What Brand?

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What Brand?

Home > Discussion Forum > Bus Conversions - Transit

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All Messages in Thread	Author	Date
What Brand?	Jusitn Dortignac	2-12-03
We want to purchase a low cost transit bus that we can convert for group travel (not sleeping in). What is a good brand to consider? What are the advantages and problems with different busses? The maximum length we can do is 35' would prefer 30' Thanks in advance! Justin
Re: What Brand?	Mark O.	2-15-03
Your rear axle ratio is determined more by the engine than almost anything else. The large heavy duty diesels like the DD -71, -92, and 60 series, the Cummins N-series, and the big Cats all govern out around 2100 RPM. The medium duty diesel engines like the DD -53 series and 8.2L, the IHC DT466, the Cat 1160/3208, and the Cummins 'B' and 'C' series engines govern out at 2600 RPM. The light duty diesels like the IHC/Ford 6.9L-7.3L-Powerstroke and the GM 6.2L-6.5L will govern out even higher. In other words, depending on the engine, your rear axle ratio could be a short legged hill climber or a real long legged freeway loper. 4.11 rear gears will give about 72 MPH at 2100 RPM, 78 MPH at 2600 RPM, and about 80 MPH at 3000 RPM. Variables come in if you install taller or shorter tires. All of this is predicated upon your engine having enough HP to turn those kinds of RPM's at those kinds of speeds. I have driven harvest trucks with DT466E's in them. Empty (around 18K lbs.) they would tach out around 72 MPH. Loaded (around 35-40K lbs.) the top speed would go down to around 65 MPH. A head wind would slow us down to below 55 MPH. As the hot rodders have been saying next to forever, you can't beat cubic inches. If you have the cubic inches you can get the HP. Without the HP you just are not going to be able to sustain high speeds anywhere. Good luck and happy trails. Mark O.
Re: What Brand?	ZG	2-12-03
Some questions you want to consider are: 1) How far are you traveling on average? 2) Are you driving mostly on highways? 3) How much is low cost? If you are traveling more than 100 miles each trip, you may want to seriously answer question #2, since most transit buses are not geared for highway travel. If by low cost you mean $1000.00, then a transit or school bus might be in order. Or perhaps if you are thinking $10,000.00, then you might consider an intercity bus (long-distance coach). They can be had for $7500 on up. Check the bus classifieds on this site to see price ranges: Bus Conversion Classifieds Let us know what you decide, and we can offer further help...
Re: What Brand?	Mark O.	2-14-03
The MCI-5 and the two axle GM coaches were 35' long. Any of the three axle buses will be 40' or longer. Some of the early Flxible buses, like the Clipper, were 30-35' long. Before you purchase something you need to seriously consider what exactly you will be doing with your bus. Most school buses and transit buses are built and designed to go 35 MPH or less very efficiently. They are not designed with the wide open road in mind. As a consequence, if you are going to be doing a lot of miles, a school or transit bus will not be your best choice. That is not to say some of the school and transit buses were not originally set up to be highway cruisers. GM made quite a few Suburbans (New Look/Fishbowl tranits) with only one service door and highway gearing in order to service the longer suburban routes. All Crown Supercoach school coaches were built with Class 7-8 truck parts and had enough power and gearing to cruise at 65 MPH+. Orion, Flxible, TMC, and Gillig have made a lot of 30-35' transit buses. Some of them actually left the factory with highway gearing. It is a lot better to find a bus with the mechanicals you want than to take a bus you find and convert the mechanicals over to what you want. Not only will it cost you less but it will cause you less problems down the road. Good luck. Mark O.
Re: What Brand?	Justin Dortignac	2-13-03
Thank you for your response. We want to travel for extended distances on highways. Does this mean that transit busses are out of the question? What if we were to consider re-gearing, does this cost a fortune? What are my other options? Our biggest concerns are cost and length, we can't park a forty footer at our house. Can you get an intercity bus that is 30' long? Thanks Again! Justin
Re: What Brand?	Justin Dortignac	2-14-03
Thank you Mark, That is really helpful. What kind of axle ratio should I be looking for, for highway travel? Thanks again! Justin
Looking for used spare parts	hatem	12-21-05
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I have problems logging	AltaGid	8-13-07
Hello! Help solve the problem. Very often try to enter the forum, but says that the password is not correct. Regrettably use of remembering. Give like to be? Thank you!
Re: looking for used spare parts	Jeff	2-3-08
Looking for Diff Pinion Seal for 1993 Interload Star 9500cc 2 Axle Rigid Body American School Bus Bore od SEal is 3" Any Offers ??