BCM Community
Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: sandra@BCM on August 13, 2021, 10:11:09 AM
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Skoolie folks now have their own page on the Bus Conversion Magazine Forum, which gets over 11 Million Page Views each year. We have almost two decades of articles on the forum.
This page is searchable so be sure to give that a try if you have a question about a Skoolie once we get going.
Some people may feel that Facebook and other social media fulfill all of their needs, but our Forum will always be there and currently has over 400,000 posts that get a lot of use.
The forum also benefits from a huge archive of information and how-tos. Much easier to research how-tos using the forum search engines vs. social media sites.
Anyone can read our Forum, but to get the full effect out of it, you will need to become a member. If the user is a guest, they generally can't see the pictures. Our members must be approved and that can take up to a week, so please be patient.
Head over there now and join the fun: https://www.busconversionmagazine.com/forum/index.php?topic=35630.new#new
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Sandra didn't realize you & your family are bus nuts - cool!
Afaic a bus is a bus is a bus... :^
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I get it. A million years ago and in another lifetime I was a newly minted college professor at a newly minted college. I still recall the first words out of the mouth of the Academic Dean at our first faculty meeting who said "We need students more than students need an education". Most state run colleges and universities are funded on FTEs (full time equivalents---students) and to get the funding we needed to offer the programs students needed we needed FTEs.
BCM faces a similar situation. As our stalwart members age out we need new members to replace them. Members who increase our readership and patronize our advertisers. So I get it. What I'm not sure I get is how an influx of Skoolies serves to meet this need without alienating current members. I feel like Dan when he points out that a "bus is a bus is a bus". I'm not sure that a majority of present members feel that way.
I follow Skoolie.net and occasionally contribute but I don't consider myself a Skoolie despite having a school bus conversion. In my opinion there are far more total newbees on the Skoolie forum than there are seasoned and mature school bus owners. The same few seasoned members are asked again and again the same sophomoric questions the answers to which are often hotly disregarded.
Skoolies will not stick to their own page but will sprinkle their questions in the general forum which simply isn't geared to answer them.
Admittedly there are exceptional "Skoolies" and their membership in this forum contributes to it's overall excellence. The question then is how to attract those excellent Skoolies without also attracting a plethora of newbees with their never to be completed projects.
As Sandy has pointed out the only sure thing is change. I hope that enrolling Skoolies leads us to a well thought out result.
Just my two cents worth. Jack (school bus owner and former MCI conversion owner)
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I don't know how many people with Skoolies subscribe? I am guessing Sandra could answer that? I learn from the old guys about my 2 stroke detroit diesel and klunky old bus things, but I think a bus is a bus and people all need roof waterproof ideas and like to learn about great places to go. And you are all bus conversions! Not a Winnebago or Allegro. Lots of good ideas for all that are working with wiring and plumbing. I just hope the skoolie community finds each other and your forum will take off. Great idea and I hope it grows over time.
Best of luck Sandra and let us know how we can help!
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The skoolie group has always impressd me with their ideas and their craftmanship work
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Seems fine with me. This is Gary's property and he makes decisions that benefit the business and the community(ies) he serves. Seems like the interchange of ideas is a worthy cause and might even get a few to cross over; naturally, parking the yellow bus and getting with the big boys! lol
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Sorta like FMCA started with converted buses only huh
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Reminds me of the commercial: guy smacks himself in the head and says,"Wow, I coulda had a V8!"
Yeah I understand the appeal. I bought a skoolie back about '91 for a grand and it was a solid bus that I used for mobile storage for awhile. For two I could have had a diesel pusher. But for five I bought an intercity MCI with the S60/B500, AC, a full basement, latchable overhead bins, and so much more. Strikes me as penny wise but pound foolish, but if you are in love with the look there really is no other option other than a Wanderlodge.
Jim
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One advantage the skooie has over inter city buses is parts,they are easy to find then the price is about 1/2 the cost
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You also give up lower storage room.>>>Dan
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You also give up lower storage room.>>>Dan
You give up bay space sure ,the activity models have bays,the air ride skoolie ride good ,the leaf spring models ride like a wagon or a Silverside GM inter city bus,the price is the main factor I believe they get a bus with a modern power train with 200,000 or less miles on a chassis for 2 to 3k
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Plus - it is a SCHOOL bus, NOT an OTR revenue bus. Many are drawn to the style for various reasons, lots different than those posted here. It is a different culture, mindset, aesthetic, and rationale.
I'd venture to state most bus conversion busnuts here are generally seeking an alternative to a S&S motorhome but wanting many of the same features and specs. It is rare seeing the sort of creativity and artistic freedom unleashed in the skoolie scene. I suspect there is cool and hip vibe in their community, absent or rare amongst this group sprouted up during the late 20th century.
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Plus - it is a SCHOOL bus, NOT an OTR revenue bus. Many are drawn to the style for various reasons, lots different than those posted here. It is a different culture, mindset, aesthetic, and rationale.
I'd venture to state most bus conversion busnuts here are generally seeking an alternative to a S&S motorhome but wanting many of the same features and specs. It is rare seeing the sort of creativity and artistic freedom unleashed in the skoolie scene. I suspect there is cool and hip vibe in their community, absent or rare amongst this group sprouted up during the late 20th century.
Those people are different they have gathering in the Az desert every winter and they all chip in for no fees to help each other do what needs to be done
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It is rare seeing the sort of creativity and artistic freedom unleashed in the skoolie scene.
