How to Survive Bringing Your Skoolie Home (on 5 cylinders, in winter, 1300 miles, over the rockies)
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- Опубліковано 4 жов 2024
- I couldn't resist buying this unicorn, a 30' Bluebird TC 2000 with the Cummins 12v 5.9, and only 104k miles.
Oh and it has a top speed approaching 90mph
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18:54 the giggle is the sound of a sleep deprived man driving 1300 miles and coasting across intersections without power steering to perfectly land in a parking spot. Gave me leprechaun vibes😂☘️
It wasn't just a coincidence that you were able to just park into a spot after the engine shutting off... You, like everyone else, has spirit guides, angels, and ancestors who live vicariously through us. They help us when we need it, whether or not we are aware of it. You are truly blessed and I'm so happy nothing really bad happened!
Nah, "they" wish they could. That is the glorious work of our God YHWH:D
34:51 omg you made it. that was a rough last couple of hours. i had to turn my air conditioning off on March 6th in sunny springtime south carolina because just looking at you made me too cold.
Hahahahahah I’m ded
Boy is this bringing back 'fond' memories..... Bought a '78 Crown in Iowa about 8yrs. ago off Craigslist sight unseen. Flew out on a Friday night. Picked the bus up Saturday at 1am to drive back to Denver. Winter time as well. About 30min into the drive, realized that the previous owner had bypassed ALL of the heating and defrost. Wife and I practically froze to death on the way home! Drove through a good snow storm in Nebraska with NO defrost. Had to pull over to clear the windshield enough to see every few miles. Overheated and found out that ALL of the coolant had leaked out because the coolant filter had frozen and cracked at some point (think they had put plain water in, and not any antifreeze) Similar to your luck, we were only 1 mile from 2 large diesel shops, and one had the filter in stock. My wife was ready to KILL me by the time we made it home to Denver. It is a 'fun' story to tell now though. Good times!!! SKOOLIE ON!!
Now that is how you start Skoolie life hahaha
My first bus I purchased thru an online auction, relying only on pictures and the description. I live in Michigan; the bus was in Fontana, California. I roadtripped out the first time, expecting to have a hitch installed on the bus and towing the car back on a dolly. Well, the local Uhaul did not have one of the parts necessary for the install and I couldn't find another hitch shop in the area. So, I roadtripped back home and flew back out a couple of weeks later. Picked up the bus, dropped down to Phoenix, AZ, to pick up my sister, who rode back to Michigan with me. The bus ran perfectly without a single hiccup. What a great trip! I would do it again in a heartbeat!
Love that story! Minus the extra trip of course
24:08 TEAM Yellow for the vibes!!!
Thanks for sharing this adventure with us, Chuck.
glad you could check it out!
I had three brothers, all of whom had the automotive mechanic gene. I definitely did not. But I definitely enjoyed driving mountain passes, in good weather and in bad. Beautiful video, Chuck. Thank you.
Thanks for sharing!
You're welcome.
Yes!! Finally, someone else with the same-ish bus 🚌
You've made me feel so much better about my purchase!!
But I need to do that to the rear-end on my rig.
As a tow truck driver I like the MOVE OVER public service statement.
Harbor Freight ... deliver me from evil . My sentiment exactly. That would have been torture for me, I hate ice and snow.
hahahah yes
@ 18.33 you had guardian angels with you Charlie. :)
You posted this almost EXACTLY (oxymoron, I know) 24 hours after the end of my trip getting my newly purchased 40' 2006 front engine flat nose with a DT466e from Bemidji MN to Omaha NE after a massive snow storm. Fortunately, the roads were nice and clear for most of it. The phone mount and ear pro are a must. I'd also add a magnetic tool tray from harbor freight to the list to hang over the driver window.
thats a great idea! what a winter for bus trips eh?
That's one hell of an awesome looking bus! It's going to look seriously funky with a roof raise! Nice job getting that to your place!
That's the plan!
Lys is a unicorn... If you can find that in a bus, I'm sure you can see that in her!
Beautiful bus. Like it's under 30 ft. Doesn't that get you into every national park? And the way that drives it's perfect for somebody. Would be a perfect build done by the perfect builder if you would do it. Then it will be THE perfect bus.
34:50 phew! Roof raise, rv windows, french doors to a slide out deck to replace the emergency exit, new 80 gallon fuel tank, sell it. Or heck just sell it now as is $15K.
