Newbie with 2001 Thomas Saf-T-Liner MVP ER in Austin, TX

[atx200416]

My name is Kevin and I live just outside Austin, TX. We are the proud new owners of 2001 Thomas Saf-T-Liner MVP ER. We are ready for a long-term project. It is a Texas bus with NO RUST! It is at Freightliner right now getting the driver's window replaced and inspected. We are so excited. I have just been doing a lot of research. We will be taking out the seats as soon as we get it back from the shop. This is such an awesome resource. Any advice would be great.

Pics are below. We are still thinking of a name.

[Tango]

Howdy! --- and welcome!
Always great to have a few moreTexians on board. Pretty sweet lookin' rig. Clean and lots of underbelly storage. Keep the pix coming.

[atx200416]

Thanks. It has so much room underneath and it stays dry when roads are wet. So it must be sealed well. There is also a lot of room under the front. In front of the fuel tank. I have plenty of space for tanks and cargo.

[Charlie-Ellie]

Welcome aboard! Congrats!!!

[Tango]

All that and low mileage too. Heck...that engine is barely broken in.

[milkmania]

Biggest piece of crap I've ever seen posted here...
Just give me an address and I'll pick it up and get that eyesore out of your sight!
You won't even need to pay me to pick it up.

[Charlie-Ellie]

LOL!!!!! Milkmania!!!

[cadillackid]

great rig!!! Texas seems to be a decent place to get a bus.. seen some nice rigs coming from various areas of texas..

-Christopher

[milkmania]

Our school's activity buses are Saf-T-liners.... I slobber every time I get around one!

My son can tell you how much a door's window glass costs for one of those... He got put in to pitch a game that was already way upside down (on his Prom day!)
Highly stressed because playing ball on Prom day on the road and angry for getting credited the loss... He's first one back to the bus, slides open driver's window, and flips the switch to open the door... Walks around to get on bus, hits head on passenger mirror, and punches the door glass, cracking it all up.

Scary part, he's right handed and punched the door with his left!

Don't get me wrong, he's very much in control of his emotions... But, it was the string of events that pushed too hard. (We've all been there)

[atx200416]

I wish it were just a window. It is actually the windshield that needs replaced. I have yet to find out how much it is going to cost me. I can find the glass online but nobody has prices posted. I am scared to find out what Freighliner is going to quote me.

[cowlitzcoach]

Replacing a windshield like that shouldn't be that expensive. It is all just flat glass after all.

IIRC, the last flat glass windshield I had to replace cost less than $300.00 installed.

[milkmania]

Originally Posted by atx200416

I wish it were just a window. It is actually the windshield that needs replaced. I have yet to find out how much it is going to cost me. I can find the glass online but nobody has prices posted. I am scared to find out what Freighliner is going to quote me.

It's going to be upwards of $40,000....it's harder than finding a unicorn! Just give me the address and I'll relieve you of your stresses. I won't even bother you, just leave the key under the driver's seat.

[milkmania]

Originally Posted by cowlitzcoach

Replacing a windshield like that shouldn't be that expensive. It is all just flat glass after all.

IIRC, the last flat glass windshield I had to replace cost less than $300.00 installed.

My driver's side has a weird delamination circle you can only see from the outside... It almost looks oily, like someone sprayed oil on it.
They quoted me $300 at local glass shop and $49 for rubber seal that's shrunk at the top.

[Phatman]

Welcome aboard from another Texan.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by cowlitzcoach

Replacing a windshield like that shouldn't be that expensive. It is all just flat glass after all.

IIRC, the last flat glass windshield I had to replace cost less than $300.00 installed.

Hey man do you have a good source for gaskets and body parts?
Need to order some stuff for my Senator/Genesis.

[cowlitzcoach]

For a Senator/Genesis made by AmTrans I would try an IC Bus dealer.

Otherwise I would talk to an auto glass expert and see where they source new soft parts.

I was lucky that the rubber around my windshield was still in good shape. Good enough to reuse anyway.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by cowlitzcoach

For a Senator/Genesis made by AmTrans I would try an IC Bus dealer.

Otherwise I would talk to an auto glass expert and see where they source new soft parts.

I was lucky that the rubber around my windshield was still in good shape. Good enough to reuse anyway.

Ok. thanks.

[Xiaofei]

Does anyone know of a spot with power where we could park (extended period) and work on the bus?

[cadillackid]

See if your city has a uhaul moving and storage with covered RV storage. I have my busses in one and there is power, plus as long as you don't leave a mess or completely deconstruct like a roof raise they don't seem to mind work going on .
Christopher