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09-12-2016, 12:17 PM
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#1
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Skoolie
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 157
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30 ft or 40ft? Anyone have plans for a 30ft?
I am bidding on a bus, and have the option to get a 40ft or a 30ft. These are all flat front, front engine. There is also a conventional style about 40ft.
Engine options are Cumins 5.9, Cat 3208,3116 or a Int DT466.
Any opinions on what engine to get and what to avoid?
Also, I am building it for just my wife and I, plus a 24 year old daughter that may come sometimes. I think the 30ft might work, anyone do a shorter bus and have any floor plans?
BTW, the 30ft has the 5.9.
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09-12-2016, 05:19 PM
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#2
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New Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: AZ
Posts: 6
Year: 1995
Coachwork: AmTram
Chassis: Genesis
Engine: DT466/MT643
Rated Cap: 86
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I'd go with the 40' one. If you don't "need" the extra space you're fine until you wish you had it. I'm sure you can find new things to do with it.
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09-12-2016, 05:34 PM
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#3
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Skoolie
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Sarasota, Florida
Posts: 171
Year: 1995
Coachwork: International
Chassis: Carpenter
Engine: d466 mechanical
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5.9 or the DT466, avoid cat they're expensive.
Between 30ft or 40ft, go with 40ft. You'll always find room for the extra space. It's not like 30fts a tiny bus anyways so might as well get some extra room
__________________
Nowhere Fast - Sarasota, Florida
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09-12-2016, 05:38 PM
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#4
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Almost There
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: WNC
Posts: 96
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Which site? And go 40ft.
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09-12-2016, 07:03 PM
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#5
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Skoolie
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 157
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All the flat front 40ft ones are Cat powered. The conventional is a 40ish, not sure exactly and it's a DT466 and the 2 30's are Cumins. However the DAt466 powered one is a little more "used". And the 30's are handicapped.
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09-12-2016, 07:25 PM
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#6
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Skoolie
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 115
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I have a 24ft short bus, or had one once the sell goes through.
I always had plenty of room. And I'm like Lucy Arnez I have to pack 'everything'. Of course I did cut back a little.
Finding a parking place or camp site large enough was not a problem, first quesion is how long is your bus.
Of course room is important for some.
Fuel is also a plus for a smaller bus.
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09-12-2016, 09:38 PM
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#7
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Oklahoma aka "God's blind spot"
Posts: 2,447
Year: 1989
Coachwork: 1853FC International/Navistar
Chassis: 35' Retired Air Force Ambulance
Engine: DT466, MT643
Rated Cap: 6 souls and a driver
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I have 35', wish I had 10' more...
You lose 6' space for the driver's area, dog house, & steps/door.
Like toilet paper...
It's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
__________________
I once complained I had no shoes....
Until I met a man with no feet
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09-13-2016, 10:12 PM
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#8
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Skoolie
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 157
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Well at this point I am eagerly awaiting to find out if I won a bid or not. If I do win, I will be getting a 87 Blue Bird 38 ft with DT 466. Its under 200K miles.
If I lose the bid, I will be going to buy one locally, same bus only an 85 with more miles on it.
I think both are good, each having a good/bad side to them. However I like the old-school style of the S1800 International. One is still Yellow and owned by the school(till the auction ends) and the other is Gray and owned by a Church.
I will report back shortly to tell you if I won or lost.
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09-13-2016, 10:30 PM
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#9
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New Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 6
Year: 1994
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: TC2000
Engine: 5.9L with Allison AT 545
Rated Cap: 72
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Good luck!
Which auction site did you use?
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09-13-2016, 11:09 PM
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#10
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Skoolie
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 157
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I used Public Surplus.com and lost all 6 buses I bid on. They all went over the price I had in my head and the price of a local bus for sale.
I will have to wait for Saturday as I am out of state right now.
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09-14-2016, 08:19 AM
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#11
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 19,846
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
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I love the old S-1800 look! 86 Blue-birrd is what i rode to school on in my senior year of high school... that bus was new.. I even got to drive it once... (yeah ive been a bus geek for a long time)...
alot of times you are bidding eithert directly or indirectly against bus dealers..
directly - they buy and mark them upo and re-sell
indirectly - many people use dealer prices as a reference point so they will bid busses up to within 1000 or so of what a dealer might charge thinking they are still getting a deal
-Christopher
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09-14-2016, 01:47 PM
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#12
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Skoolie
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: League City, Texas
Posts: 221
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Depends on what you are planning to do with the rig. I personally would LOVE a 30' flat nose front engine bus to start with. RV (And in turn Skoolie) Length makes a LOT of difference in your ability to actually stay at certain camp grounds. Most of the older ones won't handle larger rigs...
