Hello! Deposit on a bus..

[Zukaziki]

Hi everyone! :greetings:
I've been reading posts on here while researching buses and ideas. Figured it'd be a good time to actually make an account now that I'm closer to starting the build.
Living in Michigan right now to work/finish school, and plan to travel and move to some farm land in Indiana or Missouri once the build is done.

I'm hoping someone can give me some input about a bus, I got excited and might've rushed into things as I already put a non-refundable deposit on it.

Bus in question: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/172694949083326

I've seen a thread with a couple people who've bought from Dan Repass, most said he's a bit of a stickler for price. But he seems to have a decent amount of experience. He's going to take the seats out for $400 (but leave 2 for a booth) so that'll save some demo time on my end.

It's a 2005 International DT466/ Allison 3060, Type D with 179k miles. It was professionally painted so I'm hoping that makes up for how expensive it is compared to similar buses. Says tires are 75% but from my experience (none) they seem kinda worn.

I'd appreciate any advice or input, as I'm going to look at it/pick it up in Kentucky early September. Let me know if I screwed up.

 

[Marceps]

He's going to take the seats out for $400 (but leave 2 for a booth) so that'll save some demo time on my end.

This is a rip-off.

The paint job looks good, but the complete lack of undercarriage photographs is worrying. If you are having doubts, ask about shifting your deposit to another bus.

 

[BarnYardCamp]

Yes, you need to see the underside, pics show a little rust at the base of drivers seat...what do you think you'll find under the plywood flooring?
$400 to remove the seats is too much. Plus, he'll scrap the steel and get another $50ish.
How many hours are on the engine? Which engine is it?
Personally, not having A/C would be a non-starter for me.

I wish I had painted my bus that color, it looks good to me.

In the end, if the underside is rough, if the engine has a gazillion hours on it or for any reason, you lose your deposit, you will still be ahead with your project.

 

[Meathead]

With these tires AGE is more important than tread wear. There is an age stamp on the side of every tire. Seven years is a rule of thumb. I read that 6 years is the law in the EU but in the US it’s a guideline.

Good Luck!
[emoji3522]Dave

 

[cadillackid]

the listing is gone so im guessing you or someone else bought it?


paint looks nice and is def worth something if thats an area you dont have the space or abilities to tackle.. however the dark green roof will make that a very very hot bus inside unless you are planning to completely shade your roof with solar panels or a roof deck.



rear tires are pretty well shot.. you could drive it home on them and probably lave them on while converting but then they need replaced.. fronts not long after...


no A/C is a deal killer for me..ive added A/C to a couple of my busses and its a royal PITA vs buying one with it..


lack of tinted windows shows its probably a Low spec bus.. id want to see pics of the stepwell, the rear door thresholds and undercarriage..

 

[Timeline]

It does look like it may be in very good condition rust wise, add that it runs and drives perfect with a pro paint job, that is a really nice bus. I like it! If you need tires look for a source of take off tires, I bought almost new steers for $175 each at a bus recycle place here in MN.

 

[Zukaziki]

This is a rip-off.

The paint job looks good, but the complete lack of undercarriage photographs is worrying. If you are having doubts, ask about shifting your deposit to another bus.

Yes, you need to see the underside, pics show a little rust at the base of drivers seat...what do you think you'll find under the plywood flooring?

Yeah I asked about pictures underneath and he said he can't climb under since he's handicapped.. seems like a red flag but if I go see it in person and it doesn't look too bad, it should be fine, right? He said thats the only bus they have right now.

 

[Zukaziki]

however the dark green roof will make that a very very hot bus inside unless you are planning to completely shade your roof with solar panels or a roof deck.

I'm planning on painting the top white to help with heat.

no A/C is a deal killer for me..ive added A/C to a couple of my busses and its a royal PITA vs buying one with it..

How many hours are on the engine? Which engine is it?
Personally, not having A/C would be a non-starter for me.

Dang, didn't even think about A/C.. is it not worth going through with it because of that?

rear tires are pretty well shot.. you could drive it home on them and probably lave them on while converting but then they need replaced.. fronts not long after...

With these tires AGE is more important than tread wear. There is an age stamp on the side of every tire. Seven years is a rule of thumb. I read that 6 years is the law in the EU but in the US it’s a guideline.
[emoji3522]Dave

If you need tires look for a source of take off tires, I bought almost new steers for $175 each at a bus recycle place here in MN.

Thanks for all the input, I'll definitely look for some cheaper tires. I'll try and ask to lower the price for the price of the tires but I'm not sure how willing he'll be to go lower. He's asking $9100.

 

[Zukaziki]

He's taken out the seats, here's the additional pictures he just sent:

 

[BarnYardCamp]

I'm planning on painting the top white to help with heat.





