Answering your SHORT BUS CONVERSION questions
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.ย. 2024
- Quick stop to the Short Bus Conversion to answer some important questions that you left in the comments. If you have any questions in the future about bus building, traveling or myself leave them in the comments of future build videos. This Buslife Q&A has question time stamps below.
Question Time Stamps:
1) How difficult is it to drive a short bus? - 00:58
2) Where do you find a school Bus? - 02:22
3) Do you need a different license to drive a bus? - 04:00
4) Does used school buses mileage matter? - 05:54
5) Will a fridge fit over the wheel wells? - 07:29
6) How tall are you in reference to the interior height ? - 10:05
7) How many miles per gallon does you buses get? - 11:49
8) How much did your buses cost? - 13:20
9) Have you ever used vinyl erase wheels? - 14:06
10) Rapid Fire Questions - 14:48
11) Shuttle bus vs. short bus? - 15:40
12) Should you rip out the floor? - 16:59
13) Will you put a roof top deck on the short bus?- 19:28
14) What color are you painting the short bus? - 20:07
15) How do you keep the rain out of the short bus? - 20:36
16) Why did you not keep the bus air conditioner? - 22:48
17) Can you reuse bus emergency flashers? - 23:47
18) Can you reuse gutted bus wires for your solar system? - 25:30
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You really deserve your YT viewers to purchase through your commercial links. You start to be the bus construction's guru of YT, amazing since you're so young.
Hi,
Most likely I will never buy a bus or convert one or anything like that, but I like to see all kinds of convertions.
Again and again it's wonderful to see something old or forgotten or heavily used come back to life or serve a completely new purpose.
One thing is to see, how it's done, but even better is to hear, how everything formes and comes together in the mind of the builder.
Thank you for giving us so much answers!
Thanks for watching and glad to have you around
I really appreciate you making this video!!! My dreams are a short bus and TH-cam is my teacher until it becomes manifested. In all the different system changes I've been researching, it just never occurred to me about all those safety features that need to be gone but may create conflicts along the way! Soooooo glad to see this so I can incorporate it into my plans!
Also, you pulled all the windows to install new seals. THIS is something I would also do and know people would flip me crap about being a perfectionist, but I feel it's an essential step for the local my haul. What I DIDN'T think of that you shared was to do them right off the 🦇 bat so that leakage concerns ANYWHERE get the attention they need from the git!
Love your work, guy! You're personable, concise enough to keep it moving, detailed enough to make it simple to follow, you don't let your ego prevent you from showing us the mistakes that happen, and you don't skip the interruptions that happen in real life making a 2 day job take 12!
You also gave me some real numbers regarding mpg, speeds driven, vehicle comparisons as well as effects with geography changes...I've been trying to get this info from owners for over a year now and have come to the conclusion they'rejust nott as anal as I am to know. These are all really important things to know going int!
So thanks so much for your time, efforts and content!!! It matters!!!
Lynn
Mike, another great video! As your favorite channel troll I do have just a couple questions. #1 Did you really spend 35 thousand on NAVI? #2 Do you have a link for AA batteries? I will gladly buy you some if you promise to fix the clock in NAVI, if not please at least change the time in the next video, 4:20 works for me! Stay Safe and have Fun. See ya soon!
Hey Dale ! 1) I spent $3,500 on the purchase price. $35,000 was full build with materials. I miss spoke in the video. 2) I will get a AA battery link for you 😂
@@navigationnowhere Question - let's say you drive it for 5 years then parked the NAVI. Do u think as a permanent tiny home, it would last another 5 or 10 structurally? Does that make sense?
The clock in the back of my garage is permanently set at 4:20.
I’m starting my build soon and I said I wanted to work from the outside in and everyone said I was crazy lol
Perfection 👌
Im searching every day for my bus and the questions and answers where just perfect!
Did you find one yet? I'm thinking shortbus is the length for me or maybe the small shuttle.
You are definitely an inspiration for me and my dream of building my own short bus - I can’t wait until March when I will be seriously looking into buying my bus…
Im just watching this video now and I was stoked to see the date is the same day I went and picked up my shuttle bus.
