Someone Change My Mind

[DAVEHOLMAN]

I've done two skoolies. The first was a 1983 Carpenter that was the noisiest vehicle in the history of busses. So I sold it at a serious loss.
The next was a 2007 Thomas Saf-T-Liner with the Mercedes MBE926 diesel pusher. I paid $7500, put $5000 in the conversion, drove it 3000 miles over two years and sold it for $10k. I think that counts as a profit in this field. lol

So...I just saw a 2009 Thomas C2, 10 window with lift. It has the MBE926, as well, which I understand has a bad rap, but I've read the problems with the early ones were fixed by 2007. It has 180,000 miles. Unlike the pusher with the engine in the back and the lift in the middle, this one has the lift all the way back. My only concern is the engine out front. I know it won't be as noisy and hot at the Carpenter, but it will be noisier than the Saf-T-Liner.

Anyway...it's for sale for $5k which seems quite reasonable, provided there are no mechanical issues. I'll be going to take a look at it next week. It's about 100 miles away from me, but I'm going that direction next thursday anyway.

Any thoughts, experience or hints for that bus and engine combo? Does $5k seem like a good deal?

 

[-TC-]

No talkin' ya down. Jump!

We are a bunch of bus addicts, in this joint. You bring that sh_t up in here, you fire it up & share it.

Just fall off the wagon, already. Go get that thang. I wanna see ya work it.

 

[DAVEHOLMAN]

We are a bunch of bus addicts, in this joint. You bring that sh_t up in here, you fire it up & share it.

Just fall off the wagon, already. Go get that thang. I wanna see ya work it.

I've been without a skoolie for a year and a half. I retired and moved to New Mexico. I swore off skoolies.

Guess I'm just an addict, too...

 

[cadillackid]

the C2 can be air conditioned to combat the heat... in fact the dashboard is the same as the freightliner medium duty truck of the era.. install dashboard A/C (it already has the vents and ducting)...



the MBE engines are good.. ive got a friend who works on them,, he says they are up there with cummins in reliability.. but that the number of them arent out therei n the USA as are in europe so parts can be expensive and sometimes take longer to get... freightliner dealers do work on them.. modifying C2s can be a bit riskier than an older school bus as they have a multiplex electrical system to run accessories.. so its not quite a switch and a wire and a device.. i like the way C2 drives.. yep its a diesel and gonna be noisier than an RE for sure.. ride quality wont be what an HDX was.. the HDX (esp with 4 corner air ride) is a really nice riding bus compared to most any conventional...



like I say, for heat.. air condition it..

 

[DAVEHOLMAN]

Oy...the electrical on the HDX was bad enough. lol. Multiple fuse boxes, etc. But I'll figure it out.
Also I'm not planning on doing quite as much with this one. I had a full bathroom/shower and kitchen. I'm looking to do more of a road trip machine than a liveaboard RV. Small sink, microwave and small fridge. Shower at truck stops. A couple of bunks, some big comfy recliners, a big screen TV and a good sound system.

 

[cadillackid]

Oy...the electrical on the HDX was bad enough. lol. Multiple fuse boxes, etc. But I'll figure it out.
Also I'm not planning on doing quite as much with this one. I had a full bathroom/shower and kitchen. I'm looking to do more of a road trip machine than a liveaboard RV. Small sink, microwave and small fridge. Shower at truck stops. A couple of bunks, some big comfy recliners, a big screen TV and a good sound system.

good sound system == absolute Must