Need Advice Quickly

[PNW_Steve]

It was open when I posted it, there are no closed listing in the current listings. But if it makes you happy, here's another that ends in 23hrs, There are plenty that don't have the AE.


https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?fa=Main.Item&itemid=1339&acctid=583

https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?fa=Main.Item&itemid=28&acctid=7744


https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?fa=Main.Item&itemid=27&acctid=7744

https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?fa=Main.Item&itemid=307&acctid=1803

Learn something new everyday!

I have bid on at least 40 items on GovDeals over the last two years and had managed to somehow catch only auctions that had the "may extend" message. It has been so consistent that I got the impression that all GD auctions had the auto extend.

Thank you for pointing that out.

 

[jjhwick119]

I purchased my bus on Govdeals and it did not have the auto extend either

 

[HomesteadDad]

It doesn't say what gear ratio unfortunately.

I'm not that skilled a welder and my wife is attached to them.

Ironwood, as in the U.P. I'm just north of Ann Arbor.

Which Allison and what gearing ratio in the rear? 8.3L with the 3060 is the way to go.

Your best bet is to buy 2 buses and weld them together!!! Or make a deposit at the nearest orphanage.

Just closed on a house in Ironwood.

What???


Drove up the price of my bus from $1500 to $3000.

 

[HomesteadDad]

Learn something new everyday!

I have bid on at least 40 items on GovDeals over the last two years and had managed to somehow catch only auctions that had the "may extend" message. It has been so consistent that I got the impression that all GD auctions had the auto extend.

Thank you for pointing that out.

I had just assumed that as well. Learn something new every day.

 

[o1marc]

It's a seller option to add the AE.

 

[PNW_Steve]

I purchased my bus on Govdeals and it did not have the auto extend either

I bought mine there too.

If mine had not had the auto extend I would not have won it. We extended 3 times.

 

[Brewerbob]

It doesn't say what gear ratio unfortunately.

VIN lookup will include that.

I'm not that skilled a welder and my wife is attached to them.

Practice.

Ironwood, as in the U.P. I'm just north of Ann Arbor.

Yeppers, I'm going to be a Yooper.

 

[Brewerbob]

I bought mine there too.

If mine had not had the auto extend I would not have won it. We extended 3 times.

I was watching mine (Public Surplus) like a hawk!! I dunno if it would allow you to snipe in the last 5 seconds or not but it would have sold for half the price without the AE.

 

[o1marc]

I was watching mine (Public Surplus) like a hawk!! I dunno if it would allow you to snipe in the last 5 seconds or not but it would have sold for half the price without the AE.

And that's why a smart seller will add the AE option.

 

[HomesteadDad]

Same thing happened today. My high bid wasn't as high as someone who swooped in the last 20 seconds. It apparently wasn't meant to be.

 

[alpine44]

Same thing happened today. My high bid wasn't as high as someone who swooped in the last 20 seconds. It apparently wasn't meant to be.

Sorry to hear. $1905 was not a bad price for this bus.

 

[HomesteadDad]

Sorry to hear. $1905 was not a bad price for this bus.

Not bad at all.

 

[Brewerbob]

Sorry to hear. $1905 was not a bad price for this bus.

Mine was $3208 after auction fees. Even base price is more than a thousand less.

 

[HappyInTN]

There are a few auctions ending soon. I'm looking at some bluebird all american 84 passenger rear engines with the 8.3L Cummins and Allison auto trans. All of the buses have between 180-200k miles. They are Tennessee buses so rust shouldn't be a big issue. I talked to the gentleman at the service department and he said they have been sitting a year, all were taken out of service because of miles or years but they are good buses.

I have a big family, 6 kids, my wife, myself, and the dog so I am thinking the big rear engine bus is my best bet for space. I've heard good things about the 8.3L engine.

Thoughts on what they should go for at auction? There is one in UT next week, but that is a 16 hour longer drive from Michigan.