Dang, didn't even think about A/C.. is it not worth going through with it because of that?

To me, no A/C would be the deal breaker. BUT...this is your project, so how important is it to you?
Just a side note, have you ever driven a vehicle with a windshield as big as on a bus? All that glass makes for a hot driver's station...

 

[Marceps]

Yeah I asked about pictures underneath and he said he can't climb under since he's handicapped.

So... too handicapped for taking photos but not too handicapped for demolishing twenty-two benches made of ten-gauge steel? That's interesting...

By the way, the importance of air conditioning is a decision for you to make—not others.

 

[musigenesis]

So... too handicapped for taking photos but not too handicapped for demolishing twenty-two benches made of ten-gauge steel? That's interesting...

Ha ha this is very true.

 

[jenandjon]

That bus is worth 5k tops. To me it's worth even less without the seats.

 

[musigenesis]

So, the rust spots on the floor where the seat posts used to be mean you will have a pretty rusted steel floor to deal with after the plywood is up. How bad it will be is hard to determine at this stage, but the fact that the seller is unwilling to post pics of the underside is not a good sign. This is definitely not a rust-free bus and even a painted, rust-free bus with a DT466e and an MD3060 (with bad tires) would not be worth anywhere near $9K. I don't know how much your deposit was, but even with it you'd probably be better off bailing on this bus (and more importantly on this allegedly handicapped seller).

 

[cadillackid]

something def seems off that he can yank the seats or have someone do it but cant get any underside pictures.. I guess with a VIN maybe we could find out what bus dealer it was sold to originally and maybe what school it ran.. not sure.. my repairlink showed the original district of one of my busses. . not sure if it always does or not.. this would help to estimate rust.. (did the bus live in the rust belt its whole school life).. the most likely places to see rust on the top side is in the step well and the threshold in the emergency door.. (doesnt require the handicapped owner to crawl under)... and yes rust is important.. just ask musigenesis about his rust ordeals.. he is a better man than me.. i wouldve parted out that bus and bought another one...






A/C - thats up to you.. alot depends on how and when and where you travel.. some dont need or want it (say it takes up a lot of room).. others travel mainly in cooler weather or chase the weather.. travelling up north in summer and south in winter where they arent hitting hot weather.. for me its a Must to have road A/C.. Parked / camping A/C is a separate system of your choice.. your camping A/C wont do al ot for keeping the bus cool while driving in hot summer weather esp into the sun..



I myself often end up travelling into hot areas in the summer and even end up in traffic and so A/C is an absolute.. esp in a bus with the engine in the front.. but again its your choice..

 

[Timeline]

Why not zoom down to Lexington and give the bus a good look over, say on your weekend? I'd want to see if it's leaking anything, maybe take a test ride....

 

[Tin Roadtube Vagrant]

I like. Mostly because I hate painting buses to the level of quality I expect and I don't want A/C for living in the sub arctic and I'm not sitting on top of my engine. It's two weeks vacation, dawn to dusk, for me to prep & spray one and I value that @ $5.5K easily in value. Paint jobs are big bucks. Go scope the undercarriage and bring the checkbook. You're right about you having rushed in.

 

[KodiBoy2023]

Hi everyone! :greetings:
I've been reading posts on here while researching buses and ideas. Figured it'd be a good time to actually make an account now that I'm closer to starting the build.
Living in Michigan right now to work/finish school, and plan to travel and move to some farm land in Indiana or Missouri once the build is done.

I'm hoping someone can give me some input about a bus, I got excited and might've rushed into things as I already put a non-refundable deposit on it.

Bus in question: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/172694949083326

I've seen a thread with a couple people who've bought from Dan Repass, most said he's a bit of a stickler for price. But he seems to have a decent amount of experience. He's going to take the seats out for $400 (but leave 2 for a booth) so that'll save some demo time on my end.

It's a 2005 International DT466/ Allison 3060, Type D with 179k miles. It was professionally painted so I'm hoping that makes up for how expensive it is compared to similar buses. Says tires are 75% but from my experience (none) they seem kinda worn.

I'd appreciate any advice or input, as I'm going to look at it/pick it up in Kentucky early September. Let me know if I screwed up.

I’m in Michigan too. Doing a roof raise Monday. I’ve purchased a couple buses, my advice is to purchase from areas that do not have winters. The rust from salt had me keep my first bus for 48hours. I got my current one from SC.

 

[BamaBus]

The FB post is connected to the web site https://www.oldschoolbussales.com/shop. Street view 212 Normandy Ct. Nicholasville, Kentucky. Seems to have other buses!
There is a performance shop next door that doesn't seem related.

 

[KodiBoy2023]

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