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Old 08-18-2017, 12:12 AM   #1
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I'm Nick and I live in East tn. I'm about to buy a bus but still researching what type I need. It needs to be able to handle dirt and gravel roads.

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Old 08-18-2017, 01:04 AM   #2
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Welcome Nick,
If you are in no rush, take time to learn about what will work best for you.
There are very knowledgeable members here that can tell you if a bus is worth it base on pictures, specs, etc.
Gl hunting,
Raul

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Old 08-18-2017, 05:40 AM   #3
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I'm Nick and I live in East tn. I'm about to buy a bus but still researching what type I need. It needs to be able to handle dirt and gravel roads.
pretty much all the school busses will handle the gravel roads. Often schools in the south run their busses on those, not to mention home made bridges that one wonders if your bus will not fall through.

I have experienced this as my daughter lives there. Conventional is what i would use...
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Old 08-18-2017, 05:54 AM   #4
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A short conventional would be the one to go with for dirt and gravel roads.
My shorty has been in some ROUGH situations and not gotten stuck yet!
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Old 08-18-2017, 06:56 AM   #5
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HELL YEAH ON THE SHORTY !!!!!


WATCH THE POLICE & THE TAX MAN MISS ME,
I'M MOBILE !!
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Old 08-18-2017, 07:04 AM   #6
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make sure its the RIGHT shorty.. there are quite a few like mine that have small wheels.. if you want to go off road you need one like ECCB has which has the 11R22.5 tires on it.. and then you put tires on like i have on my DEV bus.. the uniroyal RD30..

I have used that bus to pull tree stumps out of the ground and the tires dont even slip on the grassy areas..

https://simpletire.com/uniroyal-11-r...BoC6ZAQAvD_BwE

-Christopher

P.S. plus the RD30's sound cool!! makes me sound like im Big-Riggin!
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Old 08-18-2017, 07:44 AM   #7
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-Christopher

P.S. plus the RD30's sound cool!! makes me sound like im Big-Riggin!
Have you seen anyone put super-singles on the back of a bus? I'm thinking of going that route. Pricy, but would look cool.
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Old 08-18-2017, 08:24 AM   #8
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I have a friend in the trucking business and some of the Owner Ops they use have super singles.. he swears off super singles like the plague...
1. expensive to to purchase and install the first time. (plus replace if you blow one)
2. if you blow a tire you are screwed. - cant limp, alot of service trucks dont yet carry them.

they obviously do have the weight advantage, less tires to maintain pressures on.. uneven pressures on duallies are a big reason for tire failure.. the rolling resistance is better so if you are running lots of miles you can save in fuel..

I agree they do look cool..
-Christopher
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Old 08-18-2017, 08:27 AM   #9
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I agree they do look cool..
-Christopher
That's all that REALLY matters. Yada Yada Yada cool.
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Old 08-18-2017, 11:30 AM   #10
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i ran super singles for almost 5 years they are quieter, run cooler, and actually gave me better traction in snow. (i ran a lot of northwest and Canada) hard rain with a light load was my only concern as they would hydroplane worse. as far as flats or blowouts i never ran them in the last 30% of tread trade them in. running on a flat with duels is illegal. you risk blowing the last tire also as it will be badly overloaded (and in all states can get you a fine ) bottom line keep good tires on that are not old if i did not have dayton wheels (spoke,wedge) i would have ss
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Old 08-18-2017, 11:32 AM   #11
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they claimed they got better mileage but not the way i drove
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Old 08-18-2017, 11:53 AM   #12
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I didnt mean "driving" on a blown dual.. but if it meant being stopped along a dangerous freeway or being able to Limp to the next exit..

I dont have any first hand knowledge as im not a truck driver so ive not lived wit hthem out in the real world.. but it sounds like your experience is quite positive with them.. and I see enough of them out there.. even on trailers now that they must be somewhat well-received.
-Christopher
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Old 08-18-2017, 01:16 PM   #13
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i ran super singles for almost 5 years they are quieter, run cooler, and actually gave me better traction in snow. (i ran a lot of northwest and Canada) hard rain with a light load was my only concern as they would hydroplane worse. ... i would have ss
Thank you.
Good in snow pleasantly surprised, Hydroplaning I was aware of. Big rigs are tougher on overloading tires than my 20K axle bus.
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Old 08-18-2017, 01:34 PM   #14
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Thank you.
Good in snow pleasantly surprised, Hydroplaning I was aware of. Big rigs are tougher on overloading tires than my 20K axle bus.
Buses dont cross scales un most states
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Old 08-18-2017, 01:37 PM   #15
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Limping is what i would do but at 15 or 20 as if you have 18k on the back axel and blow one that puts 9,000 pounds on the other tire which if your lucky is rated at 6,000.
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Old 08-18-2017, 01:39 PM   #16
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Thats where it gets ileagle as you are overloading a tire
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Old 08-18-2017, 01:56 PM   #17
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Limping is what i would do but at 15 or 20 as if you have 18k on the back axel and blow one that puts 9,000 pounds on the other tire which if your lucky is rated at 6,000.
My whole 40 foot bus weighs less than 18k on the local Cat scale.
I'd rather have one tire to get to a safer place than one blown tire.
Have you ever weighed a bus?
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Old 08-18-2017, 02:09 PM   #18
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I am a truck driver and yes, while it's not legal to drive on a flat, I would not hesitate to do so (on dual tires) at least long enough to get to a safe stopping place (all bets are off on a single tire, be it a steer or otherwise). If I'm not far from a truck stop or other place where I can get a truck, you can guess where I'm going.
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Old 08-18-2017, 02:24 PM   #19
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Sorry Nick.

Quigley van conversions if you want 4x4 in a shorty. Like the other guys said, the Districts spec them for their territory. Want a Colorado-ready bus, look at gov auctions for your ride there. my half-cent.

Back to the HiJack,Found these great tire info.
Mich Tire Srvc Man

Mich Truck Tire Ref Chart

Worth the save.
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Old 08-18-2017, 02:29 PM   #20
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17,100 before i started
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