Opinion on this CL Bus?

[mplsdog]

Hi again,

I was looking at this ad:

1999 School Bus

I have a list of questions I'd ask, and I'm going out to look on Friday if still available.

Anything stick out as a ruh-roh?

Thanks in advance.

Steven

[Carytowncat]

Looks like a $3500 bus to me. Nice!

[Brad_SwiftFur]

It took me a couple looks, but ... rust under/around the back door? That gave me reason to check a little more closely. Driver's side rear tire - rust toward the front of the wheel arch? Hard to see in the pics ... check closely. Check the passenger side too. Look underneath. Rust is your enemy.

[mplsdog]

Thanks folks.

We've been really patient, walked away from a couple and been really thorough. Being in the Midwest I can say that it's extremely difficult to find a bus without any rust. Even garage-kept buses are so exposed to such high amounts of salt that rust is almost inevitable.

I either, drive somewhere South or West, or buy one with minimal rust damage, restricted to the entryway and minor superficial.

I called this gentleman and told him I'd come look Friday if the bus was still available. Otherwise I have a line on a couple DT466 2001 Bluebirds that look good, but about $1000 more.

Thanks again.

[mplsdog]

I did it. I ended up with a 2001 DT466 Bluebird 77 Passenger. No rust in wheel wells, minimal undercarriage, nasty on the entry steps, but mostly oxidization. I think I can deal with the minimal rust spots on the back door.

It was DOT inspected for 2016. Tires are only in good condition, and probably 3,000 for all new, but for the near future it will be sitting as a shop/storage. I figure I would be ready to put new tires on by the time I'm ready to roll out.

Peace.

[Carytowncat]

Congrats!

Took about 4 weeks for the excitement / shock to wear down to a tolerable level for me. lol sometimes i hang out in the bus and still have moments when i get butterflies at the thought "finally got a bus!" this is over 3 months later lol

[milkmania]

Toook me year, seller cam down

[Alvinporter]

I've just started looking and put in my first bid on a 01 international. I'm so anxious it's crazy, but I'm looking forward to when it sits in my driveway.

[mplsdog]

Thanks all.

Going to pick it up now and going to be brutally honest... I've never driven a bus. It's about an hour away, all freeways through Minneapolis, and it's a busy travel weekend. I just need to get it home with my transit permit, and no endorsement. Lots of extra patrols going on, but hoping I'm the least of their worries.

If you don't hear from me by 6:00pm Central... I'm in jail.

Peace.

[EastCoastCB]

They won't jail you, I doubt you're even breaking any laws man.
They're not looking for YOU.

[WIbluebird]

As a bus driver the best advice I can give is watch your tail swing at ALL times!!! When you're turning make sure you see where the back of your bus is swinging, many full-size buses can take out trees or signs if you cut your corners too tight.

Also check your blindspots when changing lanes, esp in conventional buses it's easy to miss cars.

[hillbilly]

I found you site serching to find out why my bus would not start, I found the info quickly and it's starts right up now.
this will be a helpful, in my converstion,

[mplsdog]

Drove like a dream.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2f...w?usp=drivesdk