If you're tall and want head room without the work of a roof raise look for ex military school buses. They aren't as common as regular school buses but they are out there. They had the roof raised from the factory to accommodate grown men instead of kids. I have one that is a short bus and with work boots that add about 2 inches to my 6'6" height I can stand upright without bending over or hitting my head.
in Texas you do not need a CDL unless it has air brakes, so to beat the system look for hydraulic fluid type brakes
HEY !! I think its the GVW that has to do with air brakes , alot of med. tow trucks have air brakes but because they are under the commercial weight,no CDL is required , But some states and insurance co. want the drivers to have a medical card each year , but not a private owners ! ( ex-CDL driver and ex-tow trk. diver . )
Well done Michael. Watching this one, I realized you do a really good job teaching. Obviously for the visual learners it's not appreciated, but for auditory learners, the wealth of info you share is pretty priceless. Here's one question...Have you ever considered using steel studs rather than wood to do the build out? I'm thinking it would be lighter, more square, less issues with moisture, and easier to form to all the shapes and curves of the bus. Wondering your thoughts on that.
awesome video well done 👍👍🇨🇦🛠️🇨🇦🛠️
Thanks Badge! Hope your trailer build is going great!
Great video! I hope you decide to do these every few episodes during your build. It's interesting hearing answers to questions that never crossed my mind. 😎👍
Small buses are very easy well even long ones. Just have to watch the tail swing. Most only on the Long bus. Ive been driving a school bus for 18 years
Awesome video! So much great information that’s helpful for newbies to school busses like me. Thank you for all your videos. Much love to you ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Lots of eye opening info. Thanks
What a great informative and enjoyable Q&A format! Well done!!
AAA bus llc Phoenix AZ. Half the skoolie community gets and maintains their buses from them 🤘🏻
Only if your carrying people cargo. Schools have to have 2 x. States inspections per year so they’re well maintained
Are you ever going to put a battery in that clock?
Terrence Williams I was thinking the same thing!! ⌛️ lol
Love the format of this video. Questions being answered with at least 2 examples and easy to comprehend. Nice one!
It is a little different than normal but I was hoping it would be helpful! Thanks.
We got our 2008 Collins short bus a couple weeks ago. We’ve got ours gutted and are working on taking the unnecessary wires out. We accidentally unhooked something that caused the bus to not start and the back up beeper to sound when the switch was off. That was a fun time 😬
I think a lot of people misunderstand the CDL. You do not need a CDL period if you are using something for personal use. You can go out and buy a semi truck and as long as you use it strictly for you, you don't need a CDL. Same with the Air Brake endorsement (which I disagree with). You can have air brakes on your personal vehicle and not have a CDL. Remember the 'C' in CDL stands for COMMERCIAL. That is why you see some semi's and busses with "Not For Hire" on the sides. The CDL is federal and the requirements are federal.
As always you are a wealth of information!! Thank You!!
Thanks for all the info, maybe another weekend class like you did in GA, that was super fun
I am planning one just need to find a good location and timing. 👍 thanks
@@navigationnowhere Columbus Ohio has a large population of young people who are interested in alternative life styles, also tons of options out west, rent being so high on west coast people are in love with the option and life style
Great video & info! Everyone needs to see this
Thanks guys hope the video and time stamps help !
@@navigationnowhere ARE YOU IN the short bus .making this video ?? thanks .
@@navigationnowhere yes that's perfect for referencing back when my time comes. Can't come soon enough I can assure u that! Great job.
I just love your big bus in the background. :) Great video topic. You're videos are so interesting, informative, & inspirational, Mike. You seem like a kind and capable soul.
Saving this one. I LOVE it. Stealing some ideas.
Awesome !! That was the purpose of the video so glad to hear it helps.
The best way to do a q and a is schedule a day and do a live
Awesome man, thanks for the video
Im having trouble just finding a bus specifically a short bus with a diesel engine. I been looking online for the past 2 months in Massachusetts, i hope i find one soon so i can get my build started and get out there
Good job
Did you decide to keep the folding doors? If so, how do you insulate that type of door?
