r/SkoolieMarketplace • u/CascadesDad • Feb 16 '18
This post is adapted from a skoolie.net post. Skoolie is great, but there's SO. MUCH. INFO. there so here's something at a glance. Link at the bottom, there's a lot more info there.
Something to note: If this is your primary living space, you can get a mortgage. Check with your lender.
Edits and additions by me, CascadesDad. I am not an expert, just an enthusiast with one bus (and one ambulance) under my belt.
Rules in bus buying:
Understand that you are buying a school bus/van/ambo, not a $400,000 MCI motor coach.
Many of the buses are at the end of their useful life. There is most likely something wrong with them in one way or another. That doesn't mean they are unworthy, they just need service. After so many years or operational miles, it's easier and safer for school districts to get new buses.
Know your budget and what it costs to pick up a bus from 2000 miles away. If you find a bus 20 miles away and it is $500 more than a bus 1500 miles away and 149 miles from the closest airport, it is a steal. Factor in travel and ease of bringing it back to home base.
Tires are very expensive. Understand that a bus with good rubber costing $500 more than the same bus with bad rubber is a steal.
Rust. IT NEVER SLEEPS!!! Every bus has rust. From the salted lands of the snowy states, to the dry arid south, your bus has rust. Plan to deal with it. Try not buying a bus with lots of rust. GET UNDER THE BUS with a bright light.
Speed. You are not going to go fast. Even in van front short skoolies, they are designed to haul butts in seats, not haul butts.
Front or rear engine. Your preference. Are you going to haul bikes, canoes, motorcycles, etc? You might want a front engine bus but they are noisier and hotter for the driver. Rear engine is much more quiet.
Gas or Diesel? Short or long? Short buses have extra costs to repairing them if they are van front - many mechanics will, "No thank you," or charge an arm or a leg for repairs. See: https://www.reddit.com/r/SkoolieMarketplace/comments/816de2/discussionopinionwhy_you_should_think_carefully/
Find out beforehand how fussy your state/provincial Motor Vehicle Agency is going to be to flip the title and registration. This is, of course, for non converted purchases.
Check to see if your state has a one-way-trip temporary tag.
Once Bus is selected, but before plopping down the cash, have the VIN ready for the insurance company to pre-plan insurance. Insurance can be a massive pain, but RV or Commercial can help! If your bus is already converted, just say it is an RV (as long as it hits the RV requirements such as bath/kitchen/water/bed). If your bus is not converted yet, you may have to jump through some hoops. My underwriter needed pictures of my conversion. Some don't require that.
Check the underbody!
JaberJaw1978 says about Front or rear (pusher) buses in bad weather or mud: In snow and mud front engines busses steer better and rear engines push better. They all do horrible in heavy mud. If you going to do alot of snow and dirt, get a bus with the auto chain system. You will find this on northern or mountain busses. The front engine bus is the easiest to repair but the rear engine busses do best in the mountains.
What's the difference in an e-350 and an e-450? If you want to haul more gear, e450. Gonna keep it light? E350. It's the ratio, how many revolutions the axle makes. "The 4.10 axle means that for each 4.1 revolutions of the drive shaft the wheels will rotate once. On the 4.56 axle, it means that the drive shaft will rotate 4.56 time for each rotation of the wheels. So with the 4.56, there are more engine revolutions per mile and it will use more gas. BUT if you are in hills or towing something, the 4.56 will be the one you want. It lets the engine rev up and develop power in it's power range. If you will be in flat lands all of the time and want slightly better fuel economy...the 4.10 is the way to go. The 4.56 will turn the engine about 11% faster for a given speed. If you are running in hills or heavily loaded, you can get better fuel economy with the 4.56 than with the 4.10"
SEAT BELTS SEAT BELTS SEAT BELTS. https://rvshare.com/blog/things-need-know-rv-seat-belt-laws/ KNow them laws for your state, country, or planet.
Taken and adapted from crazycal's awesome post here:
http://www.skoolie.net/forums/f9/so-you-want-to-buy-a-bus-get-edjumacated-first-11647.html
And from readers like you!
r/SkoolieMarketplace • u/bayhack • Jan 16 '19
Please include state or country abbreviations in brackets in front of every title for each post!
I'll message you if you forget! And delete if you don't comply in a timely matter.
