2003 Thomas International

The Making A Way Bus needs a new family (see the Youtube walkthrough:)!

Our family of 6 (plus a full-sized black lab) sold our home in early fall of 2021 and journeyed from Wisconsin through Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois.  We then made our way south for the winter, where we spent the next 5 months in Florida, Alabama, Louisiana and Texas before we ended our trip due to a mechanical (an engine seal needed replacing in the middle of the 2022 part shortage ☹).  The Making A Way Bus is fixed, good as new, and ready for a new family to continue the adventures!

There was plenty of room, plenty of laughs/memories, and entirely too much storage on our converted 40’ Thomas bus.  The air conditioning and the heater never let us down.  We homeschooled, saw amazing country, and bonded as a family.  The kids are older now, and the Making A Way bus is looking for a new family to enjoy it.  Here’s some specs:

Bus Specs:
Year: 2003
Miles: (I have to go check, but just under 200k)
Engine: Caterpillar 3126
Transmission: Allison 3060
Air brakes:
Length: 40’
Tires: 6 brand new, about 4500 miles on them
Color: International Harvester White
Batteries: New 6/2024
Engine seal replaced: 5/22
Transmission serviced: 4/23
Brakes serviced: 4/23

Living Arrangements
1 queen master bedroom (rear) with closet that doubled as an office when the bed is folded into a couch;
Bunkroom with 4 single bunks and curtains for privacy, each containing own shelf/closet space;
Two air conditioners (rear master, front room);

Two Maxxair fans (12v);
Tons of kitchen cabinet storage + lazy susan;
Bathroom (Nature’s head composting toilet) over rear wheels;
Large Closet over the other rear wheel side;
Shower base installed (but converted to a closet);
Seatbelts for 6 plus driver;
Homemade solar-blocking curtains;
Normal house front door and code lock;

Conversion Stats
Fresh: 100 gallons

Gray: 75 gallons
Chinese diesel heater
Solar: 1200 watts
Batteries: 400 amp hours (Lithium Ion)
Inverter: 2000 watts (I think, need to verify)
Awning (not wired, but works if powered)
Window screens (awesome for cross breeze)
Refrigerator (apartment sized)
Stove (full)

Floor, walls and ceiling are rigid foam insulation

Internet: Insty connect and router
30amp RV hookup

Location of Sale: La Crosse, Wisconsin
Price: 32,185

A couple of notes:  The bus is completely livable, but needs some minor things done (in full transparency).  For example, the heater duct that extends from the underbelly of the bus to the kitchen needs to be reinforced.  There is another 12V distribution panel that needs to be installed to make enough room for some of the lights.  The 2×200 amp hour batteries need to be tied together underneath the bus for maximum storage (with the installation of AC soft starts, these would run the ACs during the days).  The gray water plumbing drain is a manual job, and needs to be reworked.

All-in-all, if you can watch a Youtube video and use a screwdriver, those rework items are 100% manageable.   I’ve lowered the price considerably based on comps from what I can tell… so I’m firm on price.

Interested in this as a potential?  DM me your number, and I’ll call.