Great Big People-Movers: 1997 Safari Trek vs 2014 Blue Bird Vision

Good morning! Well, you knew if we were talking about zombie movies that an RV or a school bus would eventually have to enter the picture. So today, we’re looking at one of each. What better way to evacuate that hapless band of survivors huddling in the back of a 7-Eleven, right?

Our mission yesterday was efficiency, getting the most out of every precious drop of guzzoline, and it seems that the Chevy Volt was nearly universally your choice to do so. I can’t say I disagree. It can run on battery power alone if need be, and it’s probably the more reliable of the two. The Altima, however, will look great as smashed-up set dressing in a parking lot somewhere.

Also, I just want to say something really quick: I meant for this whole post-apocalyptic thing to be fun and light-hearted, which may have been a miscalculation on my part. I’ve noticed the comments taking a pretty dark tone this week, and maybe I should have read the room better. Please do keep in mind that this is all theoretical, and “For Entertainment Purposes Only,” as they say. Let’s just try to have some fun with it.

Moving on: It seems to me that if ever there was a time for carpooling and ride-sharing, it’s the end of the world. It’s also not a terrible idea, if you’re fleeing hordes of the undead or whatever, to be able to bring a place to live with you. A motorhome seems like an ideal solution. But technically, you can make a motorhome out of just about any vehicle big enough, like, say, an old school bus with all the seats stripped out. I’ve got one of each for you to look at today.

1997 Safari Trek Class A RV – $9,950

Engine/drivetrain: 7.4-liter overhead valve V8, four-speed automatic, RWD

Location: Tacoma, WA

Odometer reading: 77,000 miles

Operational status: Runs and drives well

You know, I’ve never really understood the appeal of great big motorhomes like this. I mean, sure, it has all the comforts of home – but so does a Holiday Inn. I suppose I can see some value in being self-contained, but unless you tow a small car as a dinghy, you’re pretty much stuck at the campground until it’s time to go home. And who wants to try to maneuver a one-bedroom apartment around, anyway? My old neighbor back in Portland had one and he used it all the time, though, so maybe I’m missing something?

Anyway, what we have here is a 28-foot Class A motorhome, built on a Chevy truck chassis and powered by a big-block 454 cubic inch V8 backed by a 4L80E automatic transmission. It’s not going to be the most efficient thing around, of course, but it should be reliable, and parts shouldn’t be a problem to find. It has 77,000 miles on the clock, which would be low for a car, but seems like a lot for a motorhome. Someone got their use out of this one. The seller says it runs great, but doesn’t go into any details about its history.

It’s got everything you could possibly need, though: a full bathroom, a kitchen, a roof-mounted air conditioner, a generator, and a propane furnace. It even has a cool bed that lowers down from the ceiling! See those tracks mounted on the walls in the photo above? That’s where it comes down from. It’s decorated like an extended-stay apartment from the early ’90s, but hey, if you’re trying to live off the grid when there’s no grid left to speak of, interior design is probably the least of your worries.

Our resident RV expert, Mercedes, has lamented the poor build quality of modern RVs before, but from what I hear, she’d be pleasantly surprised with this one. In researching this RV, I saw phrases like “high quality” and “built like a tank” come up. The outer skin is riveted aluminum, not fiberglass, and you won’t find any particle-board woodwork in here. And for our scenario, you should probably choose the strongest RV you can find.

2014 Blue Bird Vision school bus – $9,500

Engine/drivetrain: Propane-fueled 6.8-liter overhead cam V10, six-speed automatic, RWD

Location: Hillsboro, OR

Odometer reading: 76,000 miles

Operational status: Runs and drives well

Here is a vehicle most of us have ridden in at one time or another, and chances are pretty good it was made by Blue Bird. In fact, off the top of my head, I can’t think of another school bus manufacturer. The one I remember from my school days was nowhere near this sleek-looking, though. This slope-nosed Vision model was introduced in 2003, and is still produced today, with a few changes under the skin along the way.

The Vision came with a whole bunch of different engines over the years: a Caterpillar turbodiesel, then a Cummins turbodiesel, then a GM 8100 Vortec V8. By the time this one was built, the 8100 was out of production, and Blue Bird had switched to Ford’s 6.8 liter Triton V10. It has one major difference from the V10 found in your typical Super Duty pickup, however; Blue Bird buses run on propane. It’s cheaper than gasoline, and – more important – it doesn’t go bad. It’s backed by a Ford six-speed automatic, and the seller says it runs and drives great.

This Blue Bird’s kid-carrying days are long behind it, and those green vinyl seats are nowhere to be found. In their place are a set of bunk beds along one side, and a kitchen counter along the other. The seller didn’t finish the RV conversion, so there’s plenty left to do, but that means you can do it however you want. It has a power inverter, a fridge, and a sink, and the seller will include solar panels, an AC unit, and a stove for a little extra.

It looks like the windows are tinted, which helps, but you’d be wise to go ahead and black them out. And maybe cover them with chicken wire or something. And whatever you do, do not lower the windows below the line, especially when there are zombies around.

Big, self-sufficient vehicles like these could be a big help in our hypothetical scenario. You can move a lot of people, and pack it full of supplies so you can get yourself hidden and stay there. One of these is fully-equipped with everything you need, but the other runs on a different fuel than the stuff everyone else will be looking for. Which one seems like a better way to go?