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Old 02-10-2021, 03:34 PM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Feb 2021
Posts: 14
Help please

I’m new here and I did some searches and reading just can’t really find my answer.. so please don’t beat me down if it’s here somewhere. I will get better search as time goes along.
I’m looking at 2006 Thomas hdx . He says it’s 30ft long I think it’s longer and I can’t find the right info.
Is Mercedes 906 engine 3000pt with Allison transmission I have vin I tried to look that up didn’t give me length..
I want the biggest floor plan I can get and height..
the tag says 75 plus driver and I can’t find info just 78 plus driver. I also have some pics from underneath the bus. To me the rust looks more then what I expected in pic but I don’t know have really seen many.
Also what are the chains dangling underneath..
Why this model I like.. the style,the front nose, height 78 inch on this model
The side boxes are nice to.. and of a course ac
Can anyone help me.. he won’t budge from 7900
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Old 02-10-2021, 03:45 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jokercraze View Post
Can anyone help me.. he won’t budge from 7900
I'll start by helping you here...

You can get a really nice bus for half that price, IMO...!
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Old 02-10-2021, 04:37 PM   #3
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ewo1 View Post
I'll start by helping you here...

You can get a really nice bus for half that price, IMO...!
Ok I appreciate tht.. if u do come across one if I don’t send it my way..
thank you very much
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Old 02-10-2021, 04:46 PM   #4
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That's more like 40', not 30'. 2006 means potentially expensive problems with the emissions control system. Mercedes is considered a good engine but it's costly to repair and hard to find mechanics to do it. Underbody rust is not bad, but you need to be on the lookout for rust in the body itself. I second ewo that you can do better for less.
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Old 02-10-2021, 05:01 PM   #5
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What would be the best route which year and more and trans around 40ft. Tallest ceiling, miles around 200,000 or less.. miles u want to be under 200,000 right
Flat nose
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Old 02-10-2021, 07:49 PM   #6
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I have that bus. Mine IS 30’ long.

Mine has 11 windows so that one is a lot longer.

Pre 2004 is preferable in any bus engine.

You can tell the high headroom models bc the roof goes up at the drivers seat. Like in you’re picture.

I bought mine from a reseller. Mine has high roof and A/C with 181k miles and I paid $5k two years ago.

Peace

Hey where is this bus you are looking at?
It looks familiar.
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Old 02-10-2021, 08:48 PM   #7
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The chains are "auto chains"...they're lengths of chain on a rotating wheel. When you want snow chains, you push a button and air pressure rotates the mechanism downward...then as you drive, the mechanism (which is now pressed against the tire) spins the chains underneath the tire. They actually work pretty well.
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Old 02-10-2021, 09:14 PM   #8
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I drive school bus for a living. That's a 40'. I own a 33' flat nose, and you're not getting 75, let alone 78, kid in my 33'.


I've driven Blue Bird, International and Thomas. Here's what I can tell you. Depending on the year and brand, the interior height varies, a LOT! So, if you're over 5'8", be picky because you'll probably loose some height with floor and ceiling alterations.

I'm not much on the mechanical compared to many of the people on here, yet I can tell you if I were to buy again, I'd look for at least a 5 speed, if not 6 speed, tranny. For cruising at highway speeds and keeping your RPMs in a power range between downshifts when pulling up a hill, as well as MPG when running on the flat, you'll be very happy to have those higher gears.

The other thing, at least to me, that was really important is that it has cruise control available. It may not be turned on in the computer, but you want all the switches and such set to go when you do reprogram the computer to turn it on.

Hope this helps.

Good luck!
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Old 02-11-2021, 12:35 AM   #9
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Welcome Jokercraze
Ya that's definitely not 30' looks like 40' from here.
As Ross said the auto snow chains are nice if you think you might need them but a bus spec'd with them is coming from a winter region with potential salt and rust issues. That's big money for a bus that's not really impressing anyone. What was the mileage on it?
I think I'd be passing on that one and keep looking.
Good luck with the search.

Oscar
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Old 02-11-2021, 10:49 AM   #10
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Originally Posted by Oscar1 View Post
Welcome Jokercraze
Ya that's definitely not 30' looks like 40' from here.
As Ross said the auto snow chains are nice if you think you might need them but a bus spec'd with them is coming from a winter region with potential salt and rust issues. That's big money for a bus that's not really impressing anyone. What was the mileage on it?
I think I'd be passing on that one and keep looking.
Good luck with the search.

Oscar
I get your general point about auto snow chains = higher rust risk, and I agree. Yet (always a yet, right), I drive in the Seattle area where we (western Washington) rarely get snow, and if we do, they usually close school.