Just a fast one. You can use the wires from the bus even for the solar, just remember to use more parallel, so you end up having enough thickness.
Maybe the safest bet would be to check out your local school districts... The county I work, the entire fleet is serviced every 20 days, and that is a state requirement. Also the buses must pass DOT and State Patrol safety inspection on that day. So check your state and local district and surrounding states.
Thanks for sharing!
I really like this video and format! I don't have a bus (yet?) and favoriting the video for future reference. thank you for the informative content and a great video -John
good idea
Hey Mike, love the videos and all the how to.
Did you ever make the video of how to register and insure the bus? Having issues finding insurance. Keep up the good work
I have not done a direct video on the topic but I am currently writing a short e-book on the topic will be out this summer.
@@navigationnowhere I know you started in NJ and Im in NJ. Getting insurance here has been impossible. So just wanted some pointers. Thanks for taking the time to reply. I know you’re super busy.
In California you need a CDL to drive period there's different classes so I believe you can use a class C which is the same class you need to drive a car/passanger
Thank I
What bus (short) is the best to buy? Meaning engine and gas vs. diesel. Would you buy an older bus pre 2000?
HI , I like to see what you did on the outside at back as I,m thinking of doing something along that line ,, Is there a clip where it shows it. Thanks Arthur
To make youtube video chapters work you gotta remove the question numbers and put the timestamp first, still keep each question on a new line.
I appreciate that I’ll fix it. It was the first time I tried it. Figured it would be easier for people to get to the questions that actually want. Thanks for the tip
Love watching these videos I'm looking at building my own skoolie; however, I have little to no experience and won't get much help since my family thinks it a horrible idea. What are some things to pay attention too when going through the you tube tutorials? is there forums to get advice from people who have already done their first build or a few builds?
My man cave clock is “glued” at 4:20.
Question, (full bus related)
I hear that most school buses are not a good choice if you are going to do long distance traveling. Because the chassis, engine and transmission are designed for short stop and go neighborhood driving, Not long drives. I heard a tour/sports team school bus is better because that chassis, engine and transmission are more designed for it. So my question is have you heard of this and do you agree or disagree?
Here in Europe old school busses are 15,000 ( shorty ) 20,000 ( long 30-35 feet ). That's because we don't have school busses here. They are all imported from America.
Do you have a suggestion to get them for less?
Picking a long, short or medium length, is LITERALLY the hardest decision.
Love ur inside look, is that pine wood inside ?
You were behind me when we were parked at the Walmart in Summerville, Sc
Ok, I am gonna ask a question, how do you fasten fridge stove and lower cabinets...not something that I have seen shown in detail in many videos
I will be showing this in the build series (when we get to it) but they are installed just like you would in a residential house essentially. Once we get the bus spray foamed and wood sheeted everything is general carpentry. I show a little bit about this is the previous series on the trailer.
Big Bus Clock On Wall Needs To Have The Battery Replaced! LOL! :-)
Why are airport shuttle buses more expensive than school buses for the conversion?
Wet floors? What, are you going in there with a garden hose spraying it all over the floor??
The flooring isn't going to become moist unless you have a leak, usually shuttle buses or school buses are virtually leak-free so most likely you're not going to have a moist floor.
Yes. New video.
Hope you enjoy this one ✌️
Thanks so much for this! I’m looking to do a short bus sometime soon and was wondering what do you think is an appropriate timeline for doing one if I worked on it all day (being that it would be my first time)? And are you going to add a full bathroom (shower/toilet) to yours? Thanks again!!!
Awesome color choice! ^_^
IIRC most of the laws on busses deal with number of seats. at the most someone might have to bring a ratchet and pull some seats up.
New question: Are you going to reuse the original bus windows or replace them with better insulated windows? RV windows?
I will be blocking off some with metal. Other I will reuse and seal the original bus windows.
hi I have a qestion: how do you deal with the water tanks? the fresh gray and black water? thanks! I am inspired by you to move forward to my first skoolie!
