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09-11-2017, 02:31 PM
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#1
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Culpeper, Virginia
Posts: 302
Chassis: Step Van
Engine: Prefer Diesel
Rated Cap: 14'-16' Step Van
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Shuttle Bus Peeps Only
I have tried to find all those of you that have converted Shuttle Buses here in the Forum. I need your help specifically. I have a few questions I think only you all can answer.
1) What are your interior dimensions? (back of drivers seat to rear wall/ side wall to side wall)
2) If you had to do it all over what would you change/ keep the same?
3) What would your biggest recommendations be on choosing the bus?
4) Is there a "standard" amount of space per seat? IE: each seat was 28" deep and 18" of space between seats for legs? (that would help alot to determine an aprox space by # of rows of seats)
I have 80% of all parts for my build stored up in my basement, and it is time to find THE bus. I have seen many online, and a few in person. I am currently watching 4 on Govdeals, and 3 on fleabay to which I do not have time or ability to go check each of them out.
I hope to fit a Queen bed, Bathroom with shower and toilet, kitchen with 4 burner LP stovetop, minifridge, microwave, sink, and a little counterspace. Gonna be tight in some of these units i have seen.
Thank you all for the insights and info in advance!!
Doug
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09-11-2017, 04:26 PM
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#2
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Farmington Hills, Mi (Detroit area)
Posts: 1,968
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Eldorado Aerotech 24'
Chassis: Ford E-450 Cutaway Bus
Engine: 7.3L Powerstroke
Rated Cap: 19
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My 24' Eldorado Aerotech has 16' behind the driver's seat and 7.5' wide. Headroom is about 6'6" if memory serves. The Aerotech/Aerolite bodies are pretty solid.
Stay away from Starcraft bodies and Ford 6.0L engines. The Ford 7.3L and the GM Duramax diesels are both good engines. A gasser will get pretty lousy mileage.
The shuttles come with highway gearing and cruise control. Parts and service are easily available. I'd do another one for sure.
Figure 2 1/2 feet per window.
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09-15-2017, 12:12 PM
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#3
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Culpeper, Virginia
Posts: 302
Chassis: Step Van
Engine: Prefer Diesel
Rated Cap: 14'-16' Step Van
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Thanks for that info Roach. I read through your thread. In the pic showing your cooler I see your furnace unit grill. Is that the Suburban 19SEQ 19k btu unit? If so, how well does it keep up temps in your setup? I ask because I purchased the same unit with a black grill.....
Doug
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09-15-2017, 03:26 PM
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#4
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Farmington Hills, Mi (Detroit area)
Posts: 1,968
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Eldorado Aerotech 24'
Chassis: Ford E-450 Cutaway Bus
Engine: 7.3L Powerstroke
Rated Cap: 19
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Ours is a 16000 btu Atwood that works fine for us but we're three season campers and don't use it that much.
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10-03-2017, 01:01 PM
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#5
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Culpeper, Virginia
Posts: 302
Chassis: Step Van
Engine: Prefer Diesel
Rated Cap: 14'-16' Step Van
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Not sure how high I will go, but this is what i am bidding on. I was trying to find one with passenger door and seat for copilot, but they seem rare and go for more $. Can any of you tell what body/ coach work this is?
https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?f...18&acctid=9448
Doug
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10-07-2017, 11:56 PM
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#6
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New Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 4
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I found an 06 with AeroTech body. It needs all new rubber and New brakes, rotors and pads. Do you know what the price tag on each is? I'm assuming 1200 for tires and not sure on breaks.
Thanks,
Mark
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10-08-2017, 10:19 AM
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#7
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Farmington Hills, Mi (Detroit area)
Posts: 1,968
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Eldorado Aerotech 24'
Chassis: Ford E-450 Cutaway Bus
Engine: 7.3L Powerstroke
Rated Cap: 19
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$1200 for tires sounds about right.
IIRC replacing brakes ran around $750 for new rotors, calipers and pads 5 years ago but I did the work myself. I would expect about triple that to have a shop do them. The fronts on my Ford were just an oversized version of car disk brakes but to replace the rear rotors the rear axle shafts had to come out.
