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Old 02-08-2017, 01:28 AM   #1
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Looking for a bus in Portland, Oregon area

Hey guys!
Just sold my campervan today and am looking for something a little bit bigger. Any tips on places selling busses in the Portland OR/Vancouver WA area? Haven't done much research, but think that diesel would be better and that a short bus would serve my wife, two dogs and a baby on the way best. Any advice would be great!

Thanks!
Dallas

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Old 02-08-2017, 03:59 AM   #2
Bus Crazy
 
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Location: Winlcok, WA
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Western Bus Sales in Boring usually has some inventory. They are the Blue Bird dealer for the state of OR and parts of WA state.
http://westernbus.com/bus-search/?keyword=&category=NULL&type=NULL&price=NULL&condi tion=Used

Schetky Northwest Bus Sales in Portland usually does not have much in the way of used inventory. They are the Thomas dealer for the state of OR and all of WA state. Sometimes you can get a really good deal if you talk with the salesman in order to get a bus that is coming in on trade. Our church has purchased three buses from them.
http://www.schetkynw.com/

Creative Bus Sales in Canby sometimes has used buses in Canby. But they have access to their national inventory that covers more than 10 states including WA, OR, and CA.
http://info.creativebussales.com/used-school-bus-lp?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=buses%2 0for%20sale,%20canby,%20or&utm_campaign=School_Bus

Harlows Bus Sales in Auburn, WA usually has quite a selection of used buses on their lot in Auburn. They have other locations that have used inventory with new arrivals every month.
http://www.harlowsbussales.com/inventory/used

Northwest Bus Sales in Federal Way, WA usually has quite a selection of used motorcoaches and a few school buses. Almost all of their buses have been cleaned up and have prices that reflect that cleaning. They are associated with Las Vegas Bus Sales so their inventory can be quite a bit different from what the other bus dealers carry.
http://www.nwbus.com/

Stokes Auction in Port Orchard, WA usually has some buses in every auction they have. In their November auction three full size Blue Bird rear engine buses that were in pretty nice condition sold for $1,400.00 a piece. The next auction is February 18 and in it there is a good looking IC bus with a DT466, 12" windows, and at least one skirt mounted luggage compartment.
http://stokesauction.com/barn/autolist.htm

Ritchie Brothers in Chehalis, WA occasionally has some buses for sale in their unreserved equipment auction they hold about ever three months. Recently a nicely equipped AmTrans FE bus sold for $2750.00, and two Thomas FE and a Blue Bird FE buses sold for $1500.00 a piece.
https://www.rbauction.com/Buses-Coac...zQyOTQ3NDI1MDE

And of course, don't forget checking out Craigslist.
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Old 02-08-2017, 06:37 AM   #3
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Cowlitzcoach pretty well sums it up. I have calls in at most of those places as well as MidCo. But I have also been warned that much of Oregon has put a freeze on buying new busses and that used supply will get real tight later this year. I already see it is tight as there used to be a much larger inventory at most of the places cowlitzcoach listed.
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Old 02-08-2017, 06:48 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cowlitzcoach View Post
Western Bus Sales in Boring usually has some inventory. They are the Blue Bird dealer for the state of OR and parts of WA state.
http://westernbus.com/bus-search/?keyword=&category=NULL&type=NULL&price=NULL&condi tion=Used

Schetky Northwest Bus Sales in Portland usually does not have much in the way of used inventory. They are the Thomas dealer for the state of OR and all of WA state. Sometimes you can get a really good deal if you talk with the salesman in order to get a bus that is coming in on trade. Our church has purchased three buses from them.
http://www.schetkynw.com/

Creative Bus Sales in Canby sometimes has used buses in Canby. But they have access to their national inventory that covers more than 10 states including WA, OR, and CA.
http://info.creativebussales.com/used-school-bus-lp?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=buses%2 0for%20sale,%20canby,%20or&utm_campaign=School_Bus

Harlows Bus Sales in Auburn, WA usually has quite a selection of used buses on their lot in Auburn. They have other locations that have used inventory with new arrivals every month.
http://www.harlowsbussales.com/inventory/used

Northwest Bus Sales in Federal Way, WA usually has quite a selection of used motorcoaches and a few school buses. Almost all of their buses have been cleaned up and have prices that reflect that cleaning. They are associated with Las Vegas Bus Sales so their inventory can be quite a bit different from what the other bus dealers carry.
http://www.nwbus.com/

Stokes Auction in Port Orchard, WA usually has some buses in every auction they have. In their November auction three full size Blue Bird rear engine buses that were in pretty nice condition sold for $1,400.00 a piece. The next auction is February 18 and in it there is a good looking IC bus with a DT466, 12" windows, and at least one skirt mounted luggage compartment.
http://stokesauction.com/barn/autolist.htm

Ritchie Brothers in Chehalis, WA occasionally has some buses for sale in their unreserved equipment auction they hold about ever three months. Recently a nicely equipped AmTrans FE bus sold for $2750.00, and two Thomas FE and a Blue Bird FE buses sold for $1500.00 a piece.
https://www.rbauction.com/Buses-Coac...zQyOTQ3NDI1MDE

And of course, don't forget checking out Craigslist.
Wow, that is a great list... Dare I ask if you have similar knowledge east of the Rockies?

