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Old 09-06-2015, 03:25 AM   #1
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Which Bus to Buy? input please

looking to start a winter conversion project, I need some help in selecting a bus. Which one? my needs are simple, big and good MPG, Can some of you offer up your thoughts please?

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Old 09-06-2015, 10:37 AM   #2
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Welcome

There are many threads in this section already containing the info your looking for.

This topic has been beat to death.

You just need to do some reading.

Nat
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Old 09-06-2015, 07:46 PM   #3
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Not to be too mean but I would buy the big good one with high mpg. It will probably be yellow.

How big is big? think of them in terms of windows or rows not in length.
good mpg? Its a bus 10 mpg is average 12 is Phenomenal and 8 is bad. Not really a spread worth worrying about. Top speed is about 60 on average fast ones are 72 (downhill with a tailwind). Big ones are big, Medium ones are slightly smaller (but still big), and short busses can sometimes be parked on streets with pissing off everyone (but not always).

The things that make a difference are things you clearly don't care about (because they are not size or mpg), like transmissions, gas or diesel, brands of engines, breaking methods, air conditioning, front or rear engine, flat or dog nose, storage, how are the tires, how bad is the rust.

Those are the choices that you have. Those are the choices that make difference
But If you don't want to actually figure it out EXACTLY what you want, that I would suggest a 50+ passenger buss that costs under $3000 that is all you need to know according to what you want, any thing that follows that will fit your needs.
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Old 09-08-2015, 02:04 PM   #4
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... breaking methods...
^ This one is very personal. I prefer a cliff, a brick and maybe even a jump on the cliff edge

Just messin'
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Old 09-08-2015, 03:41 PM   #5
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1. Find out what kind of bus you want. (ie Old, New, Engine, Trans, Style)

2. Determine a budget for purchase of the bus and bringing it home. (Plan for repairs on bringing it home just to be safe)

3. Go and explore every bus you can.

4. Buy one and bring it home!
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Old 09-08-2015, 07:04 PM   #6
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Old 09-08-2015, 08:05 PM   #7
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A couple of considerations that I used: Diesel engine, many will give you good service upto 300,000 miles if reasonably maintained, you can usually find buses around the 150,000 or less mark. I wanted a rear engine bus for a couple of reasons (1) its a bit quieter while driving since the engine is in the rear and (2) because there is no drive shaft running the length of the bus there is extra room to mount stuff like big water tanks and house battery boxes if your of the off grid type.
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Old 09-09-2015, 06:45 AM   #8
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110' long, double-decker, swimming pool, bowling alley, nuclear-powered so no fuel stops - http://www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-co...age/139224.jpg
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Old 09-09-2015, 07:01 AM   #9
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110' long, double-decker, swimming pool, bowling alley, nuclear-powered so no fuel stops - http://www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-co...age/139224.jpg
I remember, vaguely, catching that movie. And it's able to break wind around 90...
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Old 09-09-2015, 07:29 AM   #10
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I remember, vaguely, catching that movie. And it's able to break wind around 90...
LOL yes it was an awful movie but arguably it launched the parody movie genre. It preceded Airplane! but wasn't as popular so many people credit Airplane! as the premiere parody movie.
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Old 09-09-2015, 08:38 AM   #11
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Publicsurplus.com just listed 3 1996 Bluebird rear engine buses with
Cummins 8.3 engines and MD3060 transmissions. This is probably the
best engine transmission combination for power, economy and longevity.
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