e350 shuttle bus

[sstecker]

was weighing in all options vs price. anyone see issues with towing an open/enclosed trailer (>7000lbs total) with an e350 shuttle bus with proper tow gear? looking at ones with a 7.3 diesel. seems like they would make great weekend getaway rvs. not to big. good mileage. could convert to grease power.

sample on ebay

looking at ones below 16 seats to stay away from CDL. anyone know of there will be issues with insurance?

[Greg Amy]

Nope, no problem at all. In fact, I gave SERIOUS consideration to this last year, and I'm still disappointed I didn't pull the trigger. I see motorcycle racing teams using those as they primary towing/camping vehicles all the time.

They're typically E-350 or E-450 frames, and other than the passenger body and TRUE rear-wheel dually they're full-up the same thing you'd buy as a van. Get the rear end tags to find out what the final drive is; your best best is the 4.30 limited slip. If they don't have the FD you want, don't worry about it, as changing one costs about $1000 using new parts.

As for registration and insurance concerns, strip out the seats and register it as a camper. You'll possibly pay less for reg and insurance that way, plus it WILL be your camper...

I'd say go for it. Hell, I may still do it myself, it would be the PERFECT RV and towing vehicle to front my big blocky enclosed trailer... - GA

[tcpip]

Since you brought up price, might I suggest checking with your state for public auctions. CT has one every couple of months, and most of the vehicles were for municiple use. The prices for these types of vans seemed to be around $1800 and with less mileage than the one you listed. I can't say if there were diesel though. Just a thought.

[Greg Amy]

Jon, I'd be VERY interested in more info on these auctions. I'd really like to buy one the the Hartford city transit shuttles (all diesels); right size, right equipment. What kind of shape are they typically in?

Sstecker, one more thing: you may have to build a structure in the back of the shuttle to attach a ClassIII/IV hitch to; many of these things do not have the extended rear frame. Further, it's possibly but unlikely they have the "tow package" installed, thus you'll need to fabricate and run your own wiring harness. - Greg

[tcpip]

CT Public Auctions
They actually just had one on August 5th, so it'll probably be a few months until the next one. I only just heard about this, so I haven't been to the auctions and as such I can't comment on the condition of them. If you look at the previous auctions they do list what problems they may have, but they don't seem to tell you before the auction about the vehicles. You just have to go and find out the day of what they have and how good they are.

[JimLill]

This is a nice form factor one.... but pricey I bet

http://www.trucktraderonline.com/caddetail.../1/84287031.htm

[Doc Bro]

My brother in law just bought one of these at a CT auction. It was 1500. Non-diesel...but he didn't need diesel. He got it to haul his boat and operate his marine surveying business out of. The cool thing about his is that it was a handi-van. On the passenger side it's got a large door with a hydraulic lift and platform. He uses it to transport his small ROV (submarine). When he saw the lift and the price he was cool with the price of gas vs. diesel. Those lifts are really cool for lifting toolboxes and tires and pitbikes...total backsavers.

R

[Greg Amy]

That's good to know. I could swing that, no problem, even if it did need some rework.

The problem with the gassers is that very few of them come with the V-10; instead you probably get the 5.4L V-8. That just won't be enough grunt to pull a good-sized trailer (open, yes; enclosed, not really). If, however, you can find a 2000 or later with the 6.8L V-10 then that's a good engine to pull with...

I gotta watch that site, see if I can come up with something to replace the 15-passenger V-10 van...

For reference, here's a link to the quick chat we had on this last year. - GA

http://itforum.improvedtouring.com/forums/...?showtopic=5831

[sstecker]

Jon, I'd be VERY interested in more info on these auctions. I'd really like to buy one the the Hartford city transit shuttles (all diesels); right size, right equipment. What kind of shape are they typically in?

Sstecker, one more thing: you may have to build a structure in the back of the shuttle to attach a ClassIII/IV hitch to; many of these things do not have the extended rear frame. Further, it's possibly but unlikely they have the "tow package" installed, thus you'll need to fabricate and run your own wiring harness. - Greg
[/b]

glad to see im not alone. i started pricing out a roof top ac, fresh/black water holding tanks. only issue is making it nice enough that the GF will stay in it

yeah i figured they wouldnt have an off the shelf tow package. i havent had a chance to look under one but the distance from rear wheels to rear bumper was one concern. trailer getting cantilevered out there.

you thinking of going grease powered?

