Need advice/opinions Newby alert!!!

[Adam The First Man]

Hey Skoolie peeps! So here is the scoop.......We are searching for a bus and have been for a few months. Here is the rundown.......we are a family of 5 kids 8,6, and almost 4 years old. We sold almost everything here in Minnesota and want to take life on the road for a time. My wife is a hair stylist and we listed her salon for sale. Once its sold, we are free!
We will be using the rear 7 ft of a bus for a 1 chair mobile salon. with that said.......we have pretty specific criteria for what we are looking for.
Flat nose, front engine, 77 inch inside ceiling, automatic transmission, and rear door that comes with a front engine, also under bay storage. I understand that these are rare and I found 1. I am going to look at it on Monday 4/9/2018 and its a 6.5 hr drive from me.
My only concern with the bus is that it has a CAT 3126 and 545 Allison transmission. Ive been reading up on these and I get a little nervous. Im no diesel mechanic, although I am decent at fixing various things myself. This bus just got traded in around the 1st of the year and it was used as a district bus in Iowa until then. Any advice on this engine/ transmission combo from real life experience would be amazing! Thanks skoolie family!:Thanx:

 

[brokedown-SKO]

Around here you won't get a lot of votes in favor of that CAT engine. The AT545 isn't an amazing transmission but despite the constant complaining it is adequate.

Consider a Bluebird TC/2000. All the front engine models came with a 5.9 cummins and AT545. Some have 77" ceilings (mine does), some have under-bay compartments (mine has 1, I've seen 4 on others) and they're actually pretty easy to add. The 5.9 is a good reliable well known engine with easy parts availability that won't surprise any mechanic who has ever seen a dodge truck. The TC2000 was a VERY popular model and was made in lenght from around 26 or 28 all the way to 40 ft length.

 

[Tango-SKO]

What he said. Not a very desirable combination. The Cat is expensive to maintain and the 545 is a fuel sucking dinosaur with no lockup.

 

[TrailLifeBill]

Consider a Bluebird TC/2000. All the front engine models came with a 5.9 cummins and AT545. Some have 77" ceilings (mine does), some have under-bay compartments (mine has 1, I've seen 4 on others) and they're actually pretty easy to add. The 5.9 is a good reliable well known engine with easy parts availability that won't surprise any mechanic who has ever seen a dodge truck. The TC2000 was a VERY popular model and was made in lenght from around 26 or 28 all the way to 40 ft length.

Agree with all that was said - with the exception of all TC-2000 FE's having AT545 - most might, but my 1999 40' came with MT-653RM.

 

[brokedown-SKO]

Wikipedia (I know!) claims that the MT643 was only available in rear engine configurations. But we all know wikipedia is an unreliable source!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Bird_TC/2000#Powertrain

And yes there was a manual transmission option and a gas engine option, but those were very unpopular choices!

 

[Adam The First Man]

lots of opinions

So the bus i mentioned in the post is a Thomas 2001. Today I found a 2003 Bluebird with the cummins 5.9 has the height and underbay storage that we need as well as front engine. Both busses are the same price. The Thomas I can drive to at 6 hrs away. The Blue Bird is 10 hrs away, But if I buy it.....the guy will drive it to me as soon as nec=xt weekend. I have to cover the fuel and his time.......im assuming that will be at least $500.
Ive read that when towing or on any kind of grade that the cummins is doggy, whereas the Cat has alot more torque to handle those situations. Im actually really torn between the two buses. They are very similar with just 2 years apart and both have the high ceilings, front engines, and bay storage. I can drive to look at the Thomas, But cant with the Blue Bird. Basically Im going to have to make a purchase decision in 36 hrs. The guy claims that the Bluebird has no rust. The thomas has had wheel wells replaced and has small rust on the back corners. They were both inspected in the last 12 months and just recently out of service from school systems. the cummins 5.9 has 160k miles and the cat 3126 has 120k miles. They are both within $300 asking price of each other.

 

[cowlitzcoach]

Between the fact the Thomas has a Cat engine and has had some significant rust repair I think I would not consider it at all unless it was free.

