Bus Delivery Help

[Mandinee1]

I'm throwing some feelers out there. I've been looking for a bus to convert to live full time with my family for a couple months now. I am now in talks over a potential purchase in Nebraska. We live in Maine. My husband is willing to go pick up a bus if we need to but when a great bus comes up it seems like time is of the essence and we are at home with a 2 year old and he also doesn't like to fly and would need to drive out somewhere first. Needless to say, all the rust-free busses are not exactly within striking distance of us.

So my question is, is anyone up for delivering a bus at a time like this? If so, what would your (approximate) rate be for, say, a Nebraska to Maine trip?

Thanks everyone.

 

[EastCoastCB]

Be REAL careful buying anything from nebraska. The rust is horrible out there. I had a van from there and the whole chassis was swiss cheese.

 

[Mandinee1]

Yikes! We are getting it inspected but the bus is supposedly from Utah... Was purchased for conversion and didn't see it through. We'll see. Mainly it would help me to know in general, whether this pans out or another, if I could call on someone for delivery help.

I am holding out for "the" bus but it feels like it's never coming!

 

[kazetsukai]

Good luck with this!

 

[Mandinee1]

Good luck with this!

Thank you!!

 

[CHEESE_WAGON]

Utah is another place that road salt is a problem. Should you find a good candidate, I do have a CDL and might be willing to help with minimal compensation.

 

[Mandinee1]

Utah is another place that road salt is a problem. Should you find a good candidate, I do have a CDL and might be willing to help with minimal compensation.

THANK YOU! I love having all the Skoolie VIPs in my thread.
CheeseWagon, will be in touch.

I'm on the verge of chomping at the bit to get this conversion started.

 

[Mandinee1]

I am told these are all the rusts spots. Thoughts?

 

[kazetsukai]

I am told these are all the rusts spots. Thoughts?

Seems pretty minor/manageable to me...

 

[musigenesis]

I am told these are all the rusts spots. Thoughts?

Wow, that's almost like a factory-new underside, so clean and shiny almost everywhere.

However, the bit of rust above the wheel well on the outside is the mark of the beast - water has accumulated in the plywood (inside) and rusted through a bit of the base of the wheel well and the floor around it (the end result that's visible is just that little bit on the outside).

However however, given the incredibly nice condition of the rest of the underside, my guess is that one spot would be your only real problem as far as rust goes, and it could be repaired very cheaply and quickly (ideally the cross-member there is not compromised and you just have to weld on a small patch).

I'd give this a thumbs-up as far as rust is concerned, actually (assuming they're being honest and showing you pics of every visible hint of rust).

 

[Mandinee1]

Very, very helpful everyone. Thank you. I am going to proceed with inspection. Anyone know a good diesel mechanic around Omaha, Nebraska?

 

[CHEESE_WAGON]

I agree the rust is quite minimal. But deal with it ASAP -- Rust never sleeps. That could be quashed in a week's time or less, but could get a lot worse if not kept in check.

Should this one not work out, in your future search, I would draw a line on a US map along the northern borders of VA, TN, AK, OK, NM, and AZ. And concentrate on potentials SOUTH of that line. CA can be a good source of buses, particularly because they're scrambling to dump their older non-CARB-compliant ones, and are auctioning them off to out-of-state sellers only. Not everything above said line will be a problem, but the further north a bus was used, the more likely it is to be a rust bucket.

Just keep in mind that buses from anywhere around the mountain areas of CA (Donner, Lake Tahoe, etc.), may have the same rust problems. Donner can get as much as 3 to 5 feet of snow in the winter. This is something I know about, I've crossed Donner with a loaded 18-wheeler. I've seen snow drifts taller than the roof of a dognose road tractor I was driving. These trucks typically stand about 10 feet from the cab roof lights to the ground.

As for diesel mechanics, I've run through Omaha quite a bit, but never needed mechanical assistance in the area. Here is a Google search for diesel mechanics in the area. You might check these listings out on Yelp.

Diesel Mechanic Listings For Omaha NE

 

[nomadd-SKO]

I might be able to help with transport. live in MO

 

[Oscar1]

I am told these are all the rusts spots. Thoughts?

Look at the condition of that wheel rim, looks pretty rotten from that photo. I'd be wanting to put eyes on the whole thing.

 

[Mandinee1]

I might be able to help with transport. live in MO

Great, thank you very much. Will be in touch.

 

[Mandinee1]

I agree the rust is quite minimal. But deal with it ASAP -- Rust never sleeps. That could be quashed in a week's time or less, but could get a lot worse if not kept in check.

Should this one not work out, in your future search, I would draw a line on a US map along the northern borders of VA, TN, AK, OK, NM, and AZ. And concentrate on potentials SOUTH of that line. CA can be a good source of buses, particularly because they're scrambling to dump their older non-CARB-compliant ones, and are auctioning them off to out-of-state sellers only. Not everything above said line will be a problem, but the further north a bus was used, the more likely it is to be a rust bucket.

Just keep in mind that buses from anywhere around the mountain areas of CA (Donner, Lake Tahoe, etc.), may have the same rust problems. Donner can get as much as 3 to 5 feet of snow in the winter. This is something I know about, I've crossed Donner with a loaded 18-wheeler. I've seen snow drifts taller than the roof of a dognose road tractor I was driving. These trucks typically stand about 10 feet from the cab roof lights to the ground.

As for diesel mechanics, I've run through Omaha quite a bit, but never needed mechanical assistance in the area. Here is a Google search for diesel mechanics in the area. You might check these listings out on Yelp.

Diesel Mechanic Listings For Omaha NE

I agree very much... I'm trying my damndest. I don't want to transport a bus across the country in the interest of avoiding rust just to have it show up at my door covered in it. I've spent literally hours every day searching for a rust-free 40 foot bus, but one way or another there's always some issue. I guess I will see what comes of this inspection and whether the rust is deemed manageable.

By the way, it is a 8.3 cummins engine and the trans is push button md3060 allison 6 speed but 6th gear is not unlocked, goverened at 74. Is that a problem?

 

[Mandinee1]

‘99 Bluebird by the way

 

[Mandinee1]

I have also been eyeing busses from Canyon state bus sales in AZ. They are a dealer so priced higher but maybe that’s the way I need to go. Anyone know about them? Something like this:

https://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/ctd/d/glendale-1993-blue-bird-all-american-fe/7122346992.html

 

[JDSquared]

I'm in Georgia. People seem to have good luck getting buses from the south. I'm not opposed to driving to Maine for you if you find one from here or Alabama maybe.

 

[EastCoastCB]

I'm in Georgia. People seem to have good luck getting buses from the south. I'm not opposed to driving to Maine for you if you find one from here or Alabama maybe.

Would you be down for the occasional GA to FL bus drive?