My top five ways to ruin your bus conversion
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ก.ค. 2024
- Ive seen a lot over the years converting buses into skoolies and living and driving in them all across the country. In this video I talk about the 5 big mistakes I see made every day so you can avoid them yourself.
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It's more like 17 years of failing at business. Don't take advice from a con man that charges a 1,000 hours when he can build it in 5 days.
Lol you know you made it when you have haters.
Haha…. don’t be jealous 🙌🏼😜
@@aureliamoon5714 The guy rips people off. He's scum bag.
There is so much wrong in your comment I had to pin it as testament to your stupidity. It’s magnificent
I'm guessing we found the Instagram builder that will do it half price! Lol
Great info! “There’s no such thing as a good deal on a rusty bus!” 🚌
Very informative video mr. Cassady, as a 16 year old who bought his dream bus at 15 I can use all the information a can get. I was very fortunate to find my dream bus for a great price, it is a 2008 Thomas-Freightliner 36 foot bus. It came with 4 6ft under-storage bins (passes all the way through) so a little over 100 square feet of under-storage. It came with the Mercedes 906 engine Mated to a Allison-3000 transmission. It has 6ft 6in roof height and I have gutted it completely. I am short only 5,5 so I don’t need to do a roof raise. I watch your channel all the time and you are my favorite TH-camr. Great video and great bus keep up the amazing work!
thats awesome! you literally got my dream bus lol
#6 - Document your conversion on YT with your significant other. lol I'm probably wrong. I wish you were doing these videos before I bought my bus. Great stuff. Always informative and entertaining.
Hahahaha dude yes
It's so hard not to give lots of negative feedback to bus projects I see online. So many of them dont demo properly, dont insulate properly, dont replace the stock windows, no roof raise, and think they can get a good deal on a rusty bus. And then so many buses end up getting abandoned, sold, or rust into the ground.
Your list here is the absolute most basic. You could include many more things, but this list is super solid.
I know! Hard to stop at 5
Why is it so hard for you to not give lots of negative feedback? It's actually hard for you to not be negative?
@@k.pacificnw02134 What is this, virtue signaling? You want to pick my words apart after not bothering to try to understand what I'm saying? Go off bud, I ain't got time to shit all over your dream today.
So much punctuation, so little time
Chuck cassady as a tow truck driver I agree with your statement about towing being costly. But it pays to check prices in the area you plan to drive ahead of time just in case. Some time companies are double their competition. If you ever break down in eau Claire Wisconsin I will hook you up.
To the Cassidy hater out there! As someone who’s built his own “Arctic” Bus, and assisted on other builds Cassidy knows what he’s doing in regard to converting/ building buses. Sometimes it’s not so much fun realizing you did something or several things wrong in your build when watching his videos but the constructive criticism in the form of the info he provides can only make your build and knowledge base expand overtime. Can’t keep everybody happy all the time.
Picked up that wisdom. Chewed on it a little. I liked the taste. I'll be back.
Thanks for stopping by chucks!
I'm finishing up about 6 months of removing and repairing the rust and replacing the floor on my box truck. I haven't even started on the frame yet.
Yes, there is no good deal on a rusty bus. But I only had $3k to my name and needed something ASAP. So I kinda have to make this work. But boy I did not think it would take this long.
Thoughts out to you! Big job
Thanks for the information!
Don’t know if you’ll see this, as I’ve just found your channel, but I’ve already learned so much. I want a Skoolie, but you pretty much just shot my dream down. I can’t afford it & it was good to find out exactly what it would take! A miracle! I’m gonna pray for one, because I believe I was meant to be a Skoolie owner somehow, some day. I would have made probably ALL of those mistakes!!!! Except maybe the roof raise, because I’ve been looking for a tall bus anyway & hoped to find no rust. Tires, windows & the engine would have killed me though! Thank you! I’m going to binge watch all your past posts! Lots of love from Oregon ♥️ Jess
Fantastic info, really appreciate all the knowledge and insight. Awesome channel!
"I'm terrified of breaking down, even though I'm very good at it..." Chuck 2023
Always enjoy watching your videos and listening to your great advice! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, another great video. I needed to hear this.
Great points ❤ I am starting a build and drove semi for years so this will be a fun journey. Going to spray foam and frame like you do.
