Das Böos

[HazMatt-SKO]

(Or maybe I'll call her, Mellow Yellow, depending on road regs...)

Hi, all y'all!

I have recently acquired a '98 Intern'l 3800 T444E with a Spicer 5-speed, (with a governor that limits me to a top-end of 56 mph that I GOT to get around, PDQ, ASAP, and WTF!!!) 8-window Thomas-built bus that I'll so be relocating from New Hampsha to Tejas presently to help with Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts.

My career as an Environmental Scientist is stalled here in clean NH, and since my beloved Auntie Bell, the last surviving sibling to my mother, died several months ago at 102, there really isn't anything keeping me here.

Showing my musical age here, but it's been a Magical Mysery Tour with this beast thus far, but I am hopeful that that tune will soon change to, Magic Bus.

More postings down the road (lame pun intended), once I have the time to type 'em up.

Awesome site you folx have here. Been lurking for a few weeks, but I'm getting over my pathological shyness (!)

I'm a pseudo-newbie to skoolie: My profile foto (if and when it finally posts) is of my original Das Böos; my 1967 Split-Screen Westphalia, mi gato Hotblack Desiato, and yours truly, circa '84 or so. Back when I lived, loved, and worked in the woods, and my long hair was considerably darker!

Really looking forward to taking up that turtle lifestyle again, tho this time with more headroom and storage space..!

Catcha on the flip side.

Matteo

 

[EastCoastCB]

Nice, welcome man!
I had a 67 SO42 Westy in high school. Had the bench seat, even.

Whats the rear axle ratio in your bus? That could be your limiting factor in MPH.
What's your RPM at top speed?

 

[HazMatt-SKO]

Nice, welcome man!
I had a 67 SO42 Westy in high school. Had the bench seat, even.

Whats the rear axle ratio in your bus? That could be your limiting factor in MPH.
What's your RPM at top speed?

Thank you, sir, I appreciate it. Especially coming from another servant to the last manufactured year of the Split Screen Type II!

Das had buckets, which made getting back into the palatial living area easier than clambering over the bench, or getting douched in a downpour running around to access the side doors.

The gear ratio is yet another data point I'll need to figure out.

I don't remember the RPM at that speed, but the engine wasn't laboring, and progressive pedal pushing towards the firewall made for no change in speed, or how fast she was rapping out.

 

[Rusty-SKO]

Where is you bus originally from? Some States limit top speed. Most people buy the bus in Texas, then bring out East.

Since electronic controlled engine, may be the computer. Did you try re-installing Windows® ?

Cool dog. Congrats on the shorty.

Loved your movies.

 

[EastCoastCB]

Ah, is that mango green on the westy?

 

[HazMatt-SKO]

Where is you bus originally from? Some States limit top speed. Most people buy the bus in Texas, then bring out East.

Since electronic controlled engine, may be the computer. Did you try re-installing Windows® ?

Cool dog. Congrats on the shorty.

Typically bass-ackwards for me- here I am taking it to TX!!!

Believe she's from VA or WV. Still waiting for the original title from seller...

Can you help with the process, if it's computer controlled? I'll name my next dawg after you if you can direct me how to resolve that problem!!!

Thanx, her name was Shadow, and a total sweetheart. Be 2 years this Thanxgiving I had to put her down for her health issues... :-(

 

[HazMatt-SKO]

Ah, is that mango green on the westy?

I prefer to think Das was guacamole green, with unripe strawberry in between!

 

[HazMatt-SKO]

Wow, Johnny Wadd? Somebody's been telling lies about me...

Anyhoo, a quick shot of the engineering controls I used getting my 'fridge on-board.

 

[cadillackid]

if your RPM is at 2600-2700 then you are mechanically gear limited to your speed.. if your RPM was less than that then its a computer program change to remove the speed limiter on it.. if you havent driven it back to TX yet and are passing through Ohio i can reprogram the computer for you if that ends up being the limit.
-Christopher

 

[Tango-SKO]

Welcome!!! --- and if you are into environmental disasters...you are going to LOVE Texas. Bunch of bus loonies here in Houston. Give a shout if you make it this way.

 

[HazMatt-SKO]

if your RPM is at 2600-2700 then you are mechanically gear limited to your speed.. if your RPM was less than that then its a computer program change to remove the speed limiter on it.. if you havent driven it back to TX yet and are passing through Ohio i can reprogram the computer for you if that ends up being the limit.
-Christopher

Hiya Christopher,

I didn't note the engine speed, being kinda nervous about the first time I took her briefly onto the highway, but I'm pretty confident it was in the teens. Will update the next time I get her up to highway speeds, if I'm disremembering.

btw, should I be concerned that, while at rest (Engine off), the tach needle is parked at 7.5?

As it happens, my projected route will take me across NY, jog thru PA into OH.

If a solution doesn't present before my departure w/in 2 weeks, I will happily and gratefully take you up on your neighborly offer!

