Need Help Getting Started in Bus Life

[luka_htx]

Hey Everyone,

I am a high school senior in high school and planning on taking a gap year / years and I really love traveling hiking and being adventurous. love the entire mini home idea so far my idea of concept is to get a class B school bus and convert it. I honestly have no idea where to start. I have no idea what’s good or bad to get. I have no idea where to even buy one. Please Help!!!

 

[nikitis]

Pre 2004 buses are still the recommendation due to lack of emissions requirements. Emissions wear out your engine faster than they should so even older 30 year old engines are still new enough if you can find them under 200k miles, you'll get a lot of life out of them still.

Avoid the AT545 trans if you want to travel a lot in it. If just buying to park and live and occasionally drive somewhere it's ok to have. It depends on your goals.

A 2002-2004 year model is going to be your best bet right now to look for. Less likely to have an AT545 (not guaranteed but likely). Really any trans other than the 545 is okay and I wouldn't worry about it beyond that one.

Then after that it's really about preference. Are you under or over 6ft. If over 6ft it limits you even more to only HDX models unless you are willing to go the distance and do a roof raise then in that case in it doesnt matter which bus you get cause you're raising the roof. Of you are 5'8 or under you also can likely get away with any bus and not need a roof raise done.

Other considerations are, length. If loving in it parked somewhere a longer 40ft is advised. If traveling a lot 30ft is the go to for parking and camping reasons. Campgrounds won't let 40 ft buses in, but will up to 30ft.

 

[Mr P]

For one person to travel I'd suggest something smaller, a "type A" or van would absolutely get better mileage and better parking/driving access to sites, easier to heat/cool. Consider your ability to license and insure the various options, as those can be "snags" depending on state laws.

Avoid rusty undercarriages.

 

[FawnaFox]

Avoid first year 5.9 24V cummins engines. They hadn't worked out the electrical kinks yet, my bus is a 1998 with the first year of EFI 5.9 Cummins engines. It has electrical issues related to the throttle.

12v cummins motors are good, just with the Killer Dowel Pin replaced. You would have a good time with an International 3800, as they're popular and generally reliable.

I would also suggest if it's just you, get one of those van busses., for the reasons Mr P said.
If you can handle a Manual bus, it's a great choice, but understandably not for everyone.. as someone who owns a manual bus, it's a bit more difficult. But you won't have as many problems as an automatic.

Happy hunting!

 

[Mr P]

As a mechanic who rates the 24v Cummins the second most reliable truck engine, I disagree with the "first year electrical issues" claim. I haven't noticed that. Most all eventually need a TPS due to wear/tear/vibration.

 

[BamaBus]

Skip the bus for now unless you have money saved and an income for repairs. Buy a Dodge Caravn with Stow n Go seating. Take the seats out and you will have a large flat floor with storage.

 

[Mr P]

Campgrounds won't let 40 ft buses in, but will up to 30ft.

Be more specific, please.

 

[nikitis]

On what specifically? I provided the lengths of buses. End to end 30 ft pretty much ALL campgrounds will let you in regards to size of vehicle.. (They could also not let you in by age, but we're not talking about that restriction, just size) If you are over 30ft, some camps will start to reject on size. Private or public camps.

I haven't noticed any really rejecting based on Height, just length.

 

[Mr P]

What/which campgrounds? How do you know? Links to rules?

I'm booked for next year....I don't recall a question of length.

 

[Kentucky Dreaming]

What/which campgrounds? How do you know? Links to rules?

I'm booked for next year....I don't recall a question of length.

A few campgrounds do have length limits, mostly in National Parks. Some others do, but not necessarily for all sites.

Best thing to do is read the full description of the site you are reserving on the website. Recreation.gov has excellent info on their reservation site for Federally operated campgrounds. I use them a lot for Corps of Engineers campgrounds here in Kentucky & Tennessee.

 

[FawnaFox]

As a mechanic who rates the 24v Cummins the second most reliable truck engine, I disagree with the "first year electrical issues" claim. I haven't noticed that. Most all eventually need a TPS due to wear/tear/vibration.

