Any other member engaged Skoolie sites out there?

[Spitfire-SKO]

(Placed in wrong forum and can not delete or place where appropriate. Please place in the Everything Else | General Skoolie Discussions forum. Thanks.)

Are there any other Skoolie sites with an active and engaged base of members I can use as a source for info, used busses and get conversations going on relevant topics?

Did a search using term "skoolie owners" and "school bus owner forum" and the results were disappointing, not sure if my search string is the issue or there really arent many out there. Thx

 

[nikitis]

(Placed in wrong forum and can not delete or place where appropriate. Please place in the Everything Else | General Skoolie Discussions forum. Thanks.)

Are there any other Skoolie sites with an active and engaged base of members I can use as a source for info, used busses and get conversations going on relevant topics?

Did a search using term "skoolie owners" and "school bus owner forum" and the results were disappointing, not sure if my search string is the issue or there really arent many out there. Thx

Not of any good relevance. You've arrived.

 

[DeMac]

Welcome

You already found the best. There are alot of clowns elsewhere. rddt, fb, yt....

Bus converters are a tiny pool of builders. Our more successful craftsmen are already on mutiple platforms, having restored or modified smaller vehicles &/or homes prior to undertaking a mammoth bus.

Other hobbies are more popular and have a large group of participants. Hot Rods, 4x4 Offroad, Classic Restoration, Motocross, NHRA and every sports car ever made: Miata, Vette, Camaro....
In addition, there are also membership organizations for trade professionals. The pro sites have a vetting process and a subscription fee.

Are you already a member on other builders' forums?

 

[TaliaDPerkins]

Reddit has a skoolie area . . .

It's reddit, one step up from 4chan.


https://www.reddit.com/r/skoolies/

 

[Spitfire-SKO]

You already found the best. There are alot of clowns elsewhere. rddt, fb, yt....

Bus converters are a tiny pool of builders. Our more successful craftsmen are already on mutiple platforms, having restored or modified smaller vehicles &/or homes prior to undertaking a mammoth bus.

Other hobbies are more popular and have a large group of participants. Hot Rods, 4x4 Offroad, Classic Restoration, Motocross, NHRA and every sports car ever made: Miata, Vette, Camaro....
In addition, there are also membership organizations for trade professionals. The pro sites have a vetting process and a subscription fee.

Are you already a member on other builders' forums?

Thanks for reply. No not a member of any other forum, there are actually not many that I could find.


I am not really looking "at this time" to do a build out, I actually would like to get a Skoolie to serve as a sort of family wagon on steroids so we can tow our camper or boat and have boo-koo room for boogie boards, camping gear, kayaks, the kids and the like, a van or large suv are 1) way too expensive and 2) too small.


We have had discussions on building it out to include a toilet, sink and outlets and maybe a fridge but thats a future discussion. Right now looking for a good platform to work from which would be a Type-A with a reliable diesel engine and transmission.


Also trying to get some clarity on registering a skoolie in MA which from what I found on this site to be a murky endeavor at best. Its going to be for personal use and not an "RV", much like the mega wagon I mentioned, but from what I have read here depending on who you get at the RMV it could be anything from RV to motor home to commercial vehicle which it would be neither. Seems like insuring may be an issue as well.


Any help/advice in this area would be hugely appreciated.

 

[Spitfire-SKO]

PS...

Being new to the Skoolie craze I am eager to find out what diesel mechanical/drive train combos are the best for reliability and maintenance. I have read a couple of detailed posts on the subject but most if not all were talking about large capacity busses and not Type-A (minis).

I posted my query at the link below and if anyone has any info or suggestions they would be appreciated. If this topic specific to the Mini's has already been discussed please provide the link and I can start my education.

Thank you.


https://www.skoolie.net/forums/f33/which-type-a-platform-should-we-choose-44058.html

 

[nikitis]

Best to avoid the AT545 other then that they are all about the same quality wise.

