Maintenance records

ddmskeeter1 · 10-10-2019, 04:28 PM

I am buying my bus from a company, but it's a bus from a school district. How do I find their maintenance records?

peteg59 · 10-10-2019, 04:42 PM

If the "company" you're buying it from doesn't have them, you'll have to go to the maintenance manager at the school district it came from to see if any still exist.
Most times they'll destroy the records soon after the asset is transferred out of their system.

I'd try to get the seller to drop their price a bit, if they don't have any docs on it. Its worth a try?

Good Luck...

ddmskeeter1 · 10-10-2019, 05:16 PM

I am looking at a 2001 Freightliner Bluebird 5.9 cummins with 298,000 miles;I was told the miles were 160,000. The front tires also need replacing. They are asking $4500.

peteg59 · 10-10-2019, 05:23 PM

Have you priced out new tires?
If needed right off, add the cost to the $4.5K asking price, then ask yourself: Is it now worth $X,XXX.00...?

ddmskeeter1 · 10-10-2019, 05:36 PM

Yes. I need 2 new front ones when I am ready to travel;after the build out. The back are all in great condition. I know the $4500 is not realistic. The windshield is also cracked.

PNW_Steve · 10-10-2019, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddmskeeter1

I am looking at a 2001 Freightliner Bluebird 5.9 cummins with 298,000 miles;I was told the miles were 160,000. The front tires also need replacing. They are asking $4500.

A 5.9 in a full size bus ain't great. A seller that misleads you ain't great. Needing tires ain't great...

If that is a full size bus with a 5.9 Cummins and an AT-545 I would consider buying buying the bus you described for as much as $1000.

As far as tires go, you can get a set of no-name Chinese tires for $1800-$2500. Good name brand tires will be closer to $2500-$3000.

From the information provided, I would not buy that bus except for scrap/parts.

My best advice is to keep looking.

Good luck.

o1marc · 10-10-2019, 06:47 PM

Now that I know more about this bus, I can say RUN AWAY. Tires needed, $2-$3K. Then you'll have $7500 in a $2000 bus.

Go to the UserCP and fill out your profile with your location, it'll help us answer your questions. Don't be in a hurry. Just about everyone who buys a bus and then comes here finds out they could have done better had they come here first and learned abit.

peteg59 · 10-10-2019, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by o1marc

Now that I know more about this bus, I can say RUN AWAY. Tires needed, $2-$3K. Then you'll have $7500 in a $2000 bus.

Go to the UserCP and fill out your profile with your location, it'll help us answer your questions. Don't be in a hurry. Just about everyone who buys a bus and then comes here finds out they could have done better had they come here first and learned abit.

X100 on that!!!

ddmskeeter1 · 10-10-2019, 07:53 PM

I’m not buying in my location that’s why I didn’t add it. I don’t really care where the bus is from,but I’m mainly looking in Texas around hill country area.

ddmskeeter1 · 10-10-2019, 07:54 PM

It’s a mid bus. But I’m passing on it. I’ve looked or had family members look at several. I’m going to try the school auctions

peteg59 · 10-10-2019, 08:07 PM

There have to be literally hundreds of good clean busses in Texas to pick from.
Main thing don't rush into anything.
Sometimes it takes months to find the right candidate.
Hopefully you or your kinfolk are good with mechanical things to help you.
Spend a week in your spare time on here learning about the many styles, sizes, engine, transmission combos, etc.

Too many folks new to the hobby see a bus under 10k and think its a good deal, UNTIL they realize it will take way too much $$ to do what it is you want to do with it.

I'm on my second bus conversion, with help, after having to give up on my 1st one unexpectedly.

Not trying to blow my own horn with this. I'm not a veteran on the site, but I've been wheeling and dealing in almost every type of motorized vehicle known to man and woman more than 40 years!
Good luck...

ddmskeeter1 · 10-10-2019, 08:55 PM

Thanks. I’ve been studying a year and just started looking. My dad has been a mechanic for 35yrs+ but I like To get others opinions. Even though my dad thinks he knows it all,he doesn’t;sorry dad! I’m going to start going to auctions.

o1marc · 10-10-2019, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddmskeeter1

I’m not buying in my location that’s why I didn’t add it. I don’t really care where the bus is from,but I’m mainly looking in Texas around hill country area.

You definitely don't want a bus from the North East corner of the country

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