What to do with an inherited bus

[Iceni John]

If you don't want to be a busnut, just offer it for sale here and on CL and eBay for no more than scrap value, and someone with a 4104 may buy it for parts or to renovate.   (Jon, are you interested?)   Let the buyer deal with it.   Or just donate it to a good home, or maybe the Pacific Bus Museum in Fremont CA could take it  -  next weekend at our annual Crown shindig I'll see Tom from the PBM, so I could ask him then.

John

[Zephod]

Tyres are the killer for most bus projects. We plough hundred or thousands of hours into the project, spend a few grand on buying the bus then a few thousand on our conversions - wood, metal, equipment then baulk at paying $2k every 7 years for decent tyres! I think it's that many bus owners don't realize the costs of owning a bus. 17 gallons of coolant, 24 gallons of engine oil, 20 gallons of transmission fluid, a pair of group 31 batteries at $200 each. And yet people think nothing of a few thousand renovating a perfectly ok kitchen. Go figure!


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[vmcney]

After reading all the great advice, and pondering about this for several days, I think I've come to a decision.

Although it's intriguing to consider keeping it and becoming a busnut like my Dad, the reality is I probably won't be able to. I also don't have the means or skills to restore it to its former glory. But I can't bring myself to send it to the scrap yard either.

I think John's last post sounds pretty good to me. I'd really like to see it go to a good home to someone who would appreciate it, so I'll probably sell it for around its scrap value if the new owner can come and take it away. I'll look into the classifieds here and elsewhere.

Thanks to all!

[kyle4501]

After reading all the great advice, and pondering about this for several days, I think I've come to a decision.

Although it's intriguing to consider keeping it and becoming a busnut like my Dad, the reality is I probably won't be able to. I also don't have the means or skills to restore it to its former glory. But I can't bring myself to send it to the scrap yard either.

I think John's last post sounds pretty good to me. I'd really like to see it go to a good home to someone who would appreciate it, so I'll probably sell it for around its scrap value if the new owner can come and take it away. I'll look into the classifieds here and elsewhere.

Thanks to all!

Sounds to me like you are way too smart to be a busnut 

While some really enjoy this hobby - even the challenges - , this hobby isn't for everyone.

[Zephod]

Could you possibly get it running, get tyres on it and try it? You might love it and it's definitely cheaper to park up and sleep in it than to pay for hotel rooms!


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[windtrader]

After reading all the great advice, and pondering about this for several days, I think I've come to a decision.

Although it's intriguing to consider keeping it and becoming a busnut like my Dad, the reality is I probably won't be able to. I also don't have the means or skills to restore it to its former glory. But I can't bring myself to send it to the scrap yard either.

I think John's last post sounds pretty good to me. I'd really like to see it go to a good home to someone who would appreciate it, so I'll probably sell it for around its scrap value if the new owner can come and take it away. I'll look into the classifieds here and elsewhere.

Thanks to all!

Do account that any salvage income needs to be offset by the pretty expensive tow over there. Then you need to make sure your paperwork is in order. Dave just had to dance with the DMV and CHP to get a donor bus certified to be accepted by the salvage yard. You in CA, land of rules and rules and rules. Make sure you can even junk it without a paperwork headache. Good luck.

[Zephod]

Do account that any salvage income needs to be offset by the pretty expensive tow over there. Then you need to make sure your paperwork is in order. Dave just had to dance with the DMV and CHP to get a donor bus certified to be accepted by the salvage yard. You in CA, land of rules and rules and rules. Make sure you can even junk it without a paperwork headache. Good luck.

If works comes to worst, leave it titled to your dad and just walk away denying knowledge.


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[Iceni John]

Tyres are the killer for most bus projects. We plough hundred or thousands of hours into the project, spend a few grand on buying the bus then a few thousand on our conversions - wood, metal, equipment then baulk at paying $2k every 7 years for decent tyres! I think it's that many bus owners don't realize the costs of owning a bus. 17 gallons of coolant, 24 gallons of engine oil, 20 gallons of transmission fluid, a pair of group 31 batteries at $200 each. And yet people think nothing of a few thousand renovating a perfectly ok kitchen. Go figure!


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I think some of your gallons are slightly off!
John

[Dave5Cs]

7 Gallons of 40 wt oil
24 gallons of coolant
7 gallons of ATF or whatever oil you use in your Allison Automatic
Group 31's NAPA 74.00 each
Inverter 1,700.00
Batteries for house 8 at 102.00 6V US Battery
Tires at 524.00 each
These are just for starters

[kyle4501]

For value approximation -
Lets say it weighs 24,000 #  & scrap is $7.5 per 100 # (prices can fluctuate wildly from day to day, so phone price may not match when you show up ).

That yields $1,800 ( less transportation costs )

I think since all this is new to the OP, he is on the right track to sell it to someone for a fair price.

For $1500, I'd think there is a buyer out there that is looking forward to getting started . . . .

Rushing headfirst into this hobby just because you were given an old bus is probably a good way to be scared off for good! Far better to choose your own time to enter the madness.

[Zephod]

7 Gallons of 40 wt oil
24 gallons of coolant
7 gallons of ATF or whatever oil you use in your Allison Automatic
Group 31's NAPA 74.00 each
Inverter 1,700.00
Batteries for house 8 at 102.00 6V US Battery
Tires at 524.00 each
These are just for starters

Well, with my bus, there's 17 gallons of coolant. Nit sure about oil and tranny fluid.
I have a pair of interstate group 31s. I think they were $375 for the pair. I had to order them and my local Napa was run by idiots that couldn't give a flying fart about anything.
Tyres... been quoted $1200 for all 6 or around $200 each.
House batteries... I have solar charged batteries powering my exhaust and ventilation inlet fans. Small panels and small batteries.


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[Iceni John]

Bus tires for $200 each is less than my car's tires!   What brand and size are they, where are they made, who sells them?   However, I'm not sure if I would put any $200 tire on the front!

FYI, NAPA has their own Group 31 batteries.   I paid not much over $100 for each of mine a year or so ago.   It sounds like you need to find a better NAPA store!

John

[Zephod]

Bus tires for $200 each is less than my car's tires!   What brand and size are they, where are they made, who sells them?   However, I'm not sure if I would put any $200 tire on the front!

FYI, NAPA has their own Group 31 batteries.   I paid not much over $100 for each of mine a year or so ago.   It sounds like you need to find a better NAPA store!

John

I have a commercial truck store not far away. I suspect the tyres are double coin. Size... 10R22.5

Try getting anything out of any specialist place here.... I gave up on the jerks in specialist stores years ago. They're largely minimum wage box shifters when they can be bothered to lift their eyes from their damn pacifiers (cellphones).


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[luvrbus]

It's going to be a hard sell even to a scrap yard,as most are not equipped with a means of towing or hauling something that large, so they are going to want you to deliver the bus to the scales

good luck   

[John316]

Has anyone come up with a price yet ?

I'm betting if you offered him 2K, to purchase it "as is" he would probably jump on it everyday of the week, and twice on Sunday.

FWIW