1998 Blue Bird 8.3L Cummins Skoolie
Meet Gertrude. She’s a 1998 40’ Blue Bird modern bus conversion packing a powerful combo of style and off-grid capabilities. Packed into 240 sq ft of living space. With an assortment of aftermarket upgrades and high quality features such as custom cabinetry, butcher block counters and surfaces, recessed LED track lighting on dimmers, and a whole lot of storage.
Pushing hard from behind is a Cummins 8.3L diesel with an Allison transmission (with eco mode for the long cruises). This is one of the most sought after engine/transmission combos. And when you need her to stop pushing you’ll have no problems with the recently serviced airbrakes all round + an exhaust brake for long mountain pass descents.
Before becoming our tiny home on wheels, Gerty was a fleet maintained transport bus in Fernie & prior to that maintained by the local school district. Complete with a 60 gallon freshwater tank (internal), 20 gallon grey (undermount), an additional external fresh tank for cleaning up outside, 350 watt solar panel, four 110Ah batteries, Xantrex 2kW inverter/charger (best I’ve ever used), and a Nature’s Head composting toilet, Gertrude can take you off-grid for about two weeks or longer with proper water management. And don’t worry about roughing it too much because the full size Dometic fridge/freezer, Attwood propane oven, 5 burner propane cooktop, tankless propane water heater, full size cedar shower, 8” foam queen mattress will provide some of the creature comforts you’ll need to live in style. The Ctek DC/DC charger, shore power, and engine mounted generator round out the rest of your power needs.
A cozy custom dinette can fit 2 people and with comfortable seating for up to 6 people. The butcher block dinette table can drop down into bed mode utilizing the 3” upholstered foam cushions as a mattress making for a cozy guest bed. And the full length cedar roof top deck makes for a great place to watch the sun set, do yoga, and, if you’re one of the brave, sleep under the stars or come inside and warm up by the full-size wood stove.
All windows are original bus windows minus a couple which were removed and replaced with welded sheet metal e.g. behind fridge/freezer & shower. Each window has an insulating pull-up blind when you’re looking for a bit more privacy. In addition, the original walls, floor and ceiling panels have been removed and insulated with 1-1/2” XPS foam (R7.5).
We’ve lived full time in the bus for the last three years so we’re happy to teach you our systems and share what we’ve learned. Located in Squamish, BC. & parked in a permanent spot downtown with power/water/sewage making her a great option for a local looking for affordable rent. (not looking to rent out so you’d need to buy and then take over the lease)
The good:
- Solid Engine / transmission
- Engine brake for those steep hills
- Air brakes serviced recently
- Ready to drive away
- Classified as Motorhome (cheap insurance)
- Full size log burner
- Full length Roof deck
- 4kW Eberspacher diesel heater
- Propane cooktop + two way fridge + on demand hot water
- Off-grid ready – 300W Solar + 440Ah deep cycle House bank
- Xantrex Inverter charger
- Propane where you want it for off-grid
The bad:
- Engine mounted generator hasn’t been used in a few years
- Some surface rust
- Exhaust piece needed (drives fine without, just noisy)
- New actuator for exhaust brake
Open to offers
