New Skoolie Discussion Board

[Jim Blackwood]

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

[windtrader]

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

[luvrbus]

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  .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   

[chessie4905]

I wonder how many of the rv parks would allow a schoolbus conversion.

[richard5933]

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.

[luvrbus]

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

[Ed Hackenbruch]

This was my family in either 59 or 60.

[richard5933]

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.

[chessie4905]

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.

[luvrbus]

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 

[Tedsoldbus]

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.

[Jim Blackwood]

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

[luvrbus]

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

[Dave5Cs]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Motor_Coach_Association

[luvrbus]

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