Good advice, Best Regards Arthur
Words of wisdom. I like these hard and fast videos, great information without the fluff! Nice job. Chuck
....Just recently begun our 2007 CE200 conversion......using so much of the insights we gained by watching all your vidz........replacing the windows, full interior demo, etc., so great to have such well presented experience available
Kind of a bit late on the rust but I got the only bus available in my area and in my price range. HOWEVER, I got a really good deal from a profession welder who went through and cleaned up all the rust he found on the frame and reinforced the areas that were bad. In my personal situation, I found this a win. Even a non rusty bus with eventually get rust I think so, I get a professional to give it some tender love an care. I also want to add that my bus was a bit on the expensive side for what it was but decided it was worth it because the reason they were selling it more that much is they where mechanics that had pretty much rebuilt the engine so I am buying an old bus with almost a brand new engine. I think having a good engine is a pretty smart move. :D
Thanks for the knowledge
Thanks for your time and advice
My pleasure
Thank you
11:29 I appreciate all that you shared!!! I'd rather know before we start!!! Thank you for your wisdom
You are so welcome!
Thank you chuck for them jewels that you drop on us because I was so unsure about things. I wish i had a sister because you would make the best brother in law I swear.
I hope theres a plumbing video coming soon!! Your videos are so helpful
Same!
of course! just gotta get there
You have just given the best answers to many of the questions facing a new bus owner. I studied extensively before purchasing my bus and even saw a few bus "experts" eat their own words. They were handing out advise about selecting a bus and within a year they were out of the skoolie life altogether.
thats what happens when you dont have enough experience. see it a lot! thanks for watching
Got my '98 Merc. bus in stripped-out 'demolished' form right now, having learned the _HARD_ way that cutting corners just leads to long-term misery. Also, doing it right yourself - is the only way to ensure there are no hidden surprises with rot or leaks further down the line . . ..
That was informative, and discouraging. I need a bus life highlight reel now.
Your videos are awesome chuck! Wish i could get you to come out to Yellowstone and give a hand or three with some solar on my rig
i can always consult with you!
Diy converting a bus sounds hard AF. I'm going the Isuzu NPR box truck route but still find value in these videos.
Same. The skoolie conversion is way over my head. I can do a lot of the work in a box truck though. I’m still learning a ton from these videos. Nomad Brad’s channel is great too and all box truck.
Hey, I'm doing an isuzu. Typing this comment inside it right now. It's still a LOT of work. But I enjoy standing up easily and the stealth. I'll have a video of my first 2 years up in maybe 6 months.
Look up DuelEx, hes got plenty of interior builds with great ideas
@@marsrover001 sweet I'd be interested in your build. Yes I do think the Isuzus are low-key really good stealth options because of how much they just look like commercial vehicles. chevy express and ford E series box trucks are more common now so I really like the Isuzu npr idea
Lots of good wisdom. The cost upfront aspect is slightly discouraging, but where there’s a will there’s always a way, right?!
all excellent info. my ex and i use to haul a 7 horse slant load trailer all over the country to horse shows and never had one tire related breakdown because i was so picky about maintenance of the truck and trailer. we had a water pump fail and and an electric fuel pump fail on the 454 in the gmc. neither we could have planned. i did both repairs on the side of the road.
where's a good place to find maintenance info for a big diesel?
I guess if u could do those on side of rd u could maintain it well, urself
4/6 ain’t bad. 😅 Still optimistic I never find mushrooms and the roof raise I wanted definitely wasn’t happening on a teacher’s salary. New tires coming soon and I’ll breathe so much easier because of it.
Solid list all around!
👍great info
Glad it was helpful!
I love this bus !!!!!
Bice job Chuck. You set a high standard on the effectiveness of communication that I wish our politicians could produce.
Hahahaha thank you! Me too
You are the man Chuck Cassady! I wish I had a name that rolled off the tongue like that.
Lol I made it up!
So all these comments starting with “Charlie” such and such haven’t been from morons who don’t know your name?
…this means…I’m the moron. 😮
Depending on the newer bus if you look around you can get many of them "fixxed". I know there are issues to this problems are gone mostly afterwards and you can get a low mile bus. And stock 285hp not bad either. Keep up the great work chuck and keep rolling on your bus.
Shhhhh :) thanks for watching
Great advice....I just got an 11 window 2000 AmTran with the "7.3" hydraulic brakes, $3,500 and runs and drives like new-just out of service due to an "age out"... I knew better than to get the 6.0 or 6.4 engines.....I'd say grab an old AmTran Cummins if you can and I think they used these up to and including 1997's..... So try to start off with a proven engine and for sure avoid the rust....buy from the south or west, no salt....you can have the bus shipped to you for $1,500-$2,500 and have a rust free assembly line fresh under side 20 year old bus and be money ahead from day one vs a rusted out one from up north.....
Words of wisdom
Chuck had geography classes in school as he mentioned travelling the continent not just the USA, i AM UP HERE IN THE GREAT WHITE NORTH EH!
