Tell me it's going to be ok

[captblarney]

Been loving this forum for a number of months now, reading up and taking lots of notes. I've had my eye on a BB All American nearby and I'm going down to look at it next week. 8.2 cummins, md 3060, 70k miles, 84 passenger. Picture attached.

The owner mentioned a price that is a little over my budget, but i think hes has some room to work so im staying optimistic. Anyway, assuming we can arrive at a price, i wanted to get some opinions on bus size. I've seen a lot of 65 passenger busses on here and wondering if the 84 passenger will be a bit limiting in some aspects. Obviously a shortie is going to have an easier time finding a place to park, but i wanted to hear from the frontlines if the 84 passenger will be limited to rv parks, developed campgrounds and the like.

We (my partner, our 3 year old daughter, our dog and i) plan to full time on the bus once its completed (a year? 2?) and although the ultimate goal is to find a beautiful spot to park it, we're not completely sold on where we want to set up shop. We've spent some time in N. Arizona and N. Cali but there are still a lot of places we want to check out (oregon, colorado, maine). Any suggestions of hidden jems worth exploring are welcome I've been guiding in the grand canyon for the past few year and cant wait to check out some more of our national parks!

Anyway, i'd love to hear some thoughts on going with a big/medium bus. I'm pretty much decided on getting the big one, but i just need someone to tell me its going to be ok ( I may need further reassurance in a few months but that's a different story). The bus will serve as an p/t office and a homeschool in addition to our living space and although the goal it to be outside, i think we'll be greatfull for the extra space.

Cant wait to get the grinder going! Many thanks for the great information posted here!

Note to the forum ops: I'm also a web developer and would be interested to hear any ideas for upgrades (to the site) or other tasks that i might be able to assist with. I love a new project.

[bansil]

Welcome
Bus size is best done in feet not passenger capacity, most buses are 35 to 40 ft long, flat front have more inside space but also more noise, unless RE(rear engine)

Ours is 35 ft and I would of gotten a 40 ft, knowing what I know now

The 3/4 full size are great for 1 person and a few animals they range from 25 to 30 ft, but have full size running gear and super short wheel base, great for cities and old tight parks

Yours looks like a 40 ft

Everything is subject to change ;)

[EastCoastCB]

Looks like a great bus, as long as you've got 40 acres to turn that rig around!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDxVJ471hyg

[Scooternj]

Originally Posted by bansil

Welcome
Bus size is best done in feet not passenger capacity, most buses are 35 to 40 ft long, flat front have more inside space but also more noise, unless RE(rear engine)

RE's, IMO, also seem to ride better. I've driven an BBAA FE shorty from Atlantic City NJ to Watertown NY that was (very) partially loaded (about 10 people and gear), and felt like I was bouncing all over I-81. The previous year involved a full size Thomas RE (same-ish # of pax and gear), and it handled like a dream. And hauling my Amtran (37') down from Maine last year, completely unloaded, was also a dream with very little bouncing. Of course it took a 27 point K turn to get it into the driveway, but it got in.

[superdave]

price , miles , tire date, ceiling height, did it just come out of service?

[EastCoastCB]

FE has some advantages.
Turning radius and rear door are two of them.
This bus you're asking about looks pretty sweet, OP. If I were bus shopping I'd be all over it.

[bansil]

Only thing that stopped me from a RE at the time was it had storage wheel to wheel and break over clearance was/is a concern...I now know next bus or this one ;) will have a bigger engine and better trans, that's all I would change, from our platform, I need the clearance

[EastCoastCB]

Length can be an issue in places like national parks. You'd need to call ahead and ask what their maximum size is.

[somewhereinusa]

Going by looks, that looks like a 40ft, late 80's early 90's AARE with high roof. Stated seating capacity really doesn't tell you much. It depends on seat configuration. My 40ft Bluebird was only rated for 60 something.
Rear engine buses ride better because all of that weight in the rear. They also have more usable room inside. BlueBird rear engines are also easier to work on the engine because the whole back opens up. You can pretty much reach everything without having to crawl over tires and radiator. RE buses are also the quietest of the bunch, I can hardly hear mine run.
Forty feet is as long as you can get in a school bus, I haven't had, nor do I foresee any problems finding a place to park.

[EastCoastCB]

This is what I've found-
National Park Trailer Camping Guide | Trailer Life Magazine

The Complete Idiot's Guides | How to Articles for everyone, everywhere

RV Camping - Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

Maximum Trailer and RV Lengths

[nat_ster]

That is a perfect bus.

Make the deal happen.

Don't let it slip away.

We will help you with the rest.

Nat

[Algoma Boondockers]

That would be a cool name for a bus Eastcoast. Gimme40

[EastCoastCB]

Yes, it would.

[Roadrunner]

Depending on the price that looks like a good deal. I have a Blue Bird 83 passenger and it is 38 feet long. Your space will fill up quickly so in my book the longer buses are better. You do have to watch the overhang when turning but the shorter wheel base helps. If you can do it financially I would say go for it. I know I would love to have it. Welcome to the best Skoolie site there is and good luck.

[bansil]

Originally Posted by Roadrunner

Depending on the price that looks like a good deal. I have a Blue Bird 83 passenger and it is 38 feet long. Your space will fill up quickly so in my book the longer buses are better. You do have to watch the overhang when turning but the shorter wheel base helps. If you can do it financially I would say go for it. I know I would love to have it. Welcome to the best Skoolie site there is and good luck.

tell me about overhang

[captblarney]

Thanks for the responses all. Here is a little more information on the bus. I'm going to see it early next week.

1993 bb all american
8.2 cummins re
md3060
70,000 miles
40 ft x 8 ft. approx 78 inches floor to ceiling
new tires (not brand new i dont think)
air brakes

Not sure when it was last in service. The owner is an engine mechanic who got it from a dealer about a year ago. He said he put tires on it and cleaned out the fuel system. Hes asking 8500 which is out of my range but he said he open to offers. I agree with nat, It seems like the perfect bus. Just hoping he'll come down enough that i can afford it. I'll keep you posed, hopefully with a new thread in the conversion section!

[Scooternj]

Definitely grab it if you can haggle him down to your price range.

[EastCoastCB]

I'd not pay anything close to 8500 for it.

[captblarney]

I was thinking 6000 would be close to my upper limit on that. Even that is more that i wanted to spend but it seems to be a gem. What do you think a fair price is?

[bansil]

right now scrap is at about $6.10 a hundred, when I bought mine it was $12.75 a hundred

that is what drove my buses price up to $3500 or $4000 dont remember

Alot of places know what they can scrap/and part out for and use that as leverage...have fun and stay safe

look up how to read tire date codes the 4 digit...wait ...be right back....I'm back

I posted this last week

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


13th week of 2009

if the tires have only 3 digits they are too old to run safely, they were made pre 2000

only the date code applies on our tires

Here are some retread FAQ's
Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau

just info in this thread please



7 and 8 year old tires are pushing it to me