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Old 03-30-2016, 09:33 PM   #1
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Any Maryland-ers here?

Hello all. First I want to say, that I have learned ALOT about skoolies since I started scoping out all the pages on here. This is my first build and I appreciate any help or bits of knowledge from some seasoned folk on here. So this is what I got.

2000 Thomas MVP (approx. 39'?)
Cat 3126
Allison 5-speed

I picked this ol' girl up off of eBay from Florida back in February. Flew down, got a temp tag and was on my way out of town with my new baby less than three hours after landing. (800+ mile return trip) Extremely stressing. I've already stripped the seats out, removed aftermarket AC units, gutted some of the wiring and started sheeting over the windows I want covered. I'll upload pics as soon as I figure out how to do so from my phone. Thanks in advance for any future info everybody.

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Old 03-31-2016, 11:06 AM   #2
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Montgomery County. No bus; willing to help you with yours.
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Old 03-31-2016, 08:12 PM   #3
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Hey Dan-fox, thanks for the offer. My work schedule is pretty chaotic so I never have set days to work on her. But if I ever need the help, I'll be sure to look you up. Thanks again.
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Old 04-07-2016, 10:44 PM   #4
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marylanders

frederick here
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Old 04-07-2016, 10:45 PM   #5
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dan-fox, no bus here either, in the market as we speak. let me know if you ever need to brainstorm
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Old 04-08-2016, 08:31 AM   #6
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First one to get a bus has to drive it to wherever the other one is and show it off!

Went over finances last night with the Vice President, and it looks like my purchase will not happen until 12/16 or 1/17. I was hoping for June or July of this year, but we got hit with ~6 grand of unexpected expenses so no way Jose.
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Old 04-08-2016, 01:46 PM   #7
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finances

Ouch! I completely understand. If all goes according to plan (fingers crossed), I'm hoping to get mine sometime before labor day. I'll keep you posted on progress. Any specs you're looking for in your bus?
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Old 04-11-2016, 04:21 PM   #8
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my fantasy bus currently would be a Thomas type 'D' (flat nose) rear engine; MVP-ER or Saf-T-liner. Cummins 8.3; Allison 3060, and a magic wand to unlock the overdrive gears in the transmission. I know the 8.3 takes some heat from some folks here but all say it has the grunt to get up the mountain, and I'm just tickled with the idea of the wet sleeve in-frame rebuild capability.
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Old 04-11-2016, 04:27 PM   #9
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Year: 2003
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They are NOT "flat nose." They are TRANSIT STYLE, as opposed to Conventional Style.
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Old 04-11-2016, 04:55 PM   #10
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Well, excuuuuuse me!
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Old 04-11-2016, 05:20 PM   #11
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I always called them "Flat-front".. and "hood-front" for conventionals..

and then a bus like a transit I always called "City-bus". and one like a prevost coach I always called a "Trip Bus"
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Old 04-11-2016, 05:49 PM   #12
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"Flat-Nosed" & "Dog-Nosed" are commonly used terms by both civilians and bus pros to distinguish between body types. If you go back a ways, you will find "Transit Buses" in both body types.
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Old 04-11-2016, 06:05 PM   #13
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Year: 1991
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I never knew of the RE term for "rear engine".. I always called them "pushers" or "pullers"

-Christopher
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Old 04-11-2016, 06:20 PM   #14
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So we've got flat front pushers and flat front pullers versus hood front buses.
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Old 04-11-2016, 06:22 PM   #15
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If you think about it, ALL transit-style buses are pushers, considering that the drive axle is in the rear. I don't ever recall seeing any front-wheel drive buses.
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Old 04-11-2016, 06:56 PM   #16
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Have you seen those floating buses? They must be front wheel drive to drag themselves up a boat ramp.
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Old 04-11-2016, 07:19 PM   #17
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Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
Pusher vs puller was where the engine is in relation to the drive wheels...
-Christopher
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Old 04-12-2016, 05:26 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Robin97396 View Post
Have you seen those floating buses? They must be front wheel drive to drag themselves up a boat ramp.
Are you talking about those amphibious "Ducks" that schlep tourists around? They are 4x4; at least the ones from WWII are. Someone has started building them new replica for the schlepping-tourist trade and I don't know about those.
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Old 04-12-2016, 05:32 PM   #19
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Engine: DTA360 / MT643
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dan-fox View Post
Are you talking about those amphibious "Ducks" that schlep tourists around? They are 4x4; at least the ones from WWII are. Someone has started building them new replica for the schlepping-tourist trade and I don't know about those.
the Real Duck boats are in fact 4x4.. I looked one over in philly when I was there doing a Job a couple weeks ago... I asked the driver if it was "fake" and he said it was truly amphibious and showed me the controls to make it actually go in the water and that they have tours during warmer weather that do just that... it was 45 degrees that day and it has no Heat / open seating so I chose not to take a tour in it.. but it was 4 wheel drive.. looked like the punkin vents were routed up above the water line..

-Christopher
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Old 06-05-2019, 09:15 PM   #20
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General Inquiry

Hi Grim.

I have caught the Skoolie bug and would like to connect with others in the Maryland area. I'm still very much in the planning stages but my first question is where do you store a bus?



Quote:
Originally Posted by GrimREPR View Post
Hello all. First I want to say, that I have learned ALOT about skoolies since I started scoping out all the pages on here. This is my first build and I appreciate any help or bits of knowledge from some seasoned folk on here. So this is what I got.

2000 Thomas MVP (approx. 39'?)
Cat 3126
Allison 5-speed

I picked this ol' girl up off of eBay from Florida back in February. Flew down, got a temp tag and was on my way out of town with my new baby less than three hours after landing. (800+ mile return trip) Extremely stressing. I've already stripped the seats out, removed aftermarket AC units, gutted some of the wiring and started sheeting over the windows I want covered. I'll upload pics as soon as I figure out how to do so from my phone. Thanks in advance for any future info everybody.
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