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Old 02-08-2017, 08:39 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dallas.garrison View Post
Hey guys!
Just sold my campervan today and am looking for something a little bit bigger. Any tips on places selling busses in the Portland OR/Vancouver WA area? Haven't done much research, but think that diesel would be better and that a short bus would serve my wife, two dogs and a baby on the way best. Any advice would be great!

Thanks!
Dallas
How about this one?
http://m.publicsurplus.com/sms/auction/view?auc=1784986

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Old 02-08-2017, 12:27 PM   #6
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Thanks so much, cowlitzcoach. I'll definitely check those places.
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Old 02-08-2017, 01:40 PM   #7
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Rocky Mountain Bus Sales in Monument, CO usually has a nice selection of used buses. However they are very proud of what they have for sale and the prices reflect that pride. They are able to get the higher prices because CO spe'c buses usually have big HP, big transmissions, and auxiliary braking systems.
Search Used Bus Inventory - Used Bus Sales - Used bus for sale

Masters Transportation purchased Mile High Bus Sales so they are the other big dealer in CO now. Since they are a large company with locations in at least five states now they do have some inventory. As to where it is located I have no idea. After a quick look through their online inventory it would appear as if they scrapped any junk buses and what they have for sale looks to be in pretty good shape.
https://www.masterstransportation.co..._tid=All&model=

Canyon State Bus Sales in Glendale, AZ is the Blue Bird dealer for AZ. They usually have a good selection of used buses. Some are pretty used up as unpaved roads in the desert can really beat a bus up over time. But some are from urban/suburban districts that have spent their life in a dry climate with no road salt. As a consequence the prices can tend to be a bit higher than back east but minimum spe'c for HP and transmissions are a lot higher than back east as well.
http://www.skoolie.net/forums/newrep...ote=1&p=184210

Tillery Chevrolet/GMC/Blue Bird Bus in Moriarty, NM is the Blue Bird dealer for NM. They do not usually carry much in the way of used inventory. But if you tell them what you want or need they can tell you what they will be taking in on trade in the coming weeks. Their prices are very reasonable.
2000 I/c School Bus for sale in Moriarty - 1HVBJADR3YA927885 - Tillery Chevrolet GMC

Auto Safety House is the Thomas Dealer in AZ. They have several locations and I don't know for sure where their used inventory is stored. They usually have a nice selection even though it rarely is very large. Prices are usually very reasonable.
https://www.autosafetyhouse.com/collections/used-buses

RWC Group is the IC Dealer in AZ. They generally have a few used buses in their inventory with reasonable pricing.
Current Inventory - RWC Group

Lewis Bus Group is the Thomas Dealer in UT, CO, ID, MT, NV, and WY. Considering how large they are they keep very little in their used inventory. A lot of their used inventory they sell to Rocky Mountain Bus.
In Stock | Lewis Bus Group

Hartley's School Buses in Rugby, ND is the Blue Bird dealer for ND. They also operate school bus contracts and do charter work. Some of the better used trade ins go into their contract fleet. They normally have a handful of used buses for sale. But like many of the other dealers, they can tell you if and when a bus you might want or need will be coming in on trade.
Hartley's School Buses, Inc.

Of course Harlows has a presence east of the Rockies since their headquarters are in Bismarck, ND.

Navistar International truck dealers are sometimes IC Bus dealers like Brattain International in OR and RWC in AZ. But a lot of them like Woodpecker Truck in OR and RWC in WA are not. In other words, sometimes you may find a used bus on a Navistar International truck lot. Most of the time the bus business is the ugly step child and most of the truck salesman have no idea what they have even if it was three feet in front of their face.

I hope this helps.
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Old 02-08-2017, 06:41 PM   #8
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I'm not a dealer, I had a charter bus company in san Francisco area California and have some buses that are road worthy and would be perfect for any conversion. let me know if I can be of any help. feel free to contact me
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Old 02-08-2017, 09:30 PM   #9
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Engine: 6.0L Diesel
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Emerald Towing in Eugene is where I got my short bus. Guys name is Jim. Nice guy. He buys and sells short busses. He had 19 when I got mine. They have a wrecking yard as well. 541 228 8247
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