Thoughts on this Bus?

kwm2 · 07-31-2020, 09:44 AM

Hey experts! Hoping for some feedback on this bus. We're going to take a look at it tomorrow so this is all we have for now:
1996 School bus Handicap accessible
$4,799
Seller's description
Low 30000 miles running driving school bus. Could definitely use new tires front tire is a mark in it on side but all tires hold air drove it 5 miles home was gonna concert to a motor home but don’t have time
Dt444e motor an Allison transmission
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...21370299002770

The seller says minimal rust but we'll take a good look tomorrow. I know it needs tires so we're looking at cost on those.

johnbloem1974 · 07-31-2020, 10:02 AM

A few things that stick out:

There is no Dt444e engine. It is either a DT466e or a T444E. Most likely the T444e...
I *highly* doubt the mileage is 30000...
Also, there are many models of Allison transmissions, most likely an AT545, which isn't exactly the the most desirable, but not horrible in a shorty...

For me, the price seems a bit on the high side too...especially since the tires would need replacement as well...

John

EastCoastCB · 07-31-2020, 10:42 AM

Cool bus. is that 30k or 300k? Needing tires, that price is kinda high.

kwm2 · 07-31-2020, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Cool bus. is that 30k or 300k? Needing tires, that price is kinda high.

Theoretically it is 30k but there's no way that could possibly be accurate.

kwm2 · 07-31-2020, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnbloem1974

A few things that stick out:

There is no Dt444e engine. It is either a DT466e or a T444E. Most likely the T444e...
I *highly* doubt the mileage is 30000...
Also, there are many models of Allison transmissions, most likely an AT545, which isn't exactly the the most desirable, but not horrible in a shorty...

For me, the price seems a bit on the high side too...especially since the tires would need replacement as well...

John

Thank you for the feedback! That's not an engine I know anything about. We live in Upstate SC so mountains are an every trip thing. Assuming we're content in the slow lane and downshifting, any concerns you'd share about this engine/transmission combo?

kwm2 · 07-31-2020, 06:48 PM

Guys, thank you so much for your feedback! We are moving on from this one due to the tires and my husband's new requirement that the bus has AC

That said, we really are super new to this process and would really appreciate any feedback on a couple more under consideration. Our needs/limitations are:
Less than 30 feet (parking limitation that we can't work around)
Functional AC (we'll add a mini-split later for while stopped if needed)
Room for a family of 3 + our scuba gear at at times 2 large dogs
For travel rather than full time
Our favorite bus (a TC1000) is available in Phoenix but that's a really long way from SC. Would ideally like to find something closer.

Here are a couple of additional options I ran across today:
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...82830813034136
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...29301623802352

bp1791-unleashed · 07-31-2020, 08:00 PM

Between those two, I'd go with the 1998. Lower cost, has a/c, and doesn't appear to have been tinkered with much unlike the other one. I think the DT466E will be cheaper to maintain as well.

The 2nd bus definitely had air brakes, and I think I saw the yellow diamond in one of the pics for the first one too. The 2nd bus is more expensive, has definitely been modified a bit, and no sign of any A/C system (unless I just missed seeing it).

Good luck!
jim

kwm2 · 07-31-2020, 08:58 PM

One more to toss in the mix:
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...66552534780631

It is a 2006 with a C7 and I've seen some very mixed feedback.

bp1791-unleashed · 07-31-2020, 09:20 PM

That's a Thomas bus. Thomas makes some nice bus bodies.

One thing to know is they have 3 different roof heights. Low, medium, and high. If you look at the second picture, you can see the roof drops behind the driver. This is a lower roofed bus. If it runs straight back, it's a medium, and if it rises, it's a high top. If head clearance is important to you, you'll really want a high top for a Thomas.

I don't know much about the C7 engine, but it's more electronic than my 3126 (which it replaced). My guess is that makes repairs more expensive. There's probably more emissions related stuff on there too. Alison 2500 transmission. I know nothing about those.

Very clean. I didn't see any signs of rust under there.

Air brakes. No AC.

EastCoastCB · 07-31-2020, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwm2

One more to toss in the mix:
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...66552534780631

It is a 2006 with a C7 and I've seen some very mixed feedback.

low headroom.

Danjo · 08-01-2020, 12:11 AM

It’s yellow so it was likely a school bus before being a church bus. Very unlikely 30K.

Based on the sketchy info I’d pass

kwm2 · 08-06-2020, 05:38 PM

OK guys, my husband has decided he likes a bus I can't find anything about searching the site. What do you think?

Seller's description
2005 International School bus for sale. VT365 Engine/turbo diesel with an allison 1000 transmission and hydraulic brakes. 201152 miles. Runs wonderfully with little to no rust at all. Any rust we found was surface rust on the interior steel floor that we’ve sanded off. Pretty much finished stripping it our selves when some unforeseen circumstances occurred and we unfortunately had to end the project. Would love for someone to be able to use it otherwise just going to scrap it.

The bus has been stripped entirely based on the pics (which is why he likes it, I think!) and is really to be insulated. The size is about right for us and the locations is pretty close to home.

EastCoastCB · 08-06-2020, 05:47 PM

The vt365 isn't a good engine. Its quite a shite engine, actually. You can spend several thousand dollars to "bulletproof" it, but its way better to start with a bus with virtually any other engine.

kwm2 · 08-06-2020, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

The vt365 isn't a good engine. Its quite a shite engine, actually. You can spend several thousand dollars to "bulletproof" it, but its way better to start with a bus with virtually any other engine.

Got it--thanks! I was afraid that was the case when I could find zero info

musigenesis · 08-06-2020, 05:57 PM

Stripping a bus is very easy and quick (compared to the rest of a conversion) so there's no reason to like a bus just because that's been done already.

kwm2 · 08-06-2020, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musigenesis

Stripping a bus is very easy and quick (compared to the rest of a conversion) so there's no reason to like a bus just because that's been done already.

Don’t tell him that!

BeNimble · 08-06-2020, 07:17 PM

It doesn't cost anything either, unless you get reckless with the angle grinder and try to cut your thumb off and end up at the ER getting stitches, or get some metal splinter in your eye and have to get it removed and leave you blinded for a week while it heals,
and many other things that have happened to me doing "easy" things.
So far this cab removal, I've only cut myself enough to fix with bandages, not ER visits. Good news is this has my tetanus shots current.

kwm2 · 08-07-2020, 01:46 PM

Still looking given all the feedback (which I really, really appreciate!!). Ran across a term I have no idea what it might refer to:

48 LIFT MOMS FREIGHTLINER CAT 3126 THO

What's the MOMS? I understand the rest.

QualityBusGuy · 08-10-2020, 05:07 PM

I work for a company that parts out/ scraps school buses and once in a while we get nice one to resell, right now we have a 2004 E450 van front, 26', 7.3 diesel, high head room, a/c, hydraulic brakes. its not listed yet so I cant post a link but you could give Ryley a call at 888-315-2575. He is also a great resource for any school bus related questions.

tradertim54@gmail · 09-20-2020, 10:33 AM

https://www.capitalremanexchange.com...l-engine-list/

gives a detailed list of good and bad diesel engines

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