I think the creativity is in a different direction, not absent. I'd say more grounded in the practical arts. Which is not necessarily a bad thing. Face it, if you own a skoolie there will be a certain amount of disdain headed your way and it has to be dealt with somehow. On my Bluebird we expressed this by using black spray paint to X out a few letters to change the name on the signboard from KNOX NEW HOPE SCHOOL BUS to NO NEW HOPE COOL BUS. OK it wasn't pretty but hey, it was a skoolie, whatchu expect?
Jim
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A school bus is a cheaper, simpler truck. So it is a much lower bar of entry than a coach bus.
There are some unbelievable great skoolie conversions out there, and of course all those yellow hulks parked somewhere slowly rusting away.
As the entry into skoolie world has such a low bar of entry it brings a lot of people into the bus conversion world. Some of those people will move on up to a motorcoach (as if that hasn't been happening all along.)
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As the entry into skoolie world has such a low bar of entry it brings a lot of people into the bus conversion world. Some of those people will move on up to a motorcoach (as if that hasn't been happening all along.)
LOL Gary and I are trying to get a guy we know to scrap his Prevost (motor coach ) and buy a skoolie :^
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When I was a kid, in the 50's our family traveled across the US in a 46 Chevrolet school bus. Fixed up for family of seven. Probably 28 or 30 footer. 6 cylinder, 4 speed and a 3 speed Brownie auxiliary. Cruising at 50mph. We went to Florida keys at Christmas and Rehoboth Beach couple times a summer.
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It doesn't matter what you use for a camper. People are having as much fun as we are in whatever camper they have. I have fond memories of a trip down the West coast in the '70s in a IH Travelall sleeping on foamies, and cooking outside with a Coleman stove. Also great times with the kids in a succession of truck campers, bumper pull trailers and 5ers, then on to buses. Schoolie people are having a great time. Some will move up to coach buses.
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Yes, it's the fun that counts. Then there are old crabs like me that say if the good Lord had meant man to camp, he wouldn't have placed hotels with free breakfast along the interstate. :)
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Cheessie, I bet that engine screamed at 50mph huh? We're so spoiled with engines so powerful now and ALLISON automatics. I remember back in the '70 my grade school had 2 buses built on the famous IH LOADSTAR chassis. One actually had a 6 cylinder gasoline engine which wasn't too common in those most had the standard V8. It seemed to have good power around town but get on the freeway, and that 6 sounded like it was going to blow and probably only about 50MPH too. The V8 powered bus was a bit more at home on the freeway but it revved pretty high too sounding like a combo of jet engine and AC compressor. I got a kick out of those buses and I only got ride on them for field trips.
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Actually, no. The Brownie had under drive, direct, and overdrive. Dad was a truck driver during WW2, and liked shifting gears. I remember him putting one arm through steering wheel to shift from 3rd under to 2nd over. Will never forget the transmission gear whine or the sound of the wind against the window screens. Or the moan of the brakes. He installed woven lining for better stopping power and the moan was quite audible
Never had a breakdown, but had vapor lock or water in fuel once going over Sunshine Bridge in Fla. Don't know if still there, but it was a huge hill shape. Bus was sputtering and Dad had it in creeper gear trying to make it over and over 100 cars and trucks following. Barely made it over and then all was well.
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I am surprised at all the 5th wheel travel trailers you see RV parks are full of 5th wheels We are hanging out with friends in Boise Id that sold his MCI C converted by Custom Coach that bought a 550 Ford and high end 5th wheel and he says he close to 300k in the package and loves it,it iis nice but for 300k 8) it should be
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$330K? Geez. By the time I'm done I expect to have about $20K total in my DL. That might not include new tires and batteries but we'll see. Still under about $10K so far.
Jim
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Speaking of rusting school buses, we have some friends on the Oregon Coast (Bandon area) that have a 1948 school bus (short bus) that they drove decades ago from Wisconsin to California (several times). Once they bought the property (10 acres about a half mile from the ocean), they parked the bus never to drive it again. It is literally now gone back to the earth, with only a few remnants left. My wife and I took pictures of it years ago with all of us standing there wearing Hawaiian shirts (I need to dig those pictures up). That was about 20 years ago, and it was hardly recognizable. Now it is literally almost completely gone.
I think that with the lower prices that are typical with school buses, they are easy to obtain, but if price is the only thing that gets you there, and money is a real issue, those buses that are rusting away will continue to do so. It is amazing the amount of money it takes to do a conversion. Of course it depends on what a person is wanting to accomplish, but I could easily build a new house for what it takes to do the conversion that I would really like to have.
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Actually if a school bus is loaded close to equivalent of 72 kids,(72pass). they ride pretty decent and most anymore will run 65. A lot cheaper to maintain than a coach and I've seen a couple posts of some beautiful interiors, obviously with a woman's touch. Don't know about the hard items.
In PA. state won't subsidize school busses after 10 years old. There are thousands available at bargain prices in great condition. Many school districts maintain the. quite well since the taxpayers foots the bill.
If I was in the market for one, I'd tip an older fleet mechanic on which ones would be the one to get, if they were auctioned off. So.e outfits sell them all to a broker though.
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it is a shame what CA did to the Crowns probably the best bus ever built turned into scrap metal
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It is best to start with what you are comfortable with - its too easy to get bogged down in the heavy details & miss out on the reason we started this journey.
I think its great that people are using schoolies, 5th wheels, bumper pulls, tents, converted buses, or even Newells to have fun & go camping.
I also think it is important to understand the prejudices that come with any & all of them -
---accepting stereotypes as fact does not help, neither does arguing against them. :P
---accepting & encouraging others will help & lift us all :^
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What kyle said...
