The Shuttle Bus Diaries

Wednesday, March 16^th, 2016

It’s official – we’re putting Totoyaya up for sale.  We’ve been dancing around this decision for months – years, even – and now feels like the right time.  We’re sick of having to stay in campsites and parking lots because they have toilets and showers…

The plan is to design our own vehicle.  We’ll buy a truck or bus, empty, and convert it ourselves into a new home-on-wheels.  It’s going to be awesome!

Wednesday, December 14^th, 2016

We’re leaving Phoenix tomorrow.  Been here over two weeks looking for a shuttle bus to convert into an RV.  We’ve spent so many hours in so many libraries doing so much research.  We’ve looked at so many Craigslist ads, sent out so many inquiry messages, looked at so many busses.  Still, nothing.

Hopefully California will give us more luck than Arizona.  If I had known how hard this would all be, I’d never have put the idea in my head of converting a vehicle ourselves.  Had I known things would be this complicated I may have forced myself to accept a regular RV.

Wednesday, November 23^rd, 2016

Arrived in Tucson yesterday, but didn’t have time to write in my journal because we were on the internet until late doing vehicle research.  This afternoon, after having spent another morning online, we went to the DMV [Department of Motor Vehicle] office across town.  We got information on what it will take in Arizona to register a vehicle as an RV.  Many boxes to tick.

Then we went to Camping World and a few other RV stores.  Looked at some ready-to-go RV models.  Nothing inspiring but I’m trying to be open.

Monday, November 28^th, 2016

It’s our 3^rd wedding anniversary today, but we spent the morning doing something a bit strange, though not unpleasant.  We walked around our Tucson RV Park looking at the park model rental options available.  We figure that when we find a new vehicle, it might be a nice place to stay for a month while we work on it.  Only most of the garages here are too small for a shuttle bus.  Talked to one couple with a taller-than-average garage who can rent their home until the New Year.  Doesn’t leave us much time to find a new vehicle…  Guess we better head to Phoenix quick, as it seems to be where most of the Craigslist vehicles are located.

Tuesday, November 29^th, 2016

Camping is frustrating in the U.S.  Before coming to Phoenix I spent no less than 3 hours researching campsites.  Impossible to find anything affordable or appealing.  Thought I’d found one – the only one – that would work, as it had cheaper “tent camping”.  But we get there and it’s a tuft of grass surrounded by RVs and inaccessible from our vehicle.  So literally for a tent only.  We’re at a Walmart parking lot (which took about 90 minutes to find since the city is huge) tonight but will need to find a better solution tomorrow because we really need a base in order to find our new vehicle.

Wednesday, November 30^th, 2016

Looked at a party bus today that Bruno’s had his eye on since Toronto.  In O.K. shape, a bit short (only 4.7m length inside) and expensive for what it is ($15,000).  It got Bruno and me discussing how to make things fit in a tighter space without giving up a permanent bed.  Then, just now, we got to talking about the value of a used water tank vs. putting a bucket under the evacuation tube and emptying it manually in sinks, sewers, etc.  I’m thinking anybody could guess which of us was for each option…

I’m exasperated by this project.  I just want it to be done already, for us to be traveling in our new homemade, long-enough, and comfortable overland vehicle.  But we’re still literally at the starting line.  And it’s been like 7 months.

Went to IKEA to make sure they had the furniture we want (for when we actually find the vehicle!), then came to this mega-casino to park for the night.  We’re suuuuuuuper far from the toilets and I got frustrated and claustrophobic in our tiny space.  No space to prep dinner, had to cook outside in the cold, had to put that embarrassing bucket under our water evacuation pipe.  Bruno and I keep having to do a dance – one of us on the bed, the other at the table, then switching when the other needs access to something.

I need this freaking new vehicle already!!

Friday, December 2^nd, 2016

OMG I feel soooooooo much better now.  Yesterday we tried this new accommodation strategy and it’s amazing.  We got gym memberships to Planet Fitness, so now we can go there in the evening, work out, shower, and park there or at a nearby Walmart for the night!  It’s brilliant – I don’t have to take wet wipe showers in Totoyaya, we don’t have to worry about toilets, and best of all, I can blow off a bit of steam at the gym, which makes sitting around in the tiny space all evening so much easier to handle. I’m so much less grumpy and negative now!

Nonetheless, today was a wee bit disappointing.  This morning, on our way to look at a minibus, we popped into an older RV store.  Chatted with a man called Lonnie and told him about our project.  Turns out they do RV conversions, renovations, etc.  Could be a great resource in providing man power, materials, and advice.

Lonnie showed us a Ford minibus he had, same length as the ones we’ve seen (a.k.a. 25ft bumper to bumper, 4.7m inside, a bit short).  But this one was in great shape and had less than 20,000 miles on it!  Previously a Tucson government vehicle, funding was cut, work outsourced, and now selling the fleet.  Lonnie told us the vehicle’s a 2007 7.3L Turbo diesel engine – in other words, the exact engine Bruno was looking for!

Bruno and I chatted a bit.  We visited the other minibus on the complete other side of town – it was way too long.  Decided Lonnie’s bus was a steal at $10,000, and decided to buy it then and there.

The disappointment came later when we learned that the engine was actually a 6.0L which has a horrible reputation.  Thing is, if we don’t get this vehicle, it’s back to the drawing board and it could be weeks before we find something.  Lonnie’s company gets super busy in January with all the snowbirds and won’t be able to help us, so it’s now or never if we want his conversion expertise.

We are rather confused, in other words.  Our guts are leaning toward buying this vehicle anyway, but with the engine and the length, the balance isn’t strongly tipped like we’d like it to be.  Wouldn’t it be great if it were the 7.3L?

Saturday, December 3^rd, 2016

This morning we visited some places with box trucks (you never know) then popped over to Lonnie’s.  Turns out that not only is it not a 7.3L, but it also has like 160,000 miles!  I guess Lonnie mixed up this vehicle with one he’d already sold… Back to the drawing board!

Visited a different Ford 7.3L Turbo diesel shuttle bus that’s a bit bigger (great), half the price (great) and seems in decent shape.  Only weird thing is the story – a young guy named Donavan who lives in Hawaii bought it at an auction a few weeks ago to ship to Hawaii and transform into a little guesthouse, only he learns after buying the vehicle that the shipping is too expensive.  So now he’s selling the bus.  And, for some reason, Donavan had the title sent to his P.O. Box in Hawaii so has to have his girlfriend mail it to him.  Something fishy… hmmm…

Tuesday, December 6^th, 2016

Yesterday was a big research day, seeing if this Ford 7.3L with 312,000 miles on it was a good buy.  Went to two recommended Ford Diesel shops and got tips on what mechanical checks we should do and learned what it would eventually cost to replace the engine.  Got worrying advice so felt unsure about the bus.  Went to a Ford dealership to get the Carfax history report printed out, which helped a bit, then tried to gather more intel from the library.

First thing this morning, went back to Donovan and totally lowballed him on the vehicle price based on what we’d found out.  He was OK to let the vehicle go at $3,000 since he admitted to buying it at the auction for only $2,600.  So we took the vehicle to a mechanic we’d made friends with last week to get it checked out.  Lots of little things to repair and one potentially medium-sized problem.  They priced repairs out at about $2,000.

Then we stopped at Lonnie’s to show him the vehicle and our plans.  He took tons of photos and said he’d get back to us with an estimate for the work we’d want him to do, like closing up the wheelchair door, installing a chair, and fitting a grey water tank below the vehicle.

We were feeling productive.  Like we were moving forward.  Then we got bad news from Donovan.  He’s lost the vehicle title!  He’s ordered a new one (from California) but will only get it in the mail in 2-3 weeks!  We’re on a clock, both for our U.S. visas and because we want Lonnie’s help.

Back to the drawing board again.

Wednesday, December 7^th, 2016

Research day at the library.  Lots of text messages sent to potential other vehicles.  Also looking online at designs, materials and aesthetics inside busses converted into RVs.  A trip to Home Depot this morning to begin honing in on materials for flooring, siding, and walls.  All told, we spent 6 hours at the library – this vehicle search is a full-time job!

Saturday, December 10^th, 2016

Last two days were library days again.  Grateful we’ve found a quiet place to work – it sure is better than McDonald’s!  This afternoon we drove west of town as there’s a vehicle we’re going to visit tomorrow morning in Buckeye.  The Phoenix area is easy to navigate, but MAN is it sprawling!

Sunday, December 11^th, 2016

This morning we visited that vehicle we’d been waiting to see since Wednesday.  It wasn’t up to snuff.  We liked its mileage and size but, in fact, even though you could start the vehicle (by spraying fuel right into the injector), it wasn’t driveable!  We would have had to call a tow truck to get it to the mechanic’s just to get the vehicle inspected (and fixed, obviously – the repair alone would have been $1,700!).  Plus, the vehicle didn’t look well-maintained.  Had been towing a 10,000lbs trailer, had sat for a year, had horrible peeling NASCAR stickers all over it, dust everywhere, dead batteries, and the engine in pieces.

I’d have taken this shuttle bus for free but wouldn’t have paid a dime for it!

There’s another one in town with the 7.3L diesel engine and a ready-made camper cell on the back.  Bruno’s been trying to get in touch with the owner for days, but no reply to emails and the phone number is deactivated.  I can tell he really wants this vehicle – probably because it’s ready to go – but it’s not looking good.

Monday, December 12^th, 2016

Today we were back to our Phoenix routine of groceries, library, exercise, rinse and repeat.  Only difference was that Bruno found another interesting vehicle so we went to the Ford dealership for another Carfax report.  It’s our fourth.

Got in touch with the owner of this shuttle bus and learned that he wasn’t far from our current location.  Went to look at it after our workout.  It looks quite perfect.  It’s in great shape aesthetically, which is so pleasant after the last several vehicles.  It’s a Ford 7.3L diesel shuttle bus, but with 2 seats upfront (a huge bonus) and about 50cm extra length than Donavan’s.  Best of all, everything works!

Only downsides are the huge mileage (340,000 miles!) and the price – $15,000!  We offered him $8,000 cash, pending a mechanic’s visit, and he said he would think on it.  I don’t expect he’ll go for that price, since these Krystal Limo busses seem to go for a pretty penny on the market, but maybe we can negotiate.  I mean, those 7.3L engines can do 500,000 miles, but he’s already almost there, so we don’t want to invest toooooo much…

Tuesday, December 13^th, 2016

No news from Elmer, the man with the Krystal limo.  We’re sort of waiting on him, as Phoenix has gone dry on new vehicles to look into.  We’ll spend another day here waiting for news from either him or Donovan, and then we’ll head to California.

Wednesday, December 14^th, 2016

This morning we did some shopping at Lowe’s and found a possible shower and stovetop.  Then went to a nearby mall and checked out sound systems and TV screen possibilities.  Now we just need the vehicle!

Haven’t heard from Elmer with the nice bus.  Sent him a text thanking him for his time and saying we assumed he wasn’t interested in selling to us.  No reply…

We’re leaving Phoenix tomorrow.  Hopefully California will give us more luck than Arizona.  If I had known how hard this would all be, I’d never have put the idea in my head of converting a vehicle ourselves.  Had I known things would be this complicated I may have forced myself to accept a regular RV.

Maybe I will.