Thank you

[HotRodTodd]

Hello and thank you for allowing me to join your community!

My reason for joining and the quest that I'm on is quite a bit different than that of this forums. Simply put, I'm not building a skoolie. I've always liked the concept though. Including the hauler style with a deck on the back like Dennis Anderson did WAY back when he was hauling his Grave Digger monster truck all over the country with his.
Anyway, my project is different and I'm here to learn about bus chassis's. I am in the very early planning stages of a build in which I need some donor pieces. I'm hoping that the knowledge of this group can help me determine what donor chassis to hunt for. Now to do some reading and searching before I post questions either in the wrong section or that have already been answered. Anyway, thank you for adding me.

 

[HotRodTodd]

I can't seem to edit the above post.
It should have read, I am looking for a donor chassis and possibly drivetrain.

In short, I would love to find a donor bus that has independent front suspension with the wide track width that a bus would have.

 

[UFO pilot]

I can't seem to edit the above post.
It should have read, I am looking for a donor chassis and possibly drivetrain.

In short, I would love to find a donor bus that has independent front suspension with the wide track width that a bus would have.

Welcome! We are a friendly bunch always willing to help you spend your money!

More info needed, a "bus" can be anything from a 3/4 ton SRW van body up to a road warrior Greyhound Eagle. The larger buses also tend to be kingpin solid front axle, leafspring and/or air ride.
How big a bus you thinking?
Gas, diesel, or something else?
Front or rear engine?
If you just want a chassis with engine those are certainly out there as buses but you could also go with a clapped out motorhome, box truck, bread van, etc depending on how big or not-so-big you want to go.
Again welcome and don't be discouraged by too many choices, the limit is your wallet!

 

[AlphaHare]

If you just want a chassis with engine those are certainly out there as buses but you could also go with a clapped out motorhome, box truck, bread van, etc depending on how big or not-so-big you want to go.

A damaged motor home body on a good E450 chassis is a great idea... Good aftermarket and dealership support goes a long way. Lift kits, wheels and tires, suspension upgrades are easy - even 4WD options if you have an extra 20K lying around.... ;>)

 

[cadillackid]

A damaged motor home body on a good E450 chassis is a great idea... Good aftermarket and dealership support goes a long way. Lift kits, wheels and tires, suspension upgrades are easy - even 4WD options if you have an extra 20K lying around.... ;>)

I know theres all the hype around the quigley 4x4 vans.. but is it readily possible wit ha body lift to fit F-series axles and transfer case in a van chassis? or are they completely dofferent platforms?

 

[AlphaHare]

I know theres all the hype around the quigley 4x4 vans.. but is it readily possible wit ha body lift to fit F-series axles and transfer case in a van chassis? or are they completely dofferent platforms?

They are different but similar enough platforms from the factory so it can be done. Finding a F350/450/550 (mostly for braking power) donor and replacing the independent components with a solid axle, hangers, and springs. Quigley is 'OEM' if you will, as I think they're Ford factory authorized. Others do it too, UJoint Offroad is one of them.

Fitting the transfer case is usually the hard part, sometimes you need to shorten the fuel tank.

All of which is really expensive, but there are probably 1000's of them out there.

Go to UJoint Offroad and drool.... Here's a 5 window E450 bus:

https://youtu.be/CqMILjVKze4

 

[UFO pilot]

Go to UJoint Offroad and drool.... Here's a 5 window E450 bus:

https://youtu.be/CqMILjVKze4

Wow.....no snow days with that rig!

 

[AlphaHare]

Here's the same bus in a lot more technical and build detail. I drool over the 4WD but I think a rear locker (with the 4 tires) and lift is enough for me and my budget.

This would have been factory dually 14,500 pounds GVWR, or 3,625 pounds per corner at 50/50 weight distribution. I'm guessing my bus is closer to 35/65 so that's more like 4,700 per single rear end tire. That's a lot...

 

[LargeMarge-TC]

... rear locker (with the 4 tires) and lift is enough...

.
2003, after a half-century of make-do camping in lesser rigs, we built our ExpeditionVehicle on a 1996 Ford CF8000 commercial truck.
.
Rear-wheel drive.
Factory air-locker.
.
We engineered our rig for 'primitive' and resilient.
We also engineered our rig for simplicity.
The complexity of 4x4 plus transfer-case was and is unneeded on the rough logger tracks we prefer.
.
And we like the turning radius of two-wheel drive.
On a typical 4x4, those drive knuckles restrict the turn angle of the front wheels, adding significantly to the width of a curve.
.
.
Our introduction with plenty of portraits, plus our reasons for our decisions:
https://vanlivingforum.com/threads/expeditionvehicle-build.44908/#post-576110

 

[HotRodTodd]

Thank you for the welcome and replies.

I am looking for a 2wd chassis with independent front suspension that would have the front tires out as wide as the dually rear tires. The vans and small busses mentioned above have a narrow frontend

 

[HotRodTodd]

Also, a front engine diesel would be a plus