Let me introduce you to Gypsy, our 2007 GMC Savana with a 5-window Bluebird bus body. She was an excursion bus for a private academy in Vermont, and our understanding is that she was used mainly for ski trips and similar field trips.
We bought her in September, but it took us about six weeks to get her home, between a small delay in the delivery due to logistics, and a much longer delay at the mechanics as Gypsy's work kept getting pushed back while we were kept in the dark about costs. An unpleasant affair I won't get too far into, but suffice to say we are looking for another mechanic. I don't think it will be too difficult because Gypsy has a gas engine.
Right now we're still at the seat-removal stage. The first seat came out fairly easily once I figured out how to disengage the rear heater from the seat frame, and that fooled us into thinking the rest would be easy. But between inaccessible bolts and rusted bolts, it looks like it's time to borrow that angle grinder a friend of mine has offered.
Our other major hang-up is the windows, not in the bus portion (although they have their issues) but in the cab. The windshield and driver's window are badly encrusted with hard water stains, and so far neither vinegar nor CLR has had any effect on them.
Weather will be a factor for awhile now as winter has settled into New Hampshire, but we still hope to have her in camping condition for a trip to Massachusetts in the Spring. She'll be mostly camper for the first couple of years, working gradually toward a full RV-style conversion as we prepare to retire, right after our youngest son graduates high school.
We're looking forward to staying connected with our fellows in the skoolie world during this, um, adventure.
- Gordon and Karen