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Old 10-22-2017, 05:04 PM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 11
Pulled the Trigger on a 1995 Thomas RE

So, I won an Ebay auction that I did not expect to win today lol..

1995 Thomas RE 14 window flat nose with 8.3L cummins and 6 speed allison.

209k miles, paying $2,550

The tires are 2 years old with under 5k miles, the seller is a private school in Oregon who has the maintenance records. Supposedly no leaks, issues or heavy rust.

Says it has a webasto pre-heater and automatic snow chains.

I've been wanting to take a trip to Portland, so this 2000 mile trip home will be her test/maiden voyage, wish me luck!!!!
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Re thomas side 2.jpg   RE Thomas.jpg   RE thomas eng.jpg  

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Old 10-22-2017, 05:06 PM   #2
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That's a sweet bus and it's got luggage compartments! Best of luck on your journey.
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Old 10-22-2017, 05:20 PM   #3
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what a Great lookin bus!!! enjoy the maiden voyage!!! where you grin hat! cause yer gonna do a lot of it cruisin a bus like that across the USA!!
-Christopher
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Old 10-22-2017, 05:20 PM   #4
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Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
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Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
SWEET!!!

8.3 and I would guess an MD3060

Good tires.

Webasto.

Baggage bays.

All for $2550.... Score!

BTW: My Bluebird came from Portland and has zero rust.
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Old 10-22-2017, 05:21 PM   #5
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Nice price! Have fun, man!
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Old 10-22-2017, 05:24 PM   #6
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Hey Okie,

If you should develop buyers remorse...... I would be happy to take it off your hands ;)

Are you in Oklahoma?
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Old 10-22-2017, 05:33 PM   #7
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Thanks everyone! Originally I didn't want that many miles, but after hours of reading old threads it seems like that's no big deal for a well maintained mechanical 8.3L.

Yeah I'm in Oklahoma so it's gonna be a long haul home haha. I did have that instant of "oh **** what did I do" but hey, you only live once right.

It's from a suburb of Portland called Battle ground, pretty far inland, so I am hoping the rust isn't significant. The guy didn't supply the best pics, but this was kind of an impulse buy when I noticed it 12 hours before the auction ended.
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Old 10-22-2017, 05:36 PM   #8
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Congrats on your score! Portland is fairly distant from the coast, so there shouldn't be much of that "R" word.
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Old 10-22-2017, 06:19 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Okie View Post
Thanks everyone! Originally I didn't want that many miles, but after hours of reading old threads it seems like that's no big deal for a well maintained mechanical 8.3L.

Yeah I'm in Oklahoma so it's gonna be a long haul home haha. I did have that instant of "oh **** what did I do" but hey, you only live once right.

It's from a suburb of Portland called Battle ground, pretty far inland, so I am hoping the rust isn't significant. The guy didn't supply the best pics, but this was kind of an impulse buy when I noticed it 12 hours before the auction ended.
The seller had three of those buses. The first went to a guy in Nevada who has a whole video series on YouTube detailing the conversion.

The first bus is everything you say, an excellent platform, but it did have significant rust. He shows how he dealt with it all, and he has some excellent welding skills. Yours may or may not be similar. Rust is more time-consuming than anything else, and none of the rust on his bus extended to the frame ... so it's all good.

That, and the fact that I am not quite ready to buy, is why I watched that auction (both times because the first winner was a flake), but I didn't bid.

Now I know it went to another Okie I'm glad I held off.

Good luck with it and have a great drive home.
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Old 10-22-2017, 06:25 PM   #10
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Rated Cap: 46 Coach Seats, 40 foot
Here is a link to the first video in the series:

https://youtu.be/AkiNmEkD6C4
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Old 10-22-2017, 06:27 PM   #11
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Chassis: IH 3800, 8 window
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Rated Cap: I prefer broad-brims hats
What a purty!

Great score!!!

===================

Fly slow. Stay low.
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Old 10-22-2017, 06:53 PM   #12
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Nice score. Looks like roof raise in your future???
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Old 10-22-2017, 07:09 PM   #13
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Wow Twigg, that's insane, I get to basically have a step by step instructional video series with an identical bus that's probably in identical condition! haha.

I wasn't originally planning on a roof raise, but with step by step on an identical bus available it's tempting.
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Old 10-22-2017, 07:11 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Okie View Post
Wow Twigg, that's insane, I get to basically have a step by step instructional video series with an identical bus that's probably in identical condition! haha.

I wasn't originally planning on a roof raise, but with step by step on an identical bus available it's tempting.
Don't underestimate that guy. He's laid back, but has some real skills. If your welding isn't up to scratch, it soon will be

Where in OK are you?
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Old 10-22-2017, 08:05 PM   #15
Mini-Skoolie
 
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My welding skills are NOT even in the same ballpark as his. Mediocre at best lol.

I am in the SW OKC/Moore area, you're more than welcome to come down and help me with the welding anytime you want!
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Old 10-22-2017, 08:09 PM   #16
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Join Date: Sep 2017
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Okie View Post
My welding skills are NOT even in the same ballpark as his. Mediocre at best lol.

I am in the SW OKC/Moore area, you're more than welcome to come down and help me with the welding anytime you want!
I am not the droid you are looking for

Would be nice to see the bus sometime though.
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Old 10-23-2017, 09:05 PM   #17
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Man, after skim watching most of his videos I feel so inadequate lol. I was not planning on doing anywhere near that good of a job lol. Just basic tear out, insulation and buildout with minimal rust repair and paint.
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Old 10-23-2017, 09:09 PM   #18
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Engine: DTA360 / MT643
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every buiold is different... there arep lenty of simple builds here as well as complex.. so build as you wish.. there are no 2 busses alike..
-Christopher
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Old 10-23-2017, 10:03 PM   #19
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Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Owasso, OK
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Year: 1999
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Engine: Cummins 6CTA8.3 Mechanical MD3060
Rated Cap: 46 Coach Seats, 40 foot
Quote:
Originally Posted by cadillackid View Post
every buiold is different... there arep lenty of simple builds here as well as complex.. so build as you wish.. there are no 2 busses alike..
-Christopher
Agree with this.

However, watching a video series made by a guy who knows what he is doing sure does help with the "ideas" department.
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