The Bus: December edition

KouroshNeshat · **Posted:** Mon Dec 13, 2010 5:43 pm

Havnt heard much about the bus, but i would think we need to make a move before Feb. or so.

I found this on glenwood ave. before reaching S.miami blvd coming from brier creek area. its on the right. have we found someone in charge of scouting out buses?

Its an E-450. looks like the same bus we have, but maybe a little newer. I know we're trying to find something with a smaller overhang, but this is a start. here are some pics. the phone # is 919-818-6922 (gentleman named brad answered on this line, he was at work when i called so it was a bit rushed) or 919-537-8316

It's a 2003 asking $11,900. 7.3L Diesel super Duty
180,000K miles
he offered to let us drive it for 2-3 days to make sure we like it (if that is of interest to us).

Michael Westerfield · **Posted:** Mon Dec 13, 2010 6:01 pm

Holy crap those stripes are awesome. I vote the next stripes have the uber douche ///M stripes.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Good find ... Koroush I will talk with Dustin about it. Price is excessive for the mileage but if it has a perfect service history it would be worth it.

Fyi the E450 has a longer wheelbase than the E350 we have now, and a much more stout front end. So this would be a good candidate.

Donnie Barnes · **Posted:** Mon Dec 13, 2010 6:33 pm

Bet taking the handicapped lift out would free up some weight for the tongue weight of the trailer, too.

And plenty of room for an awning! Oh, wait...

--Donnie

KouroshNeshat · **Posted:** Mon Dec 13, 2010 6:49 pm

Well the guy called me back because our previous call was rushed. He/his father is a dealer. Bus came from Roanoke VA. He also has a 20 pass bus As well. I'm waiting on an email with more pics and hopefully some service history on it. He didn't sound too confident about the history, but he said he'll let me know. When I get an email I'll forward it to someone who knows more about the bus and we can go from there. He also said he can write us a week long permit if we wanted to get it to a mechanic.

Scott Johnson · **Posted:** Mon Dec 13, 2010 8:59 pm

turbo?

BretLuter · **Posted:** Mon Dec 13, 2010 9:01 pm

scottjohnson wrote:

turbo?

All 7.3l Ford diesels (aka- "Powerstroke") have been turbo since 1995.

JohnByers · **Posted:** Mon Dec 13, 2010 9:39 pm

whatever route we go, the long rear overhang def needs to be addressed as the #1 item the new bus doesn't have. The "death" wobble that has no rhyme nor reason just flat out sucks on that thing.

Dustin Fredrickson · **Posted:** Mon Dec 13, 2010 10:13 pm

JohnByers wrote:

whatever route we go, the long rear overhang def needs to be addressed as the #1 item the new bus doesn't have. The "death" wobble that has no rhyme nor reason just flat out sucks on that thing.

Agreed - we've got measurements on the current bus and are looking to significantly increase the ratio of wheelbase/overhang over what we currently have. Hard to tell from the photo's, but this one looks to have a longer overhang than some of the E450's I've seen -- might just be an optical illusion.

Regardless, this one would have to have an immaculate service record to be worth what they are asking for that mileage, IMO. While the engine may indeed be able to easily handle another 100k miles, there's bound to be service required on a good number of other things.

KendtEklund · **Joined:** Tue Mar 27, 2007 7:29 pm **Posts:** 1204

Did some googling - what's is the difference in wheelbase on that bus vs. the current one? What I read is the overhang is not too big a problem if the wheelbase/overhang ratio is not too bad.

Also - did anyone ever consider/try a sway controller?
http://www.reese-hitches.com/product_categories/sway_control

or WD/sway control combined?
http://www.etrailer.com/dept.aspx?furl=pg-Weight_Distribution&gclid=CIf0zbHX6qUCFUbf4AodbHtEmw

Dustin Fredrickson · **Posted:** Mon Dec 13, 2010 10:31 pm

KendtEklund wrote:

Did some googling - what's is the difference in wheelbase on that bus vs. the current one? What I read is the overhang is not too big a problem if the wheelbase/overhang ratio is not too bad.

