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Old 02-05-2015, 06:21 PM   #101
Bus Nut
 
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Ocala, FL
Posts: 635
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Bookmobile body by Farber
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: Navistar DT466/Alison MT643
Rated Cap: 1
Include other types of vehicles in your search. My build is based on a bookmobile body on an International 3800 bus chassis. The interior has very tall ceilings (I have 7'2" headroom with insulated floors and ceilings) and everything above the chassis rails is aluminum. Heck, the walls are 1/8" thick with equally heavy vertical channels riveted to the outer skin. I paid more than most here, but I didn't encounter any rust and the engine starts right up (with a charged battery). It also came with a 16Kw diesel marine generator that I sold to offset my cost. Don't limit your options!

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Old 02-05-2015, 07:46 PM   #102
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cowlitzcoach View Post
I can't really make an informed opinion without actually seeing the buses.
Do you have any opinions on Setra coaches (generally speaking)? Like this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1993-Setra-S...19726&pt=Buses
Ok, not that one specifically. It has almost 1M miles already. But in general, the S215 for example vs a 102A3

Seems the rear axles are much further forward than MCI buses.
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Old 02-05-2015, 07:54 PM   #103
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Originally Posted by PDBreske View Post
Include other types of vehicles in your search
I'm open to literally anything at this point. Was there a particular place you were searching beyond the traditional ebay, craigslist, govdeals, public surplus, etc etc? I've generically been looking for "bus" from anywhere I can find.
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Old 02-05-2015, 08:11 PM   #104
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Location: Southern Maine
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Not to be a PITA here....but if you want to use a bus as a "moving van," a coach ain't gonna do ya much good. See, they have 1 tiny little man door, and from the convo's I have had with a couple people converting coaches, you have to remove a windshield to move big stuff in and out. Which sounds like a very thorough ass whipping to me. A Dog nose and FE skoolie provide a lovely large door in the back for things like couches. Just something to keep in mind when looking at moving.
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Old 02-05-2015, 08:42 PM   #105
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Understood Malkieri. Dog nose and FE are out for me, as the move is a one time thing and hopefully I'll be getting lots of post-move miles out of the bus. For those miles, I want a RE with a comfortable ride.

Thankfully this move should be fairly straightforward. I live in a state where appliances are sold with the house, and I have no large furniture. The largest furniture items I have (couch, table, chairs) all disassemble. The most challenging items will probably be garage items like the lawnmower and snowblower, but those should still fit. In a coach, they'd definitely fit underneath (might need to empty the oil/gas out of the snowblower and crate it on its side, but it'd work). Worst case, I pop a window for a large item or just sell that item and rebuy at my new home.
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Old 02-13-2015, 06:03 AM   #106
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
How bout one of these beauties-http://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/auc...ew?auc=1242440
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Old 02-13-2015, 10:43 AM   #107
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Originally Posted by EastCoastCB View Post
Having almost zero mechanical knowledge/skills, I'm scared off by the horror stories I've read about the Cat 3208 - particularly the 3208 when used in highway/high RPM applications. But those are beautiful looking buses.
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Old 02-14-2015, 03:20 AM   #108
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
While not a big fan, it was "good enough" to be put into crowns and gilligs.
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Old 02-20-2015, 01:14 PM   #109
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So in a moment of impulsive, dice rolling, i'm-feeling-lucky optimism I bid on this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1994-Setra-2...vip=true&rt=nc I guess there goes the whole skoolie thing.
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Old 02-20-2015, 02:47 PM   #110
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
That's a nice rig, man. Good luck!
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Old 02-20-2015, 05:07 PM   #111
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Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Dowdy Lakes, Colorado
Posts: 1,444
Year: 1989
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner ER
Engine: 3208 CAT/MT643 tranny
Rated Cap: 87
Well, it's a conversion isn't it? Need a professional to make the call..... ;)
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