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Old 02-14-2017, 08:28 PM   #21
Skoolie
 
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Here is a snapshot of the bus vitals from the ECM. Only 126000+ miles on a 2003 24V 5.9 Cummins/Alison combo.


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Old 02-14-2017, 08:54 PM   #22
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Join Date: May 2009
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Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
holy crap maximum vehicle speed 150 MPH...

LOL
-Christopher
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Old 02-14-2017, 08:56 PM   #23
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Hi Disbus... I just got my bus and hopefully will be able to start removing the seats soon... Just a thought... I am planning to put everything on wheels so I can move it around the interior as needed. this way I can open the isle up when wanted... I am going to be pretty stationary though with my bus...

Will keep an eye on your progress for any ideas that I can borrow.
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Old 02-14-2017, 09:22 PM   #24
Traveling
 
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Chassis: TC2000
Engine: 5.9L Cummins
Rated Cap: '00
Cool stats- what did you use to pull those?
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Old 02-14-2017, 09:26 PM   #25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cadillackid View Post
holy crap maximum vehicle speed 150 MPH...

LOL
-Christopher
I saw that. I think that means the governor is not in place, or set at 55 mph for example. Maybe the same for the max rpm.
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Old 02-14-2017, 09:27 PM   #26
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rusty View Post
Cool stats- what did you use to pull those?
I'll ask my mechanic what he used.
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Old 02-14-2017, 09:28 PM   #27
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gonce4 View Post
Hi Disbus... I just got my bus and hopefully will be able to start removing the seats soon... Just a thought... I am planning to put everything on wheels so I can move it around the interior as needed. this way I can open the isle up when wanted... I am going to be pretty stationary though with my bus...

Will keep an eye on your progress for any ideas that I can borrow.
Cool. You won't be driving it much? So you feel things on wheels won't go flying around the bus?
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Old 02-15-2017, 01:23 AM   #28
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Notice the average speed over the service life of the bus.

You can see what I mean about a school bus spending 90% or more of the service life at speeds less than 35 MPH.

I wonder what sort of route it was on to have such poor fuel mileage and so many hours with the engine brake applied. Almost 25% of the miles were put on with the engine brake applied. That is a lot of hill work!

It would appear as if your bus is in pretty good condition and should serve you well for many years to come.

Good luck and happy trails to you!
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Old 02-15-2017, 06:26 AM   #29
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Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
cowlitz - I loved reading the stats from mine also.. mine has average over 9 MPG for its life.. with an average speed over 40 - and being in texas it says its likely been brought up to operating temperature..

only showed one over-heat alarm (permanent code). from way back at 45k miles and that would go in line with the fact the radiator was replaced in 2004...

interesting what you can read from the computers on the newer busses.
-Christopher
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Old 02-15-2017, 01:34 PM   #30
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Originally Posted by cowlitzcoach View Post
Notice the average speed over the service life of the bus.

You can see what I mean about a school bus spending 90% or more of the service life at speeds less than 35 MPH.

I wonder what sort of route it was on to have such poor fuel mileage and so many hours with the engine brake applied. Almost 25% of the miles were put on with the engine brake applied. That is a lot of hill work!

It would appear as if your bus is in pretty good condition and should serve you well for many years to come.

Good luck and happy trails to you!
It is a wheelchair lift equipped bus. It has tie downs in it still so maybe the use characteristics reflect that somehow. Atlanta School District.
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Old 02-15-2017, 03:38 PM   #31
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If they go flying around then I will be RICH!!! HAHA... wont be traveling much with the bus...have a mini van for travel and that gets MUCH better gas mileage... But yea...I want to be able to move things around (its my M O)... I guess they could be strapped down when moving...thats what I do with stuff in my van... AT any rate... "enjoy the ride"!!
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Old 02-15-2017, 03:42 PM   #32
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also if it has tie downs then Voi LA (or however you spell it)...places to tie down furniture when needed
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Old 03-14-2017, 10:52 PM   #33
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Made a decision on tires. They will be mounted this week.

Falken in the front, General in the back.



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Old 03-15-2017, 01:36 AM   #34
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Are you really going to need the traction tires?

A tire with such an aggressive tread pattern is going to howl pretty loudly at any speed over about 35 MPH. It will also ride a bit rougher than a less aggressive tread pattern. I would also think they would tend to be more expensive than a highway tread pattern would be.

I know that on my buses and on the buses at my church I have the same tires in all positions.

My thinking is the buses are never off pavement. And if they are it is for very short distances on good gravel surfaces. So they won't ever really need extra traction for driving off road or in the mud.

They won't need traction tires if it snows because if it is snowing in town the activities are usually canceled. If the buses should end up going some place where it is slick the chains required sign usually goes up. So they won't ever really need the extra traction an aggressive tread pattern would give on ice or snow.

And lastly, most traction tires do not roll as easily or smoothly as a highway tread will roll and ride. While most conversions won't put on the miles per year a bus in service will put on in one month a 3-5% increase in fuel use can become a huge number even in a small fleet if it does a lot of miles per year.
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Old 03-15-2017, 08:03 AM   #35
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i DON'T LIKE USING DIFFERENT TIRE BRANDS UNLESS SOMEONE FOUND A SWEET spot where they will work together. (darn caps)
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1998 Ford B700 Thomas body 65 passenger. 5.9 Cummins 12 valve with MT643 Transmission 123,000 miles.
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Old 03-15-2017, 09:21 AM   #36
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Chassis: International 3800
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Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
ive got similar tread on my DEV bus.. and they dont howl on the freeway... they sound about like a semi.. and are definitely nice if up north at all or if you have to park your bus in a grassy area or such ..

I say go for the aggressive rear drives.. i went with uniroyals on mine and are happy with them.
-Christopher
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Old 03-15-2017, 10:00 AM   #37
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Year: 1997
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Chassis: Ford e-350 single wheel
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I need a set of rear tires like the Generals you picked out. I get stuck in wet grass.
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Old 03-15-2017, 02:00 PM   #38
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My rear Goodyears make a lil noise but nothing major at all. they have the open shoulder, blocky all terrain type tread design. Not quite as radical looking as these Generals in this thread, but similar. They do GREAT. And I've got sandy roads to drive down a lot AND long flat roads at 65mph every weekend or so.
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Old 03-15-2017, 03:20 PM   #39
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My Ironman tires get stuck as soon as you make a wrong turn suggested by Google!

Your bus is super interesting, I'm keeping my eye on your thread!
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Old 03-15-2017, 04:07 PM   #40
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Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
im running these on the drives of DEV..

Uniroyal Truck Tire Selector | Uniroyal Truck Tires

-Christopher
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