What is the best engine to look for in a bus and are they reliable are they good for off road/boondocking thanks
heya
thanks for the info.
can you talk a little about registering and insuring your buses? i too am in NJ and would love to know about your experiences with this. do you get them classed as an RV? do you use an insurance agent who is familiar with the process? any advice about this?
thanks
Just bought my shuttle bus on Facebook Marketplace.
Where can you park your bus to convert it, if you don't have a home to park it?
So does a shuttle bus already come insulated? meaning i will not have to insulate it and can just do the main accessories build skipping the insulation process?
Question, with the 4.11 rear end you put in what was the top speed at a comfortable rpm?
can A short bus have a full size bed, Storage (for the wife's pokemon stuffy collection) and a shower that can fit 2 adults? I want a short bus but the wife is worried it wont be long enough. We will not have a stove so thats room that can be used elsewhere.
Please fix that clock in the back, drives me nuts it’s stuck on the same time 🤣
Haha, it is on purpose and yes these videos take hours to put together 😂 totally worth it though!
I've seen a bunch of people comment on the clock, but never knew it was stopped on purpose. Now I'm curious. If I may ask, why is it stopped on that time?
I didn’t notice. The content of video was interesting and who cares if clock is working.
How much trouble is it to get a bus registered and insured in NY as an RV
What are the laws about keeping some of the seats in
It would depend on the state and how the bus is currently registered.
Is getting a diesel engine that much better than getting a gas? I have a short bus lined up and getting ready to inspect it but its gas.
Thanks for that:) I've been lurking on skoolie forums and facebook pages for over a year, but now am able to buy my first bus! I wasn't aware of buslifeadventure.com thanks for the info!
Yeah, the post classifieds sometimes with buses on the market. Keep looking! You will find the right bus. 👍
Does the spray foam cut down on exterior panel vibration/noise while driving? Or would you recommend adding some type of sound deadening material like dynamat?
Personally, I feel the closed cell foam takes a lot of vibration away but, areas around the engine could use some extra sound/vibration material. If your interested, look into products like dynamat
Just curious why you aren't looking at 15' box trucks instead of these school buses? Is it price driven?
Price can be a factor. Monday I am posting a video on my friends 15’ box truck.
Per federal regulations, if the vehicle weight is more than 26,000 lbs, it will require a cdl to operate (not necessarily to own/register) until you change the title to some sort of "private" use, like an RV. Once the title is changed, this requirement under federal regulations goes away. But, you still need to check state and local laws. And, also under federal regulations, anytime a vehicle has more than 15 passenger capacity including the driver, it requires a cdl with a passenger endorsement to operate (again, not necessarily to own/register). But, this one goes away by removing at least enough seats to get to that number of 15 passengers including the driver. Keep in mind that school bus seats are rated for 2 adults or 3 children. So, each seat counts as 3 capacity unless 2 sets of seatbelts per seat are installed, which may possibly become a requirement as a private use vehicle. Excellent video and information otherwise.
Thank You for these video's. I'm trying to figure out what vehicle I should make the investment into. I'm in a powerchair so I keep going towards a 5 window bus. My problem is I have only driven FWD. The buses or vans (except Promaster) are RWD and I've only had 4x4 with the Ford I had and loved. I like the whole idea of a bus like you're working on, but the Promaster is FWD. What would you do?
Until you get into inclement weather or hydroplaning the fwd and rwd are close to the same but I think if you are in a chair the bigger problem is how to get into the driver's seat. If you can take a couple steps or not could make the difference on available seats at reasonable cost. The advantage of the van front end is the front seat availability for wheelchair accessible are greater.
Im trying to understand the wiring you need in the engine bay of the bus my bus started and now i cant seem to get it to start i charged my batteries. Is there some safety feature i am unaware of?
It can be a vandalock system which is commonly installed on buses to stop the engine from starting if a emergency door or hatch are open. It is typically a orange wire labeled vol 30-31. (Might be different in your bus specifically but maybe it will be the same.) If it is the vandalock system you just need to close the loop so the “system” thinks the door or hatch is closed. Or You can decommission the system completely. Decommissioning can be harder to do and explain over comments but if you follow the wires you can maybe figure it out. hope that helps a bit 👍
LOL, you’re too funny. To bad I don’t know how to read lips. 🤣🤣🤣
You might be the only person who guessed right.... 😂
Navigation Nowhere thanks for these truly informative videos. Great work!..... oh, just had another thought about the exterior color scheme. It would look totally cool, two toned. Darker Blue bottom, sky blue or white from the windows up. Just a thought.....