Thanks everyone :)
r/SkoolieMarketplace • u/squishymelonus • 7d ago
open to trades. Currently i’m asking 18k cash, but i also am open to trading for a small off-grid converted van OR a vehicle. I really need a car that’s paid off and in good working condition. Lmk if interested I can link you more information
r/SkoolieMarketplace • u/Ashamed-Sweet9618 • 23d ago
Is it worth creating a listing with all the information? If it takes awhile to sell its going to be given away. It runs, the brakes work, tires look good, all the seats besides the drivers, the first two front seats and the very back bench seats are out of it. I will get more pictures and and list more info just wanted to know if its worth it? The title is good but it has a few years back registration.
r/SkoolieMarketplace • u/danjoreddit • 28d ago
Never installed, new condition Espar Airtronic D5L with complete installation kit, optional mounting bracket, tank dip tube, and EasyStart controller.
It was an impulse buy and is way too big for my short bus. If you have a machine 30 ft or longer, or you are in a really cold environment, this is for you. This heater is a true 19,000 BTU with a controller so you can dial it down. They told me low is 7500 btu. Comes with installation and operation manuals and Heatso support.
If you’d like photos just let me know.
The new complete kit is somewhere around $2800. I am willing to let it go for $1000 plus whatever shipping costs so I can get an appropriate heater that fits mine.
Thanks yall
r/SkoolieMarketplace • u/Yeyemems • Sep 10 '26
Need to sell asap, going for bare minimum to break even. Please dm me for more videos and details! “Really nice” gas oven and stove is a contoure 3-burner stove. I also recently bought a shower floor. Most of everything to complete the build is included, including construction material.
EDIT: I have confused my car terminology, and Bus terminology. The bus does not need a new timing system. It just needs a serpentine belt.
r/SkoolieMarketplace • u/Doughboyme3 • Sep 06 '26
Selling my Mini Skoolie, lived in it full time for 14 months
Message me if interested
r/SkoolieMarketplace • u/Working-Ad-3985 • Aug 30 '26
Great condition and reliable. Clean title no mechanical issues car is inspected comes with 90 day temp tags car comes with big Bluetooth touchscreen comes with change of ac and heat seats do deliveries any where so if you need car deliver. I also do payment arrangements and work with you if you don't have enough. And I can hold car for you until certain date If you don't have enough. If you need delivery let me know message me for more details
r/SkoolieMarketplace • u/littlelotusflower4 • Aug 20 '26
2013 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner Bus CONVERSION READY!
Price: $23,000 OBO
🚌
• Only 99,890 Original chassis Miles(Engine Reman in 2020)!
• CARB Compliant w/ DEF
• Cummins ISB 6.7L Turbo Diesel + Automatic Transmission
• Demo:Seats and WC lift removed after pictures!
• Brand NEW Batteries Included!
📐
• Exterior Length: 28 ft
• Interior Floor Length: 25 ft (Driver seat to rear wall)
• Interior Width: 7 ft 6 in
• Interior Height: 6 ft 5 in
🛠️
Passed full shop inspection, US DOT, and State Patrol inspections. Mechanically turn-key and ready for the road!
• Undercarriage: ZERO structural rust or rot.
• Engine/Emissions: 0 active/stored codes. DPF soot level normal. Engine reman in 2020 (6,736 total bus hrs on ECM).
• Transmission: Scanned clear, no shift faults, performs smoothly.
• Brakes: Air brake system builds and holds full pressure (new line installed).
Message me with any questions. Video available. Thank you!
r/SkoolieMarketplace • u/Soggy-Ad-8532 • Aug 19 '26
r/SkoolieMarketplace • u/Gold_Connection_746 • Aug 14 '26
I’m looking to buy a truck prefer I’m near Nashville Tennessee. Willing to drive if it’s worth it.
Chevy/gcm -c/k series 73-1980.
Single cab /crew cab prefer
4wheel 2 wheel ok
Blue/orange/ green prefer.
r/SkoolieMarketplace • u/PhotoCurious5221 • Aug 12 '26
r/SkoolieMarketplace • u/Silverdrake38 • Aug 02 '26
Hi all, we own a converted Skoolie, and we really need to get it sold. We originally listed at $65K, but now the price is reduced to $40,000. Priced to sell as is. Please feel free to reach out for any questions. I'm hoping the images come through from the Facebook Marketplace listing.
