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05-05-2017, 05:18 PM
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#1
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Almost There
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: WNC
Posts: 96
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Finding a bus is way harder than it seems.
I hear on here of $2500-3500 buses that have been sold, yet to see it though.
Seems like I'm looking for a unicorn bus. Flat front, rear wheelchair lift, Cummins. Usually wc buses are shorter, and that's what I want.
Can't find crap. When I do, they want $7-10k for them.
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05-05-2017, 05:33 PM
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#2
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Willamina, Oregon
Posts: 6,409
Coachwork: 97 Bluebird TC1000 5.9
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A lot of it is timing. My best deals have always been from October through tax season. That's when money is tight.
__________________
Robin
Nobody's Business
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05-05-2017, 05:39 PM
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#3
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,829
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainHooligan
I hear on here of $2500-3500 buses that have been sold, yet to see it though.
Seems like I'm looking for a unicorn bus. Flat front, rear wheelchair lift, Cummins. Usually wc buses are shorter, and that's what I want.
Can't find crap. When I do, they want $7-10k for them.
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Why no navistar?
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05-05-2017, 06:56 PM
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#4
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Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Foot of the siskiyou mountains Oregon.
Posts: 222
Year: 1989
Coachwork: Thomas / international
Chassis: International
Engine: Dt 360/ spicer 5 speed
Rated Cap: 42
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05-05-2017, 07:16 PM
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#5
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Willamina, Oregon
Posts: 6,409
Coachwork: 97 Bluebird TC1000 5.9
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So that's what my bus would look like with a blue paint job.
__________________
Robin
Nobody's Business
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05-05-2017, 09:34 PM
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#6
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Western Washington
Posts: 43
Year: 1997
Rated Cap: 15 passenger
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Keep watching the auctions. Wait till there are several buses at the same time. Then wait till the last couple of days to bid.
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05-05-2017, 10:00 PM
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#7
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,829
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Peach Camp
Keep watching the auctions. Wait till there are several buses at the same time. Then wait till the last couple of days to bid.
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I zero in on what I want early, I bid the maximum I'd care to pay, and make anyone else who wants it pay more than its worth to ME.
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05-05-2017, 10:24 PM
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#8
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Guntersville, AL
Posts: 32
Year: 1989
Chassis: BlueBird
Engine: 5.9 turbo diesel Cummins
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Took me 2 years to find the bus I wanted in the price range I was willing to pay. I was patient and it paid off. Doesn't mean the wait sucked any less.
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05-05-2017, 10:42 PM
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#9
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Willamina, Oregon
Posts: 6,409
Coachwork: 97 Bluebird TC1000 5.9
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Yeah if you started working on a bus two years ago you could be finishing up your build right about now, on the wrong bus. It's destiny with a little carma mixed in.
I'll admit, I'd have liked to have had a practice bus.
__________________
Robin
Nobody's Business
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05-05-2017, 10:47 PM
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#10
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Guntersville, AL
Posts: 32
Year: 1989
Chassis: BlueBird
Engine: 5.9 turbo diesel Cummins
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Lord I hope it doesn't take me 2 years to finish it... I've already got a trip planned and booked in 7 weeks. I just got the bus 3 weeks ago..
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05-05-2017, 11:01 PM
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#11
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Willamina, Oregon
Posts: 6,409
Coachwork: 97 Bluebird TC1000 5.9
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That's a pretty tight turn around. Not that it couldn't be done. I know I don't have that much energy in 10 weeks.
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Robin
Nobody's Business
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05-06-2017, 10:37 AM
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#12
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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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NOTE:
Finding a bus is easy.
Finding the RIGHT bus is a whole 'nuther story.
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05-06-2017, 01:40 PM
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#13
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: KANSAS CITY
Posts: 751
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SolomonEagle
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I would inquire more about this bus. Remember don't buy a bus with old or worn tires unless they discount for new rubber installed.
__________________
Former owner of a 1969 F600 Skoolie.
1998 Ford B700 Thomas body 65 passenger. 5.9 Cummins 12 valve with MT643 Transmission 123,000 miles.
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05-06-2017, 02:23 PM
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#14
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 19,849
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tango
NOTE:
Finding a bus is easy.
Finding the RIGHT bus is a whole 'nuther story.
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finding the RIGHT bus is even somewhat easy.. whats a whole other story is the RIGHT bus at the RIGHT price...
-Christopher
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05-06-2017, 02:26 PM
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#15
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Willamina, Oregon
Posts: 6,409
Coachwork: 97 Bluebird TC1000 5.9
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I like it. It's two years newer than mine, but it has the same flat floor. 19.5" tires. The front and rear axles are 11' apart center to center, making this the turnaround king. Most crew cab trucks have a 12' wheelbase.
The biggest drawback I find with this type bus is due to the cantilevered front and rear ends causing torcion or twisting while driving on rough county roads. That twisting and torking motion keeps me home when there's any snow or ice.
This bus will go places a long bus simply can not go. The 26' length (9 window) is one foot longer than a 25' shorty (five window). Driving is easy once your brain accepts that the front wheel are two feet behind your butt.
__________________
Robin
Nobody's Business
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05-18-2021, 11:40 PM
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#16
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 21
Year: 2007
Coachwork: Bluebird
Engine: Cat C7
Rated Cap: 44 pass
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I got my Blue Bird All American 2007 on purplewave.com for $3750 last year. They had a video of the engine running.
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