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Unfortunately the electronics in the newer models don't help the desire to convert one. It's not enough to be just mechanically inclined or have a remodeling talent. Understanding and diagnosing electronics is a daunting exercise as demonstrated here over the years. It's just gotten a too costly hobby except for ones that already have their conversion or find one already done. It isn't any wonder you don't see many anymore.
I sort of snicker at the ones that buy these Prevost conversions in the 80 to 150k range. They are soon finding out how much it costs to maintain them, especially going to a Prevost service center because they can't do any of the work themselves. Sure, some have the income to do it, but many are going to realize in a year or two, it is too expensive to have on and use it. We have another major recession and a lot of them are going on the block.
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So Sandra,
I hope we share ideas and cross pollinate a bit. My neighbor up the street is slowly converting a school bus. Won't join BCM because he is old and won't use a computer. However, I helped him carry cabinets into it last summer. The next day he rode with me in my bus and showed me a campground a mile away that lets me dump for $5 ! My other neighbor has had all types, now has one of those vans with a Mercedes emblem on the front. It looks like it is about to tip over, but they are little people, their dog is hamster size, they got tied of the big ones, and towing etc, and love what they have now.
We followed them in our bus to two local Harvest Hosts to learn about HH. Rita needs her wi fi for work so probably not joining for now but it was fun to learn about HH. I will still go to old bus gatherings so old guys can teach me more about my 2 stroke oil burner, but I think it is about the people and the journey, not the chariot we choose. Glad to attend a Skoolie meet to learn from people who do conversions and maybe get an idea or two. Glad you started the forum!
Hope to meet you and your family sometime.
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My father in law has a 4 digit FMCA number. He was president of 4 or 5 chapters. He also was in when you could pay for life membership. He gives me his magazine after he looks who died. Says when it all started, and he was hanging with the guys who started it, it had to be a vehicle with an engine that you could walk from the steering wheel to the back. When it went to 5th wheels, trailers, he said "why not rickshaws", he lost interest. He won't even look through the magazine he gets for life. Seems a shame. Still good stuff in there and good stories about places to go. He thinks it is all about making money now. They held meets in a farmers field and did so monthly except when snow and cold.
What can you say. A different time......
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I would rather modify requirements to include different units than watch it end up bankrupt and only a memory . . .
Yes, I like exclusive groups - it helps to get better on point advice. :o
However, I also like eclectic groups - it open ones eyes to possibilities that you never imagined ! ;D 8)
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My father in law has a 4 digit FMCA number. He was president of 4 or 5 chapters. He also was in when you could pay for life membership. He gives me his magazine after he looks who died. Says when it all started, and he was hanging with the guys who started it, it had to be a vehicle with an engine that you could walk from the steering wheel to the back. When it went to 5th wheels, trailers, he said "why not rickshaws", he lost interest. He won't even look through the magazine he gets for life. Seems a shame. Still good stuff in there and good stories about places to go. He thinks it is all about making money now. They held meets in a farmers field and did so monthly except when snow and cold.
What can you say. A different time......
FMCA had to change it was dying Good Sam was killing them with over a million members and FMCA was around 50,000 members ,where the change was good or bad only time will tell. I stay in it just for the assist program if it goes away again so will I,FMCA depends on their chapters to survive now those are leaving everyone knew it was coming because it is a different crowd now and the older crowd needs to adjust to the newer ways :P
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They had to change or die. These economic shocks along with the high fuel prices have chased away many members. The magazine kept shrinking year after year. I think their conventions attendance peaked at around 6000 coaches? Not positive about that number. This summer, it was about 1300. A lot of people don't interact like they use to. They live on their phones.
There is a musical group chapter that has been around there for a lot of years, called the frustrated Meistros chapter. I didn't see a single one that was under 70. And majority of attendees are 65+.
There is a tremendous number of non motorhome travelers out there on the road they are trying to reach and most are a lot younger with younger children or not.The cost of dues and conventions, etc will deter many on small budgets. Though..
Just another inevitable change organizations are going through.. Shriners, Grangers, Elks, Lions, etc. Even churches are feeling the effects.
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Nowadays, you really don't have to subscribe to magazines or clubs thanks to the internet. So why pay dues? Just do what you like and don't feel obligated to please others. If they share your interests that's fine and good. If not WWC=Whatever Who Cares.
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Nowadays, you really don't have to subscribe to magazines or clubs thanks to the internet. So why pay dues? Just do what you like and don't feel obligated to please others. I they share your interests that's fine and good. If not WWC=Whatever Who Cares.
True, but eventually someone has to pay the piper. Club membership dues is what has done that in the past, and if people continue to not be 'joiners' then some other way of paying the costs will be found. Seems like nowadays everyone wants the benefits of being part of a community with none of the responsibilities or obligations.
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Nothing new in that. Its always been that way. Remember kids trying to sneak into the movies or football games?
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You're right but I just question the purpose of a club when you can just do something like that yourself or get together with a few other people.
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You're right but I just question the purpose of a club when you can just do something like that yourself or get together with a few other people.
To me there are two sides of this...
1) People by nature are often joiners. Used to be we joined actual clubs. Now people are more likely to join a virtual one.
2) Lots more power in a group than a bunch of individuals. Clubs like FMCA can often get discounts and special rates on things which are not available to the average person.
