Runaway Bus - Minimalist Build

[NotThatKaren]

When I decided I wanted to build a skoolie I had a small advantage with the first hurdle - I was "born to shop". While that's amusing, it's also an actual skill when it comes to finding a workable project bus. I researched, cross-referenced available features, and looked at a lot of options. There was the windowless bus that had been built as a mobile job site office (not a bad idea, as privacy was never going to be an issue). There was the partly converted bus that the owners could no longer continue with since baby number 2 came along (was this a head start on the work, or buying someone else's problem?). There were a lot of other possibilities, even a brief period where I looked at moving vans. Eventually I found my project bus; not too old, not too broken, and to my brothers' delight, not a mechanical nightmare. To be fair, it cost a bit more than I was planning to spend, but the price wasn't unreasonable when weighed against the money I would save by not having to paint it (white city bus), or replace any major mechanical components.

 

[NotThatKaren]

Minimalist Build/2

The interior of the Runaway Bus was also in decent shape. That was important, too, as I wanted the finished product to retain much of the "bus" character inside. Walls and ceiling were in very good shape. The floor was going to need work, but we all know that's the rule rather than the exception. The seller agreed to remove the seats, which worked for both of us. Here's where we started:

 

[cadillackid]

these little birds arent bad... trying to remember.. i think giradin built those.. ford V10 is pretty tried and true and many of its issues resolved by 2010 .. shuttles have their own challenges as the body itself is not nearly as strong as a school bus so mounting overhead cabinets and such can be a real challenge.. you dont have solid metal walls, roof, and ceilings to work with..



shuttles ride and drive quieter / easier than school busses so you have a more car-pickup like experience to drive and get it serviced. i like the big windows in these type busses too.. typically they are better windows than school bus windows..



I would hose that down really good (in warmer weather). to make sure you dont have leaks.. ive seen issues (more with starcraft brand) of water getting inside those corrugated walls and causing mold.. that one looks from the quick interior pick like its pretty clean so hopefully no issues there.. just something to look at..



factory A/C bus.. make sure if you choose to remove the rear ceiling A/C to do your research. many ofthese busses you will also destroy the dashboard A/C by removing the rear unit. (and not performing a full conversion of the Dash A/C to work again).. im only mentioning it as ive come across more than one person telling me (I took out the rear and now the front doesnt work)... im a proponent of leaving the factory air and working around it so you have it for being nice N cool throughout on the road..

 

[Rucker]

factory A/C bus.. make sure if you choose to remove the rear ceiling A/C to do your research. many ofthese busses you will also destroy the dashboard A/C by removing the rear unit. (and not performing a full conversion of the Dash A/C to work again).. im only mentioning it as ive come across more than one person telling me (I took out the rear and now the front doesnt work)... im a proponent of leaving the factory air and working around it so you have it for being nice N cool throughout on the road..

Anyone contemplating removing their factory AC, working or not, should read this five times.

 

[nikitis]

Suspension is the most common failure on those because they are often ridden very hard while in service. I would spend a lot of time inspecting that area closely, and if it's good and checks out, solid bus.