 

[Spitfire-SKO]

Best to avoid the AT545 other then that they are all about the same quality wise.

Thanks for that.

So as far as the diesel engines for the Type-A's go, regardless of year/make/model/version I should consider them good regarding reliability and maintenance or should I stick to certain variants?

I know for the larger busses that engine types vary widely, but for the mini's it seems the engine variations are few.

I will stay away from the AT545 trannys.

 

[Kentucky Dreaming]

I think you are talking about van cutaway buses. If that is the case, the only choices are Ford or Chevy/GMC. If you want diesel, the Chevy will be the 6.6 liter Duramax with probably 4R700 tranny. Ford would be 7.3 liter if older or 6.0 liter if newer. Not sure what model tranny ford used in the van chassis. 6.0 has reliability issues that can be addressed with lots of dollars.

I am also considering a van cutaway, but thinking I want the Chevy 6.0 gas engine proven engine built since the mid 1960's. Simpler to work on, especially in the cramped engine compartment of a van.

 

[nikitis]

I’d stay away from duramax engines as well.

 

[cadillackid]

I think you are talking about van cutaway buses. If that is the case, the only choices are Ford or Chevy/GMC. If you want diesel, the Chevy will be the 6.6 liter Duramax with probably 4R700 tranny. Ford would be 7.3 liter if older or 6.0 liter if newer. Not sure what model tranny ford used in the van chassis. 6.0 has reliability issues that can be addressed with lots of dollars.

I am also considering a van cutaway, but thinking I want the Chevy 6.0 gas engine proven engine built since the mid 1960's. Simpler to work on, especially in the cramped engine compartment of a van.

700R4 GM transmission hasnt been made since 92.. (it became the 4L60 and later 4L60E). the Duramaxxes in the vans got the 4L80E until what.. the 6L90E ? im a fan of the 80/90 series GM transmissions. the 4L60E was a great unit too but you had to build it up pretty good to handle much torque. people loved to put big servos and tighten the band down and squeeze the front drum so hard it flared out on the edges and cut the case...

 

[Kentucky Dreaming]

Thanx, Christopher.

I knew you would be able to straighten me out on tranny stuff. Nobody on earth knows more about them than you.

 

[cadillackid]

Thanx, Christopher.

I knew you would be able to straighten me out on tranny stuff. Nobody on earth knows more about them than you.

It’s confusing to say the least .. ford seemed to be a little more consistent than GM.. but the revisions and names of transmissions have changed so much it’s crazy ..

GM.. the TH350 became the TH350C (lockup). For like one year and it was awfuller than the 200c..

A 700R4 is more or less a 350 with lockup and overdrive.

A 4L60 was really an updated 700. The 4 L60e was the electronic version.. and of course with all those revisions came bunches of shared parts but also parts compatibility issues as well between them ..

I def don’t know all there is to know about these.. I’ve spent a lot of time in the GM world of hotrodding and probably used (and blew up) every variant of 350 400 700 4L60e / 4L80E.. I’ve kind of pushed power trains to their limits over the years ..

Oh and the 4L80 series are descendants of the TH400.. ironically the AT540 is also based on the 400 series..

 

[Kentucky Dreaming]

I love the 6L80E in my truck. It is smarter than me. But then, I'm a simple uneducated hillbilly.

 

[cadillackid]

I love the 6L80E in my truck. It is smarter than me. But then, I'm a simple uneducated hillbilly.

I wish my luck with the 6L80E was as good.. I had a 2015 silverado 5.3, the A/C never worked right.. usually took aboiut 90-120 seconds to get any cool air at all after starting it from sitting a few hours..(they replaced my condenser and my compressor.. still never worked).. one transmission went at about 8000 miles and when I turned the lease in 2 years later it was hunting constantly between 5 and 6.. sounds like they got yours right!!

