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01-17-2014, 02:49 PM
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#1
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 36
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Flying for the skoolie
For you guys that catch a flight fly across country to pick up your bus, what the heck do you do if she dont make it home. Donate it to the local salvation army ? The south west seems like the best place to buy but I would have a long drive back to SC. I dont think my little nissan would pull that thing home. I cant even think about how much money it would cost to replace a tranny or engine out on the road.
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01-17-2014, 07:57 PM
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#2
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Stony Plain Alberta Canada
Posts: 2,937
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: TC2000 FE
Engine: 190hp 5.9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 72
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Re: Flying for the skoolie
Make sure you have AMA?
Nat
__________________
"Don't argue with stupid people. They will just drag you down to their level, and beat you up with experience."
Patently waiting for the apocalypses to level the playing field in this physiological game of life commonly known as Civilization
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01-17-2014, 09:24 PM
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#3
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Skoolie
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Southeast raleigh
Posts: 221
Year: 1974
Coachwork: Crown
Chassis: Supercoach
Engine: Detroit Diesel 6-71
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Re: Flying for the skoolie
I put Coach Net on our bus before we drove it home from CA to NC. Not a chance in hell we'd leave her behind.
Other than that, just check everything over real well, keep your fingers crossed and hope all the way!
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01-17-2014, 09:27 PM
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#4
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Vacaville, Ca
Posts: 1,634
Year: 1988
Coachwork: Crown / Pusher
Engine: 8.3 Cummins
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Re: Flying for the skoolie
I bought a bus in Indiana about 12 years ago on ebay, rode my motorcycle from California to pick it up,ended up junking it in Nebraska, luckly I had the motorcycle to get me home, thats one story
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01-17-2014, 09:54 PM
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#5
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Farmington Hills, Mi (Detroit area)
Posts: 1,968
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Eldorado Aerotech 24'
Chassis: Ford E-450 Cutaway Bus
Engine: 7.3L Powerstroke
Rated Cap: 19
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Re: Flying for the skoolie
Good Sam has a reasonably priced RV towing program that also covers your family cars. We haven't had to have our bus towed so far but we did use it on one of the cars and it was very easy to use. One call to Good Sam's 800 number and the tow company took care of the rest.
That first drive home in a well used bus can be stressful to say the least. When we picked ours up the guy at the lot basically gave us the keys and wished us a good life. We had to jump start the thing and two tires needed air before we could hit the road. Fortunately we only had 40 miles to go and the trip went smoothly.
If I was flying in to pick one up I'd want to at least have a good test drive before handing over the check. It seems that many school system mechanics are willing to go over the bus with you and some have even swapped out parts and filled fuel tanks to sweeten the sale. Some will give you a copy of the service records if you beg properly.
Bottom line - look for a reliable (or at least drivable) bus but assume you'll have problems en route and try to plan for them as best you can.
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01-18-2014, 05:49 AM
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#6
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Colorado
Posts: 2,362
Year: 1993
Coachwork: bluebird
Engine: 5.9 Cummins, Allison AT1545
Rated Cap: 2
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Re: Flying for the skoolie
be sure an take lots of cash with you.
when i got mine. it needed 3 batteries ($450). and a couple of tanks of fuel ($250/each). then after i got home i got the oil changed ($600).
i had no issues on the way home, however, since then i have added a heavy towing, roadside assistance to my bus insurance policy.
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01-18-2014, 06:04 AM
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#7
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MNT CITY TN
Posts: 5,158
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Re: Flying for the skoolie
Biggest thing would be the right mindset, my trooper has 250k+ I drive it anywhere I want...what's the worst that could happen?blown engine? Okay, call the wife sshe'll bring the trailer load it bring it home and buy another wrecked, swap motor and good to go.
A bus, well I would attempt to drive damn near anything for anyone....just for the adventure, worst case you need to scrap it on the road...call a tow company tell them its dead and you need xxx and its theirs
A buddy needed help moving some rigs, he started the old bigazz thing and pointed to this and that....piss on it, it stopped when I mushed the brake pedal....he said if buzzer comes on stop quick...no shi at, learned that in the army....great trip keeping the 50yr old pos in the lane.
Never got over 40 mph...I couldn't figure out the 2speed rear and split shift things so I said....Frick it and just drove and had fun
For me, I would store the bus, buy another and strip seats out...I can strip mine of $$$ in 1 day and be on my way....the scrap metal price will pay for tow,storage and fuel
Perfect plan in my exotic and wandering mind
So if you have the mindset, enjoy the drive....if your safe and alive standing on the side of the road....what was so bad?
__________________
Our build La Tortuga
Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory.
George S. Patton
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01-18-2014, 11:01 AM
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#8
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: So Cal
Posts: 3,231
Year: 1935
Coachwork: Superior
Chassis: Chevy
Engine: 317 ci/tid / Isuzu
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Re: Flying for the skoolie
Amen to that Bansil!
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01-18-2014, 11:26 AM
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#9
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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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Re: Flying for the skoolie
Research where you are buying it from. I'd rather spend more money initially, knowing what I was getting than to buy one from an auction. Wont guarantee no troubles but it sure helps.
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01-18-2014, 01:45 PM
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#10
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: MN
Posts: 732
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Wayne
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DT466
Rated Cap: 72
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Re: Flying for the skoolie
I don't know how mechanically inclined you are, but Bansil was spot on. It's a risk, no way around it, but it's fun. I've bought many vehicles on Ebay and flown out to get them. Bring tools, extra cash, and big balls Every trip I have made is a memory. The most challenging one was a 1999 GSR Integra I bought in Los Angeles (I live in Mn). It had a completely worn and siezed throw out bearing (sold as "clutch needs adjustment"). I lost compression on #4 cyl in Utah. Yup, I drove from Utah to Mn with 3 cylinders and no clutch (almost, I was only using it to shift into first, and at stops). Stressful, but awesome memory with my daughter. Opus is right, though research is KEY!!
__________________
The journey is the destination...
Brutus
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01-19-2014, 10:45 PM
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#11
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Adirondack Mountains NY
Posts: 1,101
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Re: Flying for the skoolie
Of all the "trip home" stories with diesels I have heard here over the years, I will stress 2 words: fuel filters.
I don't know how many of the stories I've read where diesel buses worked OK in the lot, but during the second hour or second day they just lost power. After replacing the aging fuel filters (some chassis are said to take 2 or 3) and getting all the air out of the fuel lines, they ran fine again.
__________________
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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01-20-2014, 10:46 AM
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#12
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Colorado
Posts: 2,362
Year: 1993
Coachwork: bluebird
Engine: 5.9 Cummins, Allison AT1545
Rated Cap: 2
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Re: Flying for the skoolie
X2 on the fuel filters.
buying a bus that's been sitting for a while, that was my main concern. mine was advertised as ran when parked. needs batteries. before cranking the starter, i pulled some fuel from the tank to make sure it was still clean. it was and there wasnt much in tank. i started the bus and filled it with fresh diesel. the bus didn't seem to have any issues but part of that oil change back home was new filters on everything.
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