24:08 TEAM Yellow for the vibes!!!

Thanks for sharing this adventure with us, Chuck.

I had three brothers, all of whom had the automotive mechanic gene. I definitely did not. But I definitely enjoyed driving mountain passes, in good weather and in bad. Beautiful video, Chuck. Thank you.

As a tow truck driver I like the MOVE OVER public service statement.

Hard to go wrong with a 12v P-pump Cummins, especially one that's maintained with that diff is a huge bonus. Thanks for sharing your trip dude! 👍😎✌️

@ 18.33 you had guardian angels with you Charlie. :)

You posted this almost EXACTLY (oxymoron, I know) 24 hours after the end of my trip getting my newly purchased 40' 2006 front engine flat nose with a DT466e from Bemidji MN to Omaha NE after a massive snow storm. Fortunately, the roads were nice and clear for most of it. The phone mount and ear pro are a must. I'd also add a magnetic tool tray from harbor freight to the list to hang over the driver window.

6 days late but I'm watching. That list of tools is almost identical to what I've learned to always have on the road with me after 2 years full time, wish I had that list before I had started! Keep up the vids, us newbies are slowly learning from you!

Lys is a unicorn... If you can find that in a bus, I'm sure you can see that in her! Beautiful bus. Like it's under 30 ft. Doesn't that get you into every national park? And the way that drives it's perfect for somebody. Would be a perfect build done by the perfect builder if you would do it. Then it will be THE perfect bus.

You should do a skoolie conversion on it. I hear there's a guy in CO that specializes in them. Good to see you made it back safely.

Boy is this bringing back 'fond' memories..... Bought a '78 Crown in Iowa about 8yrs. ago off Craigslist sight unseen. Flew out on a Friday night. Picked the bus up Saturday at 1am to drive back to Denver. Winter time as well. About 30min into the drive, realized that the previous owner had bypassed ALL of the heating and defrost. Wife and I practically froze to death on the way home! Drove through a good snow storm in Nebraska with NO defrost. Had to pull over to clear the windshield enough to see every few miles. Overheated and found out that ALL of the coolant had leaked out because the coolant filter had frozen and cracked at some point (think they had put plain water in, and not any antifreeze) Similar to your luck, we were only 1 mile from 2 large diesel shops, and one had the filter in stock. My wife was ready to KILL me by the time we made it home to Denver. It is a 'fun' story to tell now though. Good times!!! SKOOLIE ON!!

That's one hell of an awesome looking bus! It's going to look seriously funky with a roof raise! Nice job getting that to your place!

Dummy me I was thinking at 5 cylinders you'd be 3 cylinders down, and I have a 6 cylinder diesel. In any event I don't think that is a trip I'd want to make but I'm glad it turned out OK. Keep the good stuff coming.

34:51 omg you made it. that was a rough last couple of hours. i had to turn my air conditioning off on March 6th in sunny springtime south carolina because just looking at you made me too cold.

Yes!! Finally, someone else with the same-ish bus 🚌

That was a fun video. And that bus is amazing. I love the old 12 valve Cummins engines. They are treasures.

That looked like a lot of fun and adventure, Chuck! Thanks for taking us along.

It wasn't just a coincidence that you were able to just park into a spot after the engine shutting off... You, like everyone else, has spirit guides, angels, and ancestors who live vicariously through us. They help us when we need it, whether or not we are aware of it. You are truly blessed and I'm so happy nothing really bad happened!

Loved the video buddy!

That 6th cylinder is just a spare anyway. Pretty cool that you were able to make it all that way on 5 with no problem. Are you going to build it out, partially build it out or just flip it?

Another great video, thanks for taking us along. 🙂🙂

Great Adventure Thanks for Sharing So Happy For U

Also, freakin me out speeding up the video of the two lane snowing in the dark downhill from Loveland.

So. Much. Knowledge. Thanks again, Charlie.

What a fun trip. Thanks for taking us along!

that was a fun adventure! I love this bus!! i am super jealous! Totally a dream bus!

That was badass all the way bro, thanks for that adventure, Hugs from Arkansas

Better than bailing wire is stainless high tensile wire in 0.040 or maybe 0.050" as used by aircraft mechanics. Add in a Clamptite tool and you can make significantly strong hose clamps of ANY size. Seriously, the blue water sailors love that clamptite tool. Check it out on videos.

My first bus I purchased thru an online auction, relying only on pictures and the description. I live in Michigan; the bus was in Fontana, California. I roadtripped out the first time, expecting to have a hitch installed on the bus and towing the car back on a dolly. Well, the local Uhaul did not have one of the parts necessary for the install and I couldn't find another hitch shop in the area. So, I roadtripped back home and flew back out a couple of weeks later. Picked up the bus, dropped down to Phoenix, AZ, to pick up my sister, who rode back to Michigan with me. The bus ran perfectly without a single hiccup. What a great trip! I would do it again in a heartbeat!

Glad you made it. Nice bus

I have a 35' Bluebird TC 2000 with 12v and love it.

Amazing trip…. I love the confidence in your skills and this amazing bus!

Waaoooooo what a journey…. I knew only a bit when I pick up our bus….similar one, for an almost 2000 miles trip home. Glad to see your videos/adventures

Wow! So glad I didn’t have any mechanical issues on my maiden voyage…. Flew from Reno to NY to buy my 1991 skoolie sight unseen, and drove it back 3,400 miles solo last October! First time ever driving a bus🙋🏻‍♀️. I love the thrill of coming up with solutions on the fly and the unpredictable nature of a long road trip. Your videos gave me comfort when I needed no BS answers. You rock! Thanks for sharing all of your knowledge🤘🏼

I so enjoyed your trip video. Brought back memories ( not all good) of driving back trucks from auctions Ain’t life fun. If ya can’t think on the “fly” stay home. 5 stars.

Glad you made it home safe. Love Colorado (Denver)

Thats the best seat on a Southwest plane! Someone paid for A-list!

34:50 phew! Roof raise, rv windows, french doors to a slide out deck to replace the emergency exit, new 80 gallon fuel tank, sell it. Or heck just sell it now as is $15K.

I love a good adventure. My sight-unseen-purchase bus ride from Thornton to Cheyenne was enough for me, though. Thanks for bringing us along.

Great video. That snowy drive made this southern girl anxious just watching. 😟😟

Harbor Freight ... deliver me from evil . My sentiment exactly. That would have been torture for me, I hate ice and snow.

The GOAT 🐐

fun video!

My god... this is the bus I have been looking for 😅😅😅 glad to know its real after all!

Chuck - quite an adventure - more than I would have done. Have driven in the winter and it is basic survival but not what you did. I think the "croissant wrench" brought you good luck :>) Worth another margarita. Better - a cup of hot chocolate. Keep truckin - ken

18:54 the giggle is the sound of a sleep deprived man driving 1300 miles and coasting across intersections without power steering to perfectly land in a parking spot. Gave me leprechaun vibes😂☘️

I purchased similar bus 96 bluebird tc 2000 from the school here in knappa oregon mechanical 5.9.at 545 mine is 35 feet holds 90 gallons of reel 135,000 miles no road salt ever.I picked it up 5 miles from home.I got the seats and plywood out.

Next time you're in Boise look me up. I would have loved to help. There is a place in Boise called Oakley Moody that will manufacture a fuel line for you on the spot.

Hey I just did that!! 900 miles away.

As current truck drivers, my wife and I avoid I80 through Wyoming at all costs! Total wind tunnel with such unpredictable weather, especially this time of year.

We love our airport carpet.

8:08 haha NICE

What a legend! Great video! 21:42 I just hear the 'bud light presents: real men of geeeniussss..' Love the tool set. I'll throw out some other ideas for addons: better than wire nuts: lever nuts! So good! And cheap, just as easy to bring along. small dremel kit. You get a mini grinding wheel to bring with you. Its great! (get the HF one!) Extension cord. Small 400w inverter. heated socks. :-) etc. Can't wait to meet you out on the road one day!

My hopes are for a mobile workshop. I bet you could make good use of your own workshop on wheels!

I had a crazy story like this getting my bus too lol

Sweet bus. Not sure about importing it into BC - though that would be pretty awesome. Cool video, good adventure.

Cool 😎

31:25 brb this scene right here literally just made me shit my pants as a soft southern boy with no mountains or snow. i'd rather watch a horror movie than the next 30 seconds of this video. okay fine i'll do it. i'm in.

Gnarly trip and sounds oddly familiar! We just picked up a ‘95 identical bus 12v 6bt, flat nose 30ft, I wish it had the rear gears, with a similar adventure! 400mi round trip upper Michigan 24mph average in an ice storm heading up, on the way home broke down with electrical gremlins, got it going after about an hr. 14hrs later made it home died within 2 minutes of idling! fuel system from lift pump back was, well 27yrs old haha and just finishing up replacing everything back to the tank! First time driving a bus and it was an adventure for sure! Still wouldn’t have changed it for anything, and we’re stoked to get going on the build out!

For me personally hands down most important vid you have made Chuck. Thank you. Sir. I have the same engine with the after cooler that there is not much info on but my question is can you put an engine brake on this engine with the 545 ?. I have read yes by many and NO by a few because with the engine brake and the non locking converter the tranny dicks keep turning thus burn out tranny. What in your vast wisdom do you know about this ?.

18:36 wow with no power steering too?! the bus gods are blessing you with challenges and grace at the same time young chuck. you must have served them well with worthy sacrifices over the years.

Loveland Pass is beautiful! I went through there a few years ago with a semi because I had an oversized load that wouldn't fit through the tunnel. I don't know if l would want to do it again in winter weather. I was really big n heavy though. The tractor trailer,... lol not me.

Glad you're enjoying your new ride, one thing I don't know if you're going to invest in a new microphone, whenever you driving or near the engine I can hardly hear you.

I'd go Loveland pass. My aunt and uncle live in Loveland. I'd park and warm up in their hot tub. 🤣🤣

The open road must be calling to me, otherwise why would I watch a 35 minute video of a school bus journey 😂 Notes: if I follow through with this skoolie dream of mine, do so in the summer cause I’m from Texas and snow gives me crazy anxiety

How is it that school buses slow down time? Going ywhere in a large vehicle takes 10 to 20% longer.

Hey I have a question I want to build a skoolie I want to buy a one of those long bus to buy and turn it to a to store and my mind is so not used to it so I need avice

How many mpg and how long is the bus?

Hey Chuck, I'm installing my second diesel heater in our bus. This time, I want to do it right and tap into the fuel tank. I have opened the main fuel hatch in the floor to take a look. I'm pretty sure I will need to drill a hole through the top of the fuel tank to drop the straw into the fuel tank. I'm worried about getting metal shavings and such in the tank and I'm not sure how to properly fasten it to the top since I can't tighten the nut on the inside of the tank. What is your process for this?

My 35 foot tc 2000 has a 90 gallon fuel tank

Chuck! Entertaining as usual. We’ve come to expect that from you, you know. 😅 my first question is: would you have had more issues if this had been the electronic 12v version 5.9? Also, I once owned a ‘99 Ford F250 with the 7.3 power stroke 2wd and the 3.73 rears. The sweet spot for it was 70 mph/2000 rpm and 19 mpg. Any relation to these diesels having similar “sweet spots”. Navistar vs. Cummins? 5.9 mechanical vs. 7.3 electrical? Etc? Thanks for your videos!

Whatever happened to Jax Austin? We used to watch his videos all the time! Also....what are your plans with this unicorn bus?

Does Columbus, OH in the dead of winter to DFW count?

My biggest dread is going over mountain passes. Was there a chain up requirement going over it. I’m sure on I70

Update on Jax ?? Havent seen him on here for awhile

What year is it? Looks newer than my 1997 Bluebird.

Do you still have this bus? Is it for sale?

Nothing really against Colorado, but after feeling my empathic driver's angst increase just from watching this, it sure makes me that much more happy to be living along the Texas Gulf Coast. Thanks for the inclusion, and the adventure!

Wait.......am I hearing this right? You have a 30ft Blue Bird TC2000, with a 5.9 12v and an AT545 that hits 90mph!!?? How? What's the rear gear ratio? I can barely get mine to do 60.

Are you going to sell it

I have the 5.9! But its 1997 Thomas Built

What to do with bus? Do what you best at doing. Make a reliable Skoolie and sell it. What else is there?

Curious what the engine horse power, transmission, And the rear axle gear ratio are?