 

[Kentucky Dreaming]

I have had my truck since December 28, 2012. 5.3 with 6L80E. Still has the original tranny fluid with 90,000 miles. Works great pulling my boat on southern Kentucky hills.

 

[Spitfire-SKO]

I think you are talking about van cutaway buses. If that is the case, the only choices are Ford or Chevy/GMC. If you want diesel, the Chevy will be the 6.6 liter Duramax with probably 4R700 tranny. Ford would be 7.3 liter if older or 6.0 liter if newer. Not sure what model tranny ford used in the van chassis. 6.0 has reliability issues that can be addressed with lots of dollars.

I am also considering a van cutaway, but thinking I want the Chevy 6.0 gas engine proven engine built since the mid 1960's. Simpler to work on, especially in the cramped engine compartment of a van.

I am working from the premise that diesel engines are more durable, powerful, and longer running than comparable gas engines. This may be dated thinking as I havent owned a diesel for 30 years so if gas will give me the same results as diesel then I can condenser those as well.


I also believed that diesel engines were paired with beefier transmissions than gas but again experience is limited and open to suggestions.


Not sure if the cutaway will be the one we go with, many factors to consider and availability, however seems the cutaways would prove less of a hassle when registering/insuring as they have the E450 and the like designations which based on what I have read proven easier to get on the road.

 

[Spitfire-SKO]

It’s confusing to say the least .. ford seemed to be a little more consistent than GM.. but the revisions and names of transmissions have changed so much it’s crazy ..

GM.. the TH350 became the TH350C (lockup). For like one year and it was awfuller than the 200c..

A 700R4 is more or less a 350 with lockup and overdrive.

A 4L60 was really an updated 700. The 4 L60e was the electronic version.. and of course with all those revisions came bunches of shared parts but also parts compatibility issues as well between them ..

I def don’t know all there is to know about these.. I’ve spent a lot of time in the GM world of hotrodding and probably used (and blew up) every variant of 350 400 700 4L60e / 4L80E.. I’ve kind of pushed power trains to their limits over the years ..

Oh and the 4L80 series are descendants of the TH400.. ironically the AT540 is also based on the 400 series..

So is there one you found to be reliable, one you would have no issue with buying? Sounds like that in your experience its a crap shoot.

 

[Spitfire-SKO]

I’d stay away from duramax engines as well.

From what I think I heard in the minis there really isnt much of a choice for engines, may be 2 or 3 options. Besides duramax what other engine options are there? I know there is the cutaways and other for the minis so havent quite sure got a handle on which goes with which.

 

[cadillackid]

From what I think I heard in the minis there really isnt much of a choice for engines, may be 2 or 3 options. Besides duramax what other engine options are there? I know there is the cutaways and other for the minis so havent quite sure got a handle on which goes with which.

for the GM cutaways they typically offered the 6.0 gasser.. and the diesel.. early versions were the 6.5 then the duramaxx variants.. the 6.0 gasser is a pretty venerable engine. the vans got the Vortec version.. not to be confused with the full size GMC bus chassis 6.0 which was the venerable tall deck big block 366 gasser...



some of the lighter duty cutaways did have a 5.3, mostly all with the 4L80E transmission till later.. the 4L80E along with the 4L60E were some of the most solid GM transmissons out there...


the 6 speed GMs. seemed to be a crap shoot. (not to be confused wit hthe 6 speed allisons that came in the duramax pickups) I hear of people with zero issues for 200K miles and others that have lots of issues... I never did anything heavy with my truck at all.. I coud understand wasting transmissions if I was towing big trailers all the time or hauling huge loads.. but i didnt.. like I mentioned, I did truck stuff with my truck but mostly lightweight..



on the ford side, the 4R100 seemed to be somewhat problematic behind the 7.3 diesels.. got better later.. and the 5R110 was pretty solid (but of course behind the 6.0 diesel (not the same as the GM 6.0)whcih really was a crapshoot engine.