Bus Recommendations? What to look for? Please advise!!

[tripleb36]

OK everyone Im new to this forum and website. I want to buy a full size bus and convert it to something I can live in full time.

I live in Colorado Springs so will be looking for a "Colorado Bus", whatever that means LOL. Someone told me buses in Colorado are more powerful and that Colorado has more strict regulations for school buses...

I want advice as to what to look for when buying a bus.
1. What years?
2. Engines?
3. Transmissions?

And any and all other advice/information is appreciated. I see the DT466 engine is really popular. Other than that I have no idea. Are certain year buses better (before computers)? Any and all info is really appreciated.....

[o1marc]

Because of the mountains in Colo. the buses do usually have bigger engines and more importantly better transmissions to handle them. I would stay away from anything with a Cummins5.9 and or a Allison AT545. General consensus is that buses newer than 2005 have electronics that may create hard to diagnosing expensive repairs. Stay away from anything with excessive mileage(over 300k) Colo. doesn't use salt so rust appears to be a non issue on Colo. buses. DT466/Allison MD3060 is what I have and is a desired combo.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by o1marc

Because of the mountains in Colo. the buses do usually have bigger engines and more importantly better transmissions to handle them. I would stay away from anything with a Cummins5.9 and or a Allison AT545. General consensus is that buses newer than 2005 have electronics that may create hard to diagnosing expensive repairs. Stay away from anything with excessive mileage(over 300k) Colo. doesn't use salt so rust appears to be a non issue on Colo. buses. DT466/Allison MD3060 is what I have and is a desired combo.

I'd take a 5.9 Cummins over a 444E. But yeah the 545 is definitely a drag on the highways.
I'd avoid anything newer than 04'.

Hard to beat a DT466 or Cummins 8.3.

Buying a bus in CO isn't a guarantee of getting a high HP engine or a beefy transmission. I got a shorty from Aurora and it had a 175hp 444E with a 545. Also had nice highway gears in the rear @ 4.10 .
If you do get a real mountain bus from CO it will also very likely have a driveline retarder which is great.

[o1marc]

Not a power house, but in Colo. and fairly priced.
http://www.skoolie.net/forums/f14/se...tml#post279085

[o1marc]

Not a power house, but in Colo. and fairly priced.
http://www.skoolie.net/forums/f14/se...tml#post279085

Here's one in Ut.
http://www.skoolie.net/forums/f14/fo...tml#post279088