| Author |
Message |
Johnny (67.241.224.68)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 29, 2002 - 7:25 pm: | |
What do the experts think of this one?
1982 Ford chassis dog-nose school bus, ThomasBuilt body, 71 passenger, GVWR 25,000lbs
Originally a 429/2bbl gasser, now a 460/4bbl engine (replaced in 1991, a Ford remanufactured marine engine, owner has all reciepts)
Spicer non-synchro 5-speed manual, no 2-speed rear axle
Body in good condition--no rust, no leaks, all windows intact (though the windshgields are badly pitted
No power steering, humongous (like, 30") steering wheel
Power hydraulic brakes
22.5" wheels, bias-ply tires, rears retreads with good tread, fronts rotted tube-type nylon with little tread (needs front tires!)
290,000 miles
He says it's governed at 60, but has plenty of power & RPM left at that point (turning about 2500 in 5th, tach goes to 4500, no redline indicated)
Everything seems to work properly
Air conditioned, but does not work (freon lost from bad hose)
Price: best offer |
jmaxwell (66.42.92.246)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 29, 2002 - 10:23 pm: | |
Well, Johnny, you asked, so IMHO: An under-powered, gas guzzling, gear grinding, inadequate braking dog that needs new glasses. |
Mike McCarthy (152.163.197.67)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 29, 2002 - 10:34 pm: | |
Not an expert...but I can say "been there, done that". I bought a schoolbus conversion,ditched
the govenor etc...after a few trips I finally decided it wasn't worth putting any more time/
cash into cause it was never going to ride like
a coach. Wound up gutting it out for the re useable parts and buying a GMC 4903. Ahhhh much
better.
Of course you could put the galley in the rear,
and while cooking on the road the pancakes can
flip themselves...just an idea |
Johnny (63.21.187.119)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 29, 2002 - 10:55 pm: | |
Underpowered? It most certainly is NOT underpowered! While a Cummins would be nice, that 460 had PLENTY of grunt--I never used more than about 2/3 throttle, & that only once (climbing a steep hill). It held speed well--even on grades--without needing to shift. The engine has a few miles (about 90,000), but plenty of power. It's the good one--4-bolt mains, steel crank, forged rods & pistons, stainless steel valves.
The brakes are good--it stops RIGHT NOW when the pedal is pressed.
I want a manual--I won't own a slushbox, I loathe them. A 2-speed axle would be nice, though.
Also, I do not, repeat DO NOT, grind gears.
I know they're bouncier than a coach--this is not a revelation. However, it's also not a problem. I have a few ideas on this one. |
FAST FRED (65.58.186.180)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 30, 2002 - 5:21 am: | |
These can be great conversions ., but as with a Transit the lack of bays to carry "stuff" is a big pain.
For about $500 an
air ride system can be used to smooth the big bumps.
One problem that can NOT be overcome is that loads of campgrounds will NOT admit your coach.
If its a Flatnose and can be hoked yp to look like a Wanderlodge , maybe , but a Dog Nosed your stuck in Sams club , forever.
FAST FRED |
Steven Gibbs (12.148.43.8)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 30, 2002 - 6:17 am: | |
Johnny,
Although, as you have probably noticed, this is probably the best BBS related to bus conversions I've found.
Nevertheless, it is primarily a intercity and transit site. Limited participation from confirmed skoolies. Not a bad thing, just an observation. Even if everyone didn't want to convert you to at least a transit guy, we really don't know skoolies.
There must be a site out there that specializes in school bus type conversions. Lacking that, try to find a site that caters to school bus drivers, owners, operators.
You will find wealth of experience with the type of units your looking at. We will never convince you (nor should we keep trying) to decide on anything else.
Once you have made your purchase on the advice of experienced users of this type of chassis and powertrain, come back here and I'm sure everyone will be glad to give you some advice on how to convert it into an RV.
Good Luck,
Steve G. |
Johnny (63.21.184.42)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 30, 2002 - 2:25 pm: | |
Anyone know a skoolie site? I've looked, but haven't found anything. |
FAST FRED (63.215.233.205)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 30, 2002 - 3:17 pm: | |
http://www.orisus.com/bcd/bcdbb3.htm
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/housetrucks/
http://login.yahoo.com/config/login?.intl=us&.src=ygrp&.done=http://groups.yahoo.com%2Fclubs%2Fboondocking
There are many more , for Crowns ect,
But your on the best board right now, even though some here would think you waisting time on a Skoolie.
A conversion is a conversion , so ask away , there are no foolish Questions , everybody wonders about the same stuff all the time.
Most popular is why can't I use a $400 genset end and a brand XXX motor and save big on a gen set?.
FAST FRED |
Ross (199.196.22.61)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 02, 2002 - 2:33 pm: | |
Fast Fred....Not that I want to do a skoolie, but why are they not allowed at many camp grounds. If they are set up with all the right equipment, why would they be any different than a Prevost or MCI conversion...from the campgrounds perspective.
Ross |
Ross (207.88.97.79)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 02, 2002 - 2:44 pm: | |
Most popular is why can't I use a $400 genset end and a brand XXX motor and save big on a gen set?.
