30 ft or 40ft? Anyone have plans for a 30ft?

[Oldmopar]

I am bidding on a bus, and have the option to get a 40ft or a 30ft. These are all flat front, front engine. There is also a conventional style about 40ft.
Engine options are Cumins 5.9, Cat 3208,3116 or a Int DT466.
Any opinions on what engine to get and what to avoid?
Also, I am building it for just my wife and I, plus a 24 year old daughter that may come sometimes. I think the 30ft might work, anyone do a shorter bus and have any floor plans?
BTW, the 30ft has the 5.9.

 

[DanGERMAN]

I'd go with the 40' one. If you don't "need" the extra space you're fine until you wish you had it. I'm sure you can find new things to do with it.

 

[NowhereFast-SKO]

5.9 or the DT466, avoid cat they're expensive.
Between 30ft or 40ft, go with 40ft. You'll always find room for the extra space. It's not like 30fts a tiny bus anyways so might as well get some extra room

 

[CaptainHooligan]

Which site? And go 40ft.

 

[Oldmopar]

All the flat front 40ft ones are Cat powered. The conventional is a 40ish, not sure exactly and it's a DT466 and the 2 30's are Cumins. However the DAt466 powered one is a little more "used". And the 30's are handicapped.

 

[International]

I have a 24ft short bus, or had one once the sell goes through.

I always had plenty of room. And I'm like Lucy Arnez I have to pack 'everything'. Of course I did cut back a little.:biggrin:

Finding a parking place or camp site large enough was not a problem, first quesion is how long is your bus.

Of course room is important for some.

Fuel is also a plus for a smaller bus.

 

[milkmania]

I have 35', wish I had 10' more...
You lose 6' space for the driver's area, dog house, & steps/door.

Like toilet paper...
It's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

 

[Oldmopar]

Well at this point I am eagerly awaiting to find out if I won a bid or not. If I do win, I will be getting a 87 Blue Bird 38 ft with DT 466. Its under 200K miles.
If I lose the bid, I will be going to buy one locally, same bus only an 85 with more miles on it.
I think both are good, each having a good/bad side to them. However I like the old-school style of the S1800 International. One is still Yellow and owned by the school(till the auction ends) and the other is Gray and owned by a Church.
I will report back shortly to tell you if I won or lost.

 

[Pcrew]

Good luck!
Which auction site did you use?

 

[Oldmopar]

I used Public Surplus.com and lost all 6 buses I bid on. They all went over the price I had in my head and the price of a local bus for sale.
I will have to wait for Saturday as I am out of state right now.

 

[cadillackid]

I love the old S-1800 look! 86 Blue-birrd is what i rode to school on in my senior year of high school... that bus was new.. I even got to drive it once... (yeah ive been a bus geek for a long time)...

alot of times you are bidding eithert directly or indirectly against bus dealers..

directly - they buy and mark them upo and re-sell

indirectly - many people use dealer prices as a reference point so they will bid busses up to within 1000 or so of what a dealer might charge thinking they are still getting a deal

-Christopher

 

[dbhost]

Depends on what you are planning to do with the rig. I personally would LOVE a 30' flat nose front engine bus to start with. RV (And in turn Skoolie) Length makes a LOT of difference in your ability to actually stay at certain camp grounds. Most of the older ones won't handle larger rigs...

 

[Crozz]

From my experience with my 30 foot flat nose and my best friends 40 foot dog nose I can say it depends and tell you the challenges I face.

On mine we wanted an RV and less of a tiny home so 30ft was great as it is easier to store, park, drive, and camp with. Being a flat nose we had 2 extra wheel wells to deal with. The hard part is the shower. Realistically you will have a couch area, kitchen area, and queen bed... that leaves little room for a shower and bathroom. At least thats been our challenge.

My best friend has a 40ft with a dog nose and has much more freedom for his build due to the wheel wells only being in the back. His goal is much more of a tiny home setup and actually bought 2 busses.

Basically 30ft is great for an RV and guest house but anything more and I would go longer. Flat nose have more challenges due to the wheel well addition. We still managed to work around the wheel wells and have what we wanted and kept an open feel.. it's just challenging.

 

[turf]

I have a 30' flat nose and like the size very much. its perfect for 2 people or less.

you'd need a 40' bus to fit additional bunks.

my 2 cents

 

[Oldmopar]

Well the one I settled on is a 38ft dog nose. I wanted a DT466 and this one was church owned and painted grey. So, it will save me time and money not being Yellow. It is older, but I like that as the 466 is not electronic and it is simple. It also doesn't have split rims, normal newer style rims an good tires. I will post pictures when I get it home. I hope on Saturday.

 

[CaptainHooligan]

I have a 30' flat nose and like the size very much. its perfect for 2 people or less.

you'd need a 40' bus to fit additional bunks.

my 2 cents

I'm looking for a 30' flat nose right now.

 

[Oldmopar]

Well I am bringing home my 1985 International S1800 38Ft 65 passenger bus right now(stopped to shop, no driving right now)
Very excited, I will post pictures when it's home.

 

[Sevier]

I am bidding on a bus, and have the option to get a 40ft or a 30ft. These are all flat front, front engine. There is also a conventional style about 40ft.
Engine options are Cumins 5.9, Cat 3208,3116 or a Int DT466.
Any opinions on what engine to get and what to avoid?
Also, I am building it for just my wife and I, plus a 24 year old daughter that may come sometimes. I think the 30ft might work, anyone do a shorter bus and have any floor plans?
BTW, the 30ft has the 5.9.

Hello There -

The 30' flat nose you found - was it actually 30', or was it more like 32'? We are finding 10 window 28' and 11 window 32' but nothing 30'. We prefer flat nose because easier to drive and more internal space to exterior length ration. And so b/c of national park rules on RV length, 30' would be perfect!

Thanks!

 

[Oldmopar]

Hello There -

The 30' flat nose you found - was it actually 30', or was it more like 32'? We are finding 10 window 28' and 11 window 32' but nothing 30'. We prefer flat nose because easier to drive and more internal space to exterior length ration. And so b/c of national park rules on RV length, 30' would be perfect!

Thanks!

I am sorry to say, I don’t remember. It was 4 years ago. I bought, converted, lived in and sold that bus already. I have moved, bought land and a 30ft RV.
It was fun, but life changed.

 

[MaryEMT1]

I am looking for a 30-33' if any body has got ideas of where they are selling this size.
Also what do yall think about a 5.9 in a 30 ft ? Ive heard its not gunna have enouph power and will burn out pulling that weight?