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01-22-2019, 12:08 PM
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#1
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New Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Annapolis, Maryland
Posts: 3
Year: 2007
Coachwork: Thomas Built
Chassis: School Bus
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Converting or Securing Entrance Door
I have a 2007 Thomas Build School Bus, the entrance door is a bi-door where both are full glass panels that swing outward. I'm trying to figure out how to secure them or replace them with something more secure. Does anyone have suggestions. Here is a picture of what I'm dealing with. It operates by air compressor opening and closing mechanism that is pretty terrible.
Thanks,
Eric
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01-22-2019, 12:11 PM
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#2
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 8,462
Year: 1946
Coachwork: Chevrolet/Wayne
Chassis: 1- 1/2 ton
Engine: Cummins 4BT
Rated Cap: 15
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Sorry but I'd want to replace those with something more like an RV door just for security.
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01-22-2019, 12:17 PM
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#3
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Skoolie
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Stansbury Park, Utah
Posts: 189
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: GA39530
Engine: DT466E 215hp 620tq
Rated Cap: 40
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Im planning on removing the lower panes of glass from my door and welding it together to make one solid door.
Im using an RV style door latch with a deadbolt to secure the door to the bus with a steel frame and rubber door seal.
We shall see how it works out.
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01-22-2019, 01:14 PM
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#4
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 8,462
Year: 1946
Coachwork: Chevrolet/Wayne
Chassis: 1- 1/2 ton
Engine: Cummins 4BT
Rated Cap: 15
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Sounds like a good plan. I don't think I have ever seen a folding Skoolie door that did not leak water and wind. Especially at highway speeds.
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01-22-2019, 01:29 PM
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#5
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Weeki Wachee, FL
Posts: 3,056
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: TC2000 FE
Engine: Cummins 5.9
Rated Cap: 72
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I"m in the process of building a remote keyless lock system for my factory doors. I like the school bus style but this door never had any locking mechanism at all.
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01-22-2019, 01:43 PM
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#6
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
Posts: 10,482
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
Rated Cap: 77
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Don't remember what post it was, but someone today posted the process of them making their double door a single door.
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01-22-2019, 01:52 PM
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#7
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 335
Year: 2004
Coachwork: Corbeil
Chassis: Ford
Engine: Ford PowerStroke Diesel 6.0
Rated Cap: GVWR 11,500
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Quote:
Originally Posted by o1marc
Don't remember what post it was, but someone today posted the process of them making their double door a single door.
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I think you might have meant me! My post is here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by STEMbus
I have a 2007 Thomas Build School Bus, the entrance door is a bi-door where both are full glass panels that swing outward. I'm trying to figure out how to secure them or replace them with something more secure. Does anyone have suggestions. Here is a picture of what I'm dealing with. It operates by air compressor opening and closing mechanism that is pretty terrible.
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I converted my door to single swing in order to preserve some semblance of the bus look. I'm planning to use the same RV Door latches that Tango linked to in this post. I'm going to have to make some additional modifications to the door, I'd imagine. For now the door is just holding itself closed with the weather stripping.
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01-22-2019, 01:56 PM
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#8
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
Posts: 10,482
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
Rated Cap: 77
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Quote:
Originally Posted by weboughtabus
I think you might have meant me! My post is here.
I converted my door to single swing in order to preserve some semblance of the bus look. I'm planning to use the same RV Door latches that Tango linked to in this post. I'm going to have to make some additional modifications to the door, I'd imagine. For now the door is just holding itself closed with the weather stripping.
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That's the one, maybe he can get some thoughts from yours.
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01-22-2019, 02:47 PM
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#9
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: US nomadic
Posts: 556
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Lewis
Chassis: Ford E350
Engine: 7.3L Diesel
Rated Cap: 14
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I have the bi-door but with a hand-operated opener and metal latch that comes down over the opener. It definitely leaks wind but so far not water. I'm keeping them as is, though: I love my old school doors.
I have a very simple locking system, a heavy duty hasp and disc padlock at the bottom of the door. I think this, coupled with the existing lock, satisfies me. If someone were super determined to break in, they could do it, but they'd probably find busting out a window easier. But then I'm not the most security obsessed person to begin with.
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01-22-2019, 03:12 PM
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#10
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
Posts: 10,482
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
Rated Cap: 77
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Quote:
Originally Posted by firebuild
I have the bi-door but with a hand-operated opener and metal latch that comes down over the opener. It definitely leaks wind but so far not water. I'm keeping them as is, though: I love my old school doors.
I have a very simple locking system, a heavy duty hasp and disc padlock at the bottom of the door. I think this, coupled with the existing lock, satisfies me. If someone were super determined to break in, they could do it, but they'd probably find busting out a window easier. But then I'm not the most security obsessed person to begin with.
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I can remove a rear door window in less than a minute without damaging it.
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01-22-2019, 03:14 PM
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#11
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: US nomadic
Posts: 556
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Lewis
Chassis: Ford E350
Engine: 7.3L Diesel
Rated Cap: 14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by o1marc
I can remove a rear door window in less than a minute without damaging it.
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Yup, a determined thief can get past almost anything. It's all just deterrent - how hard do they want to work?
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