Since you mentioned it...Why can't you. I'm going to buy a nice diesel genset, but why would my 6.5KW honda construction generator not work. I've powered my house with it. In fact...It is in a bay on the bus and when we need power, we fire it up. It's easier than running extension cords and until I buy a genset...It is my genset.
I suspect the answer is in the park and campground regulations governing RV generators.
Ross |
Gary Carter (12.65.78.78)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 02, 2002 - 5:29 pm: | |
Before buying a school bus to convert, check with your insurance carrier. Most insurance companies will not insure an ex-school bus. And Fred is right on many campgrounds have rules against school buses. |
Jim Ashworth (Jimnh) (172.142.158.226)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 02, 2002 - 6:48 pm: | |
The reason most campgrounds exclude "skoolies" is because they are usually owned by "low-lifes" that have the real potential of disrupting the lives of "normal" people. How would you like a group of (and this is stereotypical) of dope smoking hippies or Hell's Angels camping next to you. Not exactly my idea of camping. I am sure they have experienced this numerous times, and therefore, exclude ALL skoolies based on this negative experience. I guess I can't blame them. The old story of "one bad apple spoils the barrel" seems to apply here.
Jim |
Scott Whitney (65.113.151.166)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 03, 2002 - 12:13 am: | |
The reason most people don't use a cheap diesel genset, or a contractor model genset is weight and noise. Both make a big racket and the cheap Chinese diesels are heavy monsters. The noise may be ok in a truck stop or in your back yard, but try firing up noisy genset in a campground and you'll meet the neighbors pretty quick.
Good RV type gensets are designed for minimal noise and vibration and are usually reasonbly light weight.
I think if an ex-school bus is going to be converted to a nice private coach RV, ideal would be a mid or rear engine Crown, or a rear engine Gillig. Also ok would be a snub nose front engine bus.
For a boondocker, hunting camper, swap meet hauler, party bus etc., a dog nose is just fine.
But I think no matter how you skin, paint and dress up a dog nose, it still carries a stigma. Not fair, for sure, but the true.
Scott |
Johnny (63.159.188.12)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 03, 2002 - 1:46 am: | |
The biggest jerks I've ever run into camping had a $50,000+ 5th wheel towed by a $35,000+ Cummins Ram dually. The nicest guy I ever met had a converted 1968 IH Conventional skoolie (an absolutely beautiful job, I must add), towing an old RHD postal Jeep. Stereotyping is idiotic, though I know it exists. 2 college guys in an old (1970's) Coleman pop-up towed by a Microbus were the most helpful RVers I've ever met.
Of course, my friend, my wife, & myself once were almost refused entry to a campground because of the fact that our Coachman motorhome (1977 Dodge Class C) usually tows a decrepit-looking VW Rabbit pickup........
I understand the owner's concern, however: he didn't want oil to leak all over his grass.
Our generator is an ancient 8500W Tecumsah--louder than RV generators, but not by much. We've never had a complaint about the noise. Indeed, I plan to use it for the conversion. My only gripe: pull-start only.
Insurance is no problem--already talked to my agent.
I physically CANNOT DRIVE a pusher (or even a front-engine flat-nose) bus--it makes me queasy. I also can't afford a coach. |
Michael McGhee (209.204.149.154)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 03, 2002 - 12:54 pm: | |
I'm just getting started with a stripped out
GMC "Fishbowl" transit coach. Having troble
parking it, DMV charging me commercial.
Is there any place in Calif. where there is
a concentration of Busnuts?
thanks, Michael McGhee
Bodega Bay |
Scott Whitney (65.113.151.166)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 03, 2002 - 2:20 pm: | |
What kind of grief is DMV giving you? I am in San Luis Obispo, CA and have a Flxible transit which looks very similar to a fish. Mine is registered as a 'car' of all things. Was like that when I bought it so I left well enough alone. But you should be able to change your rego with DMV easily enough.
Storage can be a pain in CA. I do all my conversion work in a gravel storage yard. Unless you are in LA, SD or SF I'd think finding a large, inexpensive storage yard shouldn't be too hard. In SLO, property is outrageously high, so I feel very lucky to have a convenient storage yard that looks the other way as I work on my bus. Price isn't too bad either.
Oh, I just looked up Bodega Bay. Must be close enough to SF to have impacted real estate huh? Don't know what to suggest for storage. . . Maybe a local charter company would rent you a space?
Scott |
Brian (204.126.2.226)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 10, 2002 - 6:04 pm: | |
Don't get a school bus that has anything at all wrong with it. Check with your local school district to see about purchasing a bus that has just been replaced. The school district I work for just auctioned off several old buses that had nothing wrong with them at all. They included several 1979 IH/Waynes 65 pass gas auto hyd, several 1980 IH/Wayne 71 pass diesel auto air brakes, several 1982 Ford/Wayne 71 pass with Detroit Diesel FuelPincher Turbodiesels Air brakes auto trans. and a 1984 Thomas 90 pass pusher with luggage bays, air brakes, automatic, and a cat 3208. all had less than 150,000 miles and all ran ok, except the pusher. all sold for less than $500, and except for the pusher all were in perfect working order. Don't settle for a school bus that isn't perfect.
Brian |
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