Learning about a skoolie or similar

[jlwconst]

Im a van lifer now for only 9 months, i am using a stripped out 2008 Ford e350 bus, but i am living with my tools.

My plan was to try out van life while stuffed full with tools as a contractor for maybe 3-4 months before buying a trailer and converting the interior more comfy…

So i definitely like van life! But; i realized after saving cash for a trailer that this vehicle needs too much work, i’m in it for $4500 since i moved into it which is probably about its value. I only payed $6k originally, and ive learned to weld, and do a lot of structural body work on it, to keep it inspected in NH

I am moving up to a skoolie or similar size.

Any recommendations on how to train myself for what to look for in terms of value, dependability, milage, etc etc

 

[jlwconst]

Oh! From initial research i definitely like the diesel options, id prefer a side door option near the front but not a definate, and i will still be adding a small 6-7 foot wide by 10 foot long v-nose trailer.
I also have made a nice roof rack for this van but would like to add one for the next, as a roof tent option or roof deck option

 

[nikitis]

Stay away from AT545 Transmission if you can. Speed limitation is a real thing with those transmissions. Avoid anything newer than 2004, you can go to 2008 and get lucky but I wouldn't chance it to avoid emissions which when systems go bad will cost you money to repair, and often times are the reason the buses go up for sale in the first place. As long as Pre-2004 buses exist, they should be bought.

The rest is really up to your choice and what you want to use it for.

 

[FawnaFox]

It depends on what you're comfortable with, and what you want to spend. So far in my search, I have found that larger busses are cheaper to buy initially. If space is your priority, choose a flatnose bus. Steer clear of Mercedes engines, they're difficult.. to say the least. Personally, For a flatnose, i'd go with a 1990s-2004 Blue Bird All American, or a similar age IC-RE. For conventional I'd recommend an International 3800 or a Freightliner FS-65, they're common and parts are readily avalable. As cool as it may be, don't buy the rarest bus you can, I have a pretty rare configuration of the FS-65 and finding documentation is a nightmare.. especially when your transmission seems to not have been an option. I can forward all of nikitis' advice. My personal preference for engine is the 5.9 Cummins or the Cat C7. If you're going manual tranny, look for 6 speeds, your wallet and the people driving behind you will thank you. Of course make sure to inspect your bus before you buy (as if it wasn't obvious) Busses with suspiciously low miles could have sat for a long time. Your bus should have 80-140k miles on it. If it's less then make sure you know it's history. Some thing you also should consider, older busses tend to have leaky roofs, it's just a fact. Before you start conversion, stay in the bus during a rainy day and find the leaks.. before any valuable things are in there.. I know it's a paragraph, but my last advice is to try to find a manual door.. less air and electrical problems.. anyways, happy hunting!

 

[nikitis]

A Mercedes engine is fine to use. And they are some of the best engines out there, the only issue with them is that they are expensive to fix if there are minor problems. But you can get good performance out of it.

Unlike the mercedes engine, the reason to avoid AT545 is that it does not have good performance, and it's not an easy replacement to a better trans because you're going from all mechanical to one that requires a TCM receiving data values which your ECM cannot provide as it wasn't designed to so you aren't just doing a trans swap, you're also doing crazy electrical mods to make it all work. And it's about $19,000 to have a company do the swap for you.

Regarding leaky roofs, this depends. Many Mid-90's buses don't even have rust cause of the way they were built. Mid-90's buses are more prone to computer issues though as they are getting old. Mine has almost zero rust and it is 30 years old. I've seen 10 year old buses with completely rusted out floors. The bodies were built better back then and used thicker gauge metal and the metal was better coated. Today buses don't have the coating and are exposed sheeting.

No matter the bus type you pick it's going to have something you won't like about it. 99% of them out there will have something you don't like. Pick a bus that has the most correctable issues or that you can live with.

 

[FawnaFox]

To be fair, in my experience, I was looking at a Thomas C2 with a mercedes engine, and the company that owned it before had constant problems.. Maybe that's just my experience...