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So this summer 4 of the 9 nieces and nephews graduated High School. All wanted to go to Disney World. Since I am retired military, Rita and I could get 3 rooms each at Shades of Green (mil hotel on disney with reduced rates). So...we got roped into it. All parents brought buckets of money, and we did 9 days. All day every day, each "kid" had their phone in their face. Rita explained that this is how we get into the magic kingdom. This is how the kids know how long the line is at space mountain. This is how we order food, This is how we PAY for food. They hold their phone up, and get ice cream. I tried cash, the 17 year old clerk glared at me, and my niece held up her phone and got me my ice cream. We drove the bus down there, but a phone is how they got their boarding pass the night before they flew home. At the end of this, I looked at Rita and she said " I know, I know....just shoot me now".
So how is this Bus related: When we got home, I am a BCM guy and an FMCA guy, but downloaded how to join SE Bus nuts. How to join Flxible international. How to check on Blythville and Evansville for the next event. An event where there will be people like me. You know. Old. That do not have a phone in their face all day. That do not act like taking it away would be tantamount to taking away their air. They might actually converse? I will endure the bean bag toss, the ice cream social, the woman's luncheon and the museum tour in hopes of talking to some old guys about buses and meet people that like to talk. Might even get out the guitar and see who knows "Good Night Irene".
I think it is still out there.
Meanwhile, we take the bus out once a month. Sometimes to a town an hour away and get food at the store and eat breakfast in the bus. I get to drive it, it exercises the tires and engine, and is just fun to drive.
And back to Sandra where this all started. If there is a skoolie meet in my area, and they won't glare at a 1980 Prevost trying to join you, I'd like to come.
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glad to see you got a free ice cream !!
dave
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In our non Alaska travels this summer, Linda's learned how to download and setup Ca
Fast trac, for Hov lanes, tolls etc., since they don't recognize EZpass, downloading info for parking in cities, which has many different ones in same city, download tickets for Disneyland, boat rides, bus tours, rail passes, museum passes, campground reservations, on and on. Fortunately, she's taking care of all that and the trip planning. I mostly drive and suggest locations I'd like to visit along with hers. So far, working great.
I have a neighbor that doesn't own a cellphone and not computer literate and he gets along fine, but what the internet unlocks is hard to describe to him. Oh well.
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To Sandy and Gary. So. This has been a far flung thread. Where are we? Who's a skoolie? How do they get signed up? Can they respond to everything? Am I a skoolie? What is the plan to bring in skoolies? Etc. Etc. Jack
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Although I am older and I drive a Coach, I tend to associate more with the Skoolie crowd.
In Florida every year I go to the Skoolie swarm and meet up with all kinds of different people, the Skoolie crowd in my opinion does not differentiate between School bus, Coach, Shuttle, van to most of them they are all just Buses.
I feel the same way, when I was looking for a bus, I looked at all kinds, The MCI was the first one I found that hit all the buttons on my list for the right price.
I think the Skoolie’s are currently the future of this hobby.
Peter
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You know the Skoolie scene probably predates the bus conversion busnts. We all have clear images of the school buses all painted up in psychidelic colors and peace signs in the 60's. Bus conversions crowd did not getting momentum until the 80-90's, a decade two or later.
And it is far stronger today than OTR conversions. May need to reconsider there may be some real secret sauce they dole out when you buy a yellow bus!
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The skoolie does have a clear advantage when it comes to rough terrain, as it has more ground clearance and really they are designed for unimproved roads. Something to consider in regards to rustic camping. And really the whole concept of rustic camping speaks to the skoolie ethos, because you can buy a cheap bus, throw in a camp mattress and bag, a cooler, solar shower, a few more odds and ends and you're off. Good dependable leak free quarters that you can put just about anywhere you want to and all the tent campers will be absolutely green with envy. Realistically, you CAN live in a tent and lots of people do. So how much better than that is a skoolie? I'll tell you, it's like entering a whole better world. So if that's your frame of reference that skoolie looks awfully damn good. And I have lived that way so I would know.
Now the intercity bus just puts you in a completely different reference frame. Compared to the above it is comfort personified. With enough room to have all the nice little extras that make an extended stay easy. Would it be nice if you didn't have to give up some of the rugged off the beaten path performance? Sure it would. But therein lies the personal choice part of the bargain.
Jim
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Jim
That is an interesting perspective. A tent or a school bus. An RV or bus conversion. That is the typical frame of reference between these four modes of "camping". In a way, it explains the divide between the two worlds. It's rare hearing a busnut crowing about the trill of ditching the tent for a bus conversion. Also rare is hearing a busnut happy about ditching the yellow bus for a bus conversion. Maybe with both crowds here, we'll see some cross breeding. LOL
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You may be better off in a conversion I notice some RV parks are 50 bucks a day for a friggn tent site that is about the price of a Walmart tent and people pay it 8).Federal parks with these camp ground mangers charge the same for a tent as a RV all of those charge a entry fee now it really sucks for families on a budget
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I wonder how many of the rv parks would allow a schoolbus conversion.
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You know the Skoolie scene probably predates the bus conversion busnts. We all have clear images of the school buses all painted up in psychidelic colors and peace signs in the 60's. Bus conversions crowd did not getting momentum until the 80-90's, a decade two or later.
And it is far stronger today than OTR conversions. May need to reconsider there may be some real secret sauce they dole out when you buy a yellow bus!
You'd think so, but Custom Coach began converting coaches long before the 80-90s. They were working with Flxible decades before that. Coach conversion owners were some of the founding members of FMCA, and I believe that their logo is based on a Flxible conversion.
Seems to me that school bus conversions and coach conversions came up side by side, not one after the other.
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You'd think so, but Custom Coach began converting coaches long before the 80-90s. They were working with Flxible decades before that. Coach conversion owners were some of the founding members of FMCA, and I believe that their logo is based on a Flxible conversion.
