bearhawk
Advanced Member
Greetings all,
I was on a business trip last week talking with a guy that buys used school buses for a non-profit. He was saying how you can get a used school bus really cheap. I started looking around and he is so right. That got me to thinking a bus would be cheaper than a u-haul rental to go from MI to WY which is a move we hope to do in the next year or two. I could scrap the bus afterwards and get much of my money back...or...then I found these forums. I would not buy a bus in the salty winter states and I am looking mostly out west/southwest.
Somehow I then got to see the Good family skoolie videos. OK, now I am getting a plan. This could be fun.
As I start looking into this there are so many bus configurations so which one would be good for what I want? At this time I am looking at Bluebird All Americans or TC2000 or a Thomas MVP all rear engine models. I am thinking I would prefer the Cummins 8.3 or Navistar DT466. I want at least an Allison 643 or 3060. Not sure on rear differential ratios so I'm open to suggestions. I want a highway cruiser. I think I want airbrakes at this time (if they fail they apply). I also want a wheelchair lift to load stuff to move but then later to load motorcycles into a motorcycle room, which means I probably want the lift in the rear. I am watching public surplus and government deals. I made a spreadsheet so I can watch what the going prices are to get a good gauge on how much to bid when I do pull the trigger.
For fun my daughter and I went looking at RVs and diesel pushers today. They sure look nice but man are they made with cheap components. Really junky made by 2x2"s stapled together. Walls were really thin and flexible. Most weren't very square either. Lots of vinyl covered particle board. Talk about pigs with lipstick. I know I can do a ton better. A freightliner based Winnebago looked nice but the engine seemed inaccessible as the radiator was at the rear, not on the sides like a bluebird. Maybe there is a trick to getting in there. On sale for only $199,999, no thanks. I think I can do something pretty nice for 10% of that.
I grew up on a farm working on diesels off and on. Later I rebuilt gas and diesel engines throughout my life. Also overhauled some large piston turbocharged aircraft engines. I drove a large tar tanker for our local road dept one summer and had my Chaufer's license before the CDL. I didn't grandfather to a CDL but wish I had (hindsight is always 20/20). I did a stint as a professional bush pilot for 7 years in South America. I also built our house only hiring out the cement work and drywall. That's why I know I can do better than the RV companies if I do a skoolie. I currently work as an engineer for the local electric company.
For hobbies I enjoy motorcycles both on and off road. I have a BMW R1100RL setup for sport touring and a Honda CRF230F that is plated for dualsport rides. I fly drones as well as RC planes and helicopters. I am a ham radio operator too. Shooting sports are fun as well as fishing and canoeing. I also tinker with a listeroid diesel if you know what those are.
Well, that's just a little about me. I'm a lifetime learner so this is my latest craze. My wife laughs at all the twists and turns of things I have gotten into. I am just really curious and love learning.
I was on a business trip last week talking with a guy that buys used school buses for a non-profit. He was saying how you can get a used school bus really cheap. I started looking around and he is so right. That got me to thinking a bus would be cheaper than a u-haul rental to go from MI to WY which is a move we hope to do in the next year or two. I could scrap the bus afterwards and get much of my money back...or...then I found these forums. I would not buy a bus in the salty winter states and I am looking mostly out west/southwest.
Somehow I then got to see the Good family skoolie videos. OK, now I am getting a plan. This could be fun.
As I start looking into this there are so many bus configurations so which one would be good for what I want? At this time I am looking at Bluebird All Americans or TC2000 or a Thomas MVP all rear engine models. I am thinking I would prefer the Cummins 8.3 or Navistar DT466. I want at least an Allison 643 or 3060. Not sure on rear differential ratios so I'm open to suggestions. I want a highway cruiser. I think I want airbrakes at this time (if they fail they apply). I also want a wheelchair lift to load stuff to move but then later to load motorcycles into a motorcycle room, which means I probably want the lift in the rear. I am watching public surplus and government deals. I made a spreadsheet so I can watch what the going prices are to get a good gauge on how much to bid when I do pull the trigger.
For fun my daughter and I went looking at RVs and diesel pushers today. They sure look nice but man are they made with cheap components. Really junky made by 2x2"s stapled together. Walls were really thin and flexible. Most weren't very square either. Lots of vinyl covered particle board. Talk about pigs with lipstick. I know I can do a ton better. A freightliner based Winnebago looked nice but the engine seemed inaccessible as the radiator was at the rear, not on the sides like a bluebird. Maybe there is a trick to getting in there. On sale for only $199,999, no thanks. I think I can do something pretty nice for 10% of that.
I grew up on a farm working on diesels off and on. Later I rebuilt gas and diesel engines throughout my life. Also overhauled some large piston turbocharged aircraft engines. I drove a large tar tanker for our local road dept one summer and had my Chaufer's license before the CDL. I didn't grandfather to a CDL but wish I had (hindsight is always 20/20). I did a stint as a professional bush pilot for 7 years in South America. I also built our house only hiring out the cement work and drywall. That's why I know I can do better than the RV companies if I do a skoolie. I currently work as an engineer for the local electric company.
For hobbies I enjoy motorcycles both on and off road. I have a BMW R1100RL setup for sport touring and a Honda CRF230F that is plated for dualsport rides. I fly drones as well as RC planes and helicopters. I am a ham radio operator too. Shooting sports are fun as well as fishing and canoeing. I also tinker with a listeroid diesel if you know what those are.
Well, that's just a little about me. I'm a lifetime learner so this is my latest craze. My wife laughs at all the twists and turns of things I have gotten into. I am just really curious and love learning.
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