Central Florida Lurker

[Jandrew-SKO]

I am new to the site obviously and wanted to take the time to say hello to you all. I currently drive an e-350 van with a commuter bus top. It is simply a van with a fiberglass roof, it still has the van body. It is titled as a bus so I suppose I should treat it like one.
I originally bought the van for $1500 from a bus company I converted it to a camper and traveled 10000 miles in it this past summer. So you could say I caught the travel bug and want to do it a lot more.
My first goal is to build a house to park at a trailer park to simplify my life and the costs that go with it. I am considering a bus for this. I am also considering other options, but really like the construction vs cost aspect that busses offer. Plus I like the idea of giving a work vehicle a new life. These are also reasons I like vans as well.
So I will be browsing around, maybe posting here and there trying to get familiar with the site. Feel free to ask me any questions, I have many pictures and have stayed at some wonderful places.

 

[EastCoastCB]

I am new to the site obviously and wanted to take the time to say hello to you all. I currently drive an e-350 van with a commuter bus top. It is simply a van with a fiberglass roof, it still has the van body. It is titled as a bus so I suppose I should treat it like one.
I originally bought the van for $1500 from a bus company I converted it to a camper and traveled 10000 miles in it this past summer. So you could say I caught the travel bug and want to do it a lot more.
My first goal is to build a house to park at a trailer park to simplify my life and the costs that go with it. I am considering a bus for this. I am also considering other options, but really like the construction vs cost aspect that busses offer. Plus I like the idea of giving a work vehicle a new life. These are also reasons I like vans as well.
So I will be browsing around, maybe posting here and there trying to get familiar with the site. Feel free to ask me any questions, I have many pictures and have stayed at some wonderful places.

Welcome!
I'm in Apopka. I actually LOVE central Fl, but am heading West hopefully later this year. I have friends in South Fl that stealth camp in their 2002 Ford E350. They have taken it as far as Washington state.
Enjoy the forum.

 

[Jandrew-SKO]

Go Darters, right? Yes I do lots of camping in Ocala NF and the state parks around the area, I love to travel. My van is pretty stealthy, but usually camp legally. I was in Washington State this summer and I loved it there and will be returning soon. I live in a nice house in a nice little city, but really want to simplify my life and become more finically free. I have been looking for a cheap way to start my house that is durable and movable and that is how I ended up here. I want to live in a skoolie and save my money for the next step.
I will be using my tax return this year to fund it so should be ready by mid to late Feb. So far I still need to find a place to live/build it. Maybe since you live a bit more in the country you know someone?
Thanks for the welcome im learning a lot so far.

 

[EastCoastCB]

A few of us are planning a meetup sometime soon. You should come out.

 

[Jandrew-SKO]

I would love to.

 

[HolyBus]

I am in the Kissimmee area. Wife and I love going to the springs when we can (DeLeon and Blue). Maybe a plan for 2-3 months out so buses are ready? Mine needs a few things still. The weather and water temp should be good by then. Although, I hear that Green Swamp is a great place and it should not be crowded like the springs and overnight is not a problem there. Camping is not allowed during hunting season though.

 

[skoolie_n00bie]

Welcome! I love all these skoolies popping up in FL!

 

[EastCoastCB]

I am in the Kissimmee area. Wife and I love going to the springs when we can (DeLeon and Blue). Maybe a plan for 2-3 months out so buses are ready? Mine needs a few things still. The weather and water temp should be good by then. Although, I hear that Green Swamp is a great place and it should not be crowded like the springs and overnight is not a problem there. Camping is not allowed during hunting season though.

I grew up in the area of Green Swamp.

 

[Jandrew-SKO]

I am not familiar with green swamp but I have been to blue springs many times. I have a few spots that I go to in Ocala that are free so I usually go there. Honestly Florida is getting a bit tired for me, but there are a few more places I haven't seen. So do you guys live in your busses or just use it as an RV?

 

[EastCoastCB]

I'll be living in mine as soon as its done.

 

[Kaleb-SKO]

Ok, central Floridians, where did you find your school buses. Ones I found on line seemed over priced, IMO.

 

[skoolie_n00bie]

Hey Kaleb! I'll repost the link to the CL ad I found. Ask the guy if he has anything else available. He should still have another shorty. Maybe if someone else tells him they're too expensive, he will come to his senses lol

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

 

[EastCoastCB]

I got mine at auction, in Kentucky.

 

[lornaschinske]

Try Wades in Alto GA. That's just above Atlanta off of 965.

 

[skoolie_n00bie]

http://tampa.craigslist.org/psc/cto/4832662955.html
He had told me for this specific one he'd go as "low" as $4500...after I saw it, I would pay $2000 MAX! Lots of rust. From what i understood, both his busses were from ohio....Ask him if he has anything else, and to send you pics of his other busses. Too much for the other IMHO, but worth a try to set a lower price. I liked those very much, but way out of my budget

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[HolyBus]

Mine came from someone who was selling it for a church in the panhandle near Pensacola. He was their mechanic.

 

[EastCoastCB]

Check this one out-
http://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?fa=Main.Item&itemid=248&acctid=888

 

[Jandrew-SKO]

that's a nice bus! I would love something like that. As long as it has a dt466 or a Cummings I would consider it. I really want the flat front/rear engine combo but a few Internationals with the front engine look good and are plentiful/cheap. I am always good at finding deals on CL and Ebay but haven't used any of the gov auction sites. Anything I should know?

 

[EastCoastCB]

You should know this- almost every bus you've looked at came from some sort of auction. I watch them every day and there are about four guys buying them all up. They are dealers. They mark them up about 200-300% and that's where ten thousand dollar used school buses come from. Dealers aren't evil, but for a do-it-yourselfer I don't see the benefit of paying someone else to buy it from the auction.
It was such an adventure picking up my Senator, that I want to buy another just for the thrill of driving it home and selling it for double what I paid.

 

[Jandrew-SKO]

I still have never driven a bus. I like the idea of buying from auction but buying site unseen sounds kinda crazy to me. To save a few thousand I will be crazy though.