New Skoolie Discussion Board

[RJ]

A regular little siren that Aldonza!

Right on, Jack!

Don would be proud of you!

[Jim Blackwood]

Personally, I'm waiting for the schoolie crowd to figure this out.  Because it is only a matter of time before they do.

I did. Only took one bus, one trailer, and one RV.

Jim

[windtrader]

Not sure how travel trailers got thrown into the pot but trailer/tow vehicle is an entirely and very different conversation. There are major points where each is stronger and a better fit than the other. Another day another topic.


Skoolie vs bus conversion.


The question was asked earlier how many current OTR conversions owners owned a skoolie before switching. I think Jack was the only one who raised his hand.


The amount of labor and dollars to convert a yellow vs revenue is a personal decision. It seems you could spend more or less on each conversion - it's all driven by what the converter wants.


Maybe a few of us should join in over there to meet the new tribe.

[someguy]

Anyone doubting that Ford 6.7s are nothing but trouble should watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhlCDg0-G8wa

The owner was darn lucky not to destroy the engine.

[someguy]

The amount of labor and dollars to convert a yellow vs revenue is a personal decision. It seems you could spend more or less on each conversion - it's all driven by what the converter wants.

It takes more money and effort to get an equivalent "niceness" in a schoolie compared to a coach. 

Coaches are a much better base to start with.   They have a decent ceiling height.  They are insulated and the walls are designed for insulation.  They have dual pane windows.   The floor is completely flat.   They are geared properly.   The engines make enough power for sustained highway cruising.   The suspension rides much better.   There have luggage bays for storage and to mount system stuff like batteries, tanks, genset, etc. 

With a schoolie, you spend a lot of time creating or fixing the stuff that coaches have built in from the start.

[windtrader]

Sure. It all depends on what you want and need. Sure seems like a lot of work to bolt a fake engine compartment onto the front of an OTR bus though. LOL
The older  OTR buses did not have dual pane glass nor all flat floors, many have a riser that needs to be covered.

[Jim Blackwood]

Biggest thing is probably the basement storage. That makes a coach luxurious compared to a bus. Then all that other stuff just ups the ante. Cost of entry is generally higher but benefits are well in excess of the added cost. And does the appearance matter at all? Do the places you stay think a bus is just fine or maybe even an upgrade? Or is it a modern version of the Clampets? Keep in mind that the Clampets were just fine with the way they were, it was everyone else who had the issues. I think that applies.

Jim

[chessie4905]

I'm  starting to notice newer school busses with under chassis storage compartments. Probably from issues for hauling equipment for sports.

[CrabbyMilton]

I think I saw those compartments in a very old brochure I have so I would imagine that option was there all along but you are correct, I see more of them like that now too. Extra storage for equipment or they make the extremely naughty kids ride in there. 😀

[Tedsoldbus]

Well RJ I have to say I paused at Dulcinea....
I could have googled it but decided to struggle instead. I was getting close: Phantom of the Opera?....no...My Fair Lady?....no. Gave up and said "Dulcinea" to my Rita. She instantly responded with Man of La Moncha. She made me go to plays when we got married and I have to admit they were not all bad. I still hum songs from Camelot when I am not humming Travis Tritt.
But then, she should have gotten it right away. She grew up NE area, went to Ivy league schools, has 2 masters degrees, an spent her weekends at museums and plays.
I grew up in Ft. Collins, barely got into Colorado State, and spent my weekends killing deer and elk. Still don't know how we've stayed married....

[oltrunt]

The only reason I recognized the name was that in eighth grade I was put in a special reading class for "good readers" (my term) and we were assigned all sorts of "classics" to read and report on.

I'd probably have been better off spending my time in a remedial spelling class as I can spell the same word three different ways on the same page and never notice.  Even my forum name is misspelled.  Jack

[RJ]

I still hum songs from Camelot when I am not humming Travis Tritt.

Ted -

You'd better be humming "If Ever I Would Leave You" around Miss Rita!

[CrabbyMilton]

Anyone doubting that Ford 6.7s are nothing but trouble should watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhlCDg0-G8wa

The owner was darn lucky not to destroy the engine.

FORD seems to have a recent history of not getting things right. They are being bombarded with recalls and with it any number of P.O.'d customers. Sometimes I wonder if they shouldn't merge with BOEING given they too can't seem to do things right and/or introduce products that use untested components just like FORD.

[Tedsoldbus]

 " It wouldn't be in spring time....".
Oh great. Now I'll have THAT in my head all day. Back to buses. This is about buses.....!
It's a nice day here. Just hope the rain will never fall 'till after sundown...

[uncle ned]

And we thought we had problems with the anti-freeze in Detroits.

And the oil.

uncle ned