Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 12-04-2019, 01:07 PM   #1
Bus Geek
 
EastCoastCB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
7.3 Shorties in CA (a bunch!)

Lots of running, nice 7.3 shorties on Public Surplus.
https://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/br...aucs?catid=402

EastCoastCB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-04-2019, 03:07 PM   #2
Bus Nut
 
Meathead's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 632
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Thomas
Engine: 3126b 210hp
Rated Cap: 48
Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastCB View Post
Lots of running, nice 7.3 shorties on Public Surplus.

https://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/br...aucs?catid=402


And those scrap/stripped busses in AZ. I could get $305 worth of stuff off of one of those bf I sold it for scrap metal. You guys looking for AC units might want to take a look.
Dave
Meathead is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-04-2019, 03:55 PM   #3
Bus Geek
 
EastCoastCB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
These will go cheap to a dealer.
Then in summer folks will come on here asking if $5000 for a rusty one in Nebraska is a good deal.
EastCoastCB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-04-2019, 04:20 PM   #4
Skoolie
 
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Fresnope, CA
Posts: 154
Considering bidding on more than one. What if I win 2 or 3?
__________________
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away" - Phillip K. Dick
JustKip is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2019, 03:53 PM   #5
Mini-Skoolie
 
jmccoola's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 36
Year: 1997
Chassis: E-450 Collins
Engine: 7.3l Diesel
Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastCB View Post
Lots of running, nice 7.3 shorties on Public Surplus.
https://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/br...aucs?catid=402
Thanks for the heads up!
jmccoola is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2019, 03:59 PM   #6
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 119
Year: 2004
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner
Engine: MBE 906 Mercedes Benz Diesel
Yeah, but I just drove across the country... driving one of those shorties across is just bad timing... too bad, they seem to be in decent shape, assuming you don't need to replace tires.
Beachvbguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2019, 06:11 PM   #7
Bus Nut
 
peakbus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Sandpoint, ID
Posts: 533
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Girardin Microbird MB-IV
Chassis: Ford E450
Engine: 7.3 Diesel
Rated Cap: 25
Looks like most have DPF systems even though only 2003 models. I would assume that is a concern from what I've read. Easy to overcome?
peakbus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2019, 07:09 PM   #8
Bus Geek
 
EastCoastCB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
They're almost surely add on dpf's.
Are these being sold because they can't keep em unless they retrofit newer engines? OR is that just larger diesels?
EastCoastCB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2019, 08:09 PM   #9
Skoolie
 
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Fresnope, CA
Posts: 154
Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastCB View Post
They're almost surely add on dpf's.
Are these being sold because they can't keep em unless they retrofit newer engines? OR is that just larger diesels?
Pretty sure the law applies to ALL diesel powered fleet vehicles.
JustKip is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2019, 08:27 PM   #10
Bus Geek
 
EastCoastCB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
Easier for them to sell these than try to retrofit a fleet of vans. Probably real nice lil buses.
EastCoastCB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2019, 10:00 PM   #11
Mini-Skoolie
 
maddmaxx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: SoCal
Posts: 44
Year: 2003
Coachwork: BlueBird
Chassis: MicroBird
Engine: 7.3L powerstroke
New rules kick in Jan 1st for California Diesel.

"...Starting January 1, 2020, SB1 only allows vehicles compliant with this regulation to be registered by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)."
maddmaxx is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2019, 10:07 PM   #12
Bus Crazy
 
WIbluebird's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 1,259
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American
Engine: 8.3 Cummins ISC
Rated Cap: 75
They could've been sitting there for a few years after the CARB laws were passed.

Either way they're in really nice shape and the best motor you can get in a van cutaway.
WIbluebird is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-19-2019, 03:03 PM   #13
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Corvallis Oregon
Posts: 133
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: Freightliner
Engine: Cat3126
Bluebird Vision good bus?

