Technomadia Bus Hunt Update: Bus Training, now we are in OR / WA...

technomadia · June 08, 2011, 09:49:44 AM

The latest on our bus hunt...

After we sold our truck and trailer last month, we toured around the east checking out some potential candidates to be our new home using a borrowed old Winnebago Le'Sharo. We were very tempted by an extremely nice MC7, but we just couldn't bring ourselves to go for a 40' bus, or a manual transmission.

A great looking 35' in good mechanical condition with an automatic is our current goal.

To turn our bus hunt into even more of an adventure, we bought a one-month Amtrak pass and have set off by train across country on a quest to find the perfect bus for us.

The week-long train adventure from Savannah, GA to Eugene, OR was incredibly beautiful and relaxing - what a nice way to see the country.

We've spent the past few days checking out what we had thought would be a very promising 35' 1976 Prevost, but once we got under the bus there was more rust and rot issues than we are comfortable with at the moment, so we are continuing our search.

(How much rust is too much, btw? That may be a good topic for another thread...)

Our next stop is probably going to be around the Seattle area where we have our eye on a 4106 conversion, and if we run out of great options to check out up in the Northwest we'll probably hop a train down towards Arizona or Utah where we have other good leads lined up.

Anyway - if any of you have any leads on some great buses for sale, please let us know - particularly if they are in WA or OR and we can check them out right away. We would love to find something that has been loved and cared for by a bus nut, and that is not suffering from years of neglect.

We are gathering leads here: http://www.technomadia.com/sell-us-your-bus/

And you can follow our adventures at our blog: http://www.technomadia.com

We've met a lot of great people via this forum - what an incredible community. Thanks for all the wonderful advice - keep it coming!

- Chris (and Cherie) // www.technomadia.com

Ed Hackenbruch · June 08, 2011, 12:45:43 PM

There are usually a few buses for sale at the BUSN"USA rally which is just west of Salem OR. and will be from June 23rd thru the 26th.

robertglines1 · June 08, 2011, 12:52:16 PM

Might ck out older wanderlodges. was fun meeting yall.-your O'boro friend called and overheated LOL ( his phone) To much talk I guess will meet up next Monday. Bob

technomadia · June 08, 2011, 02:35:09 PM

Quote from: Ed Hackenbruch on June 08, 2011, 12:45:43 PM
There are usually a few buses for sale at the BUSN"USA rally which is just west of Salem OR. and will be from June 23rd thru the 26th.

We just found out about that rally from the folks at Southern Oregon Diesel. Not sure we will still be in the northwest then - we need to maximize our one-month with the Amtrak pass so we might be somewhere else down the rails by then.

But if we can make it, it sounds great!

- Chris

technomadia · June 11, 2011, 10:29:15 AM

We've tracked down a lot of promising buses in Arizona and points southwest, so now we are on Amtrak's Coast Starlight headed from Oregon to LA, and then on to Arizona.

Any additional leads on great buses to check out is much appreciated.

Cheers!

- Chris (and Cherie) // www.technomadia.com

chev49 · June 11, 2011, 07:20:54 PM

yeah, maybe the obeirto one since its close

Van · June 12, 2011, 08:16:48 AM

This one just popped up, Happy hunting!

http://lasvegas.craigslist.org/rvs/2435525295.html

technomadia · June 12, 2011, 09:57:34 AM

Quote from: chev49 on June 11, 2011, 07:20:54 PM
yeah, maybe the obeirto one since its close

Obeirto one?

MCIGenes · June 12, 2011, 10:55:50 AM

The BUS-N-USA rally is near Salem in June 23 to 26th. Last year they had a beautiful MC5? for sale at a very reasonable price. The husband had died and Southern Oregon Diesel was selling it for her. If I did not have mine already I would have bought it. Contact Southern Oregon Diesel because they have contact with owners all the time.
We will be going up there later this month, but our bus will be staying home. Too many project, Too little time.

Gene 1975 MC5B Southern California.

chev49 · June 13, 2011, 06:08:06 AM

obierto bluebird wanderlodge has been for sale for a long time and i think its at monmoth which is only a few miles south of the rickreal fairgrounds..i think they were asking something like 15K

technomadia · June 13, 2011, 08:24:43 AM

Thanks folks - we were actually South Oregon Diesel for a couple days last week, as that's where the 35' Prevost was parked at. They had no additional leads on other 35' buses for sale, they even called one of the organizers of the Busin'USA for us to see if she was in the know of anything that might be at the rally and/or for sale in the area. No leads

So, we just arrived earlier this morning to NW Arizona where we have dear friends to basecamp with, and will be spending this week checking out some options within a few hours drive of here. Unfortunately many of Amtrak's routes are currently disrupted due to floods and fires, so our options for places to go became quickly reduced.

Definitely appreciating the leads.. so for sure, if you hear of anything suitable, keep passing it on! We intend to hunt until we find the right bus for us, no matter where it's hidding

All our best,
- Cherie & Chris

Ed Hackenbruch · June 13, 2011, 08:55:31 AM

Have you tried http://claz.org/all.html?q=bus+conversion that should take you to a craigslist for buses all over the US. Hope this helps.

chev49 · June 13, 2011, 12:31:47 PM

guess u went by the one in west salem.. i think the repost for the mci is 9K

technomadia · June 13, 2011, 12:36:25 PM

Thanks for links, Ed.. that's a very cool site we hadn't seen before. Will add it to our scanning tools.

Chev49 - any idea where we can find a posting on this West Salem Wanderlodge? We've not come across it at all.

chev49 · June 13, 2011, 12:39:51 PM

the wanderlodge has been on craigslist for months. Maybe the listing has expired in june or they accidently sold it. I called once, but can't find the number now. coach needed paint but had fairley recent engine and i think less than 200K miles.. but i just can't remember right now.. paint scheme is the same as their company colors so it is easy to spot. I will see if i can find it or the number. rich