Great advice as usual. But honestly I've had more fun reading the pinned comment and replies than watching the video this time around.
Finding the right buss is definitely a challenge. When you said it took you 2 years to find your bus I believe you. I’ve watched the people who are selling their buses that didn’t take out the original floor, insulation, etc. The bus is what I want but to strip the inside of all the work, materials and effort they put into it is not worth it. If they don’t want to start the process with a clean slate as you strongly suggest makes it a future problem.
Doesn't even take that long to strip it. Took me a solid 2 days for a 40 foot bus.
As someone who bought my bus 2 1/2 years ago, I agree make sure the bus will hold the things you want and more you always get more stuff. Make sure you have on your storage I put a bunch in. Five window bus is a van. Get a flat nose or at least seven window bus.
How do you legally drive a newly purchased used bus from lot to destination? Many buy a school bus to convert to skoolie, but much needs be done to qualify as Skoolie, so what do you do in the meantime for plate and insurance?
Thank you for all of your videos. They are very helpful. My wife and I purchased a 2011 bus with a Max force motor and Allison transmission. Quick question. Is there a market for the old seats? They are in great shape. We don't want to throw them in the garbage. Thank you again for the videos.
ive never had much luck with seats!
Chuck, I have watched your videos a number of times and finally landed my own bus. And now I'm watching them all over again. Just a question about the demo...what do you recommend to patch the holes in my floor left by a great number of Nails and bolts from the wheelchair tracks? Somehow I must have missed your wisdom on this one...Chassis Saver is ready to go. Thanks again for all your videos and information. 😎
i just glue the foam over them!
Just remember the 7 p's prior proper prepping prevents piss poor performance it will take you far in life
Proper preparation prevents poor performance. I prefer 5
Great advice!!!…Thanks a lot!!!! More more please…Lol
Btw…I like your bus…what kind is it???…I need to buy one like yours…perfect size and probably cheaper than a shuttle bus!
I’ll be moving back to the States from Tokyo in a few months…I cannot wait to do my buslife and meet y’all 🙌🫶
Awesome! I love my bus it’s a 1996 Thomas on an international chassis
I’ve been watching your videos and reading listings for a year. My motto: start with the best bus possible, or stay home.
Love that!
When you buy a house, don't (just) look at the pretty light fixtures or ugly wallpaper. Look at the foundation, the roof, and the walls. It should be no different with a bus. Don't (just) look at how easy it is to remove the seats, but look at the tires, mechanicals and walls/roof. Light fixtures, wallpaper, seats - all those are much easier to replace than a floor pan ripped apart by a shredded tire going 60 mph down the interstate. In the end, that is what you're spending money on. The rest is just the icing on the cake. Great video!
Amen!!
I can’t imagine going over 40mph in a skoolie 😳
Chuck! Thanks for the new video. I have a couple of questions unrelated. 1. Do you out sealant between sheet metal panels at the overlap when riveting them together on a roof raise? 2. Have you ever done a slide out section? I want a king bed so am think about doing one.
Slide outs are not my thing. I don’t use sealant but you totally can
My friend put slides in a couple buses, one was at trailways
He could fix them too
He was MacGyver, srsly amazing
Love this! I want to raise my roof but having a hard time finding Skoolie insurance that allows that. What insurance do you have?
Mine is a commercial vehicle still
Sure would like to hear a rundown on liability insurance prices
Lol I’m not an insurance agent! You gotta get that from the horses mouth
I just got my bus insured. Being 50yo, multi-car owner, and flawless record. My rate from Good Sam is $400 a year. On any school bus more than 10 years old, only full liability is available. Also for 2023 NO insurance company will cover any bus/vehicle conversion with a roof deck. You will need about ten very clear photos of your conversion. All the major carriers will not insure, and this is because your bus was not professionally built by a manufacturer, that they can put a appraised value on like a car.
@@johnclamshellsp1969 anyway you can send me a text message with a rundown on what they're looking for in the conversion so that I can get the insurance
You mention truck tires, what kind should you get to replace them? Can I go with a larger size to enhance speed? What is the best make because I’d like to n N purchase some soon.
+ Tire covers to keep the new tires and rims out of the UV while parked...
Sees rusty school bus with the perfect "for me" engine, automatic three speed transmission and hydraulic brakes, and the guy is trying to get rid of it for basically free. . .
"I accept the consequences of my actions".
LOL
I looked for 2 years before I found my bus. In the process I dodged several bullets.
These days, bus building is evidently a growing thing. Full size busses are cheap often enough and they are great if you plan to live full time in it and not travel. Shorter busses are in high demand it seems. I got outbid a lot at online auctions.
