powerplant for a van chassis.
Just put a water pump, thermostat, and belt on the 6.0 work truck at 240k+ miles and its still a clean, good ruuner.
A van with one of these that's only got 20k, 40k on the odo is a pretty nice find and totally worth grabbing. I'd rather have the 6.0 than the GM diesel offerings, and Ford's post-2002 stuff is garbage, so the options for decent reliable van chassis buses are much more limited than big buses.
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Old 04-14-2017, 01:36 PM   #34
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I'm just averse to gassers, especially when you are buying a used vehicle with more than a trivial amount of miles. Every gas bus and RV I saw when shopping needed main bearings.

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Old 04-14-2017, 01:51 PM   #35
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There is only 5 hours left on this auction, so sorry for the late entry.

If we're considering gassers, tell me what you guys think of this one. This bus has been a curiosity to me because of its low mileage (58.614k) and a claim that it needs an ABS valve. It's a 350 in a microbird.

Public Surplus: Auction #1823340

Maybe I'm wrong but I find those ABS valves all over ebay. Cheap fix? Cheap bus?
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Old 04-14-2017, 01:58 PM   #36
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I'm just averse to gassers, especially when you are buying a used vehicle with more than a trivial amount of miles. Every gas bus and RV I saw when shopping needed main bearings.

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These things have RIDICULOUSLY low mileage.
BY 6.0 standards, they're practically new.

In a full size bus, yeah gassers are horrible choices. Been there, done that.
I've hauled literally TONS of stuff with a 6.0 Vortech. They're solid performers that last with basic care and maintenance.
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Old 04-14-2017, 02:02 PM   #37
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Thanks!! I keep searching as well.

I am watching the Chevy short buses in Tennessee, on Govdeals. Had some agreement on here that that could be a good weekender bus for me.
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Old 04-14-2017, 03:39 PM   #38
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Yeah, those are some nice looking low mileage gassers. They should drive like a car.
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Old 04-15-2017, 11:08 AM   #39
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Question Opinion on Buses

Hey everyone,

These 4 buses just popped up on Craigslist here in San Diego. The Fords are a no go, but the Chevy's with the added rear door may give it enough length. Plus, the Fords have the 6.0L engines.

What about the diesel engines on these two models and the milage, 260,000miles and 239k? Age of the Chevy's (1993)? Thoughts?

https://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/cto/6088998344.html

Thanks,
Rhonda
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Old 04-15-2017, 12:04 PM   #40
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Off handedly, judging by the mileage, I'd say someone enjoyed driving the Chevys a lot more than the Fords.

I think most of us try to stay below 200k on mileage if possible. Honestly I think the Tennessee buses look better. Are you leaning more towards diesel engines now?

I'm a little leary of the Tennessee buses with super low mileage. What's the problems with them that they weren't driven leaving them with absurdly low mileage?

Question everything, then take your chances.
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