Hello from Central Washington!

whiterose764 · 03-29-2019, 01:58 AM

Hi! My husband and I are purchasing our bus tomorrow and hope to get our conversion under way! We want to have the main livable elements in within a month and we will both be working on it full time. My only concern about that is getting the parts and appliances we need within that time as we will be searching all the ReStore's and used things to keep the costs down. We are super grateful for this forum and all the wisdom in it!

PNW_Steve · 03-29-2019, 08:29 AM

Welcome!

Where are you located?

tugboater · 03-29-2019, 10:51 AM

We purchased our bus from the Spokane area & feel really good about it's condition. Hopefully you're having the same experience! Good Luck!

PNW_Steve · 03-29-2019, 10:55 AM

Oops.. Accidental post.

Rovobay · 03-29-2019, 10:57 AM

for a plethora of usable parts shop around for a damaged RV/camper/trailer. It is like one stop shopping. That is what I did and figured I saved a ton of money. didn't take long to strip everything off of it, recycle the metal for $. Do you plan to insulate?

Welcome!

Native · 03-29-2019, 11:32 AM

Welcome!

Please tell us about your bus. Also, pictures.

PNW_Steve · 03-29-2019, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rovobay

for a plethora of usable parts shop around for a damaged RV/camper/trailer. It is like one stop shopping. That is what I did and figured I saved a ton of money. didn't take long to strip everything off of it, recycle the metal for $. Do you plan to insulate?

Welcome!

A number of members here have had luck going this route. One gent even found a late model trailer, that a tree had fallen on, for free. He furnished his bus and had a flatbed trailer left over.

Myself, I am not fond of the fixtures and appliances that are used in most stick & staple RV'S. I am going with residential fixtures as much as is practical.

That is one of the great things about building your own. You get to do it YOUR was and not settling for somebody else's idea of what you need.

Rovobay · 03-29-2019, 11:52 AM

PNW Steve is right. a blank canvas for your own needs. I am boondock camping so shore power will not be available thus, my needs for an RV fridge that also runs on propane. million ways to do your set up tailored just to you!

whiterose764 · 03-29-2019, 12:12 PM

Yakima area for the first month and then we are moving down to California to finish the conversion end of April.

whiterose764 · 03-29-2019, 12:13 PM

Awesome! I'll let you know! Yes, one of the reasons we are doing a school bus is for that blank canvas. I'm not a huge fan of the standard RV appliances either and hope to make our bus comfortable for living in full time. But my husband has been looking for free RV's on craigslist to see if it would be worth it for us. We will post our design soon! Should I start a new thread?

Rovobay · 03-29-2019, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whiterose764

Awesome! I'll let you know! Yes, one of the reasons we are doing a school bus is for that blank canvas. I'm not a huge fan of the standard RV appliances either and hope to make our bus comfortable for living in full time. But my husband has been looking for free RV's on craigslist to see if it would be worth it for us. We will post our design soon! Should I start a new thread?

Yes start a build thread and also edit your profile so we can see what chassis, engine, trans you have. We love pictures!

whiterose764 · 03-29-2019, 08:07 PM

Ok will do! We are going through with the purchase Monday but would love to know what you all think about the bus beforehand if possible!

whiterose764 · 03-29-2019, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Native

Welcome!

Please tell us about your bus. Also, pictures.

We do plan on insulating, and we are currently in the process of purchasing a 1988 Ford B700, built by Thomas Buses, diesel. I'm looking up what engine it has now. It has 275k miles on it.

What do you guys think? It runs clean, no blue smoke, needs new battery, no leaks and we would be buying it from the second owner.

Good buy, or keep looking?

Thanks!!

whiterose764 · 03-30-2019, 02:11 PM

Here is a picture of the bus~

Sleddgracer · 03-30-2019, 02:25 PM

Impressive - you need a longgggg driveway to park that baby

Rovobay · 03-30-2019, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whiterose764

We do plan on insulating, and we are currently in the process of purchasing a 1988 Ford B700, built by Thomas Buses, diesel. I'm looking up what engine it has now. It has 275k miles on it.

What do you guys think? It runs clean, no blue smoke, needs new battery, no leaks and we would be buying it from the second owner.

Good buy, or keep looking?

Good buy is relevant on knowing more details. engine, trans, tires, rust issues? See it has air system. stuff inside the window suggests that there has already me some work done inside. also knowing the price would help in determining if it is a good buy!

whiterose764 · 03-30-2019, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rovobay

Good buy is relevant on knowing more details. engine, trans, tires, rust issues? See it has air system. stuff inside the window suggests that there has already me some work done inside. also knowing the price would help in determining if it is a good buy!

you are right! I've added more information here in our new thread:

http://www.skoolie.net/forums/f11/fa...ser-26401.html

Let me know what you think with the new info!

You may also like: