Removing the old floor in our new Skoolie conversion project
Another progress update! Pulling up the bus floor. I think I've found the easiest way to do the type of floor I have. Of course, that doesn't make it easy. I talk about the reality of dealing with heat and why insulation is so critical in a full time conversion too....
International/Navistar T444E Service Manual
The T444E is one of the most popular engines found in school buses between 1994 and 2004. This engine was used as the base platform for Ford's 7.3 Powerstroke as well, sharing almost all mechanical components. The T444E replaced the 7.3 IDI that was produced between...
Cummins B Series Operation and Maintenance Manual
The 12 valve, mechanical Cummins 5.9 engine is very popular in school buses between the late 1980s and the late 1990s. Originally introduced in 1984 for agricultural uses, it earned a solid reputation for reliability and longevity. This engine was also very popular in...
Allison AT545 Transmission Service Manual
The AT545 is the most popular transmission in school buses in the 1980s and 1990s and is generally a very reliable unit if you accept its limitations. Nearly every bus equipped with the Cummins 5.9 or Navistar T444E in a front engine configuration will be using the...
Adjusting The Air Brakes On Your School Bus
The majority of Skoolie owners don't have any experience with big truck technology. One of those strange things is air brakes. While some buses have hydraulic brakes just like you would find in any normal car or truck, most are air powered. This comes with a different...
The Harbor Freight 103 Piece Grommet Kit
Our last video got so many great comments on Youtube! A bunch of folks said I was too mean to Harbor Freight when I said a lot of their tools are one job use tools. A different bunch of folks said I was way too kind and that I should have spent more money on some...
Things To Look For When Buying A Bus
"What should I be looking at when inspecting a bus?" This is a common question I hear. Someone found a bus online and wants to go check it out, but isn't sure how to judge the condition and value. To be fair much of the answer is going to depend on the type of bus and...
1996 TC2000 Wiring Diagram
This is very helpful for the mid-90s era with mechanical 5.9 Cummins engines. It's a simple diagram because it's a simple wiring plan! TC2000WiringDiagram
Gadget review: The Simpiz 5000mAh portable USB power bank
This was a fun little device I picked up as an impulse buy after hearing about it on Reddit. It's a portable charger for USB devices, but was discussed in the context of Raspberry Pi computers. I have Amazon Prime so I couldn't pass it up for $5! I thought I'd see how...
How much should I pay for a bus, and where should I buy it?
There's a huge range of prices for bus conversions, and it's not always obvious when you're looking at a good deal. There are a few reasons for this and I'm going to cover them in this article: Buying a Bus at Auction Buying from a Private Seller Buying from a Used...