New Skoolie Discussion Board

[sandra@BCM]

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

[dtcerrato]

Sandra didn't realize you & your family are bus nuts - cool!
Afaic a bus is a bus is a bus...

[oltrunt]

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)

[Tedsoldbus]

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!

[luvrbus]

The skoolie group has always impressd me with their ideas and their craftmanship work

[windtrader]

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

[luvrbus]

Sorta like FMCA started with converted buses only huh

[Jim Blackwood]

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

[luvrbus]

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

[Utahclaimjumper]

 
 You also give up lower storage room.>>>Dan

[luvrbus]

 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     

[windtrader]

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.

[luvrbus]

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

[Jim Blackwood]

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

[Brassman]

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.)