You’re clearly an ideas guy 🫠
Hard to go wrong with a 12v P-pump Cummins, especially one that's maintained with that diff is a huge bonus. Thanks for sharing your trip dude! 👍😎✌️
That was a fun video. And that bus is amazing. I love the old 12 valve Cummins engines. They are treasures.
exactly, i had to pounce on it!
Dummy me I was thinking at 5 cylinders you'd be 3 cylinders down, and I have a 6 cylinder diesel. In any event I don't think that is a trip I'd want to make but I'm glad it turned out OK. Keep the good stuff coming.
That 6th cylinder is just a spare anyway. Pretty cool that you were able to make it all that way on 5 with no problem.
Are you going to build it out, partially build it out or just flip it?
gonna sell it, but will probably do some updates, etc first
You should do a skoolie conversion on it. I hear there's a guy in CO that specializes in them.
Good to see you made it back safely.
Not a bad idea hahaha
6 days late but I'm watching. That list of tools is almost identical to what I've learned to always have on the road with me after 2 years full time, wish I had that list before I had started! Keep up the vids, us newbies are slowly learning from you!
Thats the best seat on a Southwest plane! Someone paid for A-list!
We love our airport carpet.
mmmmm so yummy
@@ChuckCassadyYT Ha! Weirdo 🤣
That looked like a lot of fun and adventure, Chuck! Thanks for taking us along.
It was!
18:36 wow with no power steering too?! the bus gods are blessing you with challenges and grace at the same time young chuck. you must have served them well with worthy sacrifices over the years.
8:08 haha NICE
I need you to comment like this on every video please
That was badass all the way bro, thanks for that adventure, Hugs from Arkansas
Glad you enjoyed it! Epic trip
@@ChuckCassadyYT always dude especially from you !
Next time you're in Boise look me up. I would have loved to help. There is a place in Boise called Oakley Moody that will manufacture a fuel line for you on the spot.
Better than bailing wire is stainless high tensile wire in 0.040 or maybe 0.050" as used by aircraft mechanics. Add in a Clamptite tool and you can make significantly strong hose clamps of ANY size. Seriously, the blue water sailors love that clamptite tool. Check it out on videos.
im gonna have to check that out!
That's rad!
Also, freakin me out speeding up the video of the two lane snowing in the dark downhill from Loveland.
I have a 35' Bluebird TC 2000 with 12v and love it.
Great video. That snowy drive made this southern girl anxious just watching. 😟😟
Wow!
So glad I didn’t have any mechanical issues on my maiden voyage….
Flew from Reno to NY to buy my 1991 skoolie sight unseen, and drove it back 3,400 miles solo last October! First time ever driving a bus🙋🏻♀️.
I love the thrill of coming up with solutions on the fly and the unpredictable nature of a long road trip.
Your videos gave me comfort when I needed no BS answers.
You rock!
Thanks for sharing all of your knowledge🤘🏼
thats an awesome story! it is so fun to be living by your wits
that was a fun adventure! I love this bus!! i am super jealous! Totally a dream bus!
Nothing really against Colorado, but after feeling my empathic driver's angst increase just from watching this, it sure makes me that much more happy to be living along the Texas Gulf Coast.
Thanks for the inclusion, and the adventure!
hahaha its not so bad out here
Amazing trip…. I love the confidence in your skills and this amazing bus!
Thank you!
My god... this is the bus I have been looking for 😅😅😅 glad to know its real after all!
They're out here :) this one will be for sale some day soon
31:25 brb this scene right here literally just made me shit my pants as a soft southern boy with no mountains or snow. i'd rather watch a horror movie than the next 30 seconds of this video. okay fine i'll do it. i'm in.
🤣🤣
Same. Sitting here in South Carolina crapping myself watching this
My hopes are for a mobile workshop. I bet you could make good use of your own workshop on wheels!
I love a good adventure. My sight-unseen-purchase bus ride from Thornton to Cheyenne was enough for me, though. Thanks for bringing us along.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I purchased similar bus 96 bluebird tc 2000 from the school here in knappa oregon mechanical 5.9.at 545 mine is 35 feet holds 90 gallons of reel 135,000 miles no road salt ever.I picked it up 5 miles from home.I got the seats and plywood out.
sounds like a good bus!
As current truck drivers, my wife and I avoid I80 through Wyoming at all costs! Total wind tunnel with such unpredictable weather, especially this time of year.
Well said! It’s bad news
Another great video, thanks for taking us along. 🙂🙂
thanks for riding with me!
Great Adventure Thanks for Sharing So Happy For U
I had a crazy story like this getting my bus too lol
I so enjoyed your trip video. Brought back memories ( not all good) of driving back trucks from auctions
Ain’t life fun. If ya can’t think on the “fly” stay home.
