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jimmy-pop-ali
New Member
2 Posts |
 Posted - 01/09/2003 : 5:12:45 PM
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hi there,
my name is sascha and i'm living in l.a.
i want to do a cross country tour and travel through the u.s. with an old school bus.
i want to take out the seats and put in some mattresses, a kitchen and stuff ...
therefore i wanted to ask you, how much it would cost to buy a 10 year old 30 feet used school bus.
it would be great, if you could also give me some information about the miles per gallon and other stuff,
e.g. can i drive to bus with my class c drivers license, or do i need to get another license, is it better to get a bus that
runs with gas or diesel?
i really hope you can help me!
thank you very much!
i'm looking forward hearing from you!
sascha
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Silas J.
Top Member
USA
938 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2003 : 6:53:24 PM
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The prices really vary..I've heard of retired buses from my ditrict being auctioned for $50,and sometimes up to $1100. I would think a decent price would be around $650-700. I don't really know about the MPG. I think you want to go with a diesel,since they seem to be more reliable,and diesel is a little cheaper. 
Silas J.
http://www.geocities.com/schoolbusarchives
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Steven A.Rosenow
Top Member
USA
1926 Posts |
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Buskid
Top Member
USA
3368 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2003 : 05:40:38 AM
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quote:
I bought my 1977 Gillig Tandem-Axle school bus in 1998 at a cost of just $475, and it's 10 feet longer than your desired 30 footer.
But your motor seized up, Steve! 
Sascha,
Since you're in the Los Angeles area, I would recommend you avoid purchasing a school bus from any dealer in the area; especially A-Z Bus Sales in Colton. The prices at the dealers in Southern California tend to be on the high side.
Having said that, you should be able to find a bus that fits your needs for under $3000.00 (and that's on the extreme high end). As Steve said, look around. eBay always has good deals, and there are other sources such as trucktraderonline.com that have used school buses listed all the time. The important thing is to shop around, compare prices and buy what's going to be best for you. Don't buy the first thing that comes along.
About gas vs. diesel, I would personally recommend diesel. It's more of a personal preference that I have. I get 10+ mpg with my 1969 Crown Supercoach on the road; that has a 671 Detroit Diesel Engine in it. Most of the newer school buses (mid-1980s and up) you'll probably find will most likely be equipped with diesel engines.
If your plans are to convert the bus into an RV, you won't need a commercial license. You'll be able to register the bus as an RV and drive it with your regular Class C license. The trick is convincing the DMV that the bus is no longer a school bus. Sometimes they'll require you to have the bus inspected before issuing you license plates, sometimes they won't. Out of the five times that I've registered an old school bus, only once did I have to get one inspected.
I hope this helps you out a little bit. Good luck! 
Crown Supercoach - The “Royalty” of Pupil Transportation |
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IHCBusMan
New Member
8 Posts |
Posted - 01/20/2003 : 9:41:45 PM
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i have some older IHC/thomas school buses for sale and some ford blue birds, also have a motor coach. send me a e-mail if interested. there located at Winona Minnesota my e-mail address is fordbus@iland.net
your fellow school bus driver/owner
Aaron
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john.keigher@midwesttransit.com
New Member
USA
4 Posts |
Posted - 01/21/2003 : 7:45:49 PM
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You might want to check with www.used-bus.com. We have over 200 used buses in-stock and ready for delivery. You can call Mario at 1-888-Used-Bus
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Buskid
Top Member
USA
3368 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2003 : 06:15:50 AM
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quote:
You might want to check with www.used-bus.com. We have over 200 used buses in-stock and ready for delivery. You can call Mario at 1-888-Used-Bus
I would highly recommend these people to you. I've never dealt with the Illinois division that Mario works at, but the Whitestown, Indiana division is GREAT. They are the most helpful dealer I've ever worked with before -- they'll take care of you! 
Crown Supercoach - The “Royalty” of Pupil Transportation |
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thomas86_a
Top Member
USA
4413 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2003 : 11:57:16 AM
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Midwest Transit is a great dealer to work with even if they do sell Blue Birds. But they've probably got a few good used Thomas Buses for sale.
"I'd rather pull my kids around in a 77 passenger Radio Flyer than drive a Blue Bird." |
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patrick young
Senior Member
USA
84 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2005 : 11:13:33 AM
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Howdy fellow Enthusiast/Bus Fan
I am new to the site, but I already recognize many of the nice bus folks and names I’ve seen for years on the Net. So I wanted to drop a line to some of the members who I think I might be able to share information with, or possibly lend assistance.
I am a retired school teacher (not by choice) who has been working with buses and trucks and diesel stuff for about 18 years. I've also owned 3 diesel Mercedes, a diesel Isuzu (Great car!), Lister Diesels, Deutz diesels, and I have also had two Nissan diesel pickups. I started driving a truck (Int’l Fleetstar 2000D, 6-71 DD, 10 speed Roadranger) 31 years ago when I was in the military.
I'm best on school buses, so if you have an expensive silversides 4104 I will be of only limited help. But I do know quite a bit about engines in general, especially Cummins, CAT, Detroits and IHC. I’ve helped rebuild a CAT 1160 V-8, and a 180 Cummins, so I learned a lot and got very dirty!
I currently have several Crowns, some Gilligs, a Ford/Gillig, an International/Ward, and also LOTS of tires and bus parts. I mean LOTS!
I have a very simple policy on selling anything, from an entire bus to the smallest part. If you are unsatisfied with anything, just return it undamaged for a full refund. That includes the entire bus, as long as you don’t keep it for 10 years. Bus parts and buses only appreciate in value (well OK s.l.o.w.l.y appreciate) so I won’t be hurt, nor will I have any hard feelings. I’ll just sell it to somebody else later.
I have also dismantled 7 buses (one Crown, two Fords and four Gilligs) and know a lot about their innards. I’ve spent waaaay too much time underneath a bus!
So if you need any help, feel free to give me a call or an e-mail.
Have a good one
Patrick Young
Wheelchair Project
Fresno, CA
WheelchairBusProject@yahoo.com
(559) 244-1042 (559) 251-3814
http://www.fresnoalliance.com/wheelchairproject
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BE nice to even the mean people and it will help you grow and mautre. "You make a living by what you get, you make a life by what you give." (anything else wil just make you crazy eventually)
please Question Authority when you think it is necessary. If it is legitamate, it will stand up to the test. If not, don't be a hypocrite, and put your own effort into making it better, not just tearing it down. It is blasphemy to say God likes your nation, or has chosen your nation, over another. that is one of the many conceits and lies that ensures that if Jesus comes back, he probably won't spend much time here, but go to a humbler poorer nation where people have faith, not pride. There exists both Nationalistic Propaganda and Timeless and profound spiritual Truths that will outlive all of us. Unfortunately most of us are easily sedcued by the more comforting rhetoric,i.e. pleaasant falsehoods are better than unpleasant truths. A national flag has no place in a House of God. It is also blasphaemy, the church once again getting in bed with the State.
God neither sees nor respects the ever changing national boundaries and lines we draw on maps, nor our reasons for war, he sees his children deluding themselves out of fear, comfort and laziness.
I also like travelling, and cold beer. |
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John M. Keigher
Advanced Member
USA
441 Posts |
Posted - 07/28/2016 : 2:51:41 PM
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You may want to check out Midwest Transit Equipment www.midwesttransit.com. We currently have over 700+ buses for sale in every bus make, model, size and price range. We have eight locations, 400+ employees and also sell bus parts and services. We are going on our 40th year in business.
www.midwesttransit.com |
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Admin
Administrator
USA
1662 Posts |
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i want to buy an old school bus, need your help!
