Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 01-06-2015, 10:22 PM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 65
Rear Engine Ground Clearance

Hey all. I'm buying a bus that I expect to be driven plenty on highways but will also see its fair share of gravel roads as well. Particularly up in Alaska. For a whole host of reasons, I've decided that I want a rear engine bus. I've been eyeing up buses with underbelly storage, but that extra space typically comes at the expense of ground clearance.

So here's my question for all of you (with particular interest in you RE drivers, and AK Skoolies): do you ever have ground clearance issues?

(The inclusion of your bus's wheelbase and ground clearance numbers would be helpful for the discussion.)

selfdetermined is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-07-2015, 08:24 AM   #2
Bus Crazy
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Posts: 1,791
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: B3800 Short bus
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 36
I had the same concerns, as well. The problem with all the flat-nose buses I've seen is that the front bumper is lower than the main frame rails, unlike a conventional that has both bumpers connected to the ends of 2 straight frame rails. That'll equate to a bumper height difference of around 8", I would guess. That'll hurt your approach angle a bit while school bus "offroading", but departure angle is always terrible on these things. I've scraped several bus asses while driving through ditches to access de-activated logging roads. In my opinion, it's wise to route the exhaust out the side instead of the rear to keep from squashing it flat
__________________
My build page: Armageddon - The Smell of Airborne Rust
jazty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-08-2015, 06:49 AM   #3
Bus Geek
 
EastCoastCB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
A 40ft bus is going to be tough to maneuver on tight backroads. RE is going to have the longest wheelbase and lowest ground clearance.
For "offroad" duty a mid-length conventional is king.
EastCoastCB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-08-2015, 12:30 PM   #4
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Winnemucca, NV/Reno NV
Posts: 186
Year: 2003
Coachwork: 2003 Thomas E-350 shorty
Chassis: E350
Engine: 7.3 Powerstroke
Rated Cap: 24
RE Clearance

Really depends on the model. Older RE Gilligs have great clearance. Check out "gillig to alaska" here. Pat from wheelchairbusproject took several down to central america. I have a 1980 RE that I take to Burning Man every year with a rail crossing that is a bit scary (high center risk) and then a few hundred feet of twisty, hummocky road to get to the lake bed. I've got a great running '75 RE with a CAT 3280 with even better ground clearance I might let go here in northern Nevada.
__________________
If it isn't grown, it has to be mined
elkoskoolie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-08-2015, 06:07 PM   #5
Bus Crazy
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Winlcok, WA
Posts: 2,233
If you are serious about getting off the beaten track then a Type 'D' RE bus is your worst choice.

Regardless of the length, the engine is hung out back where it will hit if you are not careful.

This bus would be prefect for your purposes. http://showroom.auction123.com/thebu...6VH454131.html

If you are interested contact me. We can work on the price.

FE buses have a lower front frame rails with a bumper mounted lower.

RE buses normally have the front bumper attached to the end of the front of the frame rails.
cowlitzcoach is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2015, 11:57 PM   #6
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 65
cowlitzcoach, I'm not sure how I gave the impression that I intend to be off the beaten track. I very much intend to be on the track, however, I recognize that the track in many places I intend to do has yet to be paved. It's maintained - but it's gravel.

The last thing I want is a 4x4 CE, for about 100 reasons.

My question was directed to those who also use their buses on mostly-paved roads, with occasional gravel use. Or to other people in AK who are more familiar with the road conditions up there. I want to know if others feel an RE is still an option in those conditions.
selfdetermined is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2015, 04:18 PM   #7
Bus Crazy
 
opus's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Montana
Posts: 1,626
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: All-American R/E
Engine: 8.3 Cummins
Rated Cap: 72
We're on gravel a lot. No issues, even in the mud. Tire choice will be important if you are going to spend time on gravel.

By gravel I mean gravel roads. Not paths, trails, non-maintained roads.
opus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-11-2015, 06:50 AM   #8
Bus Geek
 
bansil's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MNT CITY TN
Posts: 5,158
RE is they way to o go on gravel or wet dirt roads,period

Our FE has no wt on rear tires, if can spin them easy in gravel/mud/grass (that's why I want chains lol)

Oops sorry back on topic, if it has rear airride, I have seen OTR coaches that can be lifted 6 inches from drivers seat with bypass switches to airbag leveling valves etc

Might be something to tuck away in back of brain
__________________
Our build La Tortuga
Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory.
George S. Patton
bansil is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-17-2015, 12:31 AM   #9
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Middle Tennessee
Posts: 264
The front of my RE has better clearance than all the FE's I've driven. So far no problems with the rear. Yes, clearance with underbelly storage can be an issue but they're all like that.
__________________
Daddy, can we go on a trip again??
'85 Thomas SafTLiner RE
3208 NA CAT MT643
boojiewoojie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2015, 09