Shortbus buying advice (fulltimer, also looking to build motorcycle deck)

[1988clee]

I've been looking at getting a Skoolie (shortbus, minibus w/e you prefer to call it) for awhile now and for some time I thought I was set on the Ford 7.3 e450 but after months of looking for one that isn't priced sky high I'm trying to gain more information. After reading over and over I'm still not sure what is going to be right for me. I have decided to turn to the others for advice and hoping that giving information of my plans perhaps other could give me better perspective as I tend to end up buying more than I need thinking go big now and it saves in the long run.

I do intend to live full time out of what ever I get, I would like to be able to travel around the states in it. I say this to indicate I will need everything required for life. (kitchen, bed, hopefully larger fridge, storage, entertainment such as computers and tv... ect)

I also would like to not have to sell my motorcycle and build a deck off of the frame. It weighs over 700lbs (think 713 is the dry weight) so hitch carriers aren't really an option.

I would like it to not be huge so it is easy to get around in without restrictions and hopefully go anywhere needed.

Full solar setup, thinking I would try to go with possibly 24v or 48v system and about 14.4 kWh to have enough power for a couple of days out. Have a generator to fall back onto with a switch to segment solar and generator and possibly recharge when the sun doesn't provide enough power to keep batteries going.


Short/Mini bus appeals as it won't be as large and can park most places without issues.

I was formerly traveling around hauling a small 23ft camper/toy hauler but I just like the idea of combining the living area with the vehicle but as it will be a full time living setup I don't think vanlife would suit me so that is why I arrived at skoolie being the best option for me. I don't want to tow my bike as if I were going to do that I might as well keep my current setup and why a motorhome doesn't really fit what I'm wanting.

I really did think that 7.3 would end up fitting all that I would need to carry but I might be wrong. I will try to do most repairs myself short of engine replacements if it comes to it and while I'm no certified mechanic I can usually figure most things out that aren't electrical component related.

I guess if anyone has read this far I'm just seeking advice on what the community thinks will fit me the best.


I guess at the end of the day I'm seeking advice on what could carry this type of weight without issues and hopefully be something that is reliable enough to live out of and work on as needed hopefully not end up costing me a life savings to fix.


TL;DR

Looking for ShortBus that I can build a deck on, carry an entire life worth in as I have lived in small camper/toy hauler for 2 years switching over and also have full larger solar setup with about 14.4 kWh power and generator fall back.

[Ronnie]

I would look for a full size shorty to hang the bike off of. It would be pushing the limit for a van cutaway to put a back deck plus the bike.

[Albatross]

15 KWh is asking a lot for a shorty; have you done the math to figure out how much surface area you would need? That's usually pushing the limits of a 30'+ bus, unless panel tech has improved significantly since I've last looked at it. I wouldn't say that it's impossible, but you'd probably have to give up most or all of your roof space on a 24' shorty.



Also, while the physics agree with you on being able to park most places w/o issue, you're also ignoring the stigma you'll face trying to full-time in a skoolie. And having spent a few years full-timing in a 24' shorty, they often have a significant rear-overhang, which means that trying to mount a full-size cruiser like a Boulevard or Harley on the back could cause some levering of the front upwards making your steer tires more likely to slide or skid in slippery weather.


And while a 7.3L Ford/International is probably stout enough to carry a single dude and his motorcycle around, I would worry about the transmission, especially if you're going to add up to 1000 lbs on the back (bike + frame extension + you and/or whatever accessories get put there).



If you're really wanting to dump the trailer combo, I would suggest going for more of a middle-route, and getting something that's closer to 33' or thereabouts. It's more likely to have a tougher drive-train, and the bus geometry is less likely to complain about having a bike on/in the back. And if you got something with a wheel-chair lift still attached, it is possible that you might even be able to lift the bike up and inside, so you might be able to have a mini toy-hauler that isn't screaming "touch my bike", or attracting other unwanted attention.

[AlphaHare]

Be aware I have strong pundit bias for what I already own. That said....

A 5 window van cutaway is as long as you want to go for car-like maneuverability and parking. Bonus points - basically any Ford or Chevy dealer can service a 350 or 450 series depending only on their local hoist capacity. There is a lot to be said for going small.

Full Time in anything is an exercise in minimalism. Period.

Solo or with a full-time partner? Makes a huge difference in available space if the bed can be smaller than a queen, especially if you can deal with a twin XL (maybe bunkbeds if you only have occasional company). Design for the primary 95% use case - you're not going to be having adult fun every night, but you are going to sleep every night.

