The adventure begins

[Sdancan]

Hey all I’m here to learn and grow into a Skoolie expert... or at least look like I know what I’m doing.

I am still in the beginning stages of research and so many drawing or floor plans for a bus I haven’t purchased yet! I’m looking at making the bus purchase in June/July giving me about 6 more month to read and learn the conversion ways.

I recently set up a budget for the things I want in the bus and it was well under what I expected but I see the trends of going over budgets quite often.

I guess I am writing now to say hi and ask for any beginners advice!! Something you wish someone should have told you

[ISAF2009]

Unless you are a mechanic with time; focus on finding a mechanically perfect vehicle or make your vehicle mechanically perfect. I mean perfect; if you build an interior to a high standard of quality on flawed platform you will be stuck paying to fix it. Also almost all common auto parts are crap, focus on finding the part with the best, most accessible warranty rather than the highest quality part. This is less true with big buses.

[Meathead]

This is what I’ve gathered, from this website, over the the past few years.

Engines: pre2004

Best - Cummins 8.3
- DT466 (not the 466e)

Good - 7.3 power stroke
- 7.3s Cousin 444e
- CAT 3126
- Cummins 5.9

Avoid - Maxx Force 466
- Ford 6.0

Transmissions:

Best - MT643
- MD3060 push button

Good - Allison 2000 series

Avoid - AT545

I post this at the risk of starting a Ford/Chevy type argument. I’m sure some will disagree. My 80yo mechanic says “I love CATs. Cummins 24 valve is too many valves”. (as he has a 5.9 on the bench, opened up)[emoji2369]

As I said, this is what I’ve gathered since joining. I am not a mechanic.

[emoji3522]

[BeNimble]

That is a good summary of common opinions.

I like to quote David Frieburger from RoadKill "we know the rules so we can break them" when he does something everyone says not to do. Like buying an old School Bus to convert into a DIY motorhome.

The Ford V10 is best.

[ISAF2009]

I had a 1999 ford f-250 with a v-10 with 396,000 miles