Seems to me that school bus conversions and coach conversions came up side by side, not one after the other.
BlueBird has been building conversions since the 60's on school bus chassis .BlueBird and Crown both built OTR buses too
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This was my family in either 59 or 60.
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BlueBird has been building conversions since the 60's on school bus chassis .BlueBird and Crown both built OTR buses too
Like I said - they came up side by side and not one after the other. Custom Coach was founded in 1955 and was worked at the same time Blue Bird was creating the Wanderlodge concept.
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I wouldn't think skoolies will take over. Good starting point for ones that love camping. They can gain expertise in converting them instead of messing up a coach, lose interest and ending up with another one being scrapped. Coaches do have two big advantages, at least. Under floor storage, and Engines at rear, eliminating engine noise. Even the big s&s manufacturers figured this out. Remember Allegro BUS? And ads touting "bus like". Besides, I'd rather see homeless living in schoolbuses along the road ather than a bus conversion.
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Looks like the MCI DL-3 is the most popular bus to convert for the DYI crowd,there were so many made and are still in production and parts are everywhere for 1 it is the workhorse of the American highways simple and easy to work on, and a choice of engines and drive trains
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The Flxible on FMCA was, according to my father in law (90), owned by Pappy Rupp and or Bud Stone. I have not looked them up, but they were like number 3 and 5 FMCA numbers. They "invented" FMCA. Rita's dad helped sand down that bus one weekend, they painted it the next. So says the 90 year old...
He has pictures of them doing it, so me thinks it correct. They painted it with spray cans.
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Looks like the MCI DL-3 is the most popular bus to convert for the DYI crowd,there were so many made and are still in production and parts are everywhere for 1 it is the workhorse of the American highways simple and easy to work on, and a choice of engines and drive trains
Just what I've been saying, and the mid '90's are the pick of the lot. Yes, newer ones will be cleaner but they also come with lots more automation which, unless you are really ready for it, can seriously hamper your conversion efforts.
I like my '96. Low purchase cost, Series 60 DDEC 3 or 4, B500, and r134 refrigerant are just some of the reasons.
Jim
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The newer D4500 MCI are basically the same bus as the DL3 they are not loaded with all the electronics like the J and E models
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Motor_Coach_Association
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Motor_Coach_Association
I wasn't impressed with FMCA Michelin tire deal out the door 2 Michelin 315/80/22.5 tires were going to cost me $2490.00,lol I now have 2-Toyo 315/80/22.5 that cost me $1510.00 out the door without the FMCA discount
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Toyo makes a damn good tire to. The steers do really well on the outside edges..>>>Dan
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My comment was related to DIY conversions, not commercial conversions. It's Apples to Oranges to compare commercial and DIY conversions. AFAIK, DIY bus conversions did not start in any significant numbers until the 80's but I'm open to being enlightened when did pick up momentum.
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We performed our diy conversion in April of 1979 and been reworking, upgrading, remodeling, rebuilding it ever since...
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My father had his 4104 done by Hoffman coach in Warren, Pa. near Erie in about 1984. Was supposedly their second conversion job.
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My comment was related to DIY conversions, not commercial conversions. It's Apples to Oranges to compare commercial and DIY conversions. AFAIK, DIY bus conversions did not start in any significant numbers until the 80's but I'm open to being enlightened when did pick up momentum.
Here's a video about the 1973 FMCA convention/rally. Take a look at the number of members driving converted coaches. Most of these were DIY conversions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epmm1NM-JTA&t=128s
There is nothing new to DIY conversions on highway coaches. It's been going on as long as there have been highway coaches.
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Richard, thanks for posting the video. Two or three observations came to mind. First, how OLD the participants were. Second, the large number of young members and third, if a convention sponsored a canoe ram and a rope tug of war and the like today the law suits wouldn't be settled in a hundred years.
My personal take away is that we might have missed something by not being FMCA members. Those folks seemed to be having a grand time. On the other hand wifey and I have never been what you would call "joiners". At the time of that convention we were headed (alone) for Alaska in a brand new '73 GMC Suburban 4X4 all decked out for months of dry camping--an unforgettable adventure preceded the year before by a trek to Panama in a similarly outfitted '71 Suburban.
I doubt there is any way back to those days. People today demand a comfort level that simply wouldn't consider frantic conga line dancing in sweltering 95 degree temps and for people like me, we would think long and hard before heading off for Panama solo.
Still, it is fun to dream and scheme and get out occasionally for a mid week camp out and participate in some of the BCM type gatherings. Jack
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Richard, thanks for posting the video. Two or three observations came to mind. First, how OLD the participants were. Second, the large number of young members and third, if a convention sponsored a canoe ram and a rope tug of war and the like today the law suits wouldn't be settled in a hundred years.
My personal take away is that we might have missed something by not being FMCA members. Those folks seemed to be having a grand time. On the other hand wifey and I have never been what you would call "joiners". At the time of that convention we were headed (alone) for Alaska in a brand new '73 GMC Suburban 4X4 all decked out for months of dry camping--an unforgettable adventure preceded the year before by a trek to Panama in a similarly outfitted '71 Suburban.
I doubt there is any way back to those days. People today demand a comfort level that simply wouldn't consider frantic conga line dancing in sweltering 95 degree temps and for people like me, we would think long and hard before heading off for Panama solo.
