What a Wonderful Two Children

[guido911]

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2011/11/28/meet-arielle-metzger-amazing-15-year-old-homeless-girl

[heironymouspasparagus]

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2011/11/28/meet-arielle-metzger-amazing-15-year-old-homeless-girl

Great kids!  


One might - probably would - be amazed how many people live in trucks and buses in "stealth" mode.  Many, and probably most, by choice.  There is a sizable sub-culture in this style of living that appeals to many and is required for some.  One of the biggest problems they encounter is where to park the thing at night.  Many Wal-Marts will allow RV's to stay, and even may for a night or two, ignore a truck in the parking lot, it it is near the big trucks that often stay there.  But when you have kids and parents coming in and out of the store from inside a big yellow box truck, they eventually get you to move on.

Parking on the street is not allowed, though many get away with it by parking in one place no more than two nights, then moving on a few blocks.  If you can find a place being remodeled, you can get away with maybe a week if lucky.

It can be a very interesting way of life, if you are not too hung up on the material lifestyle of south Tulsa-ites.  In another thread related to global warming, I mentioned the acquaintance with a bus.  It is just a truck with windows.  Same concept.  He is making it into a living quarters/tailgating combination vehicle.  Has made me start to think about it.  For about $5,000 to buy the bus and some house remodeling skills, one can have a heck of an interesting RV type device.  And with the right bus, get 12 mpg on diesel!!!  Not too shabby.  If you aren't homeless and doing it because you HAVE to!

[AquaMan]

Great kids!  
It can be a very interesting way of life, if you are not too hung up on the material lifestyle of south Tulsa-ites.  In another thread related to global warming, I mentioned the acquaintance with a bus.  It is just a truck with windows.  Same concept.  He is making it into a living quarters/tailgating combination vehicle.  Has made me start to think about it.  For about $5,000 to buy the bus and some house remodeling skills, one can have a heck of an interesting RV type device.  And with the right bus, get 12 mpg on diesel!!!  Not too shabby.  If you aren't homeless and doing it because you HAVE to!

Beware. Any bus that would be economical to buy and operate will cost too much compared with the already prepared and titled RV. I have checked into this and the first thing I noticed is how easy it is to find a school bus for sale. They require a commercial drivers license (CDL) to drive, unless you get them titled as an RV. Not so easy to do. Usually they are driven hard, maintenance is sketchy, parts scarce and on the older ones safety features are lacking. No air bags or collapsible designs. Hard to heat up and even harder to cool down. Even though the systems break down alot, the chassis are made for durability, so you pay more for parts and consumables (tires, batteries, suspension etc) and you must understand air brakes. If you fall in love with one of the really older ones or one of the used metro buses because the price may only be $750 -1500 then you find out later that the parts no longer exist and must be fabricated. They put different engines in all the time. Then its just a hunting vehicle or storage. And beware, the ones that run on CNG are problematic.

The newer buses have all the safety and comfort you would need but cost substantially more, hence, you might as well buy a used RV.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Beware. Any bus that would be economical to buy and operate will cost too much compared with the already prepared and titled RV. I have checked into this and the first thing I noticed is how easy it is to find a school bus for sale. They require a commercial drivers license (CDL) to drive, unless you get them titled as an RV. Not so easy to do. Usually they are driven hard, maintenance is sketchy, parts scarce and on the older ones safety features are lacking. No air bags or collapsible designs. Hard to heat up and even harder to cool down. Even though the systems break down alot, the chassis are made for durability, so you pay more for parts and consumables (tires, batteries, suspension etc) and you must understand air brakes. If you fall in love with one of the really older ones or one of the used metro buses because the price may only be $750 -1500 then you find out later that the parts no longer exist and must be fabricated. They put different engines in all the time. Then its just a hunting vehicle or storage. And beware, the ones that run on CNG are problematic.

The newer buses have all the safety and comfort you would need but cost substantially more, hence, you might as well buy a used RV.

Easy to title as RV - he went in when transferring and said it's an RV.  Put a stove into it that is being used during the conversion, but they didn't inspect it.  Only need CDL if you are gonna take more than 15 friends with you to tailgating event.

Most of the school systems have really good records and maintain them right up to about two days before they sell them... I have casually looked around and there are a lot of them around that are both good condition and plenty of records.  Another guy, who I work with now, bought two this last year.  First was conventional with hood, but after he started the conversion, his wife didn't like it, so he sold and bought one with a flat front.  I almost bought the first one from him.  He wanted $4,000 for it.  Ran very well on highway.  That is one problem to look out for - make sure you can run highway speeds - sometimes they are geared ONLY for city driving, very slow.