Please tell me that if this is a diesel in your short bus that it's not the old notoriously gutlass and unreliable GM 6.5, for your sake, I hope that it's the 6.6 Duramax!!
Why take out the windows if you don’t have any leaks? Why not re waterproof them as they are IF there are no leaks. Is it necessary to take them out?
I have found that the factory window seals appear to be applied very quickly and many times do not seal very well allowing water to go inside the walls. After cleaning and resealing with Sikaflex 296, peace of mind.
?? Do you have roadside assistance?? I called Good Sam and they will not assistance me in a little bus??
Renting an R.V. with same running gear frame set up would better represent the weight you will have with a bus
Renting an RV is a good idea too! Thanks for the suggestion
If you are not use to driving big vehicles and you want a practice run doing so. Either will do. It's really wrapping your brain around the size and visibility changes of something bigger than a standard car.
Let me help with questions! LOL Right now one that comes to mind is do you have to gut the bus as thoroughly a you have to be able to gut all the wires like you have? Or could you still do the wire removal without it as gutted?
It would be quite difficult to remove the wires as I have without taking the bus apart quite a bit. However, you can do some.
@@navigationnowhere YOU can just abandon some wires that you won't use if they are in a place that you are not going to tear out for the build !?
Do you put your solar panels on before you put your roofing on
If I can I will. But panels can be safely mounted without having the bus gutted.
How much does insurance tend to run?
Did you use spray foam on the floor to.
Not in this rig. We will frame it out with board insulation and traditional sub floor
Hahahaha” beeeeeeeeeeeep” lolz
If you haven’t got a chance to check out my latest video for the color reveal you can see what I chose
DON"T buy a " rust belt" bus! I traveled for 3 days (there and back) and spent an extra 300 dollars in expenses to buy a rust-free bus. Up north I've heard rust called "cancer".and I've seen a lot of other people's nightmares trying to overcome the malady.
🙌
What does the underside of your bus look like?
Clean metal this bus was rust free
@@navigationnowhere we just bought a 4 window thomas with some surface rust only on the bottom but it was 40k miles, using your videos like a guide for what we are converting our bus
to low for me
Ha ha
Would you be suspicious if the miles were low, yet it's being sold cheaply,???
Not really, both buses that I bought under 100k miles were from a boys and girls club. So they were regularly serviced but seldom used.
Do they have to tell you who the previous owner was??, I'm looking at an MCI with less that 50k for about 25k.
anyone else notice the clock is broken?
Michael did you mean $3,500 and not $35,000?
Yes sorry I meant $3,500 miss that haha imagine $35,000 😂 it better be brand new.
@@navigationnowhere Those are very good low prices. I've recently seen a few turtle top shuttle buses for over $20,000. One was a limo bus and one a wheelchair lift in back bus. The get the same mileage with a gas engine. We had a Chevy and a Ford at work. Both black and sold.
Now we have a white Ford that can be used for weddings and 10 people transport.
I'm in the transportation business as a chauffeur. Don't like driving to Teterboro or JFK. I'm in R.I.
I flew out of JFK so many times. I agree... not a fun place to drive.
we are sold "cars,vans." that are less then and meant to generate profit !!! we lost EQUALITY that the company's are favored.....
All talk no build. AGAIN CYA
Sorry you will not be with us. You will be missed
@Scott Squires
Impatience and building (or other DIY projects) are never friends.
Maybe time lapse videos are the right ones for you. Something gets build, you can quickly see the result and no information is bothering you.
I think sometimes it is forgotten that I have to actually build something (that takes hours and hours) to post a “build video”. 😂
He said plainly in the header it was Q & A @Scott Squires...good things come to those who are patient and thorough. Please chill-lax, dude.