 |
|
02-09-2020, 11:51 AM
|
#21
|
Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 60
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: C1FE 2509
Engine: Cummins ISB 5.9L 24V ~ AT545
Rated Cap: Seats 5. Sleeps 4
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by WIbluebird
That part isn't necessarily true. All or most school buses that are used solely for trips are flatnose to maximize seating capacity and are equipped with the higher end transmissions for highway driving.
As for the motion sickness I didn't experience any but I've been driving All Americans as a job for the last 6 years but I recall when I first started driving them it took maybe a day to get used to it. The extra visibility is nice especially in city driving.
|
Agreed mine is a 26' all american with a short wheel base and there aren't too many issues on the highway. Pretty smooth actually. Speed bumps are worst for my short wheel base though. Like riding a 25k lbs bucking bull
|
|
|
02-09-2020, 01:13 PM
|
#22
|
Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: AZ
Posts: 68
Year: ‘09
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: Vision
Engine: 6.7
Rated Cap: 35’
|
That's a lot of people in a bus. Get the biggest one you can afford. They look really big when all of the seats are out, but start adding furniture and appliances, that space gets used up quite rapidly. Maybe an RV with 3-4 slide outs might be a better idea?
|
|
|
02-09-2020, 06:46 PM
|
#23
|
Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Winlcok, WA
Posts: 2,228
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ranchorossa
That's a lot of people in a bus. Get the biggest one you can afford. They look really big when all of the seats are out, but start adding furniture and appliances, that space gets used up quite rapidly. Maybe an RV with 3-4 slide outs might be a better idea?
|
Slideouts are the number one headache for RV owners.
Most RV park operators are well versed in how to get a slide back in when the power slide mechanism stops working.
Slides also leak no matter how well the coach is made. The gasket that seals when the slide is deployed or stowed only works if the slide is up tight to the sealing surface. As the RV ages and starts to sag the gasket can never get a really tight seal which results in leaks. It helps if there is an awning to cover the slide but that is just one more piece to the puzzle that can go wrong.
|
|
|
02-09-2020, 08:39 PM
|
#24
|
New Member
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 6
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by cowlitzcoach
Slideouts are the number one headache for RV owners.
Most RV park operators are well versed in how to get a slide back in when the power slide mechanism stops working.
Slides also leak no matter how well the coach is made. The gasket that seals when the slide is deployed or stowed only works if the slide is up tight to the sealing surface. As the RV ages and starts to sag the gasket can never get a really tight seal which results in leaks. It helps if there is an awning to cover the slide but that is just one more piece to the puzzle that can go wrong.
|
Exactly our problem now. Every time in rains, and I'm in Oregon so that's a LOT, the carpet next to the slides completely soaks in a four foot by three foot area. It smells awful. I will never do slides on anything again. It's not worth it at all.
|
|
|
02-09-2020, 09:30 PM
|
#25
|
Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: AZ
Posts: 68
Year: ‘09
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: Vision
Engine: 6.7
Rated Cap: 35’
|
I had a 37.5' fifth wheel for about 6 years. Never had any leaks but I did burn out a slide motor once. My own fault. If I was going to put five people in one vehicle, I'd want it to be as big as possible. Everybody has their own ideas and there is a bus for everyone.
|
|
|
02-12-2020, 08:50 AM
|
#26
|
Bus Crazy
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Virginia
Posts: 1,948
Year: 1971
Coachwork: Wayne
Chassis: International Loadstar 1700
Engine: 345 international V-8
|
Many museums and other large attractions have bus parking, so I have not had any trouble with size. Use truck stops for fuel and again size does not matter. I am pretty sure most of the national parks have bus parking. Where size could matter is if you use campgrounds, some of the national parks have size limits for RV's. You can look that up online.
I would be inclined to go as big as you can, as you get used to it you will find you can get it into places you never thought possible.
|
|
|
02-12-2020, 09:32 AM
|
#27
|
Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 1,087
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American
Engine: 8.3 Cummins ISC
Rated Cap: 75
|
For me, I drive Bluebird AA FE's every day for work so I am more than comfortable with the longer buses. Mine at work is an 82 passenger which is about the same length as my skoolie pusher. Have driven trips all over the Midwest in them and have gotten very used to getting them into tight spots where most skoolie owners would give up.
The difference in wheelbase between FEs and pushers are no joke though. There's lots of parking lots I can zip around in my FE regular bus but wouldn't even think of attempting in my skoolie bus.
I have a hard time justifying paying almost double the price for a shorty of the same year/drivetrain/condition as a full size bus. Add to that the fact that I will most likely have multiple guests with me on many trips, the max length is the way to go for me.
|
|
|
02-12-2020, 09:42 AM
|
#28
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,031
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
|
for 7 people how about a 40' bus pulling a travel trailer?
|
|
|
02-12-2020, 09:45 AM
|
#29
|
Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 1,087
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American
Engine: 8.3 Cummins ISC
Rated Cap: 75
|
I have considered adding a cargo trailer or setting up my Tacoma to flat tow behind it. However my Taco is an auto so I'd have to drop $2K on a driveshaft disconnect kit and I refuse to mess with a car trailer.
May have to shop around for a $500 manual trans beater when I get the trailer hitch set up on my skoolie.
|
|
|
02-12-2020, 10:06 AM
|
#30
|
Bus Crazy
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Virginia
Posts: 1,948
Year: 1971
Coachwork: Wayne
Chassis: International Loadstar 1700
Engine: 345 international V-8
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastCB
for 7 people how about a 40' bus pulling a travel trailer? 
|
Or pull a shorty bus, gutted to be a trailer, front axle removed and trailer hitch installed.
would be fun but maybe not the best direction for the OP.
|
|
|
02-12-2020, 10:07 AM
|
#31
|
Bus Nut
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 275
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Thomas
Engine: 3126b 210hp
Rated Cap: 48
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by WIbluebird
I have considered adding a cargo trailer or setting up my Tacoma to flat tow behind it. However my Taco is an auto so I'd have to drop $2K on a driveshaft disconnect kit and I refuse to mess with a car trailer.
May have to shop around for a $500 manual trans beater when I get the trailer hitch set up on my skoolie.
|
Yes. I’m in the same boat. But what does a reliable beater cost these days? And I would have another vehicle to park and maintain. I’m leaning toward fixing up the always reliable Taco.
Dave
__________________
Dave
|
|
|
 |
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|