ALWAYS get diesel only!!  And automatic transmission is pretty good if the wife is gonna drive it.  10-12 mpg.  Air brakes are the best.  Maintenance will always be high if you don't do most of the work yourself.  And if you want heat/cool comfort, gotta have more insulation than what they come with.

Insurance on a school bus is tricky.  I have talked to my agent, and he is cautiously leery of the idea, so I will probably have to jump in, get it to where he can look at it to see how it is gonna work, then get the policy.  Liability is ok - it's the rest of the coverage that is exciting.

As for an RV, well, I have a couple of those, too, but "getting on the bus" is one of those things where if you have to explain, you would never understand.
You can deck them out as much or little as you like.  Or on a truck.

Here is crazy to the extreme - just click the enter key to see how far you can go - and beyond;
http://andersonmobileestates.com/

More available at a google near you - School bus conversions - Truck homes -House trucks.  And welcome to the lunatic fringe!!

[Red Arrow]

Here is crazy to the extreme - just click the enter key to see how far you can go - and beyond;
http://andersonmobileestates.com/

Gives new meaning to the term "Land Yacht". 

[heironymouspasparagus]

Gives new meaning to the term "Land Yacht". 

I want one.  May have to abandon the bus idea and just get a Freightliner with a van trailer and start building!

[AquaMan]

Easy to title as RV - he went in when transferring and said it's an RV.  Put a stove into it that is being used during the conversion, but they didn't inspect it.  Only need CDL if you are gonna take more than 15 friends with you to tailgating event.

Most of the school systems have really good records and maintain them right up to about two days before they sell them... I have casually looked around and there are a lot of them around that are both good condition and plenty of records.  Another guy, who I work with now, bought two this last year.  First was conventional with hood, but after he started the conversion, his wife didn't like it, so he sold and bought one with a flat front.  I almost bought the first one from him.  He wanted $4,000 for it.  Ran very well on highway.  That is one problem to look out for - make sure you can run highway speeds - sometimes they are geared ONLY for city driving, very slow.

ALWAYS get diesel only!!  And automatic transmission is pretty good if the wife is gonna drive it.  10-12 mpg.  Air brakes are the best.  Maintenance will always be high if you don't do most of the work yourself.  And if you want heat/cool comfort, gotta have more insulation than what they come with.

Insurance on a school bus is tricky.  I have talked to my agent, and he is cautiously leery of the idea, so I will probably have to jump in, get it to where he can look at it to see how it is gonna work, then get the policy.  Liability is ok - it's the rest of the coverage that is exciting.

As for an RV, well, I have a couple of those, too, but "getting on the bus" is one of those things where if you have to explain, you would never understand.
You can deck them out as much or little as you like.  Or on a truck.

Here is crazy to the extreme - just click the enter key to see how far you can go - and beyond;
http://andersonmobileestates.com/

More available at a google near you - School bus conversions - Truck homes -House trucks.  And welcome to the lunatic fringe!!

Good luck. I speak from experience after having owned a 30 pass bus and driven the larger ones for a school system. Your facts are somewhat in error.

School systems are not well funded and it extends to their transportation departments. Drivers simply won't turn in a bus for service if it means they have to take a loaner. Service records are kept but be skeptical of them. They do enough to keep them running.

CDL's have many requirements including axle weight, number of passengers it was designed for (not how many you carry) and its size/length. Although your friend may have found a lazy licensing bureau he may at any time be subject to having it inspected and I'm sure his insurance man is hesitant for good reason.

The flat nose bus your friend bought, has the engine compartment partially inside which hampers legroom and is prone to leaking co2 and other vapors into the driver area as well as being noisy. A better choice is the coach version which has rear engine, a/c and two rear axles. Great for the highway.

If you must go this route, try to talk to the bus driver whose responsibility it was to care of the vehicle, insist on a late model diesel that still has parts and service availability and look specifically for the Mercedes engines that were popular about a decade ago. Test drive the vehicle and check that you can actually steer the thing around a city block without crossing into opposing traffic. Believe it or not many buses that California rejected as being unsafe and undrivable on their routes...ended up in OK.

[heironymouspasparagus]

I have had one bus already in mind - the one the acquaintance has - but am moving away from that to go diesel.  It was a 66 or 73 passenger before seats out.  37 feet long.  Bigger the better.