I've read quite a few of your entries here while I was just lurking the site, and have been impressed with your level of knowledge in our shared, arcane interest. So, thanx again for the assist!

Speaking of which, if I might pick your brain while also soliciting answers from other skoolie participants, is there a tried and true method of setting belaying points, both internally and for safely securing loads to the roof? Got a kayak and cargo tub I'd like to roof-mount, but am uncertain what the best and most secure way might be. No time to make a permanent solution, like roof racks, since I'm seriously under the gun to get gone!

Also, I am thinking the best method of loading the interior is to keep most of the mass over the rear axle. I presently have the 'fridge jammed between roof ribs not far behind the driver's seat, with construction materials in the void between it and the bulkhead. Simply no time to start doing any mods and retrofits I'd hoped to. :shock:

Unsurprisingly, load shifting while transiting is of immediate concern, and would appreciate help from those who've logged mileage beyond the paltry double digits I've managed to date!

(Speaking of PA, it's my understanding that dollied cars need trailer brakes. Is that the case, and are there other states that would be a concern?

(Also, if I leave her chromium yellow, with "School bus," district name, and amber & red flashers fore/aft blanked- and blacked-out, are there places that would still ticket me? Do I have to paint her boot and bonnet before I'm ready to properly customize?

(She's under 26k pounds, no special license needed [Hydraulic brakes], is registered as a bus, but has NH passenger plates. What's the rule on weigh stations? Do I have to stop, or can I cruise by and wave..? I SO don't want DOT or DMV agents chasing me down the interstate... Thinking at 56 mph max, it'd be a short[bus] pursuit...)

*phew!* Back to getting loaded! Cargo, that is...

Thanx one and all for your advice, knowledge, lore, and learning!

Matthew

PS: The bumper bar and flip out Stop sign are gonzo...

 

[Rusty-SKO]

Can you help with the process, if it's computer controlled? I'll name my next dawg after you if you can direct me how to resolve that problem!!!

Cadillac Kid is your man. I only know where to send people

Rusty is a much cooler name for a dog than CadillacKid, BTW.:whistling:

 

[HazMatt-SKO]

Cadillac Kid is your man. I only know where to send people

Rusty is a much cooler name for a dog than CadillacKid, BTW.:whistling:

ROFLMFAO [emoji23]

Sent from my LG-K373 using Tapatalk

 

[HazMatt-SKO]

Welcome!!! --- and if you are into environmental disasters...you are going to LOVE Texas. Bunch of bus loonies here in Houston. Give a shout if you make it this way.

Yo Tango,

Wouldn't say that I'm particularly into ecological disasters, but my skill set does include environmental remediation.

And Dog knows, the Lone Star surely got hammered. At least all y'all avoided getting caught in Irmageddon, too. And I truly feel bad about the troubles folx are facing there, not that we didn't get impacted by Harvey here, too.

I mean, it rained here for a day and a half, a coupla times it even came down sorta heavy...

Thank you, sir, I surely will give with a holler. Destination is around Roans Prairie. And I know, from all the times I've spent there, that that's considered damned-near in Houston's neighborhood!

 

[EastCoastCB]

I try to center the weight between the axles.

 

[HazMatt-SKO]

I try to center the weight between the axles.

Between the front & rear axles..?
Or perhaps Gorilla-taped to the hood..?
Maybe betwixt & between the rear wheel wells...?
[emoji56]
Sorry, I have been told, once or twice, that I'm a smart-ass.
However, I maintain that's better than being a dumb-ass!
Thanx, I do appreciate the input!

Sent from my LG-K373 using Tapatalk

 

[Twigg-SKO]

The color depends on the state the bus is registered in.

Once not an official "School, Curch, Nursing Home or Daycare" bus some states insist you change if from "National School Bus Yellow", a nationally recognised color.

Not all states insist (mine doesn't), and the ruling law is that of your home state.

 

[Rusty-SKO]

Not all states insist (mine doesn't), and the ruling law is that of your home state.

Change it. You do not wanting be driving around in chrome yellow school bus, unless you never plan on leaving your State or explaining to each LEO what you read on the Interwebs.

 

[Twigg-SKO]

Change it. You do not wanting be driving around in chrome yellow school bus, unless you never plan on leaving your State or explaining to each LEO what you read on the Interwebs.

This ^^^

There are, however, lots of areas of the law that many state troopers don't understand.

Headlight modulators is one ... legal in all 50 states and you need to carry a copy of the federal statute.

More than 4 white lights showing in front ... illegal in Texas unless legal in your home state ... cops don't understand ...

It goes on, but the best advice is to be inconspicuous

 

[HazMatt-SKO]

Officially, I was told that she wouldn't pass the safety inspection for the school bus yellow, however the shop didn't give a fail for the color. Vehicle safety was their only concern.

So, yeah, I think I just resolved that concern for myself...

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