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Old 05-20-2020, 02:37 PM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Thoughts on these shorties?

I'm really ready to move on a shortie, especially to allow myself a place to quarantine and care for family who is now in need. Vital kick in the ass to move on this project.

Looking for feedback on these two shorties.

https://charlottesville.craigslist.o...124547158.html


https://charlotte.craigslist.org/ctd...123221066.html

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Old 05-20-2020, 04:17 PM   #2
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i like the diesel bus better and it gives you more room.
i would ask for specifics on the transmission.
likely the 545 because i have one and it seams that everytime i talk junk about something i have it has to show its but and give me problems.
i think the price is high but if in a hurry i would choose the bigger bus with the diesel.
good luck
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Old 05-20-2020, 05:28 PM   #3
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my 2 cents....the gasser has a ton of miles....between the 2, I'd go for the bigger bus..price is a bit high, but, it's already painted.
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Old 05-20-2020, 05:40 PM   #4
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In my unprofessional opinion, the 2nd one (diesel) is the clear winner here.
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Old 05-20-2020, 05:55 PM   #5
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full size shorty > van
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Old 05-20-2020, 06:58 PM   #6
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I'm inclined to agree with the others here, but I happen to live near the area the gasser is in. Could check it out for you if you like.
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Old 05-20-2020, 08:02 PM   #7
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Make 'em prove the mileage on the diesel. That bus is almost 30 years old and if the mileage is 74,000 it means the bus was only driven about 2,500 miles a year. Come On guys who's kidding whom?
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Old 05-20-2020, 08:45 PM   #8
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Mileage could be correct if it were a school for challenged / troubled kids. Schools like that don't generally have route buses and any bus they owned would likely be for the occasional field trip or routing.
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Old 05-20-2020, 09:00 PM   #9
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CW, with all due respect, NAH, never happened. But if I am proved wrong it is one heck of a buy!
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Old 05-20-2020, 09:16 PM   #10
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Local prep school has 4-5 shuttle buses that I see move maybe twice a year. I have also seen situations exactly like what I described. This bus does not look 29 years old.
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Old 05-21-2020, 03:25 PM   #11
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This 1990 has an 8.2 and 545 tranny. The engine looks really clean to my eyes.

https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?f...98&acctid=2291
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Old 05-21-2020, 03:40 PM   #12
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the 8.2 might do a little better in a shorty but in my 60 passenger bus it is underpowered
and they are outdated.
in my area all the mechanics that know how to work on them are retired and or gone and they didnt pass there knowledge down to the younger ones.
runs great but just not enough power.
its not an interstate cruiser by any means but its a great local travel camping bus
good luck
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Old 05-22-2020, 08:39 AM   #13
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How about these folks? Looks a bit opportunistic.

https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/...127888938.html
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Old 05-22-2020, 09:20 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CHEESE_WAGON View Post
Mileage could be correct if it were a school for challenged / troubled kids. Schools like that don't generally have route buses and any bus they owned would likely be for the occasional field trip or routing.
I've wondered how common it is for schools to purchase these expensive buses and then not use them very often. It seems like it would be more economical to occasionally hire one of these bus services companies that operate fleets of school buses.
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Old 05-22-2020, 09:25 AM   #15
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How about these folks? Looks a bit opportunistic.

https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/...127888938.html
As someone that wasn't even aware of school buses as anything other than big yellow boxes with annoying little kids in them before I got into building a skoolie, I'm starting to understand @cadillackid's interest in school buses for their own sake. You wouldn't want these buses because of their recent vintage, but damn they're beautiful. If I had one I'd feel bad about gutting it.
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Old 05-22-2020, 09:48 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by musigenesis View Post
I've wondered how common it is for schools to purchase these expensive buses and then not use them very often. It seems like it would be more economical to occasionally hire one of these bus services companies that operate fleets of school buses.
My bus has less than 100k on it. They had two both set up this way, both low miles. I think my bus was used to haul ONE handicapped child. It only has one WC spot. The rest of the seats don't look very used.
With WC buses and shorties the chance of finding one lightly used is slightly higher than when looking at 40' buses.
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Old 05-22-2020, 09:49 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Tim View Post
How about these folks? Looks a bit opportunistic.

https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/...127888938.html
09, Maxxforce. That would be a hard pass for me.
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Old 05-22-2020, 10:07 AM   #18
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my red bus was gently used bus by the district.. when I got it, was 17 years old with 140,000 miles on it.. less than 10,000 per year..



from a friend who attended school where it was used, he knew it as the Pregnant-mothers bus.. it was used to take the teenage mothers and their babies to school.. so it didnt see the rough-housing a generally packed bus would see.. as a result, its seats, floors, walls, ceilings, etc werent all cut, worn or scratched up.. Low usage special-purpose busses do exist.. another friend owns a 40 year old ohio bus that looks pretty much new as its small district garaged it every night, washed it after every run out in the winter salt, and apparently under no certain terms kids found to deface or damage it in any way were dealt with sternly.. as a result that bus looks and drives like new after only minor restoration work..
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Old 05-22-2020, 11:11 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Tim View Post
How about these folks? Looks a bit opportunistic.

https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/...127888938.html
Modern busses look so awesome but based on what I’ve read on this forum, it’s best to avoid busses newer than 2004-2006 due to computerized engines/emissions regulation that make routine maintenance prohibitively expensive. Doable for an organization but not for individual owners.
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Old 05-22-2020, 11:31 AM   #20
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Originally Posted by Big Tim View Post
How about these folks? Looks a bit opportunistic.

https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/...127888938.html
Am I missing something here? 200,000 and a maxforce! Done!
And when did these become inline 8's?
I'll take that pass also
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