International DT466 with Allison auto - been around since the 70's and exceptionally well proven.  Have driven that combination a LOT and parts/repair are easy - just not cheap.  Or maybe a Cummins - driving one of those now and like it a lot.  I don't have anything against Mercedes except that it isn't an "American" company. 

Just about any school bus is below the 26,000 for CDL, but RV can be any weight under 80,000 with no CDL.  (I have CDL anyway, so doesn't that isn't an issue).  P endorsement is required for any capacity over 15 - will need that if do the "tailgating" thing.

Would rather get a late 40's or 50s bus, but those have a whole other host of issues that I don't want to deal with - like 2 stroke Detroit Diesel engines - makes it too much of a project.  Don't want to have to change axles, brakes, etc.  Maybe the next project.

So, what made you turn to the dark side - away from a bus project??  Hopefully, it wasn't just the money!!??

[AquaMan]

Having owned and partially restored a 1968 Van Hool! It was a great bus. It had hydraulic brakes, a 4 speed mated to a 6cylinder but city gears. Great for negotiating around the city but a top speed of about 60! It sat on a dual wheel 10,000 lb Chevy chassis but the coach was all Van Hool, well appointed and very period looking.

I do love them. Check C-list and you'll find several projects in varying stages. My current favorite is an OSU activity bus from the late 50's and an early mid engined Fageol out in Owasso. If I had the money.... There is also a wealth of experience available on RV and Bus transformation web groups. I'll try to track the one down that enumerated specific buses to avoid and why.

Recheck your CDL requirments. If memory serves the lower limit is 10,000lbs.

[Red Arrow]

These are nice and made in Oklahoma.

http://www.newellcoach.com/flash.html

[AquaMan]

These are nice and made in Oklahoma.

http://www.newellcoach.com/flash.html

That's rock star quality, there.

If you like the idea of an urban assault R/V that is in need of some tender loving, go look at the vehicle on the corner of 41st and Memorial near the car rental and Stained Glass dealer. It is a former portable MRI that was parked at hospitals and clinics back in the 1980's I think. The heavy MRI has been removed but the stout suspension is still there. It has dual axles, a built in gen set, huge air conditioner, hydraulic ramp lifts on both sides (great for tailgating!) a huge diesel mounted amidships and a fancy paint job (sarcasm). It was decorated inside with lighting and office amenities. Owner says it starts.

Looks kind of European and definitely could be very cool.

[Red Arrow]

That's rock star quality, there.

Yep, genuinely pricey.  Up there in 1%er territory.

[heironymouspasparagus]

That's rock star quality, there.

If you like the idea of an urban assault R/V that is in need of some tender loving, go look at the vehicle on the corner of 41st and Memorial near the car rental and Stained Glass dealer. It is a former portable MRI that was parked at hospitals and clinics back in the 1980's I think. The heavy MRI has been removed but the stout suspension is still there. It has dual axles, a built in gen set, huge air conditioner, hydraulic ramp lifts on both sides (great for tailgating!) a huge diesel mounted amidships and a fancy paint job (sarcasm). It was decorated inside with lighting and office amenities. Owner says it starts.

Looks kind of European and definitely could be very cool.

That's been for sale for at least 6 or 7 years.  Very cool starting point for a great conversion.

Here is a fire truck snorkel that has been converted.
http://www.mrsharkey.com/busbarn/damien/damien.htm

[AquaMan]

Log cabin fire truck. Cool.

Yeah, the owner of that mobile MRI hasn't started it in years, but he found time to paint it like some kind of hippie bus.

Look on the OKC C-List and find this old 1950's OSU Activity Bus. Its actually running though its 502ci 6 cylinder engine is impossible to find parts for.

http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/cto/2701048281.html

[heironymouspasparagus]

Log cabin fire truck. Cool.

Yeah, the owner of that mobile MRI hasn't started it in years, but he found time to paint it like some kind of hippie bus.

Look on the OKC C-List and find this old 1950's OSU Activity Bus. Its actually running though its 502ci 6 cylinder engine is impossible to find parts for.

http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/cto/2701048281.html

His attitude is priceless...

"I've given up on people with the 'could have bought a Winnebago with the same money' attitude."

That bus is fantastic!  I bet I could put a Cummins in there!  Or maybe a 6V71....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6wlsBwKX7s

Check this out - particularly at about 30 seconds...gotta love the fuel tank.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=Nyl9uinTICw