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03-24-2019, 07:22 AM
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#1
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 253
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How wide?
Are all school buses the same width? Does that width include the mirrors or only the body? Is there a fudge factor with that 102"?
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03-24-2019, 07:24 AM
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#2
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,762
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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from google/wiki-
Quote:
All school buses are of single deck design with step entry. Depending on specifications, school buses are currently designed with a seating capacity with up to 90 passengers. In the United States, school buses are restricted to a maximum width of 102 in (2.59 m) and a maximum length of 45 ft (13.7 m
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_bus
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03-24-2019, 07:45 AM
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#3
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 253
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastCB
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Do all mfg push the limit on the width of the busses? Do you know when this limit was increased? Was it 2000? The reason I am asking...I read a post on this site from a couple of years back about someone who was thinking of adding insulation to the outside of the bus in order to preserve the space inside the bus. That idea really appeals to me because....frankly speaking, I'm a wuss when it comes to temperature and climate control...I am thinking in terms of tinyhouse rather than RV, so will be live in 24/7..and I also like quiet as well. I ran into the 102" restriction...thought maybe I can fudge it a bit...but than did some more reading...many/most/all ferries have a 102" width restriction, campgrounds, state parks, state highways, parking lots, etc. It doesn't sound like a very good idea...but if the law was changed in 2000, then busses prior to 2000 are probably only 96" wide...that gives me 6" to play with Seems the 1999 40' bluebird is 96"....
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03-24-2019, 09:40 AM
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#4
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Palmer, AK
Posts: 279
Year: 2004
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf T Liner MVP 11 window 32’
Engine: CAT 3126E
Rated Cap: 72
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pengyou
The reason I am asking...I read a post on this site from a couple of years back about someone who was thinking of adding insulation to the outside of the bus in order to preserve the space inside the bus.
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These guys tried...fought the law & the law won.
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03-24-2019, 10:22 AM
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#5
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Georgia
Posts: 2,264
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: IH
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 14
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The vast majority of school buses are 96" or less. Also the vast majority are 40' and under. There will be very, very few that exceed either of these dimensions. There are still a lot of narrow streets and roads these have to run on while getting/returning kids.
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03-24-2019, 12:10 PM
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#6
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 1,001
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: International
Engine: TE 444
Rated Cap: 12
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Just remember that mirrors do not count in overall width of the bus, just the body
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03-24-2019, 12:24 PM
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#7
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,401
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brad_SwiftFur
The vast majority of school buses are 96" or less. Also the vast majority are 40' and under. There will be very, very few that exceed either of these dimensions. There are still a lot of narrow streets and roads these have to run on while getting/returning kids.
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I've looked at a LOT of buses since I bought my first one 25 years ago.
If there are any SCHOOL buses over 40' long or 96" wide, I have never seen one.
Coaches and shuttles commonly are built up to 45' and 102"
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03-25-2019, 11:05 PM
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#8
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 18
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I'm just assuming my bus will be around 7.5 feet wide. I hope that is the case or my plans won't work out too well.
__________________
Ex-school bus driver looking forward to living in a bus someday & traveling with my husband, 3 girls, & our dog.
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03-26-2019, 12:02 AM
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#9
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Winlcok, WA
Posts: 2,233
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastCB
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Not to rain on anyone's parade but IIRC the national standard for school buses is 96" wide maximum and 40' length maximum not including mirrors, rubber fenderettes, lights, bumpers, etc.
Transit buses, RV's, highway coaches, and trailers can be up to 102" wide.
Maximum height for all vehicles is 13'6".
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03-26-2019, 01:07 AM
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#10
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Rock Hill, SC
Posts: 255
Year: 1997
Coachwork: International
Chassis: Vista 3600
Engine: DT466E / AT545
Rated Cap: 72
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Apparently since at least 2015 it's 45' according to everyones unreliable source of knowledge, wikipedia and a link from "National School transportation Specifications & Procedures".
http://www.nasdpts.org/ncstonline/Do...%2011.1.16.pdf
Page 59
OVERALL LENGTH Overall length of the bus shall not exceed 45 feet, excluding accessories.
OVERALL WIDTH
Overall width of bus shall not exceed 102 inches, excluding accessories.
Add that to your unicorn list - a 45 footer.
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03-26-2019, 10:34 AM
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#11
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Winlcok, WA
Posts: 2,233
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Quote:
Originally Posted by geminusprime
Apparently since at least 2015 it's 45' according to everyones unreliable source of knowledge, wikipedia and a link from "National School transportation Specifications & Procedures".
http://www.nasdpts.org/ncstonline/Do...%2011.1.16.pdf
Page 59
OVERALL LENGTH Overall length of the bus shall not exceed 45 feet, excluding accessories.
OVERALL WIDTH
Overall width of bus shall not exceed 102 inches, excluding accessories.
Add that to your unicorn list - a 45 footer.
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I stand corrected about the national standard.
WA state spe'c limits: OVERALL LENGTH—Maximum length for school buses sh all be limited to 43 feet. If over 40.5 feet, there may not be more than 14 rows of seats.
I went through the manual and I could not find the spe'c for the overall width.
I do know the 102" wide Lion bus is not available for sale in WA because it is 102" wide.
http://www.k12.wa.us/transportation/pubdocs/SchoolBusSpecManual.pdf
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03-26-2019, 12:28 PM
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#12
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Rock Hill, SC
Posts: 255
Year: 1997
Coachwork: International
Chassis: Vista 3600
Engine: DT466E / AT545
Rated Cap: 72
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Has anyone ever seen, either in person or online, a school bus over 40'? I can't find any images online or any information really.
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03-26-2019, 05:14 PM
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#13
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Winlcok, WA
Posts: 2,233
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Quote:
Originally Posted by geminusprime
Has anyone ever seen, either in person or online, a school bus over 40'? I can't find any images online or any information really.
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The only bus that would come close to being longer than 40' was the one off TAM bus from back in the day. But I don't think it was over 40'.
The problem becomes weight limits and bridging weights.
Anything over 40' would require a third axle. Whether it would be a tandem axle like some of the Gillig, Crown, and a handful of Thomas Saf-T-Liners had or it would have to have a tag or bogey axle like most motorcoaches. Whatever it was you would have to have a third axle. A two axle 45' coach would have too much weight on any one axle. It would also make the wheelbase unworkable with turning radius so large as to not be able to get around any city corner.
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03-30-2019, 07:07 PM
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#14
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Bus Nut
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 271
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103” maximum widthMirrors on a vehicle do count- only permitted loads will allow legal widths over 103”.
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04-07-2019, 02:10 PM
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#15
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Skoolie
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 110
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kubla
Just remember that mirrors do not count in overall width of the bus, just the body
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DOT rule is the mirrors can be up to 5" past the 102 limit as can load securement devices, after that you must have an overwidth permit.
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