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12-02-2015, 03:11 AM
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#1
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 15
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How does this look to you?
Hey guys,
Been looking at this site for awhile, and am looking at converting or buying a converted school bus sometime in the next few years when I move back to the USA. I am trying to get a feel for things right now. What does this look like to you experts? Is the price too high? I am completely new to this.
Converted school bus
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12-02-2015, 06:42 AM
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#2
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Tomball, TX
Posts: 313
Year: 1988
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC/2000
Engine: Cummins 5.9TA
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The ad says it's 200 square feet, but that's untrue. I only count 8 windows. That's less than 150 square feet. 200 square feet is in the 11-13 window range. Windows are between 2' and 2.5' long. The bus is about 7.5' wide on the inside (maybe even less depending on if you're gonna insulate more).
Also, most people here would tell you to avoid a gas engine.
I'd say for $15k and 6-12 months of hard work on weekends you could have something much nicer than that.
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12-02-2015, 07:30 AM
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#3
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 15
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Thanks for the info! Unfortunately, I doubt I'll have 6-12 months of opportunity to work on weekends, and would prefer to buy one that's mostly complete.
While I'm pretty good with carpentry and decent with electrical, I'm not great with plumbing, and a complete idiot when it comes to autos
I can modify an interior somewhat, but would prefer not to start from scratch.
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12-02-2015, 10:24 AM
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#4
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Andrews,Indiana
Posts: 2,436
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: AARE
Engine: 3116 Cat 250hp
Rated Cap: Just the two of us.
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Too much money for what you get. Porta potty and solar shower. Don't really see a bathroom in any pictures.
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12-02-2015, 10:56 AM
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#5
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Montana
Posts: 1,626
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: All-American R/E
Engine: 8.3 Cummins
Rated Cap: 72
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Quote:
Originally Posted by luza
a complete idiot when it comes to autos
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I'm afraid, that has a great possibility of biting you, if you buy a bus.
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12-02-2015, 11:44 AM
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#6
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by opus
I'm afraid, that has a great possibility of biting you, if you buy a bus.
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....sigh... I'm sure it does. Ah well, I can dream, I suppose.
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12-02-2015, 12:58 PM
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#7
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Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: NUNYA
Posts: 4,236
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: 3800
Engine: DT408, AT545
Rated Cap: 23 500 gvw
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Quote:
Originally Posted by luza
....sigh... I'm sure it does. Ah well, I can dream, I suppose.
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He is not trying to dash your dreams. Just letting you know that you will pay through the nose for repairs if you can't do things yourself.
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12-02-2015, 01:56 PM
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#8
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Bus Geek
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
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There are VERY few folks here who came into the Skoolie thing as gas or diesel mechanics. Myself...I am still very early into the learning stages of the whole diesel thing. I have found that if you just concentrate on finding out what you can about whatever engine is in your rig, you can quickly pick up on it's particular quirks & issues. Good news is, the internet has made the whole process of finding answers to such things quite easy. You may never get a job as a certified technician, but you should be able to handle the most common issues. Go for it.
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12-02-2015, 03:40 PM
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#9
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: ...little north of Toronto Ontario
Posts: 606
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Thomsass
Chassis: FreightShaker
Engine: 5.9 Cummins 5 speed
Rated Cap: 2 ATV's and friends
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Pictures don't show everything, poor workmanship, water damage, underneath condition etc. could be good but I myself would like to look at it closer.
As far as the engine/drive train part of it, my step son is a diesel mechanic with an interest in using it.....bonus!
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12-02-2015, 11:31 PM
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#10
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 15
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I'm willing to pay a few thousand for upgrades/repairs - I just don't want to get screwed. I guess, just like with cars, I'd need to find a diesel mechanic I trust, and use him (or her) as an advisor on purchases as well.
...or just hire someone to buy the bus, fix it up, and get it all ready for me to do the finishing. I've been craving a long unplugged road trip lately...
I'm very impressed by the level of ingenuity, commitment, and creativity I've seen on this site so far - your ability levels are as intimidating as the prospect of converting a bus myself.
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12-03-2015, 08:03 AM
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#11
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Colorado
Posts: 2,359
Year: 1993
Coachwork: bluebird
Engine: 5.9 Cummins, Allison AT1545
Rated Cap: 2
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Being a skoolie owner....
maybe i have unrealistic expectations, but i bet that the sale price is close to the amount of money the PO spent on it.
can you do it cheaper yourself? nicer? in your allotted time?
i think the price sounds reasonable, and gas is super cheap now.
for a comparable moterhome, its not bad
turf
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12-05-2015, 06:07 AM
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#12
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by turf
Being a skoolie owner....
maybe i have unrealistic expectations, but i bet that the sale price is close to the amount of money the PO spent on it.
can you do it cheaper yourself? nicer? in your allotted time?
i think the price sounds reasonable, and gas is super cheap now.
for a comparable moterhome, its not bad
turf
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I agree. I didn't think it was that bad. Could I do it cheaper myself? probably not, no.
I thought this would be pretty cool, though. I imagine this kind of thing has already taken one or two steps in the right direction:
https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?f...=1&acctid=8295
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12-05-2015, 10:53 AM
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#13
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by turf
Being a skoolie owner....
maybe i have unrealistic expectations, but i bet that the sale price is close to the amount of money the PO spent on it.
can you do it cheaper yourself? nicer? in your allotted time?
i think the price sounds reasonable, and gas is super cheap now.
for a comparable moterhome, its not bad
turf
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I don't think I could do it cheaper myself - not in a reasonable amount of time, anyway.
I think my best bet will be to buy an already converted skoolie, and hire out the mechanical repairs/upgrades, and modify the interior myself.
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12-05-2015, 08:44 PM
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#14
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Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: NUNYA
Posts: 4,236
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: 3800
Engine: DT408, AT545
Rated Cap: 23 500 gvw
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Quote:
Originally Posted by luza
I agree. I didn't think it was that bad. Could I do it cheaper myself? probably not, no.
I thought this would be pretty cool, though. I imagine this kind of thing has already taken one or two steps in the right direction:
https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?f...=1&acctid=8295
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That is a lot of rust.
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12-09-2015, 08:34 PM
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#15
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Adirondack Mountains NY
Posts: 1,101
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Quote:
Originally Posted by crazycal
That is a lot of rust.
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But the 10kW Onan Quiet Diesel genset is worth more used than the current $450 bid for the whole bookmobile. . . . .
__________________
Someone said "Making good decisions comes from experience, experience comes from bad decisions." I say there are three kinds of people: those who learn from their mistakes, those who learn from the mistakes of others, and those who never learn.
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12-09-2015, 11:43 PM
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#16
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 15
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forgive my ignorance - very new to this. There is indeed a lot of rust, and I know that it can spread. Is there anything that can be done to stop/remove it?
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12-10-2015, 03:38 PM
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#17
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Billings, MT
Posts: 1,269
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: HDX
Engine: Cat C7
Rated Cap: 84 passenger
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That amount of money for that small bus? I paid $8K for a much larger bus and I have to work on the interior myself.
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