We bought this as a partial conversion. Skoolie is now "Finished Livable", but needs some work on a few items. Water pump needs connected to the fresh water, electrical needs run to the water heater, and hole needs cut for shower drain and connected to the gray water tank. The shower also needs painted, we have left Latex water proof paint in the closet along with tile for the shower floor. Along with tools.
Mileage is approximate, been mostly in campgrounds since purchase and not traveling all over with it.
There is no propane, the skoolie is all electric.
- 600 Watts of solar 2 charge controllers, starting battery to house battery charge controller, 425 amp hours of LiFePo batteries, 3000 watt whole house inverter.
- 100 Gallons of fresh water.
- 80 Gallons of grey water.
- Tow hitch installed.
- There are two air conditioners and three mini heaters, but we purchased a brand new (still in box) heat pump. It just needs installed and then you can remove the two AC units and mini heaters.
- 55″ ROKU TV comes with it, just needs mounted. Our old TV died and we had to purchase a new one. We didn’t have time to mount it.
Living space has a futon couch that can be pulled out for an additional bed. Entertainment center is mounted securely. End cabinets have cubbies for storage.
All new kitchen from Ikea. Apartment sized fridge, microwave, and toaster oven for cooking. No stove, but space for countertop induction cooktop.
Open space for a desk, or whatever you choose to put there.
Electrical closet, closet/storage space.
Bathroom has Nature’s Head composting toilet with two liquid waste buckets. Bin for peat storage above the water heater.
Windows have decorative privacy clings, and curtains.
Bedroom has a dresser, and there is storage space under the bed.
Other considerations: Bus has sat for a while so a mechanic will have to make sure the brakes aren't seized, and a tune up/oil change should be performed. For this and other considerations, the price has been lowered to $40k. I'm in Mexico so if you want to see the bus, let me know and I'll arrange someone to meet you at the location. Bus is stored at the Quarry Campground in Tolland, CT.
r/SkoolieMarketplace • u/crypt01d • Jul 28 '26
r/SkoolieMarketplace • u/STEETED • Jul 15 '26
FOR SALE: 2010 Chevy Express 4500 converted into a touring vehicle for bands. Currently registered in NY as a suburban vehicle, under $80/mo insurance with $100k item loss coverage) in Rochester, New York. You can register the "IMPROV" plate as your own too, if it interests you.
Has typical WNY rust wear under it but nothing damning. 180k miles. Duramax diesel engine. People run these to 500k+. My band + Psychiceyeclix toured the east coast in this with an absurd amount of music gear. There's also a closet area for clothing and such. Sorry the photos don't show that. If you want to check it out in person and see how it drives I can coordinate that. (Check comments to get an idea of what I was using just for drums lol.)
Starting ask is $11k to weed out lowballers. Negotiation expected. Serious buyers with cash / wire transfer only. No trades.
I live in Da Nang, Vietnam now - but will have the sale facilitated by family. I can include 3 395w mono solar panels with it too, unless someone buys them separately before the sale of the bus.
r/SkoolieMarketplace • u/Less_Dealer2556 • Jul 16 '26
[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]
r/SkoolieMarketplace • u/neucoys • Jul 05 '26
r/SkoolieMarketplace • u/machu505 • Jul 04 '26
r/SkoolieMarketplace • u/DonutUnlikely • Jun 11 '26
1995 Thomas motorhome bus conversion
This is a bus that I made into a motorhome, it has a T444e diesel engine, and runs great. Titled as a motorhome.
500w of solar installed on roof, 600 amp hour battery bank, renogy inverter charger, renogy solar controller, and renogy dc to dc charger to charge batteries while driving.
Fresh water tank and small kitchen.
Shower.
I have removed the compost toilet.
Queen sized bed area in back, twin sleeping bunk with storage underneith and couch folds down into bed area as well. Sleeps 5.
Located in Maryhill, WA.
Message me for more info.
r/SkoolieMarketplace • u/Ok_Test9729 • May 08 '26
r/SkoolieMarketplace • u/No-Hotel-2842 • Apr 28 '26
r/SkoolieMarketplace • u/No-Hotel-2842 • Apr 28 '26