 

[Mr P]

Oh! From initial research i definitely like the diesel options,

All engines will have pros/cons. With any engine that interests you, google it, watch youtube vids on it's problems/solutions. This site is littered with people who....don't have a clue what's "under the hood" and that ignorance becomes a liability.

 

[FawnaFox]

All engines will have pros/cons. With any engine that interests you, google it, watch youtube vids on it's problems/solutions. This site is littered with people who....don't have a clue what's "under the hood" and that ignorance becomes a liability.

Like what was mentioned before, and from my personal experience looking at busses, all of the ones I looked at that had bigger and more difficult engine problems were Mercedes engines, they're just more expensive to repair. Personally, I'd go with a Cat or Cummins engine, but that's just me...

 

[Rock-N-Ruth]

Im a van lifer now for only 9 months, i am using a stripped out 2008 Ford e350 bus, but i am living with my tools.

My plan was to try out van life while stuffed full with tools as a contractor for maybe 3-4 months before buying a trailer and converting the interior more comfy…

So i definitely like van life! But; i realized after saving cash for a trailer that this vehicle needs too much work, i’m in it for $4500 since i moved into it which is probably about its value. I only payed $6k originally, and ive learned to weld, and do a lot of structural body work on it, to keep it inspected in NH

I am moving up to a skoolie or similar size.

Any recommendations on how to train myself for what to look for in terms of value, dependability, milage, etc etc

Since you say you are in NH, my biggest recommendation for you is, "run away from rust." If you start with a rusty vehicle, rust remediation may wear you down before you ever get a chance to enjoy your build.

 

[Mr P]

Like what was mentioned before, and from my personal experience looking at busses, all of the ones I looked at that had bigger and more difficult engine problems were Mercedes engines, they're just more expensive to repair. Personally, I'd go with a Cat or Cummins engine, but that's just me...

^ And this oversimplification is why I recommend researching. There are several different Mercedes, Cat, and Cummins engines, as well as International. I'm familiar with cummins; the 12v all mechanical, the 24 valve that ushered in computer controls, then the common rail and emissions laden engines after that.

Newest engines have the most power, the most emissions, the most computer controls, and resulting most complicated repairs.

 

[jlwconst]

Since you say you are in NH, my biggest recommendation for you is, "run away from rust." If you start with a rusty vehicle, rust remediation may wear you down before you ever get a chance to enjoy your build.

Thats kinda my thought too, my current van is exactly what's happening that way, 08’ ford e350, its small for me anyway but the rust is too much to keep up with….

 

[jlwconst]

I put an offer on a bus in NH but found that the title was not in the guys name and rookie mistake i didnt see it at thevtime of purchase, he relisted it after i said i want my money back and he agreed, ill find out tomorrow if hes going to leep his word. I notice there are a lot if people who dont know that you cant sell a buss newer then 1999 without a fully names title in their name… i am learning this the hard way i guess. Not a happy experience but im back looking now, hoping he will pay me my money back…

I noticed he re-listed it today and took off the “clear title” note… i explained to him its a felony in nh “skipping title” and he sort of changed his tone snd became very apologetic

 

[jlwconst]

Stay away from AT545 Transmission if you can. Speed limitation is a real thing with those transmissions. Avoid anything newer than 2004, you can go to 2008 and get lucky but I wouldn't chance it to avoid emissions which when systems go bad will cost you money to repair, and often times are the reason the buses go up for sale in the first place. As long as Pre-2004 buses exist, they should be bought.

The rest is really up to your choice and what you want to use it for.

I like the 1997 thomas short skoolie with the t444e engine, i saw a few for sale here and there.

 

[JenniferWillow]

I like the 1997 thomas short skoolie with the t444e engine, i saw a few for sale here and there.

That’s my bus you’re talking about! I’ve got a 1997 5 window short bus with a T444e and a 7’ ceiling.