The two districts I have driven for all have auto snow chains on their big tired (40") buses. Because, ya know, for the possible one day of snow, you might need them (sarcasm).

In three years, I've never heard of any driver using their snow chains, and we've gotten a couple of pretty surprise snow falls with kids needing to get home. Honestly, I don't think most drivers know how to engage them if they needed to.
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Old 02-11-2021, 10:52 AM   #11
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Another thing to consider is Daimler/Mercedes is looking to sell off their heavy truck division.
What that means for the long haul, is unknown. Parts and/or service issues down the road? Who knows?

I'd concur with Oscar1 and pass on that one.
Better deals are out there, but you must be patient, not in a rush to find something, and do your due dilligence in researching whats out there.

Good luck, and post pics if you go ahead and buy a bus...
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Old 02-11-2021, 01:59 PM   #12
Mini-Skoolie
 
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I appreciate all responses. and I passed on it .
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Old 02-11-2021, 09:20 PM   #13
Mini-Skoolie
 
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how about 2000 Thomas 36 ft with cumin 24v and Allison 3000 series he told me.
its very clean no rust and it has AC
less then 80,000 miles belongs to Catholic school it also has windows. that slide open side ways.

so question Allison 3000 good trans ? AC good or bad for build and they asking 8700 if I could get it for 6500-7000
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Old 02-11-2021, 09:32 PM   #14
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Engine: 5.9L 24V-L6 Cummins ISB
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jokercraze View Post
how about 2000 Thomas 36 ft with cumin 24v and Allison 3000 series he told me.
its very clean no rust and it has AC
less then 80,000 miles belongs to Catholic school it also has windows. that slide open side ways.

so question Allison 3000 good trans ? AC good or bad for build and they asking 8700 if I could get it for 6500-7000
THAT sounds like a really good bus.
The Allison is likely an MD3060, the best of them so they say.
I personally wouldn't have a bus without factory motor-driven A/C. Even if it is in a bad spot for your build-out, you could still move it.

I like my Cummins 24V.
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Old 02-11-2021, 09:36 PM   #15
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Get some photos of that engine, if it's mated to a 3000 and is not the school bus body (the windows don't sound like school bus windows), it's likely a 8.3 not a 5.9, which would make this the best possible drivetrain you could get. Higher horsepower and top speed is likely.
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Old 02-11-2021, 09:42 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jokercraze View Post
how about 2000 Thomas 36 ft with cumin 24v and Allison 3000 series he told me.
its very clean no rust and it has AC
less then 80,000 miles belongs to Catholic school it also has windows. that slide open side ways.

so question Allison 3000 good trans ? AC good or bad for build and they asking 8700 if I could get it for 6500-7000
The mileage is questionable, as it is for a lot of school buses. A good investment for you right now would be a Bluefire device, which plugs into the bus' data port and lets you read (on a table or smartphone) all the dashboard parameters and a whole lot more, like (importantly) the bus' true mileage. If you visit the bus in person (which is obviously a good idea) you can use it to get the real mileage, and once you own your bus the Bluefire will give you a digital dashboard (which is incredibly handy to me since my physical dashboard freezes up all the time).

The money on this seems kind of steep as well.
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Old 02-11-2021, 09:50 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by musigenesis View Post
The mileage is questionable, as it is for a lot of school buses. A good investment for you right now would be a Bluefire device, which plugs into the bus' data port and lets you read (on a table or smartphone) all the dashboard parameters and a whole lot more, like (importantly) the bus' true mileage. If you visit the bus in person (which is obviously a good idea) you can use it to get the real mileage, and once you own your bus the Bluefire will give you a digital dashboard (which is incredibly handy to me since my physical dashboard freezes up all the time).

The money on this seems kind of steep as well.
My thinking is that they did not use this bus to pick up and drop off kids at home every day like a public school system would, but as an activity bus. Then mileage might be correct.
EDIT: I think if the mileage is correct, and the bus is clean and rust free, and with nice windows, and working A/C, the asking price is only a little high for the market.
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Old 02-11-2021, 10:39 PM   #18
Mini-Skoolie
 
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It’s not everyday schools bus
I’ll ask for pics of motor
Also ceiling 6,6
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Old 02-11-2021, 10:45 PM   #19
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Is there one particular blufire unit ?
Meaning bluefire app with what device..
and thank you
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Old 02-12-2021, 06:09 AM   #20
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Originally Posted by Jokercraze View Post
Is there one particular blufire unit ?
Meaning bluefire app with what device..
and thank you
These are the adapters themselves: https://bluefire-llc.com/website/9-p...j1708-adapters

They'll work with Android, Windows or iOS (Apple) devices (at least if you don't get the "Not for Apple" devices).
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