Insuring a pre conversion school bus in California???

[Socaliwelder]

I’m having trouble trying to find insurance. It seems as though no one wants to insure a pre conversion school bus due to school busses typically having narrowed axles and at higher risk of roll over after conversion. Who do people on here in California use to insure their busses to get them purchased and moved to do the conversion? I’m looking at buying a 2003 TC2000. Any help would be greatly appreciated.


Thank you,
Mike

[Robin97396]

Go to an independent insurance agent. Tell them you want a "commercial policy for private use" and let them do the shopping for you. You'll likely end up on Progressive.

[brokedown]

Insurance also varies wildly by state so it's hard to give someone advice if they're not local to you. +1 on Robin's suggestion.

[o1marc]

Are our buses any heavier after conversion than they would have been fully laden with passengers?

[Twigg]

Originally Posted by o1marc

Are our buses any heavier after conversion than they would have been fully laden with passengers?

Normally no, they are considerably lighter.

71 pax @ 80 lb
24 seats @ 80lb

That's over 3 tons in weight. Few people will add anything close to that in an RV build-out.

This is one reason why it might pay to reduce the spring rates.

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by o1marc

Are our buses any heavier after conversion than they would have been fully laden with passengers?

The bus manufactures use 80lbs per student to figure capacity. A 72 passenger bus full is expected to carry 5760 lbs of kids. Add to that 12 seats at about 100lbs each.

That will give you almost 7000 lbs of "payload" capacity. I think that you will have to really work at it to exceed 7000 lbs in your conversion.

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by Twigg

Normally no, they are considerably lighter.

71 pax @ 80 lb
24 seats @ 80lb

That's over 3 tons in weight. Few people will add anything close to that in an RV build-out.

This is one reason why it might pay to reduce the spring rates.

80lbs sounds like they are using an elementary school bus and a not a high school bus. I seriously doubt the average weight of a high school student is 80lbs.

Just checked, average weight of a high schooler is 113.5 if the same amount of students is considered. Full load in a 72pass. is 8172 just in pass. weight.

[Twigg]

Originally Posted by o1marc

80lbs sounds like they are using an elementary school bus and a not a high school bus. I seriously doubt the average weight of a high school student is 80lbs.

80lb is the official weight used to calculate three kids to a bench seat. That's how you get to 71/72 passengers.

If you use a higher weight you have to reduce the number of pax to 2 passengers per seat.

That same bus would carry 48 high school students

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by Twigg

80lb is the official weight used to calculate three kids to a bench seat. That's how you get to 71/72 passengers.

If you use a higher weight you have to reduce the number of pax to 2 passengers per seat.

That same bus would carry 48 high school students

Makes sense, so 5448lbs total pass. weight

[Tango]

In Texas where we have way too many fat kids...I hope they are using at least 220 lbs. per butt.

[CaptSquid]

Originally Posted by Tango

In Texas where we have way too many fat kids...I hope they are using at least 220 lbs. per butt.

You sure that isn't 220 lbs per cheek?

[eevlgoose]

Originally Posted by Socaliwelder

I’m having trouble trying to find insurance. It seems as though no one wants to insure a pre conversion school bus due to school busses typically having narrowed axles and at higher risk of roll over after conversion. Who do people on here in California use to insure their busses to get them purchased and moved to do the conversion? I’m looking at buying a 2003 TC2000. Any help would be greatly appreciated.


Thank you,
Mike

Hey Mike
Did you ever figure out insurance? Down in LA here and about to try and deal with it myself. Any advice is appreciated.

thanks

goose

[Danjo]

Call AIS. I got mine through them in about an hour