Almost New Skoolie Owner

cassydo23 · 05-27-2018, 07:38 PM

hey y'all I'm new here and am so excited to have found this forum.

tomorrow I'm going to pick up my bus(yay) but before I do I was wondering if you guys can give me some feedback.

so it's a 1998-1999 blue bird bus, 6 cylinders, diesel, automatic, Engine is a Cummins diesel straight six, 24 valve with 156,000 miles.

is it a good choice?

o1marc · 05-27-2018, 08:16 PM

Depends on your intended use and how much they want for it. Go o your "UserCP" (upper left here) and fill out your profile and introduce yourself. That bus has the least desirable motor and trans, but may be adequate for your use.

cassydo23 · 05-27-2018, 08:29 PM

here's the link https://syracuse.craigslist.org/cto/...568108900.html
i want to build a home on wheels to travel for at least a year. would it be a good one?

magnakansas · 05-28-2018, 01:16 PM

I am new to buses. What I have learned, The cummins 5.9 is better suited to smaller trucks/buses. This engine is what has powered many dodge 3/4 and 1 ton pickup trucks. In a bus your size, This engine and transmission to a good job of fuel mileage and speed, but the speed is mostly spent at about 35mph and below, picking up and dropping off the passengers. A lot of start stop work. A hill at 30 mph is a lot different than getting a bus up a hill at 65 mph.

If you are a patient person and mellow to drive at times, 35 mph up that big hill on a two lane road, with ten cars behind you, all will be well.

Buses your size that are going to do 60 mph 65 mph are more well suited to an engine 8 litres or so and a five or six speed automatic transmission. Big stuff like what you have, air brakes. when an air brake looses air pressure- brake activation failure.... you brake fail ON, in other words, when and air brake has a problem you usually come to a stop.... right now.... Hydraulic brakes, when you loose a brake line, those brakes are not going to even slow you down a little.

So, you now have a buss that is gonna be on the slow side. If you have good karma with it, go with it, but also know you gonna be in the slow lane.

You can make some changes to the engine to make more power with a small amount of penalty to over all longevity. Just gonna have to spend more money.

I have a little bus, only 24 feet long, and built in 1954. I have the same engine as the one you have. I intend to cruise at 65 mph with ten to 12 people. More bus like than motorhome. I will have a table, small refrigerator, toilet and sink for the toilet, but the seat I am buying are really high end comfy recliner seats. My total weight is expected to be 11,000 lbs empty. I picked this kind of bus for rounded back end and cool old looks. I am not in the mood for a boring ride with the grandkids. I could buy a van cheaper but not nearly as much fun.

does this help? Have more questions?

william

o1marc · 05-28-2018, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cassydo23

here's the link https://syracuse.craigslist.org/cto/...568108900.html
i want to build a home on wheels to travel for at least a year. would it be a good one?

That's an excellent deal on that bus.

PNW_Steve · 05-28-2018, 01:30 PM

I must be missing something.

I don't see where the transmission model is listed. If it does in fact have the AT545 I would agree with the other post.

The storage bays shown in the picture lead me to believe that this could be an activity bus and may be equipped with a MT643 or MD3060.

I am partial to the bigger engines like the 8.3 Cummins but there are folks here with 5.9/MD3060 buses that are quite happy with them.

o1marc · 05-28-2018, 01:37 PM

He's accepting offers before it goes to salvage. I'd offer him $1500 and take it. New tires on it are worth the asking price. Spray foam insulation, huge bonus. Need more pics of the finished interior, don't see a shower or wood stove in any.
That's worth it even with a 5.9/545
Definitely would need to make the rear door accessible again, bad move sealing it with insulation.

magnakansas · 05-28-2018, 02:05 PM

Okay, yea for the price, is a good deal I think. Bring 2300 with you.... start low go as high as you feel is right. If you think 2300 is right, then do it... go sit in it for 30 minutes, ask for a test drive... he drives you ride ... see what you think...

william

o1marc · 05-28-2018, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by magnakansas

Okay, yea for the price, is a good deal I think. Bring 2300 with you.... start low go as high as you feel is right. If you think 2300 is right, then do it... go sit in it for 30 minutes, ask for a test drive... he drives you ride ... see what you think
william

If he's talking like this "Don't want to send to a junk yard so make a reasonable offer. come drive her away. This bus is going to the junk yard if you dont come get her. " I wouldn't be offering $2300 Take $2k, offer him $1500 cash, take it home.

cassydo23 · 05-28-2018, 09:36 PM

Guys thank you for all of your replies. So to be clear even tho it’s cheap and a decent deal it’s a slow bus especially on hills and I may end up having to spend more money on the engine in the long run?

magnakansas · 05-29-2018, 02:13 AM

you may not have to spend any on it in the long run. See if you can zen out with this machine. After or during test drive, if it works for you, it works for you.

william

EastCoastCB · 05-29-2018, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cassydo23

Guys thank you for all of your replies. So to be clear even tho it’s cheap and a decent deal it’s a slow bus especially on hills and I may end up having to spend more money on the engine in the long run?

How's the rust situation underneath the body?

cassydo23 · 05-29-2018, 05:28 PM

Alright y’all so after a lot of back and forth with the owner I decided to pass on the bus and luckily I found another one which I will be picking up the first week of June here’s the link: https://syracuse.craigslist.org/cto/...583360755.html
let me know what y’all think

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