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01-18-2015, 02:30 PM
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#1
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Sault On.
Posts: 18
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Thomas
Engine: 5.9 Turbo Cummins
Rated Cap: Tw0 + company and The Dog
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New Skoolie Help
Just hoping to get an opinion from the forum about a bus my wife and I are looking at. It is a 2003 freightliner 28 footer i think from bumper to bumer. It has 250,000 Km I think roughly 180,000 miles on a 5.9 turbo Cummings. It is a automatic with hydraulic brakes.
It is certified and I have him talked down to about $3500.00 Cnd " $2900.00 U.S". It was in service as a school bus until six months ago.
Just wondering the Forums ideas on this bus and if it is a good deal,or are there problems with this bus and motor,ect?
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01-18-2015, 04:15 PM
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#2
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Denver
Posts: 489
Year: 1982
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: International S1800
Engine: DT466 Trans: MT643
Rated Cap: 65
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Thats a good motor. Getting on in miles, but if it's been well-maintained, youll be good for sometime. Will you be driving many miles/year? Definitely look for rust, that is a decent price if the tires/engine/rust situations are good to go. Get the best bus ya can! If the tires and body are good, do it!
__________________
Patina enthusiast and professional busman
www.bustoshow.org
Blog: www.lookatthatbus.com
Instragram: @lookatthatbus
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01-18-2015, 06:55 PM
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#3
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Posts: 1,793
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: B3800 Short bus
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 36
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250000 kms is exactly 155343 miles. I'd say that isn't so bad for a Cummins 5.9l, or any diesel for that matter. Does the bus have an hour-o-meter?
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01-20-2015, 08:39 PM
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#4
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 48
Year: 2000
Chassis: Ford F450
Engine: 7.3 L
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Nothing to add from me, but a hello from a fellow Ontarian. Happy to connect here
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01-25-2015, 05:59 PM
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#5
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Adirondack Mountains NY
Posts: 1,101
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The bus looks strong from a distance, but note that it has the low roof. The roof goes down after the driver's position, not straight back or up. If you or those who join you are tall, it could be a problem.
__________________
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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01-25-2015, 06:08 PM
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#6
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Denver
Posts: 489
Year: 1982
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: International S1800
Engine: DT466 Trans: MT643
Rated Cap: 65
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Good Eyes on that roofline! Gotta wonder why they would option in an especially since you'd think its more trouble to drop down behind the driver...
That would definitely make me think twice on the bus
__________________
Patina enthusiast and professional busman
www.bustoshow.org
Blog: www.lookatthatbus.com
Instragram: @lookatthatbus
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01-25-2015, 09:31 PM
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#7
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Sault On.
Posts: 18
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Thomas
Engine: 5.9 Turbo Cummins
Rated Cap: Tw0 + company and The Dog
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Well we are both about 5`9 lol And its just for us.
From the measurements we got from the seller it is 72 inches in the center at the back. Not sure if it makes a difference that it is the handy edition, with the wheel chair lift.
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01-28-2015, 04:27 PM
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#8
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MNT CITY TN
Posts: 5,158
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just remember when you walk you get taller, and if you put anything on the floor or ceiling it can get cramped
__________________
Our build La Tortuga
Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory.
George S. Patton
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01-28-2015, 04:33 PM
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#9
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bansil
just remember when you walk you get taller, and if you put anything on the floor or ceiling it can get cramped
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This is why I'm going, slightly reluctantly, with a raise. I want to insulate the hell out of it, and I can't afford to lose the headroom that my flooring is going to eat up. So up, up up it shall go
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01-28-2015, 10:18 PM
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#10
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Sault On.
Posts: 18
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Thomas
Engine: 5.9 Turbo Cummins
Rated Cap: Tw0 + company and The Dog
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Well I have it now. There is no turning back. It is government certified,licensed and insured.
I have 6feet 2 inches down the center. I will lose an inch on the floor and the ceiling when I start the conversion. So with both of us vertically challenged,it may not be a issue for us.
May be a roof lift latter in the future. Who knows. We will figure it out.
I do know I just drove it 800km home 500 M and it was a Blast to drive! Lots of power and plenty to spare. No mechanical issues.
I am hoping the shorter roof line will be a asset for us sneaking into some of the bush roads up here in Algoma Country where we fish and hunt. There is a method to my presumed madness.
This year it will be us getting it ready for this fourth coming season. Learning what to do and what not.
Really looking forward to getting started.
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01-29-2015, 05:20 AM
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#11
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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Thats awesome, I love the return trip with a bus!
Have fun, and be safe!
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01-29-2015, 08:17 AM
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#12
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Posts: 1,793
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: B3800 Short bus
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 36
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Algoma Boondockers
I do know I just drove it 800km home 500 M and it was a Blast to drive! Lots of power and plenty to spare. No mechanical issues.
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Great news! What school district did it come from? Somewhere in Southern Ontario I presume?
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02-02-2015, 04:36 PM
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#13
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Sault On.
Posts: 18
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Thomas
Engine: 5.9 Turbo Cummins
Rated Cap: Tw0 + company and The Dog
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Yep came from the Berry District. Already started getting out the seats. Plans being worked and reworked now that I have a better idea of what I am dealing with.
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