Anyone here driven a school bus?

[Whiskeydan]

We're looking for a bus to convert to an RV. I looked at a couple of 1992 Carpenter/Ford 71 passenger buses this last weekend. Both identical, Cummins 5.9 with Allison three speed automatics. Bus #1 had 135k miles, new tires and good batteries but had an air brake leak. It took some time for the air pressure to build and release the brakes. Body had a few minor dings. I test drove it and was disappointed in the performance. It had atough time getting up to 55 mph. I would have thought the 5.9 would have performed better.
Bus #2 had a cleaner body and engine bay, rear tires dry cracked and dead batteries.
Both were offered at around $2000.

I'm wondering if #1 had a fuel filter plugged. It would be difficult to merge with it's sluggish performance.

Other option is a 94 Blue Bird with a 7.3L diesel with around 100K. I've yet to look at it, maybe this next weekend.

Here's the plan...
http://www.vonslatt.com/bus-main.shtml

[kerry]

I've got a Bluebird Wanderlodge. Not a real school bus but pretty close. Mine has a CAT 3208NA. It's pretty slow but I have never driven a 5.9 Cummins in a 35k lb vehicle so I can't make the comparison. I'd be concerned about a 3 spd. 4+ gears would be better.

[Whiskeydan]

Originally Posted by kerry

I've got a Bluebird Wanderlodge. Not a real school bus but pretty close. Mine has a CAT 3208NA. It's pretty slow but I have never driven a 5.9 Cummins in a 35k lb vehicle so I can't make the comparison. I'd be concerned about a 3 spd. 4+ gears would be better.

Title showed this one at 16K lbs. My old 1 ton 5.9 farm truck tows my heavy tractor to hwy speeds just fine and it has nearly 400K miles on it. I just think the bus should have performed better than it did. It had a tough time with the slightest uphill grades. It would be very stressful driving any distance.

A Cat powered pusher would be ideal but I suspect they are rare.

[Matt L]

For just a few miles, I drove a '60 Bluebird 72-passenger bus that was converted. The brakes leaked, which really made for a rather unpleasant drive. You had to really watch the air pressure.

[4x4_Welder]

The old Cummins 5.9 can be turned up pretty easy, they probably de-tuned it for the bus service.
I drove a C60-based bus with the Detroit 8.2, man that thing sucked. It didn't help that CT had the shortest on-ramps in the world, but I was lucky to be doing 40 by the end of the ramp.

[kerry]

Originally Posted by Whiskeydan

It had a tough time with the slightest uphill grades. It would be very stressful driving any distance.

A Cat powered pusher would be ideal but I suspect they are rare.

Not sure the Cat pusher would be much better. Mine is a forward control which are far more common. I'm down to 18mph on steep grades sometimes, although on Raton Pass I think I can climb most of the way in 3rd and only get down to 2nd for the last half mile or so.

[WANT '71 280SEL]

I used to have a '79 Chevy C-60 (or C6000, can't remember exactly). It had a 366 with a 5 spd. manual transmission. Not a bad monster. Never understood how it always ran so well. As for driving it, it wasn't at all bad. The biggest thing you have to watch for is the tail entering the other lane when turning because it hangs out so far past the rear wheels.

We converted it to an RV. It never had running water, but we got all the seats out and put down carpet, installed an entertainment center, and put in about 4 or 5 couches. It was a full-size bus and probably would have seated about 50 something kids, possibly 60. I can't remember now. There are quite a few people that have made the conversion. I did it when I was about 19 with 3 other friends. Insuring it can be a huge pain, so start doing some research now. That was our biggest problem.

Regards,

David

[TX76513]

Dan - are you fixed in to a school bus chassis? I have some 90's TMC's Single Axle, Detroit, Air ride, Automatic coaches we are going to move out of the fleet this year.

[Whiskeydan]

Originally Posted by TX76513

Dan - are you fixed in to a school bus chassis? I have some 90's TMC's Single Axle, Detroit, Air ride, Automatic coaches we are going to move out of the fleet this year.

No, it's just a school bus is within budget. They seem to be pretty cheap for a decent platform. Much rather have a coach if I could find a deal. We need to talk.

[Mike D]

They're shining you on about the title saying 16K weight. I run a fleet of Freightliner MT-45 chassis delivery trucks. They are basically empty shells and are 27 feet long bumper to bumper. They're tagged at 14K, we're pushing the limit on occasion and we're delivering baked goods not lead pipes.

The 5.9 won't cut it in the bus chassis. The 3 spd is a big drawback also. My guys are running 5 speed Eaton manuals with a 4.10 diff. and they're topping out at about 68 M.P.H.

The DT 466 series International/Navistar engines seem to be pretty peppy in the school bus set-ups.

[The Clk Man]

I have.

[KarTek]

I've researched this project for myself and I would go either of 2 ways:

1. Thomas body on an internaional chassis powered by a DT466 with wither allison or a manual tranny.

2. GMC RTS city bus with a 5 sp. Allison conversion and highway gears.

[BobK]

Buddies of mine built one with an old MCI coach. Big Detroit Diesel motor in back. Ran pretty good. Weighed something like 36,000lbs.

[kerry]

Older Wanderlodge's have come down quite a bit in price during the current recession. It might be worth looking for one since they were a very high quality build to begin with. When a friend of mine was looking for a coach I found a few nice ones with the CAT 3208 for around 10k. He ended up buying a Foretravel diesel pusher with a CAT 3208 turbo for $10k. Gas Wanderlodge's with Ford truck motors can be had very cheaply. It would probably be easier to buy an older gas Wanderlodge and swap in a diesel than to buy a diesel school bus and build the interior. The end result would probably be worth more also. The post 1980 Wanderlodge's also had air suspension which I don't think the school buses ever got (?)

e.g.:76 Bluebird Wanderlodge 35ft 534 gas motor runs great / 4spd allison trans air brakes 6.5kw gen runs fine /good tires.Rust free So. West coach twin beds in rear 3way fridge/ factory heaters and air conditioners 100gal fuel 100 gal water 45 propane.Purchased in Tuscon developed electrical problems in Phoenix $3,000 in repairs done by very reputable rv repair shop new batteries /bus is good to go. Bus is located in Mesa Az Reduced to $5,900. OBO Email for pics cell ph.775-342-3786 ask for Bob 4/09

[DieselPaul]

My friend bought a dump truck C5500 with the 366 and a 3speed auto. It sold me on nothing but diesel trucks from there out. Topping out at 58mph after 4 minutes and getting 4 mpg wasn't so cool.