The "Short Bus"

[Zuklin]

Looking for some input on this...

Thinking about buying/converting a Ford 1992 1Ton 7.3L Litre diesel SHORT BUS into a sleeper and towing a trailer with the zook on the back.

Is this even a good idea at all?

Will i need to have a Yellow Sticker on this badboy?

Will something like this tow a tailer with a zook on it?

Ur thoughts are appreciated?


I just dont want to ride the SHORT BUS... I want to drive one :brows:

[kneedeep]

It will tow it no prob. you will have to cert it every year unless you contact the MTO and do the paper work for the conversion..(once paper work is done you will be able to use car plates on it and only the first cert when put on road.)have it looked at before you buy it buy the dealer or a mechanic that knows those ford trucks well as they had rear end issues and bushing trouble with the IFS. As it is currently registered as a bus I don't think you r allowed to tow anything period but could be wrong on that.. If you call MTO head office they will tell you the ins and outs over the phone have done it many times.# is in the blue pages.

[Buggy]

do you already own the van?it will tow a zuk no problem you wont even know its there as for the 7.3 there not a power horse where there the non direct injected diesal but there tough.

[Zuklin]

do you already own the van?it will tow a zuk no problem you wont even know its there as for the 7.3 there not a power horse where there the non direct injected diesal but there tough.

Havent bought it yet... just want to make sure im not going to run into any major complications before i commit to it. It's not pretty but im thinking functionally it fits the bill. As long as it will tow (if MTO will let me that is) i dont care how long it takes to get to highway speeds... as long as it eventually will. I'll take tough.

[Mudball]

I have been seriously looking into the same idea.

Although, it's starting to look like myself, and a couple local Ottawa Zook guys are just going to get one of these to haul our three zooks around.

http://www.vancotrailers.com/Tractor%20trailer.JPG

[Buggy]

3? that should only take up 36 feet give or take a few have lots of room for toosl and spare parts.think you can find a winch big enough for that truck?

[Buggy]

Havent bought it yet... just want to make sure im not going to run into any major complications before i commit to it. It's not pretty but im thinking functionally it fits the bill. As long as it will tow (if MTO will let me that is) i dont care how long it takes to get to highway speeds... as long as it eventually will. I'll take tough.
them older 7.3 seem to be tougher then the new ones there known for oil pans runsting out make sure u have lots of time and beer i tell ya.brakes in the real if ya got them working good your lucky. and the parts for the 7.3 are not cheep but i still swear buy them

[szabotage]

I just picked up my newest tow vehicle last tuesday. nothing like the transport, not even a short bus, I got me a GMC safari :D

[Canadian_zuk]

I... I got me a GMC safari :D


AWD??? Weld the front and meet me at the Quinn!:D

[szabotage]

:rofl: I'm there!

[fullspectrum]

Looks like a good tow vehicle with lots of room for spare parts and a place to sleep. Wish I had the room to park an extra vehicle...how is it on fuel ya figure?

[Zuklin]

Looks like a good tow vehicle with lots of room for spare parts and a place to sleep. Wish I had the room to park an extra vehicle...how is it on fuel ya figure?

Yeah theres quite a bit of room inside (its pretty well gutted already)... Im hopin its not too bad on fuel but who knows??? Im hoping the fact that its diesel will help. Only question is... should i paint it yellow again :rofl: naaa i dont think so.

[Buggy]

is it turbo? keep good air/fuel/oil that will help with mileage you will be looking at 50 to 75 bucks just for a full service and depends on the gear ratio i find in the ford diesels that when they get over 411 gears they suck on mileage and that bus isnt no nascar aerodynamics lol it shouldnt be to bad for what it is

[Buggy]

I just picked up my newest tow vehicle last tuesday. nothing like the transport, not even a short bus, I got me a GMC safari :D
take the 4.3 out and drop in a 350 put the 4.3 in your suk could be interesting lol

[szabotage]

i actually have a 302 w/aod tranny sittin in the garage. I like this swap better!

[Depot]

This thread is gonna get moved to general dribble if ya'll dont get back on topic.

D

[Buggy]

hmm bus a standard or automatic?air?

[Zuklin]

It's an automatic and i am not sure if its turbo diesel or if it has aircon. I will probably mount a RV roof-top type aircon for when its parked/camped. I havent even heard it run yet... probably be after the long weekend before i hear it run.

