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03-07-2018, 09:47 PM
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#1
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New Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 6
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Shuttle Bus Vs. School Bus
Hey guys,
I'm looking into buying a bus, as of right now it most likely will be a Ford E350 shuttle bus. Reliability is obviously a big concern of mine but aside from that I'm also looking for a bus with a wheelchair lift that I can modify to carry my motorcycle with me, which is fairly light (300ish lbs). My question is...which would you guys recommend, a shuttle bus or a standard school bus and why?
Thanks in advance
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03-08-2018, 12:31 AM
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#2
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
Posts: 10,482
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
Rated Cap: 77
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Elderado
Hey guys,
I'm looking into buying a bus, as of right now it most likely will be a Ford E350 shuttle bus. Reliability is obviously a big concern of mine but aside from that I'm also looking for a bus with a wheelchair lift that I can modify to carry my motorcycle with me, which is fairly light (300ish lbs). My question is...which would you guys recommend, a shuttle bus or a standard school bus and why?
Thanks in advance
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Depends on how much living you will be doing in it.
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03-08-2018, 02:27 AM
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#3
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Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: southern maine
Posts: 114
Year: 2010
Coachwork: Coach & Equipment MFG
Chassis: ford E350 superduty
Engine: 5.4 liter v8
Rated Cap: 7 passenger
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i like my E350 superduty shuttle it is easy to drive/park,.. handles well for a vehicle that big,.. much like a truck,.. ive got a v8 gas 5.4 and can't complain about power.
the chair lift will pick up 800+ pounds.
parts are easy to get.
my shuttle came with a lift battery that is isolated from the start battery so a electrical system is easy to install/run 12v stuff off)
__________________
2010 ford e350 superduty v8 7 passenger bus
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03-08-2018, 10:47 AM
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#4
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New Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pbeggs
i like my E350 superduty shuttle it is easy to drive/park,.. handles well for a vehicle that big,.. much like a truck,.. ive got a v8 gas 5.4 and can't complain about power.
the chair lift will pick up 800+ pounds.
parts are easy to get.
my shuttle came with a lift battery that is isolated from the start battery so a electrical system is easy to install/run 12v stuff off)
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Good to know, thanks! and yes it seems like a very reliable and stress free vehicle compared to other options.
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03-08-2018, 10:48 AM
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#5
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New Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by o1marc
Depends on how much living you will be doing in it.
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I dont plan on living in it full time, but I do plan on traveling for extensive amounts of time. Why would that matter?
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03-08-2018, 10:56 AM
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#6
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New Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 6
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Specifically, the narrow body Goshen f350's have caught my eye. Going to check out this one in the next day or two...
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03-08-2018, 11:57 AM
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#7
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
Posts: 10,482
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
Rated Cap: 77
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Elderado
I dont plan on living in it full time, but I do plan on traveling for extensive amounts of time. Why would that matter?
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I personally don't like confined spaces, so if I was to spend any length of time in it I would want something bigger rather than smaller. The more time you spend in it the more amenities you'll likely want, the more room you'll need.
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03-08-2018, 12:01 PM
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#8
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New Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by o1marc
I personally don't like confined spaces, so if I was to spend any length of time in it I would want something bigger rather than smaller. The more time you spend in it the more amenities you'll likely want, the more room you'll need.
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Understandable, and I assumed as much. I've traveled quite a bit with friends in sprinter vans and stuff like that...I dont need much space so I'm not too concerned about a smaller area, I'm more so concerned with maneuverability, reliability, and convenience. A bigger bus is a bit more difficult in every aspect.
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03-08-2018, 02:38 PM
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#9
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Fayetteville Arkansas
Posts: 419
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: GMC G3500 Vandura
Engine: V-8 5.7L Gas
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03-08-2018, 03:02 PM
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#10
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: home, washington
Posts: 52
Year: 2005
Coachwork: blue bird
Chassis: handy
Engine: e450 6.0
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love my buttercup...
a handy bus...came with a lift...thought about removing it, but decided it might make a great barbecue deck when half deployed.
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03-09-2018, 07:28 AM
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#11
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Cuyahoga Falls Ohio
Posts: 592
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Startrans
Chassis: Ford e-350 single wheel
Engine: 5.4 litre
Rated Cap: 12
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That Goshen looks nice. Beware of the shuttle buses that are built with a corrugated card board like material sandwiched between the fiberglass panels. My startrans is built with 1" steel tubing with fiberglass panels, good design and quality materials. I also have the 5.4l v8 and it gets the job done, even towing a 20 foot trailer. I camp in my shuttle and love it. Good luck and keep us posted.
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03-09-2018, 02:33 PM
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#12
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New Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by leadsled01
That Goshen looks nice. Beware of the shuttle buses that are built with a corrugated card board like material sandwiched between the fiberglass panels. My startrans is built with 1" steel tubing with fiberglass panels, good design and quality materials. I also have the 5.4l v8 and it gets the job done, even towing a 20 foot trailer. I camp in my shuttle and love it. Good luck and keep us posted.
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Ahh okay, so I guess thats why some of them catch flack which is totally understandable...I wouldnt want that cardboard crap either. Thanks for the explanation.
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06-17-2018, 07:00 AM
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#13
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: White, Georgia
Posts: 56
Year: 2012
Coachwork: Goshen
Chassis: E450
Engine: V10
Rated Cap: 1 1/2 ton
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Battery isolation?
I have a Ford E-450 Goshen with a handicap lift. I'm trying to confirm it does in fact have battery isolation from the main battery. I wonder the current rating, too. The battery isolator I bought says 700 amps. It's pretty chunky.
I did buy two different devices to help with converting it to a motor home, a battery isolator and a 110 vac automatic switch.
It seems likely there already is an isolator, which would be wonderful if true.
The other quest is to add a much larger battery compartment. I've seen doors for compartments but wish there were water tight boxes, too. The current aux battery is much smaller than I expected.
Ironic I have a box and pan brake and likely could build one if I had time to. I weld but somehow don't have sheet metal welding skills; if it's much thinner than 1/8" I usually don't weld it, I just create lots of holes. Even worse, I have oxy-acetylene and a wire welder. My biggest inhibitor is not having a foot shear. Some day ... some day.
The Goshen is a practice run for my Freightliner bus conversion, coming later. I'm trying out both shuttle and bus conversions eventually. Both have handicap lifts, BTW. The Freightliner is good in the underneath compartment area, it has several.
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