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Old 05-12-2019, 08:42 PM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Nitro , WV
Posts: 13
Year: 2003
Chassis: International
Engine: 444E
Rated Cap: 84
Hello from the All Most Heaven State

Hello everyone , my wife Regina and I ( Dwayne) are from West Virginia and on the hunt for our forever bus home. She inspired me to move forward in getting a bus and selling our home in 3 yrs. We started our search a few weeks ago on finding the bus right for us. After measuring our driveway we knew we weren't going to give up space if we had a place to put the bus during the convertion. We are definitely wanting a 40' pusher bus and very close to getting one and should know in a few days. It's a 2003 International Amtram RE Cummins engine 444E with a Allison Transmission. We are so excited about getting her home and starting our journey. Thanks and stay tuned for more

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Old 05-12-2019, 09:55 PM   #2
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Location: Palmer, AK
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Year: 2004
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf T Liner MVP 11 window 32’
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awesome! good luck & standing by for more
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Old 05-12-2019, 10:39 PM   #3
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Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: E Central Tejas
Posts: 2,094
Year: 1998
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: IH 3800, 8 window
Engine: T444E w/ Spicer 5-speed MT
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Welcome to the Looney Bin!
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Old 05-12-2019, 11:47 PM   #4
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Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
Posts: 10,482
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
Rated Cap: 77
Where is the bus you are contemplating buying from? Hopefully not from the rusty north east.
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Old 05-13-2019, 02:29 AM   #5
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Coachwork: Thomas Built Bus
Chassis: Freightliner FS65
Engine: Caterpillar 3126E Diesel
Rated Cap: 71 Passenger- 30,000 lbs.
Perhaps from a mountainous school district?
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Old 05-13-2019, 04:06 PM   #6
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Nitro , WV
Posts: 13
Year: 2003
Chassis: International
Engine: 444E
Rated Cap: 84
Actually shes part of a surplus auction going on back home where Im from originally , found out they use sand instead of salt for winter conditions.
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Old 05-13-2019, 04:22 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by cityguy6662 View Post
Actually shes part of a surplus auction going on back home where Im from originally , found out they use sand instead of salt for winter conditions.
And where is that?
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Old 05-13-2019, 09:21 PM   #8
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Nitro , WV
Posts: 13
Year: 2003
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Engine: 444E
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I'm from Richmond Va ...but near Virginia beach they use sand instead of salt. The buses are in Williamsburg. I should find out tomorrow afternoon if I won one in the surplus auction
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Old 05-13-2019, 09:28 PM   #9
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I'm from Richmond Va ...but near Virginia beach they use sand instead of salt. The buses are in Williamsburg. I should find out tomorrow afternoon if I won one in the surplus auction
While that may be true, eastern seaboard stuff deals with the salt air, almost as bad as road salt.
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Old 05-14-2019, 05:04 AM   #10
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
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Engine: 444E
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True , never thought about that . Thanks for the info.
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Old 05-14-2019, 09:43 AM   #11
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Year: 1991
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Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
Cummins didnt make the 444E, international did.. and while its a fine reliable engine(I have one) .. its so similar to the ford Powerstroke 7.3 that parts are everywhere for it and arent as pricey as other diesels..... its not the best for climbing mountains in a 40 foot pusher.. be mindful of it if you get it.. that the 444E likes to get hot when you push it hard.. if you are running I77 near wytheville dont run the temp off the scale and make sure that RE hydraulic engine fan is working well...



you wont destroy the 444E climbing mountains with it, you just wont go fast.. hopefully in that configuration it is the 230HP variant which helps..



enjoy your new bus and welcome to the jungle!!!
-Christopher
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Old 05-14-2019, 11:18 AM   #12
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Join Date: Oct 2017
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Or a 30' FE...

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Originally Posted by cadillackid View Post
... its not the best for climbing mountains in a 40 foot pusher..

