Arrrrgh! Saved up the bux and now can get one but.. which one? I'm not too worried 'bout stealth. Luv step vans, but face it, buses are generally funkier (tho my old '56 Grumman was uber-cool). Not too thrilled about the steel body on a mini-bus, but there's probably a good reason for it. I dunno, decisions decisions.. got about a week to make up wut passes for my mind. ..Willy.
MINI-BUS!! NO.. step van.. NO.. mini-bus.. Nonono...
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One Awesome Inch
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One possibility is just consider all vehicles in your area that you *might* think of buying. If you find something in great mechanical condition be it mini bus, step van etc make the final decision based on the condition and cost of the particular vehicle you are looking at.
Another thing... those mini buses have alot of windows, which as you know is terrible for regulating cold and hot temps.
Another thing... those mini buses have alot of windows, which as you know is terrible for regulating cold and hot temps.
sassypickins
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Ha ha! Good luck in your decision, Willy. Which will win out? Going with what you knew and loved, or feeling like you can take a leap into the new and unknown and see what happens? Sounds like an adventure either way!
stude53
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Willie,
IMO, Buses are cool, but not easy to build out, due to curved ceilings and multiple windows. Not all minibuses have good ceiling height, either (built for children). My personal preference is a step van, for obvious reasons.
Good luck on finding one in good shape and reasonable cost.
Bob
IMO, Buses are cool, but not easy to build out, due to curved ceilings and multiple windows. Not all minibuses have good ceiling height, either (built for children). My personal preference is a step van, for obvious reasons.
Good luck on finding one in good shape and reasonable cost.
Bob
karl
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I feel your pain- I want one of each for their advantages and cool factor.
Good luck in your choices.
Good luck in your choices.
sparky1
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saw a church bus "20 passenger ?" last week near Rustburg rt,501 south. last week (FORD) $2500. looked nice but I really HATE working on them, so I passed it up.
love to have one my self,but NOT a Ford.
love to have one my self,but NOT a Ford.
Patrick46
Well-known member
You already KNOW what MY answer would be! 
Happy shopping!!!
Happy shopping!!!
Actually, windows are really not a problem. wut I do with them is to first apply a reflective window film to the interior glass. 2nd, is the ol' standby, Reflectix. Then, a bit of a 'standoff' (1/2" will do fine), and Coroplast. This is for winter and makes for an exceedingly well insulated window.
The curved ceiling isn't much of a problem either. All one has to do is cut an initial 'form' outta cardboard and trace it onto whatever needs to be put up. Coroplast makes for a real good buddy when replacing ceiling panels on a curved roof. It bends easily and the back can be scored for real tight curves. It's also lightweight, a VBL, and has an OK R-value.
Still 'n all, it's a tough decision. ..Willy.
The curved ceiling isn't much of a problem either. All one has to do is cut an initial 'form' outta cardboard and trace it onto whatever needs to be put up. Coroplast makes for a real good buddy when replacing ceiling panels on a curved roof. It bends easily and the back can be scored for real tight curves. It's also lightweight, a VBL, and has an OK R-value.
Still 'n all, it's a tough decision. ..Willy.
Patrick46
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Unchained said:*checks watch* You're slipping, Patrick; I had a fiver on you to vote 'step van' in 6 hours or less!
This was simply a matter of me not checking the board my usual 3x a day!
pfffffffffft.....a bus over a stepvan......HA!
The engine in my truck works fine, good compression & I rebuilt the bottom end, but it has the totally crappy E4OD tranny. I COULD pop in another torque converter and maybe pump, but that's plenty of work (tho it can be done in situ) and I don't want to pump money into a lo-dollar truck. Also, even with some new parts, the tranny might go tits-up anyway.
This kinda leaves me at a crossroads.. fix it, flog it and get a better truck, or flog it and get a whole different setup. I checked out that mini school bus yesterday and one of the cylinders was knocking. No dice there, and the other one had 16.5" rims w. the front tires skinned and the 'check engine' light on. I'd have to invest over a grand in tires/rims on it and, doing some hard thinking, I figured that 10' of usable interior length is not quite enuf.. 12' would be ideal. ..Willy.
This kinda leaves me at a crossroads.. fix it, flog it and get a better truck, or flog it and get a whole different setup. I checked out that mini school bus yesterday and one of the cylinders was knocking. No dice there, and the other one had 16.5" rims w. the front tires skinned and the 'check engine' light on. I'd have to invest over a grand in tires/rims on it and, doing some hard thinking, I figured that 10' of usable interior length is not quite enuf.. 12' would be ideal. ..Willy.
Yup, kida sux, but gotta roll with the punches. At least, saving my pennies, I've got enuf funds to do something. Truth of the matter is that the most practical solution would be to stick with a truck. This way, going down south next winter, I can put the camper in storage and stay in a canopy or camperette. Mileage would go up from 11-13 mpg to near 20 mpg, which makes for significant savings. ..Willy.
NO WAY!! I've had to do one motor swap already within the past year, what a nightmare, and don't aim to do another one anytime soon. Newer trucks, mine being a '92, are just plain a pain in the ass to work on. Older ones.. no problem. ..Willy.
WheelEstate USA
Well-known member
I miss the days when we could R&R a motor in a day under the old tree. A come-a-long, hand full of tools and we were done before beer 'oclock.
They sure screwed us on that deal
They sure screwed us on that deal
highdesertranger
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yep newer vehicles aren't meant to be rebuilt over and over. they want you to throw them away and buy a new one. sad days indeed. highdesertranger
I remember doing an engine swap on a '69 VW van with just a few tools, a jack (to raise the rear), and a low stump to rest the engine on when we rolled the van forward. Ahhhh.. those were the days! ..Willy.
