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10-14-2015, 04:27 PM
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#1
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Skoolie
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: shreveport, la
Posts: 100
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Hi everyone!
Hello! My name is Justin and i'm from Shreveport, Louisiana. I've been watching this website for about 6 months trying to learn and make a plan and decide what kind of bus will suit my needs as far as fuel, electricity, floorplan, etc etc. I plan to buy a bus by new years and build it by the time I graduate next year. Then hit the road! My biggest hang up is gas, or diesel. Hopefully more reading and discussing can lead me to a decision. I actually am going to look at a bus in Dallas this weekend. It will need a good bit of love though. Thanks guys! Hopefully I can be of benefit to the community!
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10-14-2015, 05:18 PM
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#2
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,829
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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Gas is too expensive and short-lived for serious bus travel.
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10-14-2015, 05:34 PM
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#3
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Skoolie
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: shreveport, la
Posts: 100
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That seems to be the general consensus..... but I'll explain why im hung up.
Gas burner. Less reliable, efficient, and way less longevity. HOWEVER. I can work on a gas burner. I can tear them down and rebuild no problem. Parts are infinitely cheaper and plentiful. any autozone or abc etc etc will have parts in stock and I can do the work myself. The run quite too. versus a diesel being special order for most parts, and more expensive
my concerns are it handling a bus AND pulling a car behind it. fuel mileage is kind of moot because where it lacks in mileage, it makes up for in being cheaper at the pump.
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10-14-2015, 05:50 PM
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#4
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,829
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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If you're that confident in repairing stuff there isn't anything scary about a diesel. I can buy parts for mine at O'Reilly.
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10-14-2015, 07:04 PM
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#5
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Skoolie
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: shreveport, la
Posts: 100
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Really? Well I guess I'll research more. I PREFER a diesel. But for some reason ALOT of the buses around me are all gas. It's really a budgetary thing as well. But I plan on travelling alot for two years so....
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10-14-2015, 07:33 PM
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#6
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 8,462
Year: 1946
Coachwork: Chevrolet/Wayne
Chassis: 1- 1/2 ton
Engine: Cummins 4BT
Rated Cap: 15
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Just consider how commercial over-the-road vehicles are powered and why. They are virtually all diesel for plenty of good reasons. Much longer engine life, less maintenance, better MPG, more torque per CI, and on and on. There really is no comparison or there would be more gassers on the highways.
And...swapping an oil burner for a gasser is not THAT big a deal. If you could find the "perfect" chassis & body at the right price (like maybe with a blown gas engine?)...drop something like a 5.9 Cummins and an Allison in and have it ALL!
Best of luck on the hunt & build.
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10-14-2015, 07:41 PM
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#7
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Skoolie
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: shreveport, la
Posts: 100
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That's true...... So going with gas would most likely be a bad choice and I'll regret it. That's what I'm gathering. Lol
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10-14-2015, 07:46 PM
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#8
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,829
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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My first bus was a gasser. Horrible mpg's and no power at all.
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10-14-2015, 08:25 PM
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#9
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Skoolie
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: shreveport, la
Posts: 100
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Well it sounds like inshould just go with diesel. The gas burner I plan to look at this weekend is only $1000. But there is also a big school board action in December and all of the buses are in perfect working condition with a/c and maintainance records.
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10-15-2015, 12:22 AM
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#10
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 8,462
Year: 1946
Coachwork: Chevrolet/Wayne
Chassis: 1- 1/2 ton
Engine: Cummins 4BT
Rated Cap: 15
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I'm basing the diesel over gas position on your statement that you wanted put a lot of miles on it. I do know folks, mostly weekend tailgaters, that are fine with gas engines. They never leave town and only put a couple of hundred miles a year on them. For that, why not?
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10-15-2015, 02:17 AM
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#11
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Skoolie
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: shreveport, la
Posts: 100
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I see. Yea that might not be best for me then. But I intend to drive from Louisiana all the way over west, make my way up the coast, then cut back down to Lousiana. From there I'll make my way east and do the same. Over the time of a year or so.
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