Still, it is fun to dream and scheme and get out occasionally for a mid week camp out and participate in some of the BCM type gatherings. Jack
I am with you Jack everyone knows the person by name and no printed schedule of actives for the day just hang out enjoying the time lol and finding you when it is meal time
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If you belong to a particular chapter or more, you can start getting acquainted with others, then after a few will have fun, then know others at a regional and national one. Or buy a newer Prevost and show off how much it shines.lol
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If you belong to a particular chapter or more, you can start getting acquainted with others, then after a few will have fun, then know others at a regional and national one. Or buy a newer Prevost and show off how much it shines.lol
I don't live far from Quartzsite that is where one will find the largest gathering of buses every Jan plus the skoolie and RV crowd lot of FMCA chapters in that desert every year
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That's also where you will find me this 23rd consecutive year..>>>Dan
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We still belong to the "Northwest Busnuts" FMCA chapter which we were told it was the oldest chapter in the west of FMCA.
They have Rally's and events in the northwest and California every week.
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Just kidding but I must have a genetic defect--every week? I find it a struggle to breath in and out day after day let alone do a FMCA outing every week! Jack
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our Penn Coachmen chapter has a meet once a month, usually from March through November. One of the members is the host at a location of their choice. They have their annual rally/business meeting at the Centre Hall Grange park. They meet there since 70's. Dad was a member of the Converted Coach chapter. Don't know if it's still around.
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Well, early 70's was well before my window of any interest in driving an RV around. The VW bus and painted yellow buses were the go to travel vehicles. I wonder how many bus conversions showed up at Woodstock? I'd take bets the old white god fearing bunch in the FMCA were off somewhere else.
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No doubt there was a different audience for school buses and coaches then, just like there is now.
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Well, early 70's was well before my window of any interest in driving an RV around. The VW bus and painted yellow buses were the go to travel vehicles. I wonder how many bus conversions showed up at Woodstock? I'd take bets the old white god fearing bunch in the FMCA were off somewhere else.
I was working :^
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To Sandy and Gary. So. This has been a far flung thread. Where are we? Who's a skoolie? How do they get signed up? Can they respond to everything? Am I a skoolie? What is the plan to bring in skoolies? Etc. Etc. Jack
Jack, Sorry for taking so long to respond but I have been busy traveling to the Loudonville, OH Flxible rally that starts this week.
I am simply AMAZED and excited that we have had so many positive posts about School Bus Conversions on the main Forum. I have seen some School Bus conversions myself that put some over-the-road bus conversions to shame. I do like the ground clearance you get with a School Bus as I like to get off the beaten path, but I also like the smooth ride and voluminous storage in my 1967 Eagle.
That being said, we started a new thread for School Bus folks to post their concerns and questions that may pertain only to Skoolies. They have unique issues that they have to deal with, such as do I have to paint my bus or can I leave it yellow (Which Jon Usle wrote an article about that very subject which is now on our Blog). Now they have their own place to post those questions to get more immediate attention.
Of course, they are also welcome to post on the main part of the Forum as well, as everyone with any kind of bus is welcome here. Of course, anyone can read the Forum, but to see the photos and to participate fully, they have to become members and Phil has to swear you in, just like we all had to. ;)
And as to your question about how we plan to bring them in, we have been alternating over-the-road buses with Skoolies every other month on the cover of Bus Conversion Magazine for almost three years now. Everyone here should be a subscriber to support the Forum, and to see what some of those great folks have created.
To see their posts you can go to the Skoolie thread here: https://www.busconversionmagazine.com/forum/index.php?topic=35630.0
And yes Jack, you are a special kind of Skoolie person. ;D
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Now that we can't say he or her anymore, it's all gender neutral in the big world, I guess we need to make a label for something like a Bluebird - non-bus, bi-bus trans-bus, hema-bus (i.e. hermaphrodite) :^
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Windtrader:"white god fearing bunch in the FMCA"??? Full moon?
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That was a great discussion!
All I can say is we LOVE our Skoolie. We get to travel the country and I don't really let the negativity dictate what I do with my life or travels. If people don't want us to stay because we are "Hippies" in a School Bus, that's fine, I probably don't want to be in your area anyways.
Mostly we have received excitement and love.
I LOVE all buses, and we do our best to represent all the bus love.
Hope to see you all on the road.
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Agree 100%! Just like as society in general embraces diversity, we just extend that to buses. We like all buses and the variety of ideas and perspectives too. thanks bcm!
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A bus is a bus is a bus - the people that drive them or hosts them as RVs not so much...
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Welcome to the good life... We fulltime also and love it. No problems so far and have been excepted into 99.9% of RV parks and the place we are at right now have two of their own for taking the people that come here to the river to float and pick them up with two Blue Birds. Ones a pusher and the other is a puller. Have fun and good luck. :^
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Don't worry Sandra,
We don't bite. Most of the over the road bus guys are old and we envy that you are full timing with your family and living the dream. I am 64 and probably one of the "pups" on this forum. As far as "hippies", I am 25 years retired military, a retired police officer (8 years), NRA member, I hunt, tend to vote republican, and drive a 1980 Prevost bus. Before that makes you run away, know that I married a vegetarian (she eats some meat now), candle making, tie dye shirt wearing, incense burning free spirit 30 years ago. Although I think we probably vote differently when we close that curtain, we are still in love and driving the country whenever we can. We wish Covid would go away because my spouse likes to be plugged in most of the time. Campgrounds are jammed I think thanks in part to Covid.
I'd like to come to one of your meets and get ideas. If you are ever in the N Ga mountains your family is welcome here anytime. We live on Lake Nottely about 90 minutes N of Atlanta and have 50 amp and water at the house. Good luck with the Skoolie forum!
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All I can say is we LOVE our Skoolie.
