I'm new to the scene here and I'm in the initial phases of bus shopping
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I'm looking to convert one into a weekend adventure bus for mountain bike trips. Sleeping for 1 or 2, shower, sink, composting toilet, cooktop, and solar are in the plans. I'm located in Boulder, Colorado and have trips planed south to Sedona, AZ up to Whistler, BC. The bus will see it's fair share of highway miles and mountain passes.
I'm fairly certain I'm looking for a 14-18 passenger shuttle bus, an E350/450. A 7.3L diesel seems best but the v10 gassers are much more common. I'll need enough power to comfortably and reliably get over mountain passes.
A rear door is a major plus. I'm also 6'3" and to my knowledge, shuttles have a higher internal height.
I've been browsing ebay, craigslist, GovDeals, and Public Surplus. Pricing seems to be pretty wild and inconsistent. My budget tops out at $5k. Is this a reasonable price point for a reliable, get up and go bus? Any other guidance is much appreciated.