My new bus 4x4 shortbus

[laxboy]

Heading out Thursday to pick up my 4x4 "turtle bus." It's technically a 15 passenger van platform but my wife says its a bus so hopefully I can fit in on this group. Not totally sure what my plan is yet, but I have 4 kids and I like adventuring. We don't all fit in the 4x4 truck anymore and just barely in the minivan and there's certainly no room for bringing friends. Immediate plans are to remove the back row of seats and possibly 2 rows of them so I can loft a bed back there and have room for all the gear and bikes, etc. I'd love to figure out a rear door... And my wife says she will not go in it or let it be parked at our house until it's a different color. Should be a fun project and I look forward to getting ideas and how-to's from the site.

146,000 miles for $9,500. 2001 Chevy 3500. Did I do alright?

 

[slaughridge85]

no clue what they are worth, but I do know they're pretty rare and VERY expensive to retrofit a 2wd bus to 4x4. Nice find, I really wanted a 4x4 but just couldn't find any full size buses that were. Welcome

 

[cadillackid]

nice bus!! and definitely welcome to the group!! there are others with shuttle busses in the group.. and even a couple with Coach trip busses!!

bring it on!!

-Christopher

 

[EastCoastCB]

At first I was gonna say "OMG man thats nice but you paid way too much."
But then I remembered the 4x4 part. That makes it a bargain.

 

[Squirrel-SKO]

Nice bus! Am a little jealous as I want to convert mine to 4wd at some point. Great score!

 

[mckay7129]

4x4 bus!!! Super nice, how great for your kids!

 

[jazty]

That's a very curious shorty! I've never seen one with a shell like that.. Neat.
4x4 in a light weight unit like that will make the bus unstoppable!

 

[bansil]

Diesel?
Rear locker?

Nice ride, we need pictures of the inside

 

[leadsled01-SKO]

Love it....

 

[raulaleman84]

Looks good. Congrats.

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[laxboy]

 

[laxboy]

 

[laxboy]

 

[raulaleman84]

Nice pics dude. Looking good!

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[laxboy]

Diesel?
Rear locker?

Nice ride, we need pictures of the inside

I believe it's an 8.1L Chevy V8... But I haven't actually looked... NO rear locker, but it's geared super low. I'm hoping to size the tires up to 32 or 33" to get a better cruising at highway speed engine RPM, but if for some reason I can't, then maybe I'll have to regear the pinion in which case a rear locker could be in order... But at this point probably excessive. Oh wait. I just bought a 4x4 bus....... To most that is excessive.

 

[laxboy]

The interior plan is:

1.flip the front 2 seats on the right so I can put a table in between row 1 & row 2.
2. Remove the left 2 seats and replace with a foldout bench/futon bed type thing. And maybe a fold down counter or something.
3. Remove the rear 5 seats so I can build a modular bunk bed in the rear. "Modular" being that its low when driving so as to not obstruct the rear window, and then being able to pop it up when parked.


Exterior plan is:

1. bigger rims/tires since it's geared super low and is nearly at redline at 70 mph. This will likely require some fiberglass trimming. TBD
2. custom front bumper with low lights
3. big bike rack off the back.

 

[Tango-SKO]

An R & P swap should be easy enough on that rig.

 

[cowlitzcoach]

I think you will find that you have the 6.0L gas V-8 under the hood if it isn't the 5.3L.

As far as I know GM never offered the big block gas V-8 in any of the G-series chassis.

Your bus looks like it once belonged to the tour operator Buffalo Bus in West Yellowstone, MT. They offer day trips all year long. In the spring through the fall the buses are on tires. But once the snow is on the ground they mount the buses on tracks and do abbreviated tours to Old Faithful.

Lodges and Motels in West Yellowstone | Yellowstone Vacations

 

[cadillackid]

An R & P swap should be easy enough on that rig.

that would be Two R n P swaps on that

-Christopher

 

[cadillackid]

thats a badass lookin bus!! I wish i had seats like that!..

I'd bet on the 6.0.. but then I didnt know chevy offered a van in 4x4 stock.. I remember ford did for awhile (or may still)..

so maybe its custom with a big block?
-Christopher