Thanks

We have four kids as well.. I feel your pain of space concerns. A front engine actually has more usable space inside the bus, fyi. A front engine is also less expensive to work on but is louder usually too. I underestimated just how badly Amtran builds busses. I have had to redo sooo much. I would suggest a bluebird or a Thomas. A front engine, and a dt466 or a Cummins 5.9 as an engine. Hold our for a bus with storage compartments underneath if you can... they come up for auction from time to time. Check our bus out...we bought it through a Govdeals.com auction for around 3k runs amazing with low miles.

 

[HomesteadDad]

I just subscribed to your channel. If I get a bus I'll be adding videos to my channel as well. Thanks!

We have four kids as well.. I feel your pain of space concerns. A front engine actually has more usable space inside the bus, fyi. A front engine is also less expensive to work on but is louder usually too. I underestimated just how badly Amtran builds busses. I have had to redo sooo much. I would suggest a bluebird or a Thomas. A front engine, and a dt466 or a Cummins 5.9 as an engine. Hold our for a bus with storage compartments underneath if you can... they come up for auction from time to time. Check our bus out...we bought it through a Govdeals.com auction for around 3k runs amazing with low miles.

 

[Brewerbob]

A front engine actually has more usable space inside the bus, fyi.

I don't think I believe that. Originally I was thinking dog nose; they definitely don't have as much space. All flat nose buses have 30', 35, 40' (whatever) bumper to bumper. All of that is interior.


I'm putting a bed over my engine. Storage under it. That's 100% usable space. What are you putting over your engine? I could rip out the front heater but I'm not since 1) it's a PITA 2) wouldn't be usable space without covering the steps. FE buses have the front heater and steps too so I don't get how an FE has "more" space than RE.

 

[o1marc]

I don't think I believe that. Originally I was thinking dog nose; they definitely don't have as much space. All flat nose buses have 30', 35, 40' (whatever) bumper to bumper. All of that is interior.


I'm putting a bed over my engine. Storage under it. That's 100% usable space. What are you putting over your engine? I could rip out the front heater but I'm not since 1) it's a PITA 2) wouldn't be usable space without covering the steps. FE buses have the front heater and steps too so I don't get how an FE has "more" space than RE.

I'd have to agree with this. I first thought he meant the difference between Flat and dog nose. The Flat front definitely has more build room inside, but just FE/Flat or RE/Flat, space is the same. Biggest difference is rear aggress.

 

[EastCoastCB]

We have four kids as well.. I feel your pain of space concerns. A front engine actually has more usable space inside the bus, fyi. A front engine is also less expensive to work on but is louder usually too. I underestimated just how badly Amtran builds busses. I have had to redo sooo much. I would suggest a bluebird or a Thomas. A front engine, and a dt466 or a Cummins 5.9 as an engine. Hold our for a bus with storage compartments underneath if you can... they come up for auction from time to time. Check our bus out...we bought it through a Govdeals.com auction for around 3k runs amazing with low miles.

I've worked on all 3 brands and find Thomas to be the lowest quality. They're all about the same though.
Amtrans are my favorite for how they're put together, though.

 

[EastCoastCB]

I don't think I believe that. Originally I was thinking dog nose; they definitely don't have as much space. All flat nose buses have 30', 35, 40' (whatever) bumper to bumper. All of that is interior.


I'm putting a bed over my engine. Storage under it. That's 100% usable space. What are you putting over your engine? I could rip out the front heater but I'm not since 1) it's a PITA 2) wouldn't be usable space without covering the steps. FE buses have the front heater and steps too so I don't get how an FE has "more" space than RE.

A FE bus has the most usable floor space. AND a rear door.
FE also doesn't have several cubic yards of engine and intake sheetmetal in the ass end.

 

[Brewerbob]

A FE bus has the most usable floor space. AND a rear door.

Flat floor space yes. Usable no.

FE also doesn't have several cubic yards of engine and intake sheetmetal in the ass end.

That's where the bed is going in +90% of floor plans anyway. I don't have a rear door but I have a rear window hatch (which I'm keeping even with the roof raise). Because it isn't a door, it's fine with a bed stuck in the middle of it. A door is useful but only if you don't end up blocking it with cabinets or furniture.