While peacefully minding my own business I keep running across short wheel base Bluebird school busses for sale. Some diesel, some gas, most with wheelchair lifts. Busses like this.
It's not that I know that much about busses in general, but I think I know even less about these other than they're visually attractive (really) and it seems like they'd be MUCH more maneuverable than a full size bus while giving me all the room I could ever imagine. One of them I found even has a GVWR of 31K lbs which makes me think I could tow with it.
So what do I need to know?
Only thing you need to know is that you must buy one.
I think what you need to know is that when Mrs. Deuce suggests that you should go visit this nice new doctor for a talk, she's right.
That has interesting possibilities as a race track tow rig. So much room you could fully outfit it as rolling repair/fab shop, if you had the budget.
In reply to 914Driver :
Yea, I debated not using that picture because it looked spammy, but it was the best broadside shot I could find. Just ignore the phone number and focus on the flowing lines.
In reply to mazdeuce - Seth :
Are you suggesting that Pamie is spammy?
In reply to WildScotsRacingCampbellCougarSeed :
No, only that putting up a picture like that might be seen as spammy. I suspect that Pam is a legit used school bus dealer, if such a thing exists.
In reply to APEowner :
One of these times Mrs. Deuce is going to say "fine, buy it". I've got to be ready for that day.
In reply to mazdeuce - Seth :
I guess you missed the cheesy rhyming joke I made 
STM317
Dork
12/11/17 3:06 p.m.
WildScotsRacingCampbellCougarSeed said:
That has interesting possibilities as a race track tow rig. So much room you could fully outfit it as rolling repair/fab shop, if you had the budget.
A wheelchair lift seems about perfect for moving sets of tires, or an engine on a stand into/out of the race rig. Oooohhhh, or a shifter cart......
mazdeuce - Seth said:
One of these times Mrs. Deuce is going to say "fine, buy it". I've got to be ready for that day.
I've learned by just bombarding the wife with cars/car ideas, I broke her down to telling me to buy whatever it is that I want, just stop talking about it.
Smart A$$ alert...... why not a half track or an armored personnel carrier?
I can't help but think this is a starter kit for a really cool RV.
at a gvwr of 31K don't you need a CDL..... unless you register it as an RV........
The lift for moving tools/engines is a big one. They seem to be able to turn on a time (relatively). They certainly have enough space for anything I'd need. I'm a bit concerned about gearing and highway speeds and also stability with crosswinds. It doesn't do much good to build a transporter that you have to drive at 50mph.
We're all waiting for Wally to show up, aren't we?
Fueled by Caffeine said:
at a gvwr of 31K don't you need a CDL..... unless you register it as an RV........
Yup, and it should be super easy to make it a legal RV. Maybe not a NICE RV, but legal anyway.
Fueled by Caffeine said:
at a gvwr of 31K don't you need a CDL..... unless you register it as an RV........
All that depends on the state or province. Some places don’t require any sort of air brake endorsement or special license if it’s registered as an rv. Some states u can register a semi truck as a rv and drive it without a special license if you add a few rv things to it.
I wonder how the large rear overhang would work with towing or even heavy things that get loaded into the very rear. Kids don't weigh all that much. Anybody make a sort of underslung hitch arrangement that would apply the tongue weight and other forces closer to the rear axle?
I'm vividly remembering a stint driving some friends' band's RV with a bunch of amps and drums at the back of a big overhang, and even though it was on a 1-ton chassis, it took a lot of focus to stay smooth enough to keep it from wagging unnervingly.
OTOH, this is so much bigger and stouter than an E350, maybe it's not a concern unless you're trailering Ferdinand.
I'm probably overthinking this, but now I'm wondering whether that super-long overhang would almost have the trailer doing a Scandinavian flick when the front of the bus goes right and the rear goes left...
Ransom said:
I wonder how the large rear overhang would work with towing or even heavy things that get loaded into the very rear. Kids don't weigh all that much. Anybody make a sort of underslung hitch arrangement that would apply the tongue weight and other forces closer to the rear axle?
I'm vividly remembering a stint driving some friends' band's RV with a bunch of amps and drums at the back of a big overhang, and even though it was on a 1-ton chassis, it took a lot of focus to stay smooth enough to keep it from wagging unnervingly.
OTOH, this is so much bigger and stouter than an E350, maybe it's not a concern unless you're trailering Ferdinand.
I'm probably overthinking this, but now I'm wondering whether that super-long overhang would almost have the trailer doing a Scandinavian flick when the front of the bus goes right and the rear goes left...
Lots of racers etc tow just fine with diesel pusher motorhomes so of a conversion was done on this I would think towing would be fine.
Back when I was driving school buses the Blue Birds were all GM drive trains and at least one a summer would catch fire from the power steering somewhere. Those were conventional busses though, not sure if those had the same issue.
In reply to oldopelguy :
There is one on CL with a 5.9 Cummins and an Allison. Not sure if that's enough motor to move a brick this big through the air AND tow a race car, but it's the direction I'd be likely to lean.
You mention towing. With a long rear overhang like shown in the pictures and the generally short wheelbase, this could very easily create a "tail wagging the dog" if the trailer load is heavy.
In reply to mazdeuce - Seth :
fuel plate + Injectors = no problem
5.9 Cummins, not enough motor to tow. Does not compute.
