Is this a good base??

[smurf212]

Hey all,
I'm new to the forum so excuse me if i tread on some toes.
Basically a few buddies and me have been planning and looking to buy a bus for a while now, with the eventual idea to convert it to a motorhome.
With a few trades between us we have some skills but not the expertise about what bus to start with.
I saw this for sale nearby and wondered what you guys thought about it as a base?
Thanks for the help in advance

gc5657169546679164226.jpg (16.36 KiB) Viewed 4328 times

[ax8]

How about some more info about the bus, engine, gearbox, current condition etc.
There are lots of good buses out there but also so some real lemons.

[Fleet Lists]

It appears to be from this fleet http://fleetlists.busaustralia.com/qld.php?search=BUF - rego would help to identify the details from that list.

[smurf212]

Yeah sorry about that i clicked on post way too early.
So some more details:
1990 Isuzu Metroliner
Straight 6 turbo diesel with 410k on the clock
6 speed manual, air brakes and a hydraulic clutch
Apparently it has been serviced every 10,000 kms and had a full frame inspection 5 years ago (not sure how relevant this is)
The seller says that it is mechanically sound and runs well

[Bedford-29]

Its one of three 1990 Isuzu LT1-11P that Bus Fox have for sale with Austral bodies on there website for $10,000 and Bus Fox (54) 201-KMD is one of them.It be a good start.

[smurf212]

Thanks bedford,
One other thing though. If you look at the attached picture it has a walkway that is lower than the seats. Will this create problems/alot more work than if the floor were flat?
thanks again

[Bedford-29]

I think with those walkway they are hollow and lot of people ripped them out to get a flat floor or cut into them to fit cupboards and so forth.

[ax8]

For $10,000 I think they're a good buy if they have been maintained well, Isuzu engines are easy to work on, parts easy to get and good on fuel.
Floor needs extra work but don't let that put you off as a motorhome conversion is a huge job anyway.

[kelvin12]

I think you will find the raised section along the isle sides are the top of the chassis rails. They were on my Austral and to make the flat floor I boxed the isle in. You will loose a bit of head height doing so so then you might decide to do a roof raise. There are quite a few web sites on building a bus conversion that covers a huge amount work. Here are a couple to get you going in the right direction.

Dirk

http://www.motorhomeconversion.com.au/

http://hobohome.com/index.php

http://www.buses101.com/Index.htm

http://www.mammothmotorhome.com/

[CCCC]

1990 model would be the full air brake model early ones just had the horrendous handbrake , although the full air brake
was never perfect to start off on steep hills , a lot of riding the clutch because you never knew when it would release.
Then you have the wonderful experience of revving the guts out of it in first on anything steep and then trying to get it into
secound before it started rolling back on you.

Other than that they were a very reliable motor.
A fully kitted out isuzu motorhome would be a bit slow on hills.