14.4KWh at 48V = 300AH battery capacity. Assume that's what you meant. That's a lot of power - do a power budget on a spreadsheet and try to determine what you really need with more accuracy. Everything else drives from that, including do you even need a generator? Maybe alternator charging is more cost effective for cloudy stretches or climates.

You can have someone weld a porch on. For a full sized bike, it will add another 3 feet of overhang and be low enough to be a dragging concern in some bumps. If solo, put a lift arm hoist on too. Or get a Honda Ruckus, Metropolitan, or Trail 125 ;>) You have solar, maybe an eBike? Or a regular bicycle or two and put them under the bed.

Don't obsess about the motor - I'd focus on low milage and rust for the dollar, and aftermarket support for parts.

Is a Ford 7.3L PS nice? People seem to agree, but some of that is diesel dogma and not personal experience. "It's a 1,000,000 mile engine!" BS - no engine is a 1,000,000 mile without maintenance, rebuilds, re-sleeving - even modern, long-haul tractors. I'd pass on early 6.0L engines (2004 - 2006) maybe, but 6.0L failure modes are very well understood and can be mitigated easily if caught early. Especially if the price reflects the 6.0L fear dogma. The V10 gas is way quieter and I sometimes wish I had waited to find that one instead....

My two cents ;>)

[Albatross]

Originally Posted by AlphaHare

Be aware I have strong pundit bias for what I already own. That said....

A 5 window van cutaway is as long as you want to go for car-like maneuverability and parking. Bonus points - basically any Ford or Chevy dealer can service a 350 or 450 series depending only on their local hoist capacity. There is a lot to be said for going small.

Full Time in anything is an exercise in minimalism. Period.

Solo or with a full-time partner? Makes a huge difference in available space if the bed can be smaller than a queen, especially if you can deal with a twin XL (maybe bunkbeds if you only have occasional company). Design for the primary 95% use case - you're not going to be having adult fun every night, but you are going to sleep every night.

14.4KWh at 48V = 300AH battery capacity. Assume that's what you meant. That's a lot of power - do a power budget on a spreadsheet and try to determine what you really need with more accuracy. Everything else drives from that, including do you even need a generator? Maybe alternator charging is more cost effective for cloudy stretches or climates.

You can have someone weld a porch on. For a full sized bike, it will add another 3 feet of overhang and be low enough to be a dragging concern in some bumps. If solo, put a lift arm hoist on too. Or get a Honda Ruckus, Metropolitan, or Trail 125 ;>) You have solar, maybe an eBike? Or a regular bicycle or two and put them under the bed.

Don't obsess about the motor - I'd focus on low milage and rust for the dollar, and aftermarket support for parts.

Is a Ford 7.3L PS nice? People seem to agree, but some of that is diesel dogma and not personal experience. "It's a 1,000,000 mile engine!" BS - no engine is a 1,000,000 mile without maintenance, rebuilds, re-sleeving - even modern, long-haul tractors. I'd pass on early 6.0L engines (2004 - 2006) maybe, but 6.0L failure modes are very well understood and can be mitigated easily if caught early. Especially if the price reflects the 6.0L fear dogma. The V10 gas is way quieter and I sometimes wish I had waited to find that one instead....

My two cents ;>)

For someone already used to driving around towing a toy-hauler, I don't think that car-like maneuverability is chief among concerns, but rather the problem of dealing with a trailer.



And for someone who is going to do most of the work themselves, obsessing about the motor (and transmission) is actually kind or really important, since we want something that we know we can work on and figure out, without having to buy a ton of extra tools, or haul around an engine-hoist because we'd have to lift and/or remove the motor to do anything more significant than changing out the alternator. That was actually something that was said directly in the OP, so focusing on the engine and how easy or difficult it is to troubleshoot and work on is an extremely valid point. And yes, parts availability definitely also comes into that consideration; both of those points are a big part of why I bought my bus, despite the bus itself being "rare", it's stupid-simple to work on without busting you knuckles, and parts are everywhere.



And just as a side-note, as a motorcycle guy myself, telling a guy who's got a full-size cruiser to downsize to something like a Honda Ruckus is kind of like telling a guy to dump his pro-model girlfriend in exchange for a fat, white-trash trailer-park girl because she demands less. Technically, as all of your recommendations are mopeds and not motorcycles, it isn't even the same league, much less ballpark. I've owned both a chromed-to-tits 1200CC "Custom" Harley and a Ruckus, and while they're both kind of fun, they aren't even close to being the same, and the Ruckus could never keep up with a full-size cruiser in any metric whatsoever; not in speed, not in range, and frankly, not even in fun. I certainly wouldn't want to take a ruckus out for a three-hour tour of the mountains, even if it could last that long, since the comfort levels while riding are massive. My Ruckus also had many more issues with maintenance and had more problems than my Harley, which sometimes seemed like it was trying to rattle itself to death.