5 stars.
What a fun trip. Thanks for taking us along!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Glad you made it. Nice bus
Chuck - quite an adventure - more than I would have done. Have driven in the winter and it is basic survival but not what you did. I think the "croissant wrench" brought you good luck :>) Worth another margarita. Better - a cup of hot chocolate. Keep truckin - ken
Thanks ken! I’ll do my best
Glad you made it home safe. Love Colorado (Denver)
thanks for watching!
Waaoooooo what a journey…. I knew only a bit when I pick up our bus….similar one, for an almost 2000 miles trip home. Glad to see your videos/adventures
THAT is a long trip!
Hey I just did that!! 900 miles away.
So. Much. Knowledge. Thanks again, Charlie.
My pleasure!
Sweet bus. Not sure about importing it into BC - though that would be pretty awesome. Cool video, good adventure.
Oh yeah, what was in that black bag hanging on the wall? Emergency equipment? Very small washroom? Your tuxedo?
It’s a cover for the wheelchair lift!
Loved the video buddy!
Glad you're enjoying your new ride, one thing I don't know if you're going to invest in a new microphone, whenever you driving or near the engine I can hardly hear you.
I need a new bus lol
What a legend! Great video! 21:42 I just hear the 'bud light presents: real men of geeeniussss..'
Love the tool set. I'll throw out some other ideas for addons:
better than wire nuts: lever nuts! So good! And cheap, just as easy to bring along.
small dremel kit. You get a mini grinding wheel to bring with you. Its great! (get the HF one!)
Extension cord. Small 400w inverter. heated socks. :-) etc.
Can't wait to meet you out on the road one day!
Lever nuts rule. Almost mentioned my wool socks but skipped the wardrobe section haha
Gnarly trip and sounds oddly familiar! We just picked up a ‘95 identical bus 12v 6bt, flat nose 30ft, I wish it had the rear gears, with a similar adventure! 400mi round trip upper Michigan 24mph average in an ice storm heading up, on the way home broke down with electrical gremlins, got it going after about an hr. 14hrs later made it home died within 2 minutes of idling! fuel system from lift pump back was, well 27yrs old haha and just finishing up replacing everything back to the tank! First time driving a bus and it was an adventure for sure! Still wouldn’t have changed it for anything, and we’re stoked to get going on the build out!
aweseom story. yeah its a great idea to inspect the line from the tank to the lift pump. I also suggest just replacing the lift pump, too, if its still original. you got a great bus
@@ChuckCassadyYT it was the 27yr old original, im replacing all components from the lift pump back as we speak and actually posted a video on my UA-cam shorts for others with cummins engines of what a bad and good lift pump sound like!
@@gemelowoodworks dude that is great for people to know. theres not much that goes wrong on these but that is one of them. did you stick with a cummins part?
@@ChuckCassadyYT unfortunately no, I just ordered one from the parts store that could get it the quickest! The only reason though is I have 15yrs of automotive experience before I started custom woodworking as my full time job, so I know the pain air can cause on diesels when you run out of fuel or system isn’t air tight for whatever multiple possibilities. I just needed a lift pump for now to get it up and running again as quickly as possible to continue with engine maintenance and double checking the rest of the fuel system then later install an electric pump to eliminate the “air hassles” with an air dog or similar! This may not be typical but with an older bus I wanted to do all the mechanical maintenance necessary before we even start building/dismantling anything for the conversion.
@@gemelowoodworks that is always a good plan on any bus! ive seen those airdog pumps, im just skeptical of adding complexity unless you're gonna turn up the engine but some people swear by them. I love keeping it all mechanical and all gloriously stock....maybe sliding the fuel plate just a little ;)
The GOAT 🐐
trained my whole life for this
Loveland Pass is beautiful! I went through there a few years ago with a semi because I had an oversized load that wouldn't fit through the tunnel. I don't know if l would want to do it again in winter weather. I was really big n heavy though. The tractor trailer,... lol not me.
Very cool! That would be a little less fun in the winter
I'd go Loveland pass. My aunt and uncle live in Loveland. I'd park and warm up in their hot tub. 🤣🤣
The open road must be calling to me, otherwise why would I watch a 35 minute video of a school bus journey 😂
Notes: if I follow through with this skoolie dream of mine, do so in the summer cause I’m from Texas and snow gives me crazy anxiety
fun video!
Whatever happened to Jax Austin? We used to watch his videos all the time! Also....what are your plans with this unicorn bus?
