I have exactly 10,000 to buy a bus

Jon · June 18, 2013, 09:55:27 AM

A Bluebird is every bit a bus, and a 2000 model will still need tires, batteries, maintenance and fuel but unless it has been abused would be waaaaaay better than a 50 year old coach that has had many hands involved in making changes.

luvrbus · June 18, 2013, 12:58:57 PM

I would take the BB and forget about a 50 year old GM we all know they look good but it goes a lot deeper than looks and likes

harleyman_1000 · June 18, 2013, 02:35:55 PM

The BB costs 85,000 (or swap for my house) and the Gm is under 10,000. I'm not going to rush into a decision, so I will give myself untill morning to decide

LowTide · June 18, 2013, 04:57:09 PM

Quote from: harleyman_1000 on June 18, 2013, 02:35:55 PM
The BB costs 85,000 (or swap for my house) and the Gm is under 10,000. I'm not going to rush into a decision, so I will give myself untill morning to decide

While you are deciding, you may want to use this link and search all of craiglist at once http://www.searchcraigslist.org/
There are some good finds out there and you may have to travel a bit, but it can be worth it. Best wishes on your dream....lots of good advice here

All the best
Mike

TomC · June 19, 2013, 07:43:13 AM

Take the 2000 Blue Bird-minimum of 35 years newer with recent drive train. Unless you're a fairly good mechanic, I'd stay away from a bus that can be over 60yrs old (first 4104's). Good Luck, TomC

Seville · June 19, 2013, 07:53:11 AM

I have to agree with the others who say the Blue Bird is the way to go. A 50 year old bus will have issues. There is just no way around that.
However, if you have your heart set on a GM coach ? The 4104 Len posted seems like a very good deal.

Good luck with your search

technomadia · June 19, 2013, 08:03:45 AM

Quote from: harleyman_1000 on June 18, 2013, 02:35:55 PM
The BB costs 85,000 (or swap for my house) and the Gm is under 10,000. I'm not going to rush into a decision, so I will give myself untill morning to decide

That seems very high from a BlueBird - we've seen some much better deals for Wanderlodges and Newells and other from-the-factory bus-like RV's.

Take your time and hunt. It will take awhile to find a bus that feels right, and which is priced right.

We searched across the country - and considered buses ranging from $10k to $60k. And in the end we bought an amazing conversion with a fabulous interior in great shape (but with unknown mechanical history) for $8k. Of course - we needed $4k in new tires and wheels just to drive it more than a mile, and that was just the start...

- Chris

Simy · June 19, 2013, 09:02:40 AM

This may be worth checking out from craigslist there is a bus for $1000.
http://humboldt.craigslist.org/rvs/3852138113.html

I would assume this would put you well over your $10k budget when all is said and done. I speak from experience

On the other hand, it may not.

wildbob24 · June 19, 2013, 09:06:21 AM

You could take that Eagle to the scrap yard and make money. I wonder if that's a misprint.

Hard to beat the character and classic feel of this blast from the past:

http://tinyurl.com/Classic4106

Bob

Jeremy · June 19, 2013, 12:07:54 PM

I know this doesn't help much, but you can buy a very nice bus here for $10k. Here are some examples from a website I look at from time-to-time:

1989 Daf Plaxton for £5,000 ($7,800)
http://www.usedcoachsales.co.uk/coach.ihtml?coach=884

1986 Volvo Van Hool for £4,200 ($6,600)
http://www.usedcoachsales.co.uk/coach.ihtml?coach=999

1988/9 Volvo Plaxtons for £4,500 - £5,500 ($7,000 - $8,600)
http://www.usedcoachsales.co.uk/coach.ihtml?coach=1018

1991 MAN Jonkheere (and the sought-after shortwheelbase version) for £6,500 ($10,100)
http://www.usedcoachsales.co.uk/coach.ihtml?coach=1099

1989 Volvo Van Hool for £5,500 ($8,600):
http://www.usedcoachsales.co.uk/coach.ihtml?coach=1104

And I think it would be fair to say there's a lot of negotiation headroom built into those dealer prices too - I bought my bus (1987 Bedford Plaxton) directly from the operator and straight out of service - and paid £2,500 ($3,900) for it, about five years ago

Jeremy

Low Class · June 19, 2013, 12:27:17 PM

Harleyman,
Ten years ago I was in this same situation. I wanted an rv, not necessarily a bus, but something with a diesel engine. I didn't even know enough to ask a sensible question. There wasn't near as much info on the net as there is now. I read everything I could find. Also there weren't near as many buses for sale then and the prices for decent appearing ones started at $70k to well over a $100k. This was way over my budget.

After about a year of research, I ended up with the Wanderlodge that I currently own. (1985 PT36/6V92 pusher). At the time it seemed like the BEST FIT FOR ME.
My point is that you have to decide what is the best fit for you. The trick for a newby is knowing which bus will be a good fit.

It appears that we could be close neighbors on the economic ladder. If this is true, you cannot afford that $100k Wanderlodge. That is what you will have in it after you pay all the taxes, fees, insurance, and bring the maintance up to date. While not a big deal for someone with near or above a six figure income WL's of this vintage can have some problems: ball joints, the pto drive for the hydraulic pump, the vertical exhaust rust, are some.

Now back to fit. Some questions you need to answer for yourself. Are you a large person? Will you travel alone or with another person? How big is the other person?
Are you tall? Still own the Big Harley and want to take it with you? Do you also want to take the jeep and a large tool box? You will need 10k# tow cap. I am just trying to get your thinking headed in a direction that you won't have regrets.

May be best to get a $10k bus at first, to see if you like the lifestyle before you spend more money.

harleyman_1000 · June 19, 2013, 03:12:07 PM

Quote from: Low Class on June 19, 2013, 12:27:17 PM
Harleyman,
Ten years ago I was in this same situation. I wanted an rv, not necessarily a bus, but something with a diesel engine. I didn't even know enough to ask a sensible question. There wasn't near as much info on the net as there is now. I read everything I could find. Also there weren't near as many buses for sale then and the prices for decent appearing ones started at $70k to well over a $100k. This was way over my budget.

After about a year of research, I ended up with the Wanderlodge that I currently own. (1985 PT36/6V92 pusher). At the time it seemed like the BEST FIT FOR ME.
My point is that you have to decide what is the best fit for you. The trick for a newby is knowing which bus will be a good fit.

It appears that we could be close neighbors on the economic ladder. If this is true, you cannot afford that $100k Wanderlodge. That is what you will have in it after you pay all the taxes, fees, insurance, and bring the maintance up to date. While not a big deal for someone with near or above a six figure income WL's of this vintage can have some problems: ball joints, the pto drive for the hydraulic pump, the vertical exhaust rust, are some.

Now back to fit. Some questions you need to answer for yourself. Are you a large person? Will you travel alone or with another person? How big is the other person?
Are you tall? Still own the Big Harley and want to take it with you? Do you also want to take the jeep and a large tool box? You will need 10k# tow cap. I am just trying to get your thinking headed in a direction that you won't have regrets.

May be best to get a $10k bus at first, to see if you like the lifestyle before you spend more money.

Yes I have thought about and still am about everything you have said. That is one of the things that makes me hesitate about trading my other house for the Wanderlodge

Ed Hackenbruch · June 20, 2013, 05:58:18 AM

If you trade the house for the Wanderlodge that leaves you with your $15,000 for anything that comes up with it. If you buy a bus or something else with your $15,000 you could sell your house for $85,000 and have that money if you needed to do work on it......a different way of looking at it.