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Old 02-15-2016, 06:47 PM   #1
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Year: 1995
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Please Help Find Roof Hatch!!!



Anyone see the difference? Our hatch is on the left. The standard hatch (on the right) will not fit our roof holes.



Our hatch doors are very simple and not shaped like the standard door.

I can not find any marks indicating who made these hatches.

We Need One Hatch!!!

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Old 02-15-2016, 07:07 PM   #2
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I'd say talk to you local Thomas dealer. They might have an idea/clue
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Old 02-15-2016, 07:39 PM   #3
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whats the measurement?
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Old 02-15-2016, 07:55 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastCB View Post
whats the measurement?
My opening measures 24.5" by 22.5"

The standard hatch won't go in without grinding the hole wider (left to right). There are welded in supports on the sides that would have to be removed and relocated in order to allow for the 23" wide hatch.

Then the opening would heave to be made smaller (front to back) by about 1.5". If I center the hatch in my current opening the screw holes (front & back) are right on the edge of the metal. I would have to push the hatch forward then add material to the back. This would need to be done to the inside as well.
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Old 02-15-2016, 07:58 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scooternj View Post
I'd say talk to you local Thomas dealer. They might have an idea/clue
No local Thomas dealer. I tried the local International dealer, they can help with the drivetrain but thats it. They suggested Freightliner, they could not help.
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Old 02-15-2016, 08:02 PM   #6
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This was never a "School Bus" it was a Military transport bus. Got it from the online auction site GovPlanet - Surplus Military and Government Vehicles, Trailers and Equipment

Maybe because it was always intended for adults and not kids the hatches were bigger?

Not being a school bus I don't have to repaint or remove any of the school bus things. But that is offset by stupid stuff like this Fracking Hatch!
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Old 02-18-2016, 02:13 PM   #7
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For anyone interested I have found the answers I was looking for, I don't like the answer, but I found it.

This is what I got from Thomas Built Buses Inc.

"The hatch you had in your vehicle was an Allied roof hatch. They are long out of business. Their measurements were 21 ¾” X 23 ¾”. "

So there it is, Allied roof hatch, no drop-in replacements.
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Old 02-18-2016, 06:32 PM   #8
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Find a sheetmetal shop and some bondo for the inside and have the shop make flashing for the outside to fit whatever you would like to do with the opening.
Welcome to the skoolie world.
Some things you have to create and some are salvageable.
You get what you pay for but you know what you have when it is created.
My wife hollers at me about overkill but they always want to run to the kids playhouse when there is tornadoe weather?
Choose wisely or you will be doing it again later on.
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Old 02-18-2016, 06:55 PM   #9
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No need to make it pretty. Nobody can see it up there anyway. It just needs to be waterproof! I just cut a piece of metal big enough to cover the old screw holes. Sealed it with some elastrometric caulk, new self tapping screws and then put in a standard rv vent. Couldn't be happier and no leaks.

20150417_125559 by Hvbuzz, on Flickr

20150417_170750 by Hvbuzz, on Flickr

I was trying to remember when I cut the hole. So I looked through my photo's.. It was before it was installed.

20150417_124639 by Hvbuzz, on Flickr
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Old 02-18-2016, 09:18 PM   #10
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We are going to use tinted Lexan, 3M VHB tape, screws and caulking. We will reuse the inner trim part of the hatch so it looks clean on the inside.

We do not want to cover the opening. The tint will block most of the UV rays so the sun will not heat up the bus. The father-in-law has a drag car with Lexan windows that have stood up great to the intense SW Florida sun for the better part of 9 years.

At this point I just need to cover the hole so I can work on the innards and not worry about rain getting in. Further down the line I'd like to add a A/C unit but for now the budget doesn't allow that.

Nice work there Hvbuzz!!
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Old 02-19-2016, 05:45 AM   #11
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I'm in Eustis- if you decide to go with steel, I'll get you a piece for free.
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