Looking to buy our first bus!

[encryptedritual]

Hello all,

My partner and I have been talking and planning out an eventual homestead and bus-life for over a decade. We were looking to start working on a bus in about a year but our current circumstances (our lease is not going to be renewed so we are temporarily housing with a friend starting August) have sped up the process. Through the little we’ve managed to save during covid and generous help from friends and clients, we’ve put together enough that we should be able to buy a bus and get through the basic necessities of a conversion.

I’m hoping to find a bus sometime between mid-August to early-September (after we’ve relocated) so we can hopefully get a bulk of work done before the winter.

I will be in Virginia but can travel for the right offer. 



From the research I’ve done, we’re looking for:

• A bus from around 2002 or older
• A transmission with a bit more power than an AT545 (I will be honest that I know little about auto mechanics but I guess I’ll be learning a lot with this chapter of life) - since we’ll be travelling a handful and boondocking
• ~9+ window length
• engine in front
• minimal rust





(Dog nose or flat in front)

We’re working with a relatively tight budget and I’m hoping to find something around $3K. (Unless you’ve already started the work and then there’s a bit more wiggle room)



If you’ve got one for sale or have any good recommendations (aside from keeping an eye on marketplace and auctions) - let me know! 



Thanks for reading.

-Ian

[encryptedritual]

My partner and I have relocated and are actively on the market.

We’ve had a few leads (I’m actually waiting with fingers crossed to hear back again from someone on here that I had been talking to) but nothing definite yet.

I’ve been a little bummed checking the local listings because almost everything I come across has an AT545 or it’s got the engine in the back.

Again, totally open to travel for the right offer (Especially for an activity bus/something with some storage underneath since we’re crafters!).

Budget for an unconverted bus is in the general range of $2,500 to around $4000.

[mikeymike]

Hey encryptedritual, hope your hunt is going well.

My partner and I are also wanting to transition to Bus Life and are in the 'doing our homework' stage right now.

Wanting to know if there is a reason you're looking at pre-2002. I personally was looking at pre-2008 because of the EPA laws that went into effect that year. Didn't know if there was a reason you had for 2002.

Also wanted to know why you are looking for the engine in the front. As of right now I'm looking for a pusher with one in the back for the quieter ride and more space up front / easier access to it in the rear. Is there a reason you guys are looking for one up front?

I've been in touch with Wolf Creek Motors in Oregon, even though I'm currently an east-coaster. They said they're getting so much inventory right now they don't have time to upload their new arrivals online to advertise. Spoke with Ian there (a third Ian, not common!) and he was very helpful and took down a lot of my info for what I wanted. Found out about them from another forum and they came highly regarded. Hope that helps!

Thanks for sharing, have you made a purchase yet?

Cheers,
Mike Ian

[encryptedritual]

(I’m an Ian Michael, small world, haha)

I was looking at around 2002 and older for the same reasons actually. From what I had read when I was doing most of my research, even though the law had changed years after folks were talking about some buses starting to change over as early as 2002 (I think it sounded like more started making the switch between ‘04 and ‘06) but because I don’t know enough about the mechanics yet myself, I wanted to play it as safe as I could.

I haven’t had a lot of help offline when it comes to researching/hunting (And I have a lot of social anxiety - so that doesn’t help) so I’m pretty much just taking extra cautious steps.

I’ll definitely look into Wolf Creek Motors but it’d mostly be a question of how I’ll get out there (my partner isn’t comfortable with me flying right now and I don’t have a driving buddy to go by car). Still, I’m appreciative of the lead because I’ve not had much local luck and maybe I can figure something out.

Thanks for the message and I wish you the best of luck on finding a good fit as well.

[Jared&Kris]

Hi, are you still in the market? I have a 1997 International Blue Bird for sale, 77 passenger.

[CHEESE_WAGON]

If the above post doesn't work out, I am in Virginia and I know where over a hundred are for sale near Charlottesville.

[mikeymike]

@Jared&Kris, I'm ideally looking for something smaller than 77. What are you selling for? How is the condition?

@CheeseWagon, Virginia is much closer than where I've been looking (Oregon). Been looking exclusively at Wolf Creek Motors. Did you purchase there?