Search may be over...

[john9861]

Long shot but the bus may have been at Ft. Bragg for 2 years before it was used on the road or sold. Up to that point it didn't need to be titled. As for all the things to be careful of & I understand & appreciate everyone's concern, why not just buy the thing at a price taking all that into account anyway. Works for me. Merry Xmas to you & congrats!

[thejumpsuitman]

Long shot but the bus may have been at Ft. Bragg for 2 years before it was used on the road or sold. Up to that point it didn't need to be titled. As for all the things to be careful of & I understand & appreciate everyone's concern, why not just buy the thing at a price taking all that into account anyway. Works for me. Merry Xmas to you & congrats!

I think like you do...  You can't guard against everything.  You just make a reasonably well-informed decision and go forward.

[Just Dallas]

Removed

[Dreamscape]

Shoot man, that should be no problem for you, just a little smoke damage!

[Just Dallas]

Removed

[bubbaqgal]

What remains of that bus is beautiful.  The stainless is in really good shape and it would have made us a really nice conversion. Someone is going to get a really good deal on that one.  It is also sitting at a place where the interior could be converted for you by a man that does a super good job on the interiors.

[uncle ned]

Go ahead, jump in we need another "nut" in NC. Then JR and I won't be alone as true nuts.

Could include tom and gene in this class also and a few more.

ned

[thejumpsuitman]

Go ahead, jump in we need another "nut" in NC. Then JR and I won't be alone as true nuts.

Could include tom and gene in this class also and a few more.

ned

I've already been told I'm nuts, so I may as well have the bus too!

[cody]

To me it's like anything else in life, if you like it and feel comfortable, go for it, lol, none of the buses are perfect or they would all be iggles lol.

[Len Silva]

I don't know about military buses in general, but I have seen some Air Force Eagles that looked like brand new after ten or twelve years of service.  Couldn't ask for more meticulous maintenance. I guess it's easy when you can treat the motor pool like an airplane.

[thejumpsuitman]

I don't know about military buses in general, but I have seen some Air Force Eagles that looked like brand new after ten or twelve years of service.  Couldn't ask for more meticulous maintenance. I guess it's easy when you can treat the motor pool like an airplane.

Len, the same thought occurred to me.  At least during it's "first life", I would tend to believe it was very well maintained at the base.

[4905 doc]

Jump, did you find a place to get bumpers?
Alex

[JohnEd]

That logic about the Army being thorough in it" maint program applies to more outfits that the US Army.  As was mentioned, it also applies to the Air Force or the FED or a local or state Gummint or a "SCHOOL DISTRICT".  And this might surprise you... anything in Canada that has passed it's safety inspection cause those socialists up there have gun shy Polits that actually "fear" the voters a little and tend to cross the "T's" and dot the "I's".  If your loved ones die in a flaming wreck in a vehicle that was maintained by any public agency then a Gov or Senator or Rep will soon be getting involved and he/she won't be making excuses for the agency and if there is any dereliction of duty, then, heads do roll.   If not Gummint owned then it will be resolved by your favorite Personal Injury Attorney and he will work his "little" heart out to make sure a proper example is set to discourage opportunistic and predatory behavior by that party in the future.  The system works.

Now there is an owner group that is notorious for "deferred maint" and it is the small time operators like Churches and Bands and you understand.  Single owners can be as bad as any or they can be as good as the Army.  This IS NOT a religious or a political post but rather advice on what seller you should inspect more carefully in your own best interest.  You can trace the registered owners and in many states the mileage is listed at each sale.  If he last owner was a private and few miles since Ft Bragg was driving....well then all is probably well.  Small group that probably does not have a experienced driver and will defer maint and inspections I would look it over carefully.  The engine can be lugged and ruin the engine in a few hundred miles and the drums and shoes can be destroyed on a single long downhill grade.  And other stuff of which I have no idea.  Any and all words of caution are to benefit you in this journey.  And all others that might have need for the info, now or in the future doing subject searches.