Sandra -
This week there was a FE Blue Bird skoolie in the same campground I'm in, army green with a white top underneath the solar panels and roof deck. Didn't see the owners much, as I think they were taking their kids to the N ID State Fair that's currently playing in town, and they left this morning.
What I found interesting was the name they've given their bus: "Dulcinea."
I chuckled thinking about that clever name, one that a lot of folk will not figure out.
8)
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A regular little siren that Aldonza!
Jack ???
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In our travels, passed a Bluebird that had top cut and added higher window section added. Wanted a picture, but no room to turn around for several miles.
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newbees with their never to be completed projects
Jack, does that mean I'm still a newbee? It's going on 11 years now. ;D
I'll probably finish it if I live long enough.
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Jack, does that mean I'm still a newbee? It's going on 11 years now. ;D
I'll probably finish it if I live long enough.
No way Dick you're getting old with us! Your rig is awesome...
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I am surprised at all the 5th wheel travel trailers you see RV parks are full of 5th wheels We are hanging out with friends in Boise Id that sold his MCI C converted by Custom Coach that bought a 550 Ford and high end 5th wheel and he says he close to 300k in the package and loves it,it iis nice but for 300k 8) it should be
Well... I own a big 5er. Not a really fancy one, but a big nice one nevertheless.
The reason people buy these things is because they look great in the showroom (or at least good), they don't require any build time and you can finance them like a house, for 20 years. Ditto with the tow vehicle - its all shiny and new and you can finance it. Wala, instant RV.
What people don't realize is that the build quality on 5ers is very poor. Fawcets, sinks, plumbing, hot water heater, fridge, couch, mattresses, axles, tires, brakes... all RV quality instead of residential quality. By the time you use it for 10 years, you'll have repaced everything. All you basically have left is the frame and shell and not even that is very good.
More powerful tow vehicles have also driven this craze. 400HP/900 ftlbs handles a 20K 5er pretty well. And you can finance these for a long time too.
But what people don't realize about modern diesel pickup trucks is that they are essentially throw aways after 150K miles. 150K miles would be a lot of RVing, but most people end up using their TV as their daily driver and 150K adds up pretty quick. About 5 years for most if you are doing a lot of RVing.
Yes, you can nurse a diesel pickup truck along to 200 - 250K miles. But it gets expensive and troublesome. Injectors, turbos, EGR valves, EGR coolers, radiators, DPFs, etc will need to be replaced. My friend runs a roofing company and has a fleet of F150s and Superduties. The Ecoboost engines are garbage. He keeps Superduties for 4 years or 100,000 miles, whatever comes first. His luck with Dodge gas 1/2 tons has been poor.
If I had to buy a new truck for RVing right now, it would be an F350 with the 7.3 Godzilla gasser. And I'd only use it for pulling my trailer.
However, I'm going to sell my trailer and replace it with a bus conversion. I'll get a good used F150 with the 5.0L engine for my truck. No more $60-80K diesel pickup trucks. I'll probably buy a crossover SUV for my daily driver and to pull behind my bus.
As far as schoolies go... if it works for them, great. But what most people don't realize is that it takes a lot less work to convert a coach and when you are done you have a great platform under the build. Schoolies are designed to transport kids from a bus stop to a school at the lowest possible cost. Coaches are designed to haul 40-55 people and all their gear from city to city, in comfort for years on end.
Personally, I'm waiting for the schoolie crowd to figure this out. Because it is only a matter of time before they do.
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A regular little siren that Aldonza!
Right on, Jack!
Don would be proud of you!
;D
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Personally, I'm waiting for the schoolie crowd to figure this out. Because it is only a matter of time before they do.
I did. Only took one bus, one trailer, and one RV.
Jim
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Not sure how travel trailers got thrown into the pot but trailer/tow vehicle is an entirely and very different conversation. There are major points where each is stronger and a better fit than the other. Another day another topic.
Skoolie vs bus conversion.
The question was asked earlier how many current OTR conversions owners owned a skoolie before switching. I think Jack was the only one who raised his hand.
The amount of labor and dollars to convert a yellow vs revenue is a personal decision. It seems you could spend more or less on each conversion - it's all driven by what the converter wants.
Maybe a few of us should join in over there to meet the new tribe.
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Anyone doubting that Ford 6.7s are nothing but trouble should watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhlCDg0-G8wa
The owner was darn lucky not to destroy the engine.
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The amount of labor and dollars to convert a yellow vs revenue is a personal decision. It seems you could spend more or less on each conversion - it's all driven by what the converter wants.
It takes more money and effort to get an equivalent "niceness" in a schoolie compared to a coach.
Coaches are a much better base to start with. They have a decent ceiling height. They are insulated and the walls are designed for insulation. They have dual pane windows. The floor is completely flat. They are geared properly. The engines make enough power for sustained highway cruising. The suspension rides much better. There have luggage bays for storage and to mount system stuff like batteries, tanks, genset, etc.
With a schoolie, you spend a lot of time creating or fixing the stuff that coaches have built in from the start.
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Sure. It all depends on what you want and need. Sure seems like a lot of work to bolt a fake engine compartment onto the front of an OTR bus though. LOL
The older OTR buses did not have dual pane glass nor all flat floors, many have a riser that needs to be covered.
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Biggest thing is probably the basement storage. That makes a coach luxurious compared to a bus. Then all that other stuff just ups the ante. Cost of entry is generally higher but benefits are well in excess of the added cost. And does the appearance matter at all? Do the places you stay think a bus is just fine or maybe even an upgrade? Or is it a modern version of the Clampets? Keep in mind that the Clampets were just fine with the way they were, it was everyone else who had the issues. I think that applies.