Cool 😎
For me personally hands down most important vid you have made Chuck. Thank you. Sir.
I have the same engine with the after cooler that there is not much info on but my question is can you put an engine brake on this engine with the 545 ?. I have read yes by many and NO by a few because with the engine brake and the non locking converter the tranny dicks keep turning thus burn out tranny. What in your vast wisdom do you know about this ?.
My 35 foot tc 2000 has a 90 gallon fuel tank
Chuck! Entertaining as usual. We’ve come to expect that from you, you know. 😅 my first question is: would you have had more issues if this had been the electronic 12v version 5.9? Also, I once owned a ‘99 Ford F250 with the 7.3 power stroke 2wd and the 3.73 rears. The sweet spot for it was 70 mph/2000 rpm and 19 mpg. Any relation to these diesels having similar “sweet spots”. Navistar vs. Cummins? 5.9 mechanical vs. 7.3 electrical? Etc? Thanks for your videos!
2k seems to be a good place for most medium duty diesel engines. Your story makes total sense. My issues may or may not have been worse on a computerized engine. I don’t think it would have liked running on 5 cylinders haha
@@ChuckCassadyYT cool. I can say this, I lost an injector once with the 7.3 PS due to a bad wiring harness and the girl didn’t like only running on 7 cylinders 😆
@Chuck Cassady What is the deference between the 5.9 and the 8.3? I have an 8.3l pusher, that engine looks very close to my 8.3l with the major difference is my 8.3l is a 24v. But the injection pump looks to be very close. Are the 2 engines dimensionally the same?
How is it that school buses slow down time? Going ywhere in a large vehicle takes 10 to 20% longer.
Update on Jax ?? Havent seen him on here for awhile
Hey Chuck, I'm installing my second diesel heater in our bus. This time, I want to do it right and tap into the fuel tank. I have opened the main fuel hatch in the floor to take a look. I'm pretty sure I will need to drill a hole through the top of the fuel tank to drop the straw into the fuel tank. I'm worried about getting metal shavings and such in the tank and I'm not sure how to properly fasten it to the top since I can't tighten the nut on the inside of the tank. What is your process for this?
After I drill the hole in the tank, I tap it to match the threads in the pickup tube and thread it in.
Does Columbus, OH in the dead of winter to DFW count?
Wait.......am I hearing this right? You have a 30ft Blue Bird TC2000, with a 5.9 12v and an AT545 that hits 90mph!!?? How? What's the rear gear ratio? I can barely get mine to do 60.
Correct, the rear end is 3.54, it was 4.78
@@ChuckCassadyYT WOW!!!!! A clear difference. I'll certainly look up the parts and labor costs associated with it. Does it take away from fuel economy? Also, with not pushing the engine that hard, does it also take pressure off of the transmission too?
Hey I have a question I want to build a skoolie I want to buy a one of those long bus to buy and turn it to a to store and my mind is so not used to it so I need avice
What year is it? Looks newer than my 1997 Bluebird.
1991
My biggest dread is going over mountain passes. Was there a chain up requirement going over it. I’m sure on I70
there wasn't at the time, it had just been lifted
@@ChuckCassadyYT yes I saw that was near the beginning of the cast when I restarted the cast.
How many mpg and how long is the bus?
Do you still have this bus?
Is it for sale?
Sold it!
I have the 5.9! But its 1997 Thomas Built
that is a good year for this motor! well done
@@ChuckCassadyYT I wish I knew why it only will go 60 mph!
@@HowToSurviveLife.His previous video may go over that a little bit. It is probably a locked 6th gear or a governor, but it could also be a rear end gearing thing.
@@HowToSurviveLife. Your engine is probably set at 190 horse power with a AT545 transmission and 4.78 rear axle gear ratio. I own a '96 Thomas that's 35' long with this common set up. turn your engine horse power up but do not go over 230 horsepower as the AT545 transmission can only take a maximum of 235 horsepower. in regards to rear gear ratio you can choose anything from 4.44, 4.10, 3.91, 3.73, and 3.54 to make your bus drive faster but if you go to low of a ratio you loose the torque to take off causing a slower start till you get up to speed.
@@rigger4695 I got a lot to learn that is for sure
Are you going to sell it
yes!
What to do with bus? Do what you best at doing. Make a reliable Skoolie and sell it. What else is there?
Curious what the engine horse power, transmission, And the rear axle gear ratio are?
I say it all in the video but it’s 190hp, Allison AT545 and 3.54