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09-15-2016, 01:10 PM
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#13
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Almost There
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Central Oregon
Posts: 74
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: Gensis
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From my experience with my 30 foot flat nose and my best friends 40 foot dog nose I can say it depends and tell you the challenges I face.
On mine we wanted an RV and less of a tiny home so 30ft was great as it is easier to store, park, drive, and camp with. Being a flat nose we had 2 extra wheel wells to deal with. The hard part is the shower. Realistically you will have a couch area, kitchen area, and queen bed... that leaves little room for a shower and bathroom. At least thats been our challenge.
My best friend has a 40ft with a dog nose and has much more freedom for his build due to the wheel wells only being in the back. His goal is much more of a tiny home setup and actually bought 2 busses.
Basically 30ft is great for an RV and guest house but anything more and I would go longer. Flat nose have more challenges due to the wheel well addition. We still managed to work around the wheel wells and have what we wanted and kept an open feel.. it's just challenging.
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09-15-2016, 01:27 PM
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#14
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Colorado
Posts: 2,539
Year: 1993
Coachwork: bluebird
Engine: 5.9 Cummins, Allison AT1545
Rated Cap: 2
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I have a 30' flat nose and like the size very much. its perfect for 2 people or less.
you'd need a 40' bus to fit additional bunks.
my 2 cents
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09-15-2016, 03:46 PM
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#15
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Skoolie
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 157
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Well the one I settled on is a 38ft dog nose. I wanted a DT466 and this one was church owned and painted grey. So, it will save me time and money not being Yellow. It is older, but I like that as the 466 is not electronic and it is simple. It also doesn't have split rims, normal newer style rims an good tires. I will post pictures when I get it home. I hope on Saturday.
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09-15-2016, 05:58 PM
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#16
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Almost There
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: WNC
Posts: 96
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Quote:
Originally Posted by turf
I have a 30' flat nose and like the size very much. its perfect for 2 people or less.
you'd need a 40' bus to fit additional bunks.
my 2 cents
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I'm looking for a 30' flat nose right now.
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09-17-2016, 06:01 PM
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#17
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Skoolie
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 157
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Well I am bringing home my 1985 International S1800 38Ft 65 passenger bus right now(stopped to shop, no driving right now)
Very excited, I will post pictures when it's home.
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11-24-2020, 07:11 PM
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#18
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Skoolie
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Washington DC
Posts: 124
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Thomas
Engine: 5.9L 24V-L6 Cummins
Rated Cap: 37'
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Oldmopars
I am bidding on a bus, and have the option to get a 40ft or a 30ft. These are all flat front, front engine. There is also a conventional style about 40ft.
Engine options are Cumins 5.9, Cat 3208,3116 or a Int DT466.
Any opinions on what engine to get and what to avoid?
Also, I am building it for just my wife and I, plus a 24 year old daughter that may come sometimes. I think the 30ft might work, anyone do a shorter bus and have any floor plans?
BTW, the 30ft has the 5.9.
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Hello There -
The 30' flat nose you found - was it actually 30', or was it more like 32'? We are finding 10 window 28' and 11 window 32' but nothing 30'. We prefer flat nose because easier to drive and more internal space to exterior length ration. And so b/c of national park rules on RV length, 30' would be perfect!
Thanks!
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11-24-2020, 07:24 PM
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#19
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Skoolie
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 157
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sevier
Hello There -
The 30' flat nose you found - was it actually 30', or was it more like 32'? We are finding 10 window 28' and 11 window 32' but nothing 30'. We prefer flat nose because easier to drive and more internal space to exterior length ration. And so b/c of national park rules on RV length, 30' would be perfect!
Thanks!
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I am sorry to say, I don’t remember. It was 4 years ago. I bought, converted, lived in and sold that bus already. I have moved, bought land and a 30ft RV.
It was fun, but life changed.
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01-16-2021, 06:42 PM
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#20
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: CA
Posts: 29
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I am looking for a 30-33' if any body has got ideas of where they are selling this size.
Also what do yall think about a 5.9 in a 30 ft ? Ive heard its not gunna have enouph power and will burn out pulling that weight?
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