Good deal?

[fischfam]

Hello, we are looking for our forever skoolie and this one popped up on Facebook marketplace. I would love some opinions and this would be a good snag or not. We are planning to go see it in person soon. Below is the Facebook listing with pictures. Thanks for all the help! We have done research but still are fresh at this.

Price is $3500.

"2003 Thomas Saf-T-Liner
Super low miles, around 60k
Cat 3126 engine
Automatic Allison md3060 transmission dual rear tires
Titled as a bus
Flat front/rear engine combo gives you the most living space of any model

Awesome strong engine, fired up every time. Driven short distances for the last couple years, most recently started right before summer.

ALL THE HARD WORK IS DONE and it’s ready to be converted! Gutted- seats, ceiling, walls & all metal panels & insulation removed. Floors have 2” foam board insulation and 1” plywood on top

* second entrance was fabricated, professionally welded set of stairs

* RV doors

* two batteries installed last year

* brand new captains driver seat (needs to be installed)

* extra material included to make the two roof emergency exits into skylights & two 5 gallon buckets of Henry’s

The roof needs to be sealed (material included), there are a few minor leaks around the roof hatches. Wood subfloor has damage under the emergency hatch. "

 

[desrtdog]

My advice would be to pay a diesel mechanic for an hour or so of his time to drive/inspect the bus before committing….low miles on a 21 year old bus seems a bit odd to me…

 

[PoppaSmurff]

Low miles...

It would seem you might be looking at a 'aged out' school bus. Roof seals bad, and all. Common issue on an unused bus, these are rare but out there. Have a mechanic pull the data from the engine PCM and give it a going over. You will get total engine hours then you know for sure.

 

[Albatross]

Low miles on a fleet vehicle also sometimes mean that particular vehicle was a "problem child". Sometimes it's simply an extra one that they kept around for whatever reason, but it's generally more the case where that vehicle was noted for needing something major fixed, or was constantly misbehaving, so the district never used it much.