[shortbusenergy]

Would a wheelchair lift be capable of lifting a 700lb bike?

It would take up a lot of space in the bus but would give you added security as well as a more evenly distributed load.

[Albatross]

Originally Posted by shortbusenergy

Would a wheelchair lift be capable of lifting a 700lb bike?

It would take up a lot of space in the bus but would give you added security as well as a more evenly distributed load.

I've seen some data plates that claim they can, the max I've seen was around 700-800 lbs. Although some of them are less, like 500-600 lbs.

[AlphaHare]

Originally Posted by Albatross

And just as a side-note, as a motorcycle guy myself, telling a guy who's got a full-size cruiser to downsize to something like a Honda Ruckus...

I've never been full-sized bike guy myself, but I can totally understand how this might feel. My thought was more that there is going to be a lot of compromise in fitting everything the OP may want to have VS what can fit into a 6 window van-cutaway bus.

FWIW the Honda Trail is a 125, so 'technically' in the motorcycle realm? It looks like a lot of fun for what it is, but it's also about 1/10th the displacement of your bike. https://www.skoolie.net/forums/image...lies/smile.gif

[shortbusenergy]

Originally Posted by AlphaHare

FWIW the Honda Trail is a 125, so 'technically' in the motorcycle realm? It looks like a lot of fun for what it is, but it's also about 1/10th the displacement of your bike. https://www.skoolie.net/forums/image...lies/smile.gif

I own both 2018 and 2022 Honda Groms and my buddy has the new Trail 125. The 2022 Grom is actually an impressive machine for what it is, the Trail will need significant mods to get any "acceptable" performance...

Not trying to sway anyone's opinions, but coming off of bigger bikes onto my Grom has been an easy change for me. I love a bike that I can treat like a groupie and still burn less than 2l/100km. Hyper miling, after mods, my best was 1.2l/100km. AKA MORE BUS FUEL! 🛵🛵

[Albatross]

Originally Posted by AlphaHare

I've never been full-sized bike guy myself, but I can totally understand how this might feel. My thought was more that there is going to be a lot of compromise in fitting everything the OP may want to have VS what can fit into a 6 window van-cutaway bus.

FWIW the Honda Trail is a 125, so 'technically' in the motorcycle realm? It looks like a lot of fun for what it is, but it's also about 1/10th the displacement of your bike. https://www.skoolie.net/forums/image...lies/smile.gif

Well, the main reason is that this thread was all about the hypothetical things that could happen, instead of a "this is what I have, how do I make it work" kind of thread. OP stated that he already has a toy-hauler, and was questioning the feasibility of making a transition, instead of trying to cram what he wants into something else.



To that end, I made suggestions more in-line with his assumed non-negotiables, such as upsizing the bus instead of downsizing on the bike. Especially since, having been on something like a Ruckus, it's like having sex with a fat chick--it might be fun in the moment, but you don't necessarily want to commit to it in public. The Ruckus couldn't keep up with Houston city traffic in most places, and didn't have the range to really go anywhere useful. I mean, everyone knows that riding a motorcycle in traffic is dangerous as hell, but when you take away the ability to easily out-run everything else around you while also being more maneuverable... yeah, no thanks. Especially if you already have a hell of a highway-cruiser already, and have already built some significant portion of your life around it.

[Ronnie]

Not sure if he is set on a van cutaway. I would run the other way from one, just to light duty. Basically built on a pickup chassis. Add a 700 lb bike and the tail will drag the ground. This is why I suggest the full size shorty, like a newer version of my little green bus, which hauls a heavy trailer quite well, and would handle 700 plus lbs hanging off the rear with no issue. Must say I like the idea of going just a bit longer and having the handicap lift, then everything is inside out of the weather and out of public view. Of course each one of us believes we have the perfect answer for the OP...

[1988clee]

Thank you to everyone for suggestions so far. I have wondered about transmission holding up which is why e450 was being looked at vs the e350. Saw a setup similar to what had been mentioned by having a handicap sort of garage on a gas shuttle bus but I had been dissuaded from shuttlebus as mentioned by other posts as having little to no insulation. The bus didn't seem to have insulation in place and being over 250k on a gas bus I wasn't sure how much more life it had to give. Indeed the goal is to not end up selling my motorcycle otherwise cheaper options like a motorhome would become appealing.



As for solar would never get enough solar panels to charge that kind of battery array that would be enough battery to be able to go multiple days without any sunlight but could always be recharged at campsite if needed or completely segment the solar with a switch to cut between Solar back feed to keep generator/solar safely and segmented.