Most school districts turn the sale of their busses over to equipment auction companies and in doing so they separate you from the maintenance crews who could answer your questions. Instead you get weasely statements and no answers. You gotta fly to some far away place and drive that thing home. Things can go mighty wrong.
I got my 8 window Bluebird for $4500.00 but I was happy to pay that because the people who had bought it were knowledgeable mechanics who gave me all the info I needed.
It was a great adventure driving it home through Oklahoma at night in thunderstorms. The headlights suck and the windshield wipers were sketchy af. But despite that, the bus ran wonderfully, drove great (I had only 3 mailboxes and part of a Prius in my grille upon arrival).
And I fell in love with it.
Can you do a DOT pre-inspection trip video?
Heres some basics
Everything under the hood that is bolted on is properly mounted and secured. A nut for every bolt, a pin if its a castle nut. Grab it and try to shake it.
No leaks. A valve cover that leaks a few drops a day is fine. If its always dripping that is a problem.
Check fluid levels
Air brakes, with air pressure all the way up push in the yellow knob. Push the peddle and hold. If you lose more than 3psi in a minute you have a leak that needs to be fixed.
If you get pulled over by the Dot they will check of you got a proper license(class A or b, MUST have glasses with you if it on your license), tag, insurance. Lights work on the bus and tires(missing lug nuts). Level 3 search will check for ANY air leaks, paperwork and anything underneath they want. They CAN lock you down untill its fixed.
This.
What is your experience with box truck conversions? Any advice there? We’re considering a box truck because we’d like to switch the box to a new truck in case the worst happens so we don’t lose all of our hard work, and I like the idea of a perfect box as my clean canvas.
The boxes aren’t durable enough in my opinion but people love them!
Don't forget to look under your bed for the boogie man!
Re: buses with taller interior height off the line. I feel like you mentioned the Collins buses (for the cutaway type) were one of them. Am I remembering that right?
I need to replace my tires on my bus! Where do I get the best deal?
What conversion company does work comparable to “Chrome”? I live in CA. I’m fearful of an “Epic” encounter.
I just found this channel could you possibly point me in the direction of someone familiar with Aerotech shuttle buses. I recently purchased one and it looks like I might be doing some major roof repairs. I wish I had known Aerotek used a fiberglass sandwiched in cardboard roof design. That really seems to complicate just a fiberglass shell. ☹️
Anyone know of videos with maintanace or working on the MB 906 LA ? I need to change the temp sensor and would love to know as much about the engine as possible, Thanks in advance for any help!!
What’s your opinion on a very good condition 1997 GMC gas bus with 454 engine . $4000
Mid size bus
I live in Canada, and it is essentially impossible to find a rust-free bus up here.Too much snow and salt.
Aside from driving all the way to the US south west.. any suggestions on dealing with rust, rust that is unavoidable?
Hey Chuck, I agree with you on your 5 bus issues, “but”! Could you speak to the DEF issue a little more in one of your future videos? I bring it up on my channel, and believe it is the only issue that you, and other established skoolie uTubers haven’t really address in detail yet. My understanding as an old million mile trucker, and someone who’s😮 lived in a DEF skoolie for a little over a year now is that Cali has begun the process of banning non-DEF Skoolies, over 14k and pre 2010 (especially those registered in Cali). As we all know as goes Cali EPA, DOT laws go, so do most all other states in time. No doubt living and traveling in our DEF bus has not been easy, but there are work arounds for not all but most of the DEF issues that come up. It seems to me that by 2032-6 all non-def, pre 2010, +14k buses, might be banned from the roads in most of the lower 48. Hoping to hear what you think about this, appreciate your channel, thanks again, Byron
What type of windows do you recommend if i want to keep windows. Are you saying just remove them cover with a wall?
im saying dont keep them. replace them with something else that wont leak
Chuck what is your favorite bus/motor combo?
Dt466/mt643
I found a good rust free bus it took me a while but I found one
I have been scared to build my bus out myself for a while do you have any recommendations for good builders in Virginia
Ha! I'm watching him from Virginia too!!! 😊
Since I'm going the rat rod style, I just pretend my low roof was a custom chop. 😆
Getting ready to buy tires. Are they different in the front than they are in the back 🤔
If you have a full-size school bus with six tires, the tires are absolutely different. Your front tires are "steer" tires, and your rear tires are "drive" tires. If you get Kelly steer tires, and Armstrong drive tires (11r/22.5) figure $3000 spent for six.
Kelly Tires are owned Goodyear. If doing aluminum rims, figure used Alcoa"s at $150 ea and you polish. Now is the time to find those nice aluminum wheels. Also, verify if you have stud pilot wheels or hub pilot wheels are going with aluminum. You will also need new rear studs also at $8.00 ea.