I have replaced the TPS with a real Williams one, the issue still persists... it randomly will rev to max rpm.. I have a feeling it's corrosion.. but I have no idea where..

 

[nikitis]

Yup, and even though booking ahead of time, sometimes when you show up, and they see the size of your bus (If over 30 ft) they'll be like, you won't fit in our slots, and turn you away. It's always a question I ask them when I call to book. I don't book online ever unless it's like last minute needing a spot. When you call you need to be the one to specify and ask if there is a length limit cause they won't tell you outright as it's not one of their common questions. Most RV's are 30ft and under so it doesn't come up with them very much.

 

[desrtdog]

Most RV's are 30ft and under

…..except in TEXAS, where everything is BIGGER…

 

[Mr P]

Yup, and even though booking ahead of time, sometimes when you show up, and they see the size of your bus (If over 30 ft) they'll be like, you won't fit in our slots, and turn you away. It's always a question I ask them when I call to book. I don't book online ever unless it's like last minute needing a spot. When you call you need to be the one to specify and ask if there is a length limit cause they won't tell you outright as it's not one of their common questions. Most RV's are 30ft and under so it doesn't come up with them very much.

You seem to speak from experience, yet you are (correct me if this claim is incorrect) now in the process of building your bus, and have not camped in it yet. Help me understand how you know these things...

 

[ewo1]

You seem to speak from experience, yet you are (correct me if this claim is incorrect) now in the process of building your bus, and have not camped in it yet. Help me understand how you know these things...

No need to call him out... It's common knowledge.... Here's some info to help you better understand...
Most folks building a bus, at least here on this site, have discussed this quite a bit.

Guide to RV Size Limits for Popular National Parks

Get out there and explore! But before you leave, know the national park RV length restrictions of the place you’re visiting.

www.cruiseamerica.com

https://outdoorsrvmfg.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/National-Park-Trailer-Length-Chart.pdf

 

[nikitis]

And not only from reading about others discussions on here, I have actually taken my bus to a few parks and camped already. It's called a steel tent when you camp with nothing done inside. It's great, you don't have to set anything up except for a blow up mattress and a Coleman stove.

You make a reservation, show up, experience working with a camps manager. Did it not occur to you that maybe I've taken my bus to camp with already a few times?

I also practice what I preach. I do recommend that people take their buses out and camp in them to get real world experience to learn what features they will want more in their bus before they build them up fully. You could search the forums and find record of me stating just that.

It's important to find out what your needs are when building a skoolie.

 

[Mr P]

, I have actually taken my bus to a few parks and camped already. It's called a steel tent when you camp with nothing done inside.

Noted.

 

[TheHubbardBus]

@luka_htx,

If I was looking soley to travel, I'd buy a used RV if I were you. Plenty of incredible bargains to be found, and easily your quickest way to get on the road.

That said, building a bus can be an excellent learning opportunity, if you're willing and able to focus more on the journey (in bus building), and less on the destination (completion). If you take the time to truly learn the multitude of skills / disciplines needed for a project like this, you'll carry that forward for a lifetime, even if those skills aren't necessarily what you end up 'doing' with your life.

Just don't get sucked into the YouTube 'dream' without considering the reality of the situation. Old commercial vehicles aren't cheap to maintain. Just one tow-bill, much less the associated repair bill, of anything major can be a real burden. I think you focusing on a smaller type B as you say (maybe type A too) is very smart.

 

[Meathead]

I agree with the van/used rv idea. My guess is that you yearn to go places. You see the nice skoolie builds and want one but you could get bogged down in building/finances and never hit the road.

We did it on motorcycles and hitchhiking years ago. A graveyard was a welcome sight when you got tired. Throw your jacket over your reflectors and nobody knows you’re there! Dang that was fun. I still pass cemeteries and scope out the large monument to park behind.

Point is….all young guys need is a van, mattress, camp stove, and ice chest. The rest you will figure out as you go. There are great ppl out there and adventures around every corner. Go get em!!

And if you get stranded somewhere and an old guy pulls up in his bus….he knows.

Dave