I came across this one. Depending upon where you are it might or might not be a good choice. It does have the 12" windows so it does have the high roof option. It doesn't have any skirt mounted luggage compartments. https://harlowsbussales.com/inventory/59e67632ebd1ab23a80a8cb2/

This one without a picture it is hard to know exactly what it is. But the description and price are very attractive. Used 2001 Blue Bird Blue Bird - Swansea IL Near Kankakee IL - Midwest Transit

 

[2kool4skool]

Welcome!....

 

[M1031A1]

Adam,

Unlike most people here, I ADORE my CATs. Very reliable engine if taken care of properly. Granted, the 3126 can get a bit finicky, however, they are reliable if properly maintained. I drove one in my service bus for Katy ISD for many years. NEVER had an issue with it. Turn the key, she'd fire up. Let her warm up with a 10 to 15 minute warm time, and off we went. She had 165K miles before auction.

I also have an '88 Ford F600 with the 545 transmission. It doesn't preform like the 643 in our '89 Thomas, but it gets the job done.

Looking at all the suggestions, and what you have found, I much prefer the '93 Genesis for several reasons. MOST importantly, its 100% pure mechanical drivetrain, i.e. NO computers to give you headaches!!!! Second, the engine is one of the most reliable (outside of CATs) to be installed in a bus, but not one of the most powerful - being the CAT 3208C engine (like the one in my '89 Thomas - reliable AND powerful).

It's your decision in the end, but I'd lean to the Genesis... Just my opinion..

M :biggrin:

 

[Adam The First Man]

Between the fact the Thomas has a Cat engine and has had some significant rust repair I think I would not consider it at all unless it was free.

I came across this one. Depending upon where you are it might or might not be a good choice. It does have the 12" windows so it does have the high roof option. It doesn't have any skirt mounted luggage compartments. https://harlowsbussales.com/inventory/59e67632ebd1ab23a80a8cb2/

This one without a picture it is hard to know exactly what it is. But the description and price are very attractive. Used 2001 Blue Bird Blue Bird - Swansea IL Near Kankakee IL - Midwest Transit

Thank you for the links! the one at midwest transit isnt availabel until July. The other one is available. It does have a little rust I can see in the pics. And some dents in the rear by the back lights in the drivers side. Is the mileage too high on the harlow bus? How good of a setup in the MD463 transmission, 230200 miles, DT466 engine? Im reading good things, But this rig is getting pretty old and thats a good bit of miles. I want to make a good decision. I thought I had my choices narrowed down.......now im seeing alot more options once I started posting about it. Will the DT466 out perform and outlast both the 5.9 cummins and the 3126 cat?

 

[Twigg-SKO]

Thank you for the links! the one at midwest transit isnt availabel until July. The other one is available. It does have a little rust I can see in the pics. And some dents in the rear by the back lights in the drivers side. Is the mileage too high on the harlow bus? How good of a setup in the MD463 transmission, 230200 miles, DT466 engine? Im reading good things, But this rig is getting pretty old and thats a good bit of miles. I want to make a good decision. I thought I had my choices narrowed down.......now im seeing alot more options once I started posting about it. Will the DT466 out perform and outlast both the 5.9 cummins and the 3126 cat?

I would want to take a long, hard look at that Genesis. It's a very good looking bus at that price, and with an excellent drive-train.

... and Yes, the engine is preferable to either the CAT or the Cummins.

 

[PNW_Steve]

Between the fact the Thomas has a Cat engine and has had some significant rust repair I think I would not consider it at all unless it was free.

I came across this one. Depending upon where you are it might or might not be a good choice. It does have the 12" windows so it does have the high roof option. It doesn't have any skirt mounted luggage compartments. https://harlowsbussales.com/inventory/59e67632ebd1ab23a80a8cb2/

This one without a picture it is hard to know exactly what it is. But the description and price are very attractive. Used 2001 Blue Bird Blue Bird - Swansea IL Near Kankakee IL - Midwest Transit

FWIW: I have heard good things about Harlow Bus sale regarding customer service etc.

 

[Adam The First Man]

FWIW: I have heard good things about Harlow Bus sale regarding customer service etc.

Thank you so much!!! I was in contact with Harlow today and I felt good about our conversation and all that they offer. Genesis is with the DT466 is for sure the way im leaning