Newbie researching help please

[olddawgsrule]

Can you direct me to the Buying your first bus thread? Or something on those lines..

Also curious if there a thread on dimensions of interiors of different makers? I was looking at a Collins online and find it may only have 5'-8" headroom.. For a 6'-2" person, that wouldn't work..

I'd like to stay under 26ft (20ft would be great) and wonder if a 2016 F450 Triton 5.4l would be a decent choice of engines?

 

[peteg59]

Here ya go, "neighbor"...
https://www.skoolie.net/forums/f9/buyers-guide-tips-for-newbies-and-veterans-34250.html

More good reading:
https://www.skoolie.net/forums/f9/r...ty-inspection-checklist-33026.html#post405938

 

[olddawgsrule]

Here ya go, "neighbor"...
https://www.skoolie.net/forums/f9/buyers-guide-tips-for-newbies-and-veterans-34250.html

More good reading:
https://www.skoolie.net/forums/f9/r...ty-inspection-checklist-33026.html#post405938

Thanks Pete! Hey I'm out of Auburn. You?

 

[peteg59]

Not too far away, in Farmington...

 

[olddawgsrule]

How does the Chevy 4.8l Vortex shape up? It's a 2012 Blue Bird Micro Bird MFSAB and seems like it has a 75" headroom. At a GVWR <10k lbs, my first thought is the engine's a bit light (especially touring the Rockies).

No finding interior width spec's yet assuming in the 78" range..

https://www.lasvegasbussales.com/inventory/school-buses-for-sale/2012-blue-bird-micro-bird-daycare-bus-s50149/

 

[CHEESE_WAGON]

How does the Chevy 4.8l Vortex shape up? It's a 2012 Blue Bird Micro Bird MFSAB and seems like it has a 75" headroom. At a GVWR <10k lbs, my first thought is the engine's a bit light (especially touring the Rockies).

No finding interior width spec's yet assuming in the 78" range..

https://www.lasvegasbussales.com/in...2012-blue-bird-micro-bird-daycare-bus-s50149/

Probably a typo, but it's Vortec, not Vortex.

4.8 is adequate, but a bit underpowered IMO. 5.3 or 6.0 would be better. Even in a base U-Haul truck, I didn't see enough fuel economy with the 4.8 to be worth singing the "Jeopardy!" theme while climbing hills. And $24,500? They've lost their minds.

 

[Cerax]

Probably a typo, but it's Vortec, not Vortex.

4.8 is adequate, but a bit underpowered IMO. 5.3 or 6.0 would be better. Even in a base U-Haul truck, I didn't see enough fuel economy with the 4.8 to be worth singing the "Jeopardy!" theme while climbing hills. And $24,500? They've lost their minds.

As someone who just bought an 09 Chevy Micro bird 6.0L Vortec for 5k..... yeah that’s a crazy amount for a bus.

Why do these multi function busses sell for so much more than school busses? It can’t just be the paint job alone can it?

 

[CHEESE_WAGON]

As someone who just bought an 09 Chevy Micro bird 6.0L Vortec for 5k..... yeah that’s a crazy amount for a bus.

Why do these multi function busses sell for so much more than school busses? It can’t just be the paint job alone can it?

All in how much someone is crazy enough to ask and how much someone else is crazy enough to pay...

OP, you asked about Ford's Triton gas engines. They are absolutely great but have some caveats. The 98-04 2V engines would sometimes blow the spark plugs out after changing them (weak thread inserts and improper torquing), the 04-09 factory spark plugs had design flaws, and the 3V engines are known to have issues with cam phasers that should not be fixed with aftermarket parts. Other than that, they are stellar performers and rarely need major repair. New Blue Bird Visions are shipping with the V10s, and the V8s are based on those.

The 6.0 / 6.4L diesel, however, is to be avoided, especially the 6.0L.

 

[olddawgsrule]

I located the thread of 'where to buy' resources and been scrolling through quite a few of them.

One of the Public Auction sites was really nice that you can pick a region of the country to search through. Shame it lacks other filters to narrow down the results. I guess with some time, I could be able to spot something by model..

I switched over to a site I use quite a bit when researching $$ on most everything commercial and found they also have a bus section. I found this over there:

https://www.commercialtrucktrader.com/listing/2010-CHEVROLET-EXPRESS-5014886660

2010 Chevy 6.0l gasser that hits the size, height, mileage and engine size I 'think' I'm searching for. Thoughts??

 

[olddawgsrule]

This is the auction site I referred to earlier that really could use some filters... for me anyway...

https://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/all,az/browse/cataucs?catid=402

 

[Cerax]

I located the thread of 'where to buy' resources and been scrolling through quite a few of them.

One of the Public Auction sites was really nice that you can pick a region of the country to search through. Shame it lacks other filters to narrow down the results. I guess with some time, I could be able to spot something by model..

I switched over to a site I use quite a bit when researching $$ on most everything commercial and found they also have a bus section. I found this over there:

https://www.commercialtrucktrader.com/listing/2010-CHEVROLET-EXPRESS-5014886660

2010 Chevy 6.0l gasser that hits the size, height, mileage and engine size I 'think' I'm searching for. Thoughts??

I'm not experienced as many on this site, as I've just recently purchased my bus and went through that whole process. That said, I Think many people would probably encourage you to to look at Facebook Marketplace/Craigslist (private sellers) + Auctions.

That bus looks good; however, it still seems *way* overpriced. I just bought a near-identical bus (2009, 150K miles) for 1/3 that price. Granted, it did end up needing work, but I think you can probably find one in the 5-7K range from auction/private seller.

 

[olddawgsrule]

I'm not experienced as many on this site, as I've just recently purchased my bus and went through that whole process. That said, I Think many people would probably encourage you to to look at Facebook Marketplace/Craigslist (private sellers) + Auctions.

That bus looks good; however, it still seems *way* overpriced. I just bought a near-identical bus (2009, 150K miles) for 1/3 that price. Granted, it did end up needing work, but I think you can probably find one in the 5-7K range from auction/private seller.

I do search Marketplace as well, Craig's I tend to steer away from, it's over-run with scammers (IMHO).
The one I mention has <100K miles on it, so it would be a bit more $$. 150K miles I would expect to pay much less. Most all gasser's at 200K should get a front end re-build. I don't know of a single one (personally) that doesn't use plastic guides (or pads) on the timing chain.

I do feel they're a bit high, yet being a dealership I wouldn't hesitate to shoot them a lower number and let them sit on it for a while.