With a heavy heart I've decided to sell my bus.

[TucsonAZ]

Super disappointing, I was super super thought out with buying it, 2002 Bluebird, 8.3L Cummins, Allison trans, 116,000 miles and spent it's entire life in Tucson so there is zero rust. Seriously, do you know how much effort that took, no emissions stuff to deal with or any of the nonsense, good mileage, diesel pusher. I even got it registered as a motorhome in VT which was some effort for sure.

Anyway, it makes me tired to even think about. Then foolishly I researched and bought everything I need to finish out the build (I thought I was in a time crunch) including a 20kwh battery banks and 5k watts of solar. I put the work into gutting the interior and deleting the windows on one side of it and then the summer rains came and what I thought was going to be a quick pause turned into a change of plans.

So here I am, tempted to not even post this due to thinking about how frustrating it is as I write it. But I've decided to sell it, likely so I can later regret it but all the same, I don't enjoy driving as much as I once did. I don't want to give up living on dirt to live full time in the bus and if I'm just going to use it for travel I would rather convert an enclosed trailer.

I read about people not finishing their projects and thought "yeah, never happen to me" but here I am. Tough too because you're selling more than a bus, you're selling a dream. They're built so damn well I almost want to just keep it but it isn't practical.

I don't know, just disappointed and needed to vent. It will all work out but it's been an annoying decision process. Not to mention, I bought a 7x14 aluminum trailer to convert and when I decided on the bus I built that out as a tool trailer to tow behind the bus and I did it in a way that it's not worth trying to use for a camping trailer again.

I'll stop there, I made my point but I've been avoiding this post for a good week. Sooooo much work and busses really are built so much better than everything else!

 

[cadillackid]

why does e veryone thiunkl they have to give up their house?
if you ask me giving up "dirt" is the toughest way ever to live..

Lots of people comnvert busses and travel in them without full-timing..



you likely dont enjoy driving it because its not finished.. if you have no plans to go full time then whats the time crunch? none.. you can work on it at your leisure and then go travelling..


as far as practical... I do and have a lot of things that arent considered "practical" but they are fun.. and you only live once... I have as few busses.. they arent converted, they arent a business... OK one is a mobile office rig.. but the others are really not practical but they are fun as ****... make your bus fun as **** and go travelling!




build the bus and go on vacations... you already have the stuff.. now you have the time

 

[Corbi]

I have a similar decision point. If I have to abandon I'll have to face up to it. In the mean time I'm looking at ways to avoid it. Corbi has a bit of history. I put in lots of time and effort in to it. Buses can stand on their own without a need to justify their worth. There is elegance in wood glass and steel that makes them special.

 

[ewo1]

Hey tucson, your right about the time crunch, it’s called life’s mortality rate.

You got one life to live so fill it full, adventures, friends and fun.

All you need is an air mattress and diesel.

Lots of folks have a bucket list. If you don’t then create one.

Now get your butt in the bus and go empty out that bucket list !
There is nothing that says the bus must be finished. Go on some short trips and post your adventures here so that you can motivate us !

Dont sell your bus!
Keep on living life but also do include some bus adventures and pics too!

Btw, i got 2 busses that are not finished yet and i have done 3 long distance trips and several local day trips in Tx.

Just do it !!!

 

[nikitis]

I've watched my bus go from a complete POS with everything broken, to running and only partially broken

It's why the wife and I call him Humpty Dumpty, cause we're trying to put him back together again.

For me quitting isn't an option. It may take me 5 years before I can call him mostly completed, but I also work on it in my leisure time. I work full time, have two mortgage payments. I have a well paying job so I can do that but I don't make enough to push forward quickly on the build, but when the money dries up, I get to thinking about how I can improve my bus in unique ways nobody has thought about. Beep... Beep... Beep...

When I'm done with my bus I will have touched every single inch of it inside and out, and there won't be a single part of the bus where you can't see a modification or two done by me. It's my first automotive project. I've learned many professions in my short time on this earth, and the bus project for me has been the culmination of all of that learning and I get to put it to use in the build. Quite amazing if you think about it, and when it's done I know i'll be able to use that and go see the world.

 

[Rock-N-Ruth]

Super disappointing, I was super super thought out with buying it, 2002 Bluebird, 8.3L Cummins, Allison trans, 116,000 miles and spent it's entire life in Tucson so there is zero rust. Seriously, do you know how much effort that took, no emissions stuff to deal with or any of the nonsense, good mileage, diesel pusher. I even got it registered as a motorhome in VT which was some effort for sure.

Anyway, it makes me tired to even think about. Then foolishly I researched and bought everything I need to finish out the build (I thought I was in a time crunch) including a 20kwh battery banks and 5k watts of solar. I put the work into gutting the interior and deleting the windows on one side of it and then the summer rains came and what I thought was going to be a quick pause turned into a change of plans.

So here I am, tempted to not even post this due to thinking about how frustrating it is as I write it. But I've decided to sell it, likely so I can later regret it but all the same, I don't enjoy driving as much as I once did. I don't want to give up living on dirt to live full time in the bus and if I'm just going to use it for travel I would rather convert an enclosed trailer.

I read about people not finishing their projects and thought "yeah, never happen to me" but here I am. Tough too because you're selling more than a bus, you're selling a dream. They're built so damn well I almost want to just keep it but it isn't practical.

I don't know, just disappointed and needed to vent. It will all work out but it's been an annoying decision process. Not to mention, I bought a 7x14 aluminum trailer to convert and when I decided on the bus I built that out as a tool trailer to tow behind the bus and I did it in a way that it's not worth trying to use for a camping trailer again.

I'll stop there, I made my point but I've been avoiding this post for a good week. Sooooo much work and busses really are built so much better than everything else!

We feel ya brother. I am sure that you condensed a lot of information that went into making your tough decision and we don't have the whole picture. This life, whether it be occasional boondocking, or full time living, is seductive to the outsider, but not for everyone. This goes for RVing, and all sorts of nomadic life.



I get that it is rough to figure out after an investment of time, sweat and money.



Some folks at this point might try to go ahead and finish their build then hope they can sell it for a profit, or for what they have in it in time and money. I don't think that goes well most of the time. Better to cut your losses at the materials stage.



Perhaps if and when you decide to sell you might try marketing it as a DIY kit.


That 2002 Bluebird with the 8.3 should be attractive to many. That is what we are building in now. Bought it from a school system in Tucson and brought it back to Deming to build our "forever home." This just means I think it's going to be my last build. We are full timers with our own land.


Don't want to sound like a vulture, just a poor guy who sees a potential opportunity. If you don't find a buyer for your bus, hit me up. Depending what you have invested in it, we might be able to help you come close to breaking even. It never hurts to have a spare bus with parts that fit. Ours is a 2002 Bluebird RE high ceiling activity bus with the Cummins 8.3 and Alison 3060.