Military's Cool Busses

[cessna175]

Howdy from Houston Texas. I just found this skoolie forum and I'm happy to share any info that might help. I'm a life long mechanic from child to adult. It seems childhood dreams become adult projects in my world. I've purchased a couple ThomasBuilt busses, 18ft. short bus, and a 24ft. shorty, full size, to couple up to previous projects. My previous projects were then and still are, 5 ton military surplus 6x6's. So I've married the trucks to the busses, and created two awesome on road/off road skoolies. It's been a bunch of fun. They certainly have attracted lots of attention from friends and onlooker's. Being that I've gained a bit of knowledge from these trucks and engines, I'm willing to pass it on where possible. I have a 7.3 powerstroke, DT444e, 8.3 Cummins, and a 14 Liter NHC250 Cummins. I look forward to meeting you folks that share the same kind dreams.

 

[ewo1]

Welcome to the skoolie journey!
I'm up in Killeen, stop on by when you ever go north!

There is a bus on I-35 in Belton that the guy did what you did, put a 5 ton military chassis under the bus. It is wicked!
GPS coordinates of pic, 30.992061, -97.499280

Street View of 30°59'31.4"N 97°29'57.4"W · Google Maps

30.992056, -97.499278

maps.app.goo.gl

 

[Busjamin]

Dude, we gotta see some of these frame-swap rigs you're referring to!

I'm also currently on the hunt and have been jealously eyeing listings for old military 6x6s...I know enough to know I'm not man enough for one of those rigs yet!

 

[cessna175]

I got my military trucks from Gov.liquidations out of Fort Polk Louisiana. Its a government auction. Parts are available all over the U.S.. You can handle it! I'm not sure how to post a pic yet, but I do have an IT department i will talk to about it. Have a nice evening.

 

[cessna175]

here's two

 

[Busjamin]

here's two

EPIC

 

[cessna175]

more

 

[cessna175]

short bus mod

 

[Tejon7]

Wow. There are numerous threads on this site about turning a bus into an off-road machine, but they always focus on trying to add 4wd to a stock bus. Your solution is so much better and so much cooler!

 

[nikitis]

Yeah I mean all you gotta do now is just weld and glue the body to the chassis of the truck. No conversions necessary.

 

[cessna175]

Wow. There are numerous threads on this site about turning a bus into an off-road machine, but they always focus on trying to add 4wd to a stock bus. Your solution is so much better and so much cooler!

thankyou, I'm glad you like them. The first bus was made from an extended wheelbase 5 ton M944 military mobile workshop. It turned out so nice I built a second bus with a M32A1 5 ton troop carrier short wheelbase. I had to track down an 18ft. Thomas handicap bus to fit that frame. Its still in progress. these projects last forever.

 

[cessna175]

Yeah I mean all you gotta do now is just weld and glue the body to the chassis of the truck. No conversions necessary.

cut and paste, all arts and craft. usually takes about 2 days.

 

[ewo1]

short bus mod

Wicked...truly WICKED !!!

 

[cessna175]

Good afternoon, I think I need to ad a snow plow to the front down low to prevent small cars from going under. Its a bit high, and might roll over in a high speed accident. Plus it might look a bit more menacing to deter someone from pulling out in front of me. I've had a couple close calls, so I installed a super loud locomotive horn.

cut and paste, all arts and craft. usually takes about 2 days.

There quite a few mods that took a bit of time but it all came together in the end. I just found out I can only post a few post in a 24hr. period. Weird!

cut and paste, all arts and craft. usually takes about 2 days.