Cost of gas from WI —> OR

[raspberries]

My partner and I just purchased a skoolie! We are in NW Oregon, and the sellers are in Wisconsin. It is a 2003 bluebird, 40’. 5.9 Cummins engine with an Allison transmission (the seller just took the listing down so I’m checking on which transmission). It was originally from Tennessee with no rust damage, sellers have only had it in Wisconsin for a short time with no snow.

They have offered to drive it to us for the cost of gas. Can anyone tell me about how much it would cost in gas to drive that distance? Try as I might, I’m unable to find a simple answer.

Also, in order to compensate the feat of driving all this way, we were hoping to add money on top, maybe like a per diem for their food or whatever they want? What would you suggest?

[WIbluebird]

You have offered zero information as to the kind of bus, engine, transmission etc. So it follows that people here cannot be of any assistance until you give us those metrics.

Also what kind of bus? You are in one of the best areas of the country as far as used school buses go. The ones that have spent their service lives in Wisconsin are universally rust buckets by the time they're sold and quite frankly I would not travel multiple states over to buy any.

[Bert06840]

https://www.gasbuddy.com/tripcostcalculator

I put in some numbers for you, assuming a 25,000 lbs bus. Milwaukee to Portland, 5 MPG city, 7 MPG highway. $1,720. Make it $2,000 if he or she doesn't always fill up at the cheapest spots, lets it idle once in a while, and takes a couple of wrong turns.

If it's a skoolie the size of a Dodge Town & Country, you are going to get a different number.

[Bert06840]

Originally Posted by WIbluebird

You are in one of the best areas of the country as far as used school buses go. The ones that have spent their service lives in Wisconsin are universally rust buckets by the time they're sold and quite frankly I would not travel multiple states over to buy any.

I agree with that. I strongly considered buying one from Washington State and drive it back to New York for that very reason.

[raspberries]

Added the info, thanks. So tired of the sassy responses on all these sites. Was just overly excited and posted too soon.

Originally Posted by WIbluebird

You have offered zero information as to the kind of bus, engine, transmission etc. So it follows that people here cannot be of any assistance until you give us those metrics.

Also what kind of bus? You are in one of the best areas of the country as far as used school buses go. The ones that have spent their service lives in Wisconsin are universally rust buckets by the time they're sold and quite frankly I would not travel multiple states over to buy any.

[WIbluebird]

2003 model year still has a slight chance of being an AT545, won't know for sure until you actually get a SN# or service tag.

Also have the seller check rear end gearing as well. Should be on a data plate on the front interior bulkhead.

[Bert06840]

Originally Posted by raspberries

So tired of the sassy responses on all these sites.

I'm sorry you see it that way. We are all on here to help each other out. I'm very happy you are excited, we all are.

Obfuscating the facts isn't helping you out.

[raspberries]

Originally Posted by Bert06840

Obfuscating the facts isn't helping you out.

Fixed in the original post.

[WIbluebird]

With a 40 foot Bluebird 5.9 your mpg is likely to be in the 7-12 range.

Figure the cost of diesel which is around 2.85 per gallon in Wisconsin right now (no idea about the rest of your route).

[s2mikon]

A lot depends on how you drive it. At 55-60 mph I can get 10 mpg. My sons Crown is the same 10 mpg. This is without towing a car on the back. If I put the car on the back and drive 65-70 it is 6.5 mpg.

[WIbluebird]

Originally Posted by s2mikon

A lot depends on how you drive it. At 55-60 mph I can get 10 mpg. My sons Crown is the same 10 mpg. This is without towing a car on the back. If I put the car on the back and drive 65-70 it is 6.5 mpg.

As someone who is looking into a toad/dinghy setup on their 8.3 RE this is interesting.

I didn't think a flat tow vehicle would affect MPG that much!

[raspberries]

Totally, so happy it’s rust-free. And we’ll have it in Oregon solely so it should stay that way.

[raspberries]

Very helpful, thank you!

[Bert06840]

Originally Posted by s2mikon

A lot depends on how you drive it...

If I put the car on the back and drive 65-70 it is 6.5 mpg.

I have to feather mine really hard to get over 10. But yes, I think it can be hypermiled.

However... if some stranger is gonna drive it for you, for 2000 miles, with gas paid, he's gonna do a whole lotta flooring. The lifetime MPG of my bus is 5.5MPG. You know, workers driving it "not my bus".

I'd give the driver $2000, educate him/her on the mileage relationship to speed and acceleration/decelleration and let him keep the change! That's good for your bus, too!

[raspberries]

So helpful, thank you!

Originally Posted by Bert06840

https://www.gasbuddy.com/tripcostcalculator

I put in some numbers for you, assuming a 25,000 lbs bus. Milwaukee to Portland, 5 MPG city, 7 MPG highway. $1,720. Make it $2,000 if he or she doesn't always fill up at the cheapest spots, lets it idle once in a while, and takes a couple of wrong turns.

If it's a skoolie the size of a Dodge Town & Country, you are going to get a different number.

[Bert06840]

Originally Posted by raspberries

Totally, so happy it’s rust-free. And we’ll have it in Oregon solely so it should stay that way.

Then you found a yellow unicorn! Good for you!

Surely you have a good reason for buying it so far out. What is it?

[raspberries]

Great question! We’ve been searching in our area, weren’t successful with what we found, increased our search to a state or two away, still didn’t find what we wanted. The bus we are buying has exactly what we need and we had great communication with the sellers. I happened to contact the seller out of curiosity and they said they have wanted to see the PNW for years and would be happy to drive it to us in their travels, and fly home. Since they’re driving out here anyway, and we have only positive feelings about it, we are going for it!

Originally Posted by Bert06840

Then you found a yellow unicorn! Good for you!

Surely you have a good reason for buying it so far out. What is it?

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by raspberries

So helpful, thank you!

Go to the UserCP and fill out your profile with your location, add the bus info after you have it. I have bought 2 buses from the PNW, one of the best places to find them, and they are plentiful. I would be willing to pay $2k extra for a local one than buy one from the rust belt and take my chances after paying another $2k in fuel. The most critical rust is going to in places you can't see on inspection. Trust there will be rust on the floor from that area. The buses in the PNW bring the same money as the rust buckets from the east.