Depending on how many miles are on the bus you may also need rear axle bearings/seals and new u-joints. Mine were ready for replacement at 100K.
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10-08-2017, 10:25 AM
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#8
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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NOT a shuttle bus, but I've got a REAL NICE 6 window short bus for sale if you're interested. Runs like new and has almost new tires on it.
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10-08-2017, 09:32 PM
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#9
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New Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 4
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Is it in Fl?
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10-09-2017, 03:57 AM
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#10
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by saenzm
Is it in Fl?
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Yes it is.
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10-09-2017, 10:34 PM
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#11
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 8,462
Year: 1946
Coachwork: Chevrolet/Wayne
Chassis: 1- 1/2 ton
Engine: Cummins 4BT
Rated Cap: 15
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And..it's a REAL bus!
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04-04-2018, 12:41 PM
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#12
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New Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Posts: 1
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastCB
NOT a shuttle bus, but I've got a REAL NICE 6 window short bus for sale if you're interested. Runs like new and has almost new tires on it.
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Do you still have your short bus for sale?
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04-04-2018, 02:37 PM
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#13
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: SW New Hampshire
Posts: 1,334
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mbmalone
Do you still have your short bus for sale?
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ECCB is off the air around here, at least for the time being. And no, that bus has been sold.
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04-04-2018, 03:55 PM
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#14
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Skoolie
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: League City, Texas
Posts: 221
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Did somebody say Shuttle Bus?
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04-06-2018, 11:25 PM
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#15
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 14
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Here’s is some deets on my 2001 e-450 goshen. IIRC is was 12 seats with wheelchair lift and space.
This is a design fitting a king bed:
This is a design with queen and sofa instead of full length desk:
I've just barely started the build so a lot of this can/will change as I get into it.
I was originally looking for just a normal E350 extended body but came across this bus for just $2k so snapped it up. Also, the wife ended up requiring a shower so the toilet will be a shower combo.
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04-07-2018, 02:33 PM
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#16
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Skoolie
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: League City, Texas
Posts: 221
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Quote:
Originally Posted by polomasta
Here’s is some deets on my 2001 e-450 goshen. IIRC is was 12 seats with wheelchair lift and space.
Attachment 20506
Attachment 20507
This is a design fitting a king bed:
Attachment 20508
This is a design with queen and sofa instead of full length desk:
Attachment 20509
I've just barely started the build so a lot of this can/will change as I get into it.
I was originally looking for just a normal E350 extended body but came across this bus for just $2k so snapped it up. Also, the wife ended up requiring a shower so the toilet will be a shower combo.
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Just my own thought here so take it for what its worth... Ditch the desk all together, and keep a couple of folding TV trays to use as a table / desk at the sofa...
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04-07-2018, 03:40 PM
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#17
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dbhost
Just my own thought here so take it for what its worth... Ditch the desk all together, and keep a couple of folding TV trays to use as a table / desk at the sofa...
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I will be working full time while on the road so a dedicated workspace is important for me. But we’ll see how it evolves and we get deeper into the build
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04-24-2018, 03:24 PM
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#18
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New Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by polomasta
Here’s is some deets on my 2001 e-450 goshen. IIRC is was 12 seats with wheelchair lift and space.
Attachment 20506
Attachment 20507
This is a design fitting a king bed:
Attachment 20508
This is a design with queen and sofa instead of full length desk:
Attachment 20509
I've just barely started the build so a lot of this can/will change as I get into it.
I was originally looking for just a normal E350 extended body but came across this bus for just $2k so snapped it up. Also, the wife ended up requiring a shower so the toilet will be a shower combo.
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Could you tell me what you used to create those great plans?
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04-24-2018, 03:26 PM
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#19
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New Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 2
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I am also looking to build an RV out of a shuttle bus. Multiple reasons prompt me. I am going to retire in 5 years and want to prepare for that. I will be living in the conversion full time and I have a ton of questions.
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04-24-2018, 03:52 PM
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#20
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Skoolie
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: League City, Texas
Posts: 221
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Quote:
Originally Posted by izifaddag
Could you tell me what you used to create those great plans?
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He used a program called "Sketch Up Make".
They replaced that with Sketchup. It's free, online, and fairly easy to learn.
https://www.sketchup.com/
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