Skoolies vs OTR bus nuts

windtrader · April 17, 2021, 03:20:23 PM

I've been wondering what attracts people to yellow school buses to convert rather than OTR buses. A skoolie may be cheaper to buy but in the grand scheme once all the pile of receipts are added up, it doesn't seem the initial buy in makes much difference.

Does the old yellow bus stir up more memories than a Greyhound ride? Surely, many more folks have memories taking trips on school buses.

Is just the retro-hippy nostalgia that points them that way?

How many people do enough research to look beyond a skoolie and discover that OTR are conversion options too?

Just curious

luvrbus · April 17, 2021, 04:30:17 PM

The people I talk to say cost and they have had a better maintaince program , parts are off the self from any truck parts not like hiway buses you pay $29.00 ea for wheel studs they pay about $6.00 ea plus they are low mileage and don't have millions of miles .Some wish they had more storage.Those people on the average sure build beautiful interiors on school buses every inch of space is used and has a purpose lol and they don't use KOA or any other parks they prefer living off grid ,another plus is fuel mileage since they have smaller modern engines

lostagain · April 17, 2021, 05:37:54 PM

They are just as happy as we are in our buses.

dtcerrato · April 17, 2021, 05:59:03 PM

Bluebird makes a fine bus and RV too!

silversport · April 17, 2021, 08:35:29 PM

Scoolies have better ground clearance for boondocking.

6805eagleguy · April 17, 2021, 08:46:57 PM

Quote from: silversport on April 17, 2021, 08:35:29 PM
Scoolies have better ground clearance for boondocking.

Sure do

windtrader · April 17, 2021, 09:30:01 PM

I'd agree from the images of converted school buses, the creative types definitely seem to be attracted that way. Seems like most OTR bus nuts want to follow luxury large commercial conversions. From what I've seen many bus conversions have very similar floorplans while school bus converters choose from a much broader inventory of materials and many of them have unique layouts as well.

richard5933 · April 18, 2021, 04:34:47 AM

I think that there's a huge difference in complexity between an OTR coach and a school bus as well, making a school bus much more attractive to a DIY owner.

I'd seriously consider getting an older dual rear axle Crown for a project. They have lots going for them, including being able to get under without worries about air suspension failure (no blocking) and a much better setup for driving on dirt roads or grass.

dtcerrato · April 18, 2021, 07:26:55 AM

What Richard said of schoolies also fits the profile for the GM Silversides as far as increased ground clearance & steel leaf springs in comparison to our air ride inter city 4104 & Buffalo.

richard5933 · April 18, 2021, 07:46:47 AM

Quote from: dtcerrato on April 18, 2021, 07:26:55 AM
What Richard said of schoolies also fits the profile for the GM Silversides as far as increased ground clearance & steel leaf springs in comparison to our air ride inter city 4104 & Buffalo.

I thought of that Dan, but two big advantages to a Crown - much newer and easier to get parts for, and the option of a twin screw drive axle setup which would be helpful for increased gription.

My guestimation is that a Crown could be made to look pretty retro without much effort with just a bit of fluted aluminum along the sides.

luvrbus · April 18, 2021, 07:48:50 AM

Quote from: dtcerrato on April 18, 2021, 07:26:55 AM
What Richard said of schoolies also fits the profile for the GM Silversides as far as increased ground clearance & steel leaf springs in comparison to our air ride inter city 4104 & Buffalo.

The school buses these people are converting are air rides ,school buses have used air ride since the 60's some had leaf springs .lol I owned a Blue Bird Wonder Lodge with leaf spring it was so rough riding my wife said it would shake the bed sheets off the bed ,even the Crowns went to air bags

oltrunt · April 18, 2021, 09:24:50 AM

I think it is the lower initial cost and the availability of many different wheelbases that attract the DIYselfers to school buses rather than OTR rigs. I don't know about the OTR crowd but I'm convinced that 9 out of ten skoolies have no idea what makes their bus's wheels go around or what to do if they don't. As a skoolie myself I know that I am a kettle calling the pot black when I say that most of the DIY skoolie conversions scare me to death. Many skoolie owners have great imaginations but poor abilities when it comes to safely carrying out their builds.

I'm afraid I've taken this thread down the wrong path. I'd have to agree with lostagain when he pointed out that skoolie owners are "just as happy as we are in our buses" and I guess that should be the point. Jack

luvrbus · April 18, 2021, 09:45:29 AM

Quote from: oltrunt on April 18, 2021, 09:24:50 AM
I think it is the lower initial cost and the availability of many different wheelbases that attract the DIYselfers to school buses rather than OTR rigs. I don't know about the OTR crowd but I'm convinced that 9 out of ten skoolies have no idea what makes their bus's wheels go around or what to do if they don't. As a skoolie myself I know that I am a kettle calling the pot black when I say that most of the DIY skoolie conversions scare me to death. Many skoolie owners have great imaginations but poor abilities when it comes to safely carrying out their builds.

I'm afraid I've taken this thread down the wrong path. I'd have to agree with lostagain when he pointed out that skoolie owners are "just as happy as we are in our buses" and I guess that should be the point. Jack

LOL I you looked at some of the OTR converted buses people drive down the road Jack some of those scare the hell out of me

Eric · April 18, 2021, 10:38:50 AM

OTR- bigger canvas for bigger ideas . We did a transit then a schoolie and 15 years later we have an MC9. That being said I have 16 lithium batteries going below deck and 400 gallons of water . Neither previous vehicle could dream of either of those with room to spare . My nine floats down the interstate effortlessly and sings a pleasant tune, give it a few years and all those skoolie folks will seek more space and flexibility that the big yellow bananas cannot provide !

Dave5Cs · April 18, 2021, 10:51:41 AM

In we being in BLM land right now and having to watch out for rocks along in our MC5 I would think the Schoolie clearance is what they have the advantage on us. They also like free camping and most RV parks don't want them in. We have had three RV parks turn ours down just for the year without even seeing it. Most we send a picture to and they say come ahead. It only happened in Arizona so far. We are doing great though on free land with 1500W of solar and 8 ,6 volt AGM's and 4024 hybrid Magnum inverter.
Life is good.

Watched a Red tail hawk grab a scorpion and fly off.