New from Texas

[consti2tion]

Hello, another newb here. My wife and I have been hunting for a bus the last couple of months. We decided the next vacation we take would be one we could take our dogs. ( We don't have/want children. ) Considered renting an RV, while we realized that was just going to be ridiculously expensive, we looked into buying a used older RV. Here is where the bus come into play. Expressed to the wife that I would not own a vehicle that large with a gas engine, so we thought hey lets look into a school bus. Long story short we have won a school bus from an auction site. We pick it up on Weds (2-21-1

It's a 2004 IC 6 Window Conventional bus, has the t444e and Allison 2000 trans. CAN NOT WAIT TO PICK HER UP!! Unsure what to name her as of yet.

I really want to thank all of you who have posted your builds on here, it is a wealth of information that is invaluable!

 

[Robin97396]

Good to hear you ended up with a nice little shorty. Nice choice.

Keep real careful notes on that first adrenalyn filled white knuckle bus ride. That's the fun part.

 

[consti2tion]

Thank you! We decided it's the perfect size. Storing, parking, driving anything larger would be difficult for us right now.

Oh I am sure it will be a little white knuckled! Luckily it's only a little over an hour away and its almost all country driving, only small towns in between. I have driven a uhaul that was longer than this so maybe that will help me be a little more comfortable.

 

[Robin97396]

That little thing will drive like a pickup truck. It might be a little wider of a vehicle than you're used to but you'll adapt.

 

[PNW_Steve]

T444 and Allison 2000 in a shorty! Sweet!!

Cant wait to see your build thread.

 

[consti2tion]

That little thing will drive like a pickup truck. It might be a little wider of a vehicle than you're used to but you'll adapt.

That's good to know! Haha, I kind of pride myself on the ability to drive nearly anything. Been around and working on cars/trucks/tractors my entire life, just never had the opportunity or need arise to drive a bus. I drive a long bed extended cab 4wd F250 with a utility bed on it for work ( Work for a Natural Gas Company. ) So I am kind of used to having to swing wider and cut tight corners in a longer vehicle.

T444 and Allison 2000 in a shorty! Sweet!!

Cant wait to see your build thread.

I wish it weren't the 175 HP t444e but hey I am not going to complain, I'm just happy I got one with the 2000 trans.

I know! I cannot wait to start it! Luckily I have had experience remodeling our last house and current house so I am familiar with plumbing, electrical, carpentry etc.

 

[Robin97396]

We're always into learning something new here. Everyone has some kind of special knowledge or experience that can help.

Are you making like a day camper or are you squeezing in the outhouse and sink too?

 

[consti2tion]

I will be squeezing in the outhouse, a shower and kitchen sink as well. It will be tight, but seeing that it is just my wife, our two dogs, and myself I think we can spare the room for the creature comforts we have all grow accustomed to in our own private space.

 

[Robin97396]

That's right, make it your own. We don't do it all the same because we don't use them all the same.

I've got a mobile fishing cabin. Minimalist by some standards. Dry and warm by my standards.

It's about what fills your needs.

 

[consti2tion]

Took the words right out of my mouth sir! Wednesday could not come fast enough, ready to get rolling on the tear down of seats and what not!

 

[consti2tion]

Hope this works.
Here's a couple pics from the auction site.

 

[Robin97396]

That's a pretty ideal size. Are those AC panels I see in the sides? Nice.

That is a premium size bus for what many people want. There's a lot of information missing to make a realistic value call, but a very much wanted size like that often goes for $5k or more with factory air. I would bid if it were going for under $3k, but that's because I don't need a bus right now. I'm questioning if that one is mechanical or the electronic version. I think someone said they changed from mech to computers middle of that year.

 

[consti2tion]

It has AC, seller stated it does not work. I will try to diagnose when I bring it home. It’s got 135k miles, 5700 hours. Needs pads all around but that not a big deal. Tires are older but they have a ton of tread. Handicap lift works( gonna sell that). Hydraulic brakes. What other info would you need to gauge the value. I’ll tell you we paid right around 2100 for it. I think we got an amazing deal all things considered.

 

[Horst-SKO]

sweet! Perfect size, I am jealous!

 

[jjhwick119]

Where's the link to the auction? I wanna see if you got one of the two I was bidding on

Edit nvmd, just saw you won it cor 2100. Different one

 

[consti2tion]

sweet! Perfect size, I am jealous!

Any bigger would be a pain for me haha!

 

[consti2tion]

Where's the link to the auction? I wanna see if you got one of the two I was bidding on

Edit nvmd, just saw you won it cor 2100. Different one

Which were you bidding on? That’s unfortunate you didn’t win one!

 

[jjhwick119]

24 and 27 I believe. They went low, but I was only willing to go into em at 1200ish because i needed enough money extra for the bus im actually looking for. I was just gonna try and get a quick flip

 

[consti2tion]

Oh no doubt. I considered bidding on them for that reason as well. The fact that th master cylinder was bad would have made it too expensive to transport.
27 was actually the bus I won. 28 is probably the other one you were bidding on.

 

[jjhwick119]

The ones I bid on sold for 1250 and 1350. Oh well. I'll keep watching that same site