Jim
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I'm starting to notice newer school busses with under chassis storage compartments. Probably from issues for hauling equipment for sports.
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I think I saw those compartments in a very old brochure I have so I would imagine that option was there all along but you are correct, I see more of them like that now too. Extra storage for equipment or they make the extremely naughty kids ride in there. 😀
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Well RJ I have to say I paused at Dulcinea....
I could have googled it but decided to struggle instead. I was getting close: Phantom of the Opera?....no...My Fair Lady?....no. Gave up and said "Dulcinea" to my Rita. She instantly responded with Man of La Moncha. She made me go to plays when we got married and I have to admit they were not all bad. I still hum songs from Camelot when I am not humming Travis Tritt.
But then, she should have gotten it right away. She grew up NE area, went to Ivy league schools, has 2 masters degrees, an spent her weekends at museums and plays.
I grew up in Ft. Collins, barely got into Colorado State, and spent my weekends killing deer and elk. Still don't know how we've stayed married....
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The only reason I recognized the name was that in eighth grade I was put in a special reading class for "good readers" (my term) and we were assigned all sorts of "classics" to read and report on.
I'd probably have been better off spending my time in a remedial spelling class as I can spell the same word three different ways on the same page and never notice. Even my forum name is misspelled. Jack :-[
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I still hum songs from Camelot when I am not humming Travis Tritt.
Ted -
You'd better be humming "If Ever I Would Leave You" around Miss Rita!
;D ;D ;D ;D
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Anyone doubting that Ford 6.7s are nothing but trouble should watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhlCDg0-G8wa
The owner was darn lucky not to destroy the engine.
FORD seems to have a recent history of not getting things right. They are being bombarded with recalls and with it any number of P.O.'d customers. Sometimes I wonder if they shouldn't merge with BOEING given they too can't seem to do things right and/or introduce products that use untested components just like FORD.
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" It wouldn't be in spring time....".
Oh great. Now I'll have THAT in my head all day. Back to buses. This is about buses.....!
It's a nice day here. Just hope the rain will never fall 'till after sundown...
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And we thought we had problems with the anti-freeze in Detroits.
And the oil.
uncle ned
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Back to buses. This is about buses.....!
Ted -
But it is about buses - the FE Bluebird Skoolie that spent a week in my RV park that was named "Dulcinea" ;D
I'm tickled that Jack and you (with Miss Rita's help) figured it out.
It's somewhat fascinating to me what busnuts call their rigs, and the reasons behind those names. Which is why I brought up "Dulcinea" - because it was distinctive, different, and, I suspect, since most folks won't get it, a little bit of a "dig" to commoners by the owners. Wish I'd gotten a chance to speak to them about it. . . :(
RJ
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I still don't get it, wasn't Dulcinea the windmill killer Don Quixote mistress or something with him he liked
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I thought it was like a small shapely guitar...
Jim
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My guess is the owner is the only one that knows for sure what it means
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Sandra (and all). It's quite confusing trying to figure out just where to post things Skoolie. I tend towards this discussion but I don't think posting here is helping the new discussion board (for Skoolies) grow. Since the introduction of the Skoolie board there have been 35 discussions on that board while there have been well over 100 discussions on this one. Is there a way to get these comments to show up on the Skoolie board as well (or instead of) here? I feel the current split of discussions makes for a "Town and Gown" relationship between the school bus owners and the big boys bus owners despite this not being the intended outcome.
I feel quite at home on this board because my little bus thinks she is a 'Hound hence her being named Honeysuckle Rose after Hoyt Axton's Scenicruiser despite being (a) Superior. Ha! Jack
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Jack makes a good point!
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Ah, that damned Jack is always stirring the pot! Jack ::)
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Sandra (and all). It's quite confusing trying to figure out just where to post things Skoolie. I tend towards this discussion but I don't think posting here is helping the new discussion board (for Skoolies) grow. Since the introduction of the Skoolie board there have been 35 discussions on that board while there have been well over 100 discussions on this one. Is there a way to get these comments to show up on the Skoolie board as well (or instead of) here? I feel the current split of discussions makes for a "Town and Gown" relationship between the school bus owners and the big boys bus owners despite this not being the intended outcome.
I feel quite at home on this board because my little bus thinks she is a 'Hound hence her being named Honeysuckle Rose after Hoyt Axton's Scenicruiser despite being (a) Superior. Ha! Jack
Jack,
I started the new Skoolie section at the recommendation of one of our members so they could post things directly related to Skoolies. They have unique issues that we as over-the-road buses do not have. They also build their buses a bit different than we do a many of them use Composting Toilets and carry very little water. They have different engines and transmissions than we do so we may not be able to answer their questions about those. They also have awesome ground clearance which makes me jealous as I like to get off the beaten path, more than I am able to now in my Eagle bus.
Being a Skoolie owner, as you are, there is nothing wrong with you or them posting on the main board. I just thought it would be nice for them to have their own space to work with, for their unique issues. Anyone is welcome to read and post on either post. I just thought this would be easier than mixing them in with the people that have no interest in owning a school bus conversion.
It is very easy to check both topics, all it takes is changing categories. Because you have had both types of buses, you may want to do that each time you log in. I think there are many people that should do that, as some of the Skoolie people are very creative and are coming up with great ideas. I have seen some school buses that would put many of our buses to shame.
I just thought I would chime in and let people know why we decided to do this. If we discover later that other people find this to not be the best setup, we can always change it later. I would be interested to hear other people's thoughts on this.
But I understand, as I get confused every time I see your bus too.
Gary