Hey guys, we're thinking we want a shuttle bus for our conversion and I think I've found what seems to be a great deal on a '97 Champion shuttle bus (not sure the model). It's on a Ford e450 powerstroke diesel, 212000 km (130,000 miles). The guy says it's well maintained, brand new tires and battery, and no structural rust. He's selling it because his tour company has to downsize their fleet due to COVID. So far it sounds really good and I really want it!
However, the plan would be to use this with our future children, so safety is a big issue... clearly I don't want them to die in a crash :/ I think I've read every post on this forum about shuttle buses and it seems like Eldorados are built with a steel cage and steel reinforced fibreglass making them safer.
Champions are built with a steel cage too and they claim to be "some of the safest and robust in the industry" (
Our Story | Champion Bus - Built Like A Champion.)
But I haven't seen them say anything about steel reinforced fibreglass. And this story about a deadly Champion bus crash is freaking me out... basically they are saying the welding on the steel cage is shoddy:
shorturl.at/msxLZ
Also, this Skoolie thread by mkchamness talks about converting a Champion shuttle and finding rust on the steel cage due to a fibreglass leak and shoddy welding too:
https://www.skoolie.net/forums/f11/1...sion-2912.html
What do ya'll think?
Thanks so much!