My biggest question is... will i need to go threw all the BS of the dreaded 'yellow sticker' with this thing.

[Depot]

I dunno how the bus conversion works with MTO.. dunno if u'd have black or blue plates.. ur gonna have to find out urself.

as far as yellow goes, if ur GVWR, actual or registered weights are not over 4500 KG, then u wont need a yellow. Towing a single zuk on a small trailer, u will qualify for the small trailer exemption where only the tongue weight of ur trailer gets added to ur vehicle weight.

but u'll need to talk to MTO bout it first.. those lisencing places dont know shit.

gl

D

[Buggy]

if no air u might have a spot to mount a air conpessor or hydraulic pump for tools

[Zuklin]

I dunno how the bus conversion works with MTO.. dunno if u'd have black or blue plates.. ur gonna have to find out urself.

as far as yellow goes, if ur GVWR, actual or registered weights are not over 4500 KG, then u wont need a yellow. Towing a single zuk on a small trailer, u will qualify for the small trailer exemption where only the tongue weight of ur trailer gets added to ur vehicle weight.

but u'll need to talk to MTO bout it first.. those lisencing places dont know shit.

gl

D


Thanks D... i am gonna give them a call probably Tue or Wed and i will post what i find out.




if no air u might have a spot to mount a air conpessor or hydraulic pump for tools


Hmmmm... now thats a GREAT idea!!! Generator and welder were on my mind already.

[Zuklin]

Well i actually got to talk to the guy selling the SHORT BUS and i got to hear it run. Looks like it is not registered as a 'bus' anymore and the guy was telling me that i will not have to throw a yellow sticker on it. They used to travel around Canada with it and they were towing a tandem trailer with it also. Interesting info but i will still phone MTO and post the info i obtain.

It has 260k on the dial, no aircon, no turbo but it has overdrive (which may be a good or bad thing). The only known issue with this thing right now is a sensor (TPS) that might be fukd. Appearently about a 100 bucks or so. This sensor tells the trans when to shift and right now it is shifting irradically... I am a little worried that the tranny might be the real cause but this guy works for Laidlaw and knows alot about these vehicles. Any known issues with the transmissions on these things?... 1992 Ford 7.3L

This looks like its might be a really cheap way to get myself to the trail and have lots of storage room too. More to come...

[kneedeep]

I know when I worked in the tranny shop in owen sound the store manager would tell the costomer to take it to ford and get a new one not to rebuild them they were $$$$$...but would do any other ford tranny..? If the owner nows them well enough then ask how much fixed..cause if he knows them he will be the cheapest to fix it.

[Superzuk]

isn't a TPS a throttle position sensor???

I doubt a throttle position sensor would make it shift erradically. It will make it idle erradically... at least it did on my toyota... Ask him if you can have your mechanic check it out and take it to mr transmission.... or to ford and have them look at it...

I have a buddy with a Ford Van with Diesel in it... it was shifting erradically just two weeks ago... cost him 1400 bucks to fix...
It was a 1998 though....

[Zuklin]

Yeah appearently the trans on these things are huge bucks (can walk out with a 5k bill no prob) so i am trying to figure out how reliable these OD trans are. Also appearently the TPS (if i can call it that) sends a signal to the trans to let it know where to shift depending on your throttle position.

Seb... what was wrong with ur buddies van? Just for interest sake.

[Buggy]

you have to watch them shift solenoids in them fords they will make them shift funny and you can get them for around 100 bucks and change them yourself the over drive on a ford sucks when not used rite never tow plow or haul unless the overdrive is off. change your filter once a year or two they will last longer.there an ok trans wont compare to a c6 i know the 96 and newer (obd2)diesals can do a computer test on the trany not sure on the obd1

[fabman_52]

Hi All!
Forget the short bus, buy the next size up, chop and enclose the rear, add a set of ramps and WALLA, Car Hauler w/sleeper and storage. No trailer issues. Us Yankees here in some states don't have alot of problems with the DOT. Good Luck, George.

[fabman_52]

Hi All!
Forget the short bus, buy the next size up, chop and enclose the rear, add a set of ramps and WALLA, Car Hauler w/sleeper and storage. No trailer issues. Us Yankees here in some states don't have alot of problems with the DOT. Good Luck, George.
If ya can e-mail me then I can send ya some pix.

[Fullload]

I know someone on this board that has one of those you mentioned for sale here in Canada.