You have indicated that you are getting a righteous deal and that infers, to me at least, that you can't get hurt in this.  Good for you Jumpsuit...really.  And welcome to the board.  You seem exactly the kind of Knut that will benefit the board and yourself.  And BOTN is not any sort of anti religious hack or anti anything as far as I have seen in 3 years.  Except being anti TAX and anti COLD, for sure.  Great guy that is well respected and liked over a significant stretch of this country.( as you will be, I am sure)  Maybe some slips of the tongues and miss interpretations here but no bad intentsions by either.

Welcome and Good Luck with the Adventure,  I'll bet there are posts be drafted as we speak about where you can get those bumpers.

John

[thejumpsuitman]

Jump, did you find a place to get bumpers?
Alex

Hi Alex,

I got your PM.  Thanks.  I have a couple places people have sent me to now.  I'll compare $ once the deal is done, but first place guessed around $200 each, front and back.  Does that sound about right?

[thejumpsuitman]

That logic about the Army being thorough in it" maint program applies to more outfits that the US Army.  As was mentioned, it also applies to the Air Force or the FED or a local or state Gummint or a "SCHOOL DISTRICT".  And this might surprise you... anything in Canada that has passed it's safety inspection cause those socialists up there have gun shy Polits that actually "fear" the voters a little and tend to cross the "T's" and dot the "I's".  If your loved ones die in a flaming wreck in a vehicle that was maintained by any public agency then a Gov or Senator or Rep will soon be getting involved and he/she won't be making excuses for the agency and if there is any dereliction of duty, then, heads do roll.   If not Gummint owned then it will be resolved by your favorite Personal Injury Attorney and he will work his "little" heart out to make sure a proper example is set to discourage opportunistic and predatory behavior by that party in the future.  The system works.

Now there is an owner group that is notorious for "deferred maint" and it is the small time operators like Churches and Bands and you understand.  Single owners can be as bad as any or they can be as good as the Army.  This IS NOT a religious or a political post but rather advice on what seller you should inspect more carefully in your own best interest.  You can trace the registered owners and in many states the mileage is listed at each sale.  If he last owner was a private and few miles since Ft Bragg was driving....well then all is probably well.  Small group that probably does not have a experienced driver and will defer maint and inspections I would look it over carefully.  The engine can be lugged and ruin the engine in a few hundred miles and the drums and shoes can be destroyed on a single long downhill grade.  And other stuff of which I have no idea.  Any and all words of caution are to benefit you in this journey.  And all others that might have need for the info, now or in the future doing subject searches.

You have indicated that you are getting a righteous deal and that infers, to me at least, that you can't get hurt in this.  Good for you Jumpsuit...really.  And welcome to the board.  You seem exactly the kind of Knut that will benefit the board and yourself.  And BOTN is not any sort of anti religious hack or anti anything as far as I have seen in 3 years.  Except being anti TAX and anti COLD, for sure.  Great guy that is well respected and liked over a significant stretch of this country.( as you will be, I am sure)  Maybe some slips of the tongues and miss interpretations here but no bad intentsions by either.

Welcome and Good Luck with the Adventure,  I'll bet there are posts be drafted as we speak about where you can get those bumpers.

John

Thanks John,

I believe the last actual legitimate owner/operator was the church, fairly large one about an hour north of here.  As for the Ft. Bragg ownership, well... we're talking 36 years ago, right?     It's fun to search out history, but mechanically speaking, I figure the only history that really matters is recent history, so it is what it is.  It is the right kind of deal for me if it works out, so I am more or less free of the worry of paying too much for a solid, non-smoking, running/driving 4905 that holds air with good glass, new brakes,new power steering pump, good tires and already gutted for me.  

I probably come across a little cavalier in general, which might irk some people, but I have literally owned over 100 classic cars in my young life and have owned a used car dealership with mechanics on payroll, so I just don't get too worked up over the "what if's".