... you wont destroy the 444E climbing mountains with it, you just wont go fast.. hopefully in that configuration it is the 230HP variant which helps..
-Christopher
Ain't THAT the truth!!!
Wish I had so many ponies...
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Old 05-14-2019, 06:09 PM   #13
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Nitro , WV
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Engine: 444E
Rated Cap: 84
Sorry I dont know why I said Cummins...I guess from looking at to many buses on auction sites , Ebay, midwest Transit Equipment , Govdeals.comand so on ....lol....I will be very mindful on pushing her...we live just outside of Charleston WV and Sandstone mountain is the highest elevation on the way home 5,425 above sea level I believe so we will take our time getting her home...even a turtle wins once in a while
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Old 05-14-2019, 06:37 PM   #14
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Engine: DTA360 / MT643
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cityguy6662 View Post
Sorry I dont know why I said Cummins...I guess from looking at to many buses on auction sites , Ebay, midwest Transit Equipment , Govdeals.comand so on ....lol....I will be very mindful on pushing her...we live just outside of Charleston WV and Sandstone mountain is the highest elevation on the way home 5,425 above sea level I believe so we will take our time getting her home...even a turtle wins once in a while

wow I never knew there was a mile high over here.. I run the I77 quite a bit which takes me up and down the hill near wytheville.. or fog-corridor as I call it... once I turned my bus up to 250 it hauls on that hill but my EGTs run close to max. and my dan always kicks on unless its really freezing outside..





Haz.matt - if we ever end up in the same city I can kick your power up a bit... although id suggest getting a Pyro..


-Christopher
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Old 05-14-2019, 06:46 PM   #15
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Posts: 2,094
Year: 1998
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Chassis: IH 3800, 8 window
Engine: T444E w/ Spicer 5-speed MT
Rated Cap: I prefer broad-brims hats
I wouldn't say no, thankya!

Quote:
Originally Posted by cadillackid View Post
...

Haz.matt - if we ever end up in the same city I can kick your power up a bit... although id suggest getting a Pyro..


-Christopher
*sigh*
That is on my wish list, with a pile more spendy stuff.
Unless Santa's been otherwise occupied, I'm screwed!
Matteo
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Old 05-18-2019, 04:12 PM   #16
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Location: Long Island, NY
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Are you saying all buses from the East Coast will be rusted out? I finally got an appointment with a school bus transportation company on Monday morning here on Long Island and i’m doing as much research as possibly to educate myself but can’t seem to pass the “how not to fail the air breaks exam.” Now I have to figure out this rusty thing too? Mama Mia!
If anyone out there has any suggestions, please suggest, but you should know... no one I know, knows anyone who’s a mechanic, nor anyone they know, knows anyone who’s a mechanic! And cityguy, I hope you get your bus, but if you don’t, I can share my findings after my appointment on Monday.
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Old 05-18-2019, 04:52 PM   #17
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Are you saying all buses from the East Coast will be rusted out
After growing up in Ct. and knowing how fast things rust up there I would think the chances of finding a rust free 15-20yo bus is about 1 in 100. The problem is the worst rust will be where you can't see it until you remove the floor. There are too many states with good buses for the same price. I think one of the biggest mistakes made getting into Skoolies is budgeting enough money to travel to find the right bus. It'll save you time, money and aggravatuin.
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Old 05-18-2019, 05:09 PM   #18
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You’re soooo right!!! Unfortunately though, time is extremely limited. So I need to figure this out and just do it! Maybe on Monday, things will start looking up for me. I started in March researching and I thought by now, it would have been done. But finding someone to make the conversion, not easy! Finally this past week, someone replied. But even so, it does take a very long time to just open communications. And here on Long Island, no one knows what a skoolie is... is like talking Chinese! Let me rephrase that... is like talking Tamil!
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Old 05-18-2019, 05:14 PM   #19
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My best friend does construction in Ct.He's watching my build and saying "WE should start building these" I said that's what I've been telling you for a year now, get a space big enough and I'll come back up there. Sandy Hook is my home. I guarantee if I was building these in Ct. , not one would be a bus from New England.
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Old 05-18-2019, 08:54 PM   #20
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Go for it!!! I’m a real skoolie newbie and it’s the only thing I’ve explored in a very long time that gets me excited. But, I know nothing... zilch! I don’t even know how to pump gas, and i’m 61 yrs old to boot! And let me tell you, i too, thought about starting a little business but at this rate... there has to be a better way!!!
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