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caj13
Senior Nomad
Posts: 998
Registered: 8-1-2017
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Just Bought a Bus - Baja Camper here we come!
was screwing around wasting time at home, when I came across a 2009 International CE "school" bus up for auction on the GSA website. I've always
been interested in using on as a platform for a conversion - and this was cheap - looked to be in very good shape, and had only 38000 miles on it.
It was used in Washington DC to haul around government employees as far as I can tell.
Not full length, but longer than a short bus - and crucially it has the "wheel chair lift" which will become the motorcycle lift, cabinet lift, and
anything else to heavy or bulky to fit through the emergency door lift!
So now - i have to get it home - that's the first adventure. I have to pick it up in Baltimore. I'll drive it home in 3 stages - Baltimore to
Detroit - where i have great mechanic help and family to visit. Then Detroit to Utah - and finally Utah to California.
Then Ill put in a kitchen, an outdoor shower, generator, beds and cabinets etc.
still have to figure out the best place to register it, the conversion itself, and it being a commercial vehicle right now - that's the issue.
Maybe Vermont or South Dakota will be the best options to make sure its legal and I can drive it W/O a commercial license!
I'l pull a trailer with a jeep or my side by side on it , or a boat etc.
I'm looking forward to the conversion, I am not looking forward to the registration / insurance licensing cluster f&%^* " that I have to go
through!
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Bajabus
Senior Nomad
Posts: 892
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: Elias Calles B.C.S. or NC USA
Member Is Offline
Mood: My friends..it's good.
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Congratulations!
Our 32 ft international 1700 school bus was registered in NY as a camper without any issues. Drove it around for many years like that and no officer
of the law ever hassled me for not having a commercial DL at any of the very numerous traffic stops we had.
"Preventive war was an invention of Hitler. Frankly I would not even listen to anyone seriously that came and talked of such a thing."
Dwight David Eisenhower
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13033
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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woohoo....so cool! I have had dreams of getting a short bus for taking our whale watchers out to our whale camp and using it for camping off season.
Hope we get to see your dream bus sometime!
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JZ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9234
Registered: 10-3-2003
Member Is Offline
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That is pretty cool.
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Bajabus
Senior Nomad
Posts: 892
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: Elias Calles B.C.S. or NC USA
Member Is Offline
Mood: My friends..it's good.
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Does it have a 2 speed rear-end? Ours did and we found it very helpful. The best thing we had on there were 2 high-lift jacks. Came in very handy
many times.
If it does not already have one, put in a high amperage alternator and get 1-2 battery switch so you can charge house batteries while you drive and
isolate the starting battery when not driving.
And of course a solar system.
"Preventive war was an invention of Hitler. Frankly I would not even listen to anyone seriously that came and talked of such a thing."
Dwight David Eisenhower
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msteve1014
Senior Nomad
Posts: 941
Registered: 12-2-2006
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What engine/ trans. ? Could be a great start.
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advrider
Super Nomad
Posts: 1847
Registered: 10-2-2015
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Some guys on ADV rider have the same set up in Canada, they drive it down full of bikes every year to Baja. Some searching and you might find their
ride reports?
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RocketJSquirrel
Nomad
Posts: 251
Registered: 8-3-2019
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Photos, please! Would enjoy watching the project progress.
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Whale-ista
Super Nomad
Posts: 2009
Registered: 2-18-2013
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Sunny with chance of whales
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Felicidades!
Sounds like a great project.
For those curious about the bus- does it look like this one?
I bought it several years ago- it was a diesel, lots more miles, 20 seats, wheelchair lift that worked great for moving appliances, loading supplies
etc.
I started with similar dreams- but life took a different turn. The camper conversion plans didn't work out, but the bus ultimately went on to help
people in need other ways.
I look forward to seeing your project develop!
\"Probably the airplanes will bring week-enders from Los Angeles before long, and the beautiful poor bedraggled old town will bloom with a
Floridian ugliness.\" (John Steinbeck, 1940, discussing the future of La Paz, BCS, Mexico)
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vandy
Senior Nomad
Posts: 538
Registered: 10-10-2003
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There's one for sale right now just listed on Craigslist Phoenix.
2012 International CE, 140k diesel for $6000.
https://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/ctd/d/phoenix-2012-intern...
Have fun!
[Edited on 4-24-2021 by vandy]
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motoged
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6481
Registered: 7-31-2006
Location: Kamloops, BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: Gettin' Better
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Quote: Originally posted by advrider  | | Some guys on ADV rider have the same set up in Canada, they drive it down full of bikes every year to Baja. Some searching and you might find their
ride reports? |
That would be my gang:
https://advrider.com/f/threads/she-slapped-me-with-little-provocation.666961/
Don't believe everything you think....