Also - did anyone ever consider/try a sway controller?
http://www.reese-hitches.com/product_categories/sway_control

or WD/sway control combined?
http://www.etrailer.com/dept.aspx?furl=pg-Weight_Distribution&gclid=CIf0zbHX6qUCFUbf4AodbHtEmw

That was the first thing we bought and tried with the current bus. We always use WD, but the friction sway actually caused MORE problems, or at least certainly didn't make it any better. Our working theory at the time was that the since the unit is always working/moving, the extra friction was actually "holding" the trailer in a corner at all times, and while it may help prevent motion, is also prevents recovery back to "straight". Of course, there are other types of sway control that always try to bring the rig back to center that MAY have done a bit better, but I think our problem needs more than that sort of band-aid.

JohnByers · **Posted:** Mon Dec 13, 2010 10:37 pm

I'm not sure how many people on here have actually driven the bus. I have been towing trailers, driving large vehicles(ie activity buses, dump trucks etc) for a number of years and this setup can down right cause a code brown moment at the blink of an eye on the interstate/highway. Whoever was driving when the blowout occured must have had to change shorts i'm positive.

I agree with Dustin that anything done to the current setup is a bandaid at best. There are I'm sure some suitable replacements out there, just have to be patient and willing to look around for the best vehicle/deal out there.

KendtEklund · **Joined:** Tue Mar 27, 2007 7:29 pm **Posts:** 1204

Dustin Fredrickson wrote:

KendtEklund wrote:

Did some googling - what's is the difference in wheelbase on that bus vs. the current one? What I read is the overhang is not too big a problem if the wheelbase/overhang ratio is not too bad.

Also - did anyone ever consider/try a sway controller?
http://www.reese-hitches.com/product_categories/sway_control

or WD/sway control combined?
http://www.etrailer.com/dept.aspx?furl=pg-Weight_Distribution&gclid=CIf0zbHX6qUCFUbf4AodbHtEmw

That was the first thing we bought and tried with the current bus. We always use WD, but the friction sway actually caused MORE problems, or at least certainly didn't make it any better. Our working theory at the time was that the since the unit is always working/moving, the extra friction was actually "holding" the trailer in a corner at all times, and while it may help prevent motion, is also prevents recovery back to "straight". Of course, there are other types of sway control that always try to bring the rig back to center that MAY have done a bit better, but I think our problem needs more than that sort of band-aid.

Cool - I figured as much. Maybe with a better wheelbase/overhang a sway control wouldn't be overwhelmed.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Mon Dec 13, 2010 11:23 pm

the current bus? it wanders like a Bedouin goat herder. the trailer was the least of my concerns if memory serves me. no power and sloppy ass steering response.

what about a Class C MotorHome, awning & generator are integrated already. might have to cut in a window or two but overall much more occupant friendly i would think.

RichardNuss · **Posted:** Tue Dec 14, 2010 8:09 am

Has anyone towed the trailer with something other than the bus? I wonder if light tongue weight (or a lot of polar rear weight) on the trailer is a contributor. Someone mentioned not being able to put a lot of tongue weight on the bus.

Sorry if I'm jumping into a discussion that's already been hashed out. If it has, no need to re-hash for me.

I've found that more overhang just makes the vehicle more susceptible to tongue weight issues, and by adding enough tongue weight, you can make it OK (assuming the tow vehicle can handle the tongue weight - which is a problem because the greater the overhang, the more the tongue weight is amplified).

Example - I have been using an 18-inch hitch extension to tow my pontoon boat with my Suburban because the tongue of that trailer is too short. I knew when I bought the boat that it had zero tongue weight - you have to push it down onto the ball to hitch it. The boat has the weight of the big outboard, fuel tank, and 2 batteries at the very rear. Without the hitch extension, I have had it up to 50mph with no issues, but you can't make sharp turns because the pontoons will hit the truck. With the hitch extension, I can't go over 35mph before it starts swaying. But then if I put the tackle box, small tool box, and all our stuff at the front of the boat to add tongue weight, I've had it up to 45 with no issues (and haven't tested more because I only live 5 miles from the lake).

I guess what I'm saying is - it shouldn't be overhang alone causing this. If an E450 is a bigger chassis than the current bus, so can handle more tongue weight with the overhang, it should be better, right?

Do we know the total weight of the trailer vs. the tongue weight?

I agree that the bus is sketchy as-is. I followed Marek to Chris's house after it blew out the rear tire (so was missing 1 rear tire on one side), and saw the sway in action - maybe worse because it was missing 1 of the rear tires.

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The Bus: December edition

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