I was just reading in another thread that the Vision wasn’t their favorite bus...top heavy, unpleasant ride, and engine access isn’t the best. What are your thoughts on the Vision?
Kaleth2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-19-2019, 03:37 PM   #14
Bus Crazy
 
WIbluebird's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 1,259
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American
Engine: 8.3 Cummins ISC
Rated Cap: 75
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kaleth2 View Post
I was just reading in another thread that the Vision wasn’t their favorite bus...top heavy, unpleasant ride, and engine access isn’t the best. What are your thoughts on the Vision?
I've been driving All American FEs at my current job for the last 5 years now. Drove Visions a few times. Not a huge fan of them, the driving position is super awkward especially on the 1st gen ones. For awhile they were using the same steering wheel + dashboard gauges found in the Volvo trucks of that era.

The ones I drove had rear air suspension and the ride wasn't noticeably worse than the AAFEs. Base model ones with leaf springs on the rear probably ride a lot rougher.

The propane ones are very slow. The Cummins 6.7 diesel ones were fine. Engine access is decent but I prefer an RE since then the motor is at arms reach instead of balancing on a front tire like you would with a conventional.

I realize most of my experience here is from a driver's perspective and not from a skoolie owner's eyes but take it as you will.
WIbluebird is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-19-2019, 04:26 PM   #15
Bus Geek
 
EastCoastCB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
BB Visions have a pretty shitty reputation from what I understand.
EastCoastCB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-19-2019, 06:54 PM   #16
Bus Nut
 
wrenchtech's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Posts: 415
Year: 2008
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner HDX
Engine: CAT C7 300hp w/retarder
Rated Cap: 46 + 1 36,200 lbs
Most of the busses are currently around $1000 or less. Then I see a 2003 Bluebird RE with the Cummins ISX, and of course it's at $5000 and the reserve hasn't been met yet. I see motorhomes of that vintage and configured with that engine asking $45,000. I think I know what the folks want. https://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/au...ew?auc=2492240
wrenchtech is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-19-2019, 10:38 PM   #17
Bus Crazy
 
WIbluebird's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 1,259
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American
Engine: 8.3 Cummins ISC
Rated Cap: 75
Quote:
Originally Posted by wrenchtech View Post
Most of the busses are currently around $1000 or less. Then I see a 2003 Bluebird RE with the Cummins ISX, and of course it's at $5000 and the reserve hasn't been met yet. I see motorhomes of that vintage and configured with that engine asking $45,000. I think I know what the folks want. https://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/au...ew?auc=2492240
I have a 2001 AARE thats basically the same as that bus except its a little longer and has 2 more understorage compartments. I paid $4k for mine (had some rear cap damage, nothing serious).

If you take your time and be prepared to travel anywhere. Those All Americans are nice, to me they are the best bus you can get short of a vintage Crown or Gillig.
WIbluebird is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-28-2019, 07:49 PM   #18
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 192
Year: 2002
Chassis: Ford e450
Engine: 7.3 Powerstroke
Sorry if this is a newbie question, but how many miles is too high for a diesel shortie such as these in ca? The lowest is 155.
awilder is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-29-2019, 08:04 AM   #19
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,757
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
if those shorties are 7.3 / T444E and haver DPF it can be easily deleted.. the ECM(IH) / PCM(ford) doesnt have the capability of a DPF so it means it cant disable the engine if you delete it.. the way those aftermarket DPF's were "Regen" was in such a way to not hurt the engine so those can be brought back to their original glory pretty easily...



interesting Tidbit.. I was at a bus dealer with a friend on friday (for those that hate on dealers.. we were out the door with an A3RE, cat C7 / MD3060 with 105k original miles less than 5000 hours.. very little rust for 2k total... was a local trade in... beautiful running bus..).. anyway they had a couple late 90s gasser GMC / CV200s.. they are now on their way to california.. with these new diesel regs.. churches / schools, etc are scouring the internet for older gasoline busses from the late 90s / early 00's. because apparently those will pass the emission standards and can be run whereas the diesels cant...


-Christopher
cadillackid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-06-2020, 06:42 PM   #20
Bus Nut
 
dzl_'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: California, Bay Area
Posts: 896
Who bought one? I know someone here must've
dzl_ is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:31 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.