"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
06/09/2020 at 13:12 • Filed to: Buslopnik, Abandoned
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"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
06/09/2020 at 13:12 • Filed to: Buslopnik, Abandoned | 5
| 10 |
It seems like the hottest trend in the Gambler 500 community this year is buying old school buses to make into toy haulers and campers. I believe this is in part because it’s nice to have a guaranteed ride home and in part because tent camping on these rallies really sucks.
A teammate scored this 1982 Ford for just $500.
It was parked for four years and the previous owner thought it needed a starter. Weirdly, it really just needed batteries! It runs and drives better than it looks. This bus is based on a Ford F-700 and comes equipped with a hilariously gutless 8.2L Detroit Diesel “Fuel Pincher” engine. How gutless? Looks like this thing likes doing 65 on flat ground and that’s unloaded..
The steering is remarkably tight and not even for something so old, it’s just really good. Odometer reads 49,000 but since it’s a 99,999 mile odometer it’s safe to assume actual mileage is well in the 6 digits. The frame and underbody look absolutely mint.
The bus is currently a very faded white, almost primer gray. Looks like someone painted blue over the original yellow, red on top of the blue, then what I assume was white on top of that.. It hasn’t weathered well.
In the bus’ previous life, it hauled a Civil War cannon in the inside (the rear is one big door) while towing a replica Civil War era cabin. The previous owner is apparently really big into Civil War reenactments... and the Confederacy.
The interior features a 5000 pound winch and two guardrails for yanking the cannon into the bus.
The teammate’s plan with it is to haul a Geo Tracker in the back to the Gambler 500 OG in Oregon in a few weeks. From there, he’s just going to use it as a ratty toy hauler and camper until something major breaks, then he’ll scrap it for more than he paid for it. It’ll be at my nightmare house for a week or two while he gets it ready for its cross country voyage.
My neighbourhood is definitely the reason HOAs exist. Bus aside, the house has been abandoned since my brother moved out with only periodic checks from myself and my parents. No HOA means the long grass has gone without citation, even as the town mows the grass beyond the property line that isn’t owned by anyone.
The lawn should be mowed soon so it won’t look like a house out of a zombie movie.
For further example of what you’ll find in a non-HOA neighbourhood in the Midwest: Across the street, a neighbour has a destroyed shed and various wrecks in his yard, I assume parts vehicles for his sweet vintage Jeep and GMC. Around the corner, a guy has two dump trucks in his drive. Property values are all over the place ranging from $100k to a million dollars for my next door neighbour and even a half million for the guy across the street with the vintage GMC.
COVID-19 has indefinitely stalled the mortgage lender from foreclosing on the house. Good news about that is that it’s now possible that the lender may be more willing to take the deed in lieu of foreclosure because we’re basically “untouchable” right now. I have some expert help on this thankfully. :)
Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
> Mercedes Streeter
06/09/2020 at 13:23 |
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What's the story on the ratty roof rack? Reminds me of those platforms that river rafting companies build on old busses to haul rafts on the roof with room for tourists inside. Except those don't look like they could fall apart at any moment. Looks pretty decent under all the neglect.
Roadkilled
> Mercedes Streeter
06/09/2020 at 13:31 |
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School busses were never designed for speed on the highway. There aren’t many school districts where you need busses that could go 75 mph.
Don’t be surprised if it can’t do more than 45 mph uphill when loaded. There is a point-to-point marathon in Washington that runs from Snoqualmie pass to North Bend. You park at the finish and ride a school bus to the start. It’s about 20 miles and 22oo feet of climb on the highway. I’ve been on that bus with fully loaded tractor-trailers passing us uphill.
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Mercedes Streeter
> Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
06/09/2020 at 13:34 |
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We didn’t ask. The rack is on there real solid (it’s holding a glorious split rim spare tire in place) but it’s definitely had an impact with something with not enough clearance for the extra height.
The bus is definitely physically a hot mess. The rear door thing was clearly just the result of someone taking a Sawzall to the back of the bus then bolting on some barn door hinges. Those barn door hinges can’t support the weight so the door is ratcheted down. And it appears nothing works in the interior but the winch, a fan, and bits of the dash . But it runs and drives really solid so it’ll probably make the 2,000 mile trip no problem.
facw
> Roadkilled
06/09/2020 at 13:41 |
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Yeah, I mean they do do highways sometimes, but that’s really not their bread and butter. And this bus is from the days of the national 55mph limit so I really doubt high speed was a priority.,
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Mercedes Streeter
> Roadkilled
06/09/2020 at 13:41 |
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Oh yeah that’s for sure. The other bus on our team (much newer cabover style with a Cummins) will do 85 if you hold down the pedal long enough, but it realistically doesn’t want to do more than 75 . On our way through Tennessee we slowed to about the speed of semis while climbing the mountains.
T his is slow even for a school bus. This particular engine was designed for fuel economy to the detriment of power. Gutless, but apparently does about 15 mpg. We reckon it'll get passed by literally everything while climbing the mountains. xD
Chariotoflove
> Mercedes Streeter
06/09/2020 at 13:47 |
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Your post reminds me of this popular mechanics article. If you haven’t read it, take the time. I think you’ll enjoy it.
https://www.popularmechanics.com/adventure/outdoors/a16571/schoolbus-skoolie-build-serendipitibus/
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Mercedes Streeter
> Chariotoflove
06/09/2020 at 14:01 |
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I absolutely love the execution of that build! It looks like a luxury apartment on wheels. Shame to hear about the transmission though. Definitely illustrates that when a commercial type of vehicle breaks the costs can get huge.
The Gambler buses I've been on have definitely been more utilitarian. Basically home goods and furniture bolted to the floor. lol
Discerning
> Mercedes Streeter
06/09/2020 at 14:17 |
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Although it is a cool idea, it is so much more difficult and expense to convert a bus into a camper with sewer and hvac capability than it is to just buy an old camper and renovate it. I explored the idea before we bought our camper and I came to the conclusion that it is really not worth it unless you really want that style. For the same money, you can have a much more comfortable RV.
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Chariotoflove
> Mercedes Streeter
06/09/2020 at 14:23 |
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If it’s bolted and not duck taped, I call it a win.
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Mercedes Streeter
> Discerning
06/09/2020 at 14:32 |
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Indeed. I guess it depends on your end goal. If you want running water, holding tanks, a bathroom, toilet, and shower, you’re better off with a used RV.
If you just want something to haul your offroad rig without a trailer that you can also sleep in, a bus isn’t too bad. My teammate is probably going to use it like a hard tent with a really comfy couch . That said, I’m used to seeing them with the car deck part cut off so you can haul tall vehicles. I like how buses are more sturdy than a lot of the used RVs you'll find out there. No luan to worry about.