Driving Bus Home with Passengers

[Ronnie]

Cross country on lawn chairs yuck !!! I would get some seats that are bolted down, or some form of secure attachment and comfortable for the family

[Ronnie]

You know being registered as a truck does change things. Everyone on board will likely have to have a seat belt. Also most states require truck to stop at weigh stations. They would certainly see inside with the many cameras they have and anything less then at least bus seats would raise issues. Now being a school bus you may get away without stopping at the weigh stations, this is assuming it still looks like a school bus, i.e. still yellow and no body mods. It would also help if the truck tags do not say truck on them.

I Virginia they do clearly say truck on truck tags and all trucks with truck tags including pickups are required to stop at weigh stations, and a friend of mine did get a ticket for going past one in his empty pickup. Generally pickups are not messed with but it is on the books and this cop must have needed to meet his quota.

Just some more thoughts....

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by Ronnie

Cross country on lawn chairs yuck !!! I would get some seats that are bolted down, or some form of secure attachment and comfortable for the family

I checked out a '71 Volvo once that turned out to have no front seat, just two lawn chairs (the old kind with the aluminum frame and nylon webbing) duct-taped to the floor. Dude said it was safe because the transmission was blown and the car wouldn't go faster than 20 mph.

I don't know if this was just an Albuquerque thing, but it seemed like back then ('89) every used car for sale was a beat up early-70s Volvo.

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by Ronnie

You know being registered as a truck does change things. Everyone on board will likely have to have a seat belt. Also most states require truck to stop at weigh stations. They would certainly see inside with the many cameras they have and anything less then at least bus seats would raise issues. Now being a school bus you may get away without stopping at the weigh stations, this is assuming it still looks like a school bus, i.e. still yellow and no body mods. It would also help if the truck tags do not say truck on them.

I Virginia they do clearly say truck on truck tags and all trucks with truck tags including pickups are required to stop at weigh stations, and a friend of mine did get a ticket for going past one in his empty pickup. Generally pickups are not messed with but it is on the books and this cop must have needed to meet his quota.

Just some more thoughts....

I believe in Va. the "Truck" designation applies to trucks over 7501lbs. My Ram 350 doesn't weigh that much, therefore it would not apply to 99% of pick ups.

[family wagon]

If you do want seats, there's bound to be somebody along that route who has a bus they're converting to an RV and has a busload of seats they want to be rid of. (I read online somewhere that this happens). If you can't find seats locally before you begin the trip maybe you can find some only a day or two into the trip and make do until then.


I have to say, though: I found it very comfortable to ride in a bus seated on a love seat instead of a hard plastic bench!

[Ronnie]

Originally Posted by o1marc

I believe in Va. the "Truck" designation applies to trucks over 7501lbs. My Ram 350 doesn't weigh that much, therefore it would not apply to 99% of pick ups.

Gross weight rating not actual weight. My Ram grosses at 10,500 for just the truck and trailer takes it to 26,000lbs. In Virginia we have to include trailer with the truck.

So basically all 3/4 ton pickups and above need truck tags.

[Ronnie]

Originally Posted by family wagon

If you do want seats, there's bound to be somebody along that route who has a bus they're converting to an RV and has a busload of seats they want to be rid of. (I read online somewhere that this happens). If you can't find seats locally before you begin the trip maybe you can find some only a day or two into the trip and make do until then.


I have to say, though: I found it very comfortable to ride in a bus seated on a love seat instead of a hard plastic bench!

We have a bus load of seats to get rid of, kind of on the opposite coast though

[cadillackid]

Originally Posted by Ronnie

We have a bus load of seats to get rid of, kind of on the opposite coast though

are they low-back wayne seats? I know people restoring busses to original that might be looking for those if they are

[Ronnie]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

are they low-back wayne seats? I know people restoring busses to original that might be looking for those if they are

Bluebird highback seats

[TheHubbardBus]

Without seat-belts, your family is much more likely to suffer injuries or worse in the event of an accident or collision.

Without seats, there's a good chance someone will get hurt just by hard braking or a quick turn.

Unless it was just a trip around the block, there's no way I'd transport people I cared about in a gutted bus. People I didn't like, though... that could be fun

[plfking]

Originally Posted by TheHubbardBus

Unless it was just a trip around the block, there's no way I'd transport people I cared about in a gutted bus. People I didn't like, though... that could be fun

Wrapping them in barbed wire and driving down Lombard St. at 60 mph?

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by o1marc

I believe in Va. the "Truck" designation applies to trucks over 7501lbs. My Ram 350 doesn't weigh that much, therefore it would not apply to 99% of pick ups.

Hmm... My RAM is almost 8000 pounds with a full tank of diesel and 150 pound driver. She isn't fat. Just a little plump

[TheHubbardBus]

Originally Posted by plfking

Wrapping them in barbed wire and driving down Lombard St. at 60 mph?

LOL. I like your style Don't forget the salt!

[Artor]

School buses are usually exempt for some reason. Not one of the 80 seats I just tore out of mine had a seatbelt. Only the driver's seat.

[Artor]

Originally Posted by TheHubbardBus

Without seat-belts, your family is much more likely to suffer injuries or worse in the event of an accident or collision.

Without seats, there's a good chance someone will get hurt just by hard braking or a quick turn.

Unless it was just a trip around the block, there's no way I'd transport people I cared about in a gutted bus. People I didn't like, though... that could be fun

That maneuver is called a "Freddie Gray."

[64crew4x4]

Afternoon Rhian...

I am in Eugene, Or. I have been bolting down Capt Chairs in my bus for Passengers to ride in... there are a few options Easy and Cheap around...

give me a call if you have not already figured it out...

Safe travels...

John in Eugene
541-232-9958

[GWRider]

As many have already mentioned, safety is the main thing regarding seats (including belts). Not worth the risk with so many nut cases on the Hiways these days.

[StuartBenbow]

If it were licensed as a motorhome, SOME states wouldn’t need seatbelts for anyone but the driver, though many will. As it’s registered as a truck, seatbelts will still be required for all occupants.

[sportyrick]

I run my Astro van w/o rear seats and have tried hauling a few people just sitting on a lunch box or folding chair, it's pretty dangerous and out of control. Have driven cars just sitting on a 5 gallon bucket.......you would be surprised how little control you have of your body in a moving vehicle. Let someone else drive while your sitting in a lawn chair and see how you like it. I'd put something in there they can trust that will support their bodies somehow. Thrift store sofa, rear van seat or put a couple original school bus seats back in. You might be headed to a hospital for stitches if you don't.

[CharlieBrown]

Thank you for finally answering the actual question. Though some of your personal opinions were, at times an interesting read, I too was looking for only the legality of a similar trip. Thank you for your question Rhiam, it was a great question!