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pacificobob
Super Nomad
Posts: 2237
Registered: 4-23-2006
Member Is Offline
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i keep telling myself im done with BMWs....but that boxer in the first photo...nice!
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5809
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
Member Is Offline
Mood: Retireded
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Sounds like a great project with a worthwhile goal!
Although I have more time in retirement to take on a project like that, my "get it done" drive is fading, and I think I would have one more unfinished
project competing for my attention.
Good luck on the adventure!
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64480
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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The Bajabus bus (and Mrs. Bajabus):
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 17299
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Online
Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: Originally posted by caj13 | was screwing around wasting time at home, when I came across a 2009 International CE "school" bus up for auction on the GSA website. I've always
been interested in using on as a platform for a conversion - and this was cheap - looked to be in very good shape, and had only 38000 miles on it.
It was used in Washington DC to haul around government employees as far as I can tell.
Not full length, but longer than a short bus - and crucially it has the "wheel chair lift" which will become the motorcycle lift, cabinet lift, and
anything else to heavy or bulky to fit through the emergency door lift!
So now - i have to get it home - that's the first adventure. I have to pick it up in Baltimore. I'll drive it home in 3 stages - Baltimore to
Detroit - where i have great mechanic help and family to visit. Then Detroit to Utah - and finally Utah to California.
Then Ill put in a kitchen, an outdoor shower, generator, beds and cabinets etc.
still have to figure out the best place to register it, the conversion itself, and it being a commercial vehicle right now - that's the issue.
Maybe Vermont or South Dakota will be the best options to make sure its legal and I can drive it W/O a commercial license!
I'l pull a trailer with a jeep or my side by side on it , or a boat etc.
I'm looking forward to the conversion, I am not looking forward to the registration / insurance licensing cluster f&%^* " that I have to go
through! |
Buying the vehicle from govt is easy part.
Getting it off the lot is hard part, does it run?
Getting the SF97 in timely manner is harder than picking up the vehicle. Took me 4 months to get an sf97 in mail after buying govt vehicle.
I would hire a pro to outfit the bus with kitchen, beds, etc. too much work to put in all that equip, and then wind up having it be all squeaky and
rattley.
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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motoged
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6481
Registered: 7-31-2006
Location: Kamloops, BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: Gettin' Better
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PB,
That beemer is a 1981 GS with a ton of upgrades....sold it to get the 690 KTM....
I am presently replacing fuel pump systems on the 690 and GS 1100..... I sure miss gravity fed carbs.
My favourite bike ever was a 1982 R100 RS.... THE best design ....like this one:
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1983-bmw-r100-rs-3/
Don't believe everything you think....
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motoged
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6481
Registered: 7-31-2006
Location: Kamloops, BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: Gettin' Better
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Problems.:
...690 has 38,000km on upgraded pump and filter....and it kacked while doing the Kettle Valley Railway last August....pushed it for 1.5 hours and
was able to start it with constant throttle blipping and limped 80 kms back to camp.....maybe bad fuel or plugged filter
.... gs 1100 sat for three years (690 fever)....pump didn't work.....maybe varnished shut??? It has about 90,000 km on that pump so time for
replacement.
Getting into pumped tanks is like brain surgery.....float indicators go screwy, small o-rings get gulped, and/or something gets bent or
whatever.....
But, that's the pleasure of such toys.....
At least the 450 is good.....will see later today
Covid and weather is allowing me to attend to such matters with less of a sense of urgency....
Don't believe everything you think....
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motoged
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6481
Registered: 7-31-2006
Location: Kamloops, BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: Gettin' Better
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Pumps could be externalized, but common knowledge has it that the pump is cooled in the tank by the gas....and would otherwise overheat.
I had externalized the gs100 filter years ago for easy change....not so easy to do with 690 system.
Fuel pump failures have been common known issues w/ injected KTM's (different theories about "the black stuff in tank" ) .....not sure about other
brands
[Edited on 4-24-2021 by motoged]
Don't believe everything you think....
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bajatrailrider
Super Nomad
Posts: 2423
Registered: 1-24-2015
Location: Mexico
Member Is Offline
Mood: Happy
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For this reason I prefer to only ride dirt bikes . With carb we spent 3 days dealing . With a ktm fuel pump on trail .
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motoged
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6481
Registered: 7-31-2006
Location: Kamloops, BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: Gettin' Better
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Yep, higher tech = higher problem risk. My '04 450 EXC is my Baja bike....
Don't believe everything you think....
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