Thank you for the information. Greatly appreciated.
@@r8edrv4fun65 A part two for you. If your bus has 10r/22.5 tires like a Thomas freightliner, you can install 11r/22.5. Install one front to make sure tire clears fender (this size is same as FL70) . The reason being is that 10r/22.5 tires are getting hard to find, and price is higher. The 11r/22.5 is common size now and dime a dozen in choices and availability.
For my 2002 Thomas Freightliner, 10r/22.5 tires were selling for $3800 for six.
I got six 11r/22.5's for $2870 installed with new valve stems and full balance. If you have a roadside issue, they may not have a 10r/22.5. Everyone has a 11r 22.5.
Changes in my speedo, I show 2.0 slow, no biggie. MPG, no change, 10.0 MPG holds.
Can you maybe help me, I am trying to get insurance on mine that I just got and no one will touch it, it’s not yellow and has no marking or lights or seats in my bus.
Whats an average price for a roof raise?
I'm still looking for my right bus, i've come close a couple times but they had the wrong engine in them so i passed up on them
Wise
Finding the bus is difficult. Looking at the bus’s that fit what I want people are selling. It’s disheartening to see the money and time they put into them without starting from a clean slate. Wondering if it’s worth it to purchase one of these and then gutting out all the work they put into their bus. It’s becoming “popular and trendy” so the prices are increasing. Just disappointing to see all the bad builds being done.
I'll never understand how people can drive a bus and not be scared. I drive a full size van and it scares me. To top it off, stupid me wants to get a box truck. I'm tired of living in camper vans. I want the ability to fully stand up.
To me driving is one of the worst things I've ever had to learn how to do. I drive because I have to. Driving is just too stressful.
15 passenger van is my limit
I was wreck driving our uhaul 3 days when we moved
The van, I can do that…well it would have no side windows so I would still stress, but it’s possibly feasibly a maybe lol
How can buying too big of a bus bite you? I am looking for at least a 77 passenger just for roominess.
lots of camping sites have a max length of 30ft. also more space = more sqftage to renovate, less mph, etc
I bought a 2009 BB All American and paid 20k. I think it was a steal as it's a rust free example from Alabama and I couldn't have asked for a better starting point. @L.I.B. is an idiot.
Sorry for yellin’, brother, BUT IT’S SO EFFIN’ STUPID TO KEEP THE STOCK WINDOWS! Those fuggers ALWAYS end up leaking and creating beautiful mold factories. Not to mention the constant “leaking” in reference to air exchanges. Making it significantly harder to maintain your desired temperature. This will also cost you more money in either fuel for your generator or it’ll inevitably necessitate you have a more robust solar setup.
It’s worth it buying triple-pane, gas-filled, European-style windows.
So many roof raises, so many window deletes, so much work... to end up with an RV. Do y'all even pretend to appreciate the aesthetic of an actual "skoolie"? Wtf is even the point any more of converting school buses? Ya pay $75k-plus for a "build" that doesn't remotely resemble a school bus. Great work
funny cuz yer mom wants one
That's a much more valid criticism than the crazy guy pinned up top. Wouldn't matter if Mr Cassady failed in business and was Hitler's love child, he'd still give the best advice in his field on youtube. You'd be hard pressed to argue facts with him and come up with any significant win.
This is a good point though, I looked at some buses, almost bought a rear engine 8.3 with a 3060, but glad I didn't. Got an RV with the same combo for less $ (irrelevant to the final cost) but cost $125/year insurance, and zero hassle getting it registered.
I'll quibble with avoiding rust at all costs, every bus has some rust somewhere, and most of these are not going to be on the road in ten years anyway. You'd be foolish to put $50K into a rusty bus, but like jwshade, I'd question the wisdom of that in the best case, which Mr Cassady sure seems to represent. Plenty of uncertainty in the world with the phase out of ICE, emissions hassles etc. Also plenty of people blowing way more than any of these busses on RV's that don't function as well in the cold, or boondocking, etc. To each their own, just be clear with yourself that it's consumption, not investment.
Step vans solve most of those issues.
I'm from Québec so scuse my french if i misspell😅 we just bought a 40 foot bluebird with a 7.2 CAT turbo diesel with a Allison trany. I'm at the stage that it's all demo like you say, interior all stripped.
I have knowledge in pluming electrical framing insulation and all that. Carpenter by trade and plumer electitien and mecanic by obligation. I would have a million questions to ask you... would you consider privat messages when i come to a Jam ?
Thank you.
Check me out on messenger ✌
You can book a consult with me in the link in the video