[Greg Amy]

you thinking of going grease powered?
[/b]

I used to do that in my '93 diesel, but it's a lot of work. It's one thing to filter and decanter 10 gallons every two weeks for a Rabbit diesel; it's a whole 'nother thing to do it for 25 gallons per week for a tow vehicle...

[sstecker]

I used to do that in my '93 diesel, but it's a lot of work. It's one thing to filter and decanter 10 gallons every two weeks for a Rabbit diesel; it's a whole 'nother thing to do it for 25 gallons per week for a tow vehicle...
[/b]

yeah i was looking at a 40 gallon tank probably use van 1-2 weekends/month for racing and if the interior is nice enough occasional weekend trip. figure race trips on grease. i have never done the grease thing but have already lined up a chinese take out place for a source. going to be lots of trouble filtering about 40 gal/month?

[Racerlinn]

A few years ago I was the lead on getting a replacement vehicle for the Region's Solo trailer (nobody wanted to pull it). We ended up with a retirement village bus that we picked up at a local auction for $2500 - 454 motor, big side door with no lift. Gutted it out. I looked at a lot of buses up to that point and I none of them had trailer hitches. We got lucky and made a deal with a local outfit that only charged up $500 to weld up a hitch and reinforced frame rails on the back.

[JamesB]

This is WDCR's newer bus. Repainted this year with a touch of pizzaz.

[JohnRW]

Call Edwin at Raceshopper. Pre-Raceshopper, that's what he used to tow with. I think he had issues with size, etc. and now he's in a E350 van.

[RSTPerformance]

I don't have much time to get into details but... As I have mentioned before whenever this topic comes to mind is that I am the General Manager for a transit system here in Lowell Massachusetts. I work for a company called First Transit. We manage transit systems throughout the country, so... yes I have LOTS of connections with some of the systems you are talking about including Conneteicut Transit in Hartford (The General manager of CT Transit is my boss, crap should I be telling you people htis!!!). I would be glad to help with the procurement of vehicles at a specific location especially if we operate that system in your state.

A great resource to see what transit agencies are in your local area go to this website/link:
http://www.apta.com/links/state_local/
Click on your state/county/region etc. and look at the different transit agencies. CALL those agencies every few months to see what if anything is going out to bid and/or ask to be put on a list when vehicles go out to bid (we want more people to bid and are always looking to add people to the list). Every year or so transit agencies replace older buses/vans with newer ones. The general life span that we use them for is 5 years or 100,000. Once they reach that life they are put on the line for replacement. Conditions vary for each vehicle so be sure to check what the conditions are. For the most part vehicles are VERY WELL taken care of as the fedral government is strict on makingsure we follow proper preventive maintenance schedules. MOST of the transit agencies bid the vehicles out to the Highest bidder.

I specificaly run the Road Runner service for the Lowell Regional Transit Authority and will be selling/bidding some out later this fall, provided the new ones come in on time. I will post when we get ready to bid them out.

If I can be any help to you please PM me here and I will provide you with my work e-mail/phone number so we can discuss further.

Raymond "want a bus" Blethen

[tderonne]

There's quite a large sub-culture within the RV community that focuses on bus conversions. Searches at rv.net or irv2.com forums will yield some info. There's lots of specialized sites like busnut.com. Mostly focused on true full size bus conversions, but the systems are the same for converting a small one.

One of my recent favoite conversions is a bus called "Odyssey", a converted Neoplan Spaceliner. There used to be one like it every year at the Runoffs. I like the two story front end, and large basement. Add some slides, and a winning lottery ticket, and I'd be all set. Odyssey

[tderonne]

And why checked flags on an Autocross bus? Have they started using checked flags to indicate the end of a run?

Same goes for all the drag racers with checked flags all over their stuff (trucks, trailers, cars, golf carts, jackets, etc.) Have they replaced the win light with a checked flag?

[JamesB]

Because motorsports and checkered flags go hand in hand.

[mgyip]

And why checked flags on an Autocross bus? Have they started using checked flags to indicate the end of a run?
[/b]

Why not use checkered flags? SCCA uses "Checkered Flag" to post obituaries, Chevrolet used checkered flags to denote certain special engine displacements and they still use checkered flags on their chest-hair wig and Viagra specialty car (Corvette).

I didn't check the previous postings but instead of converting a passenger bus to tow, I've encountered several folks that use retired ambulances as tow vehicles. One friend retained most all of the ambulance equipment including the power inverters, air-conditioning and "mood lighting" - very nice package complete with a Ford Powerpoker so it isn't completely gutless when towing.

[JimLill]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racing_flags#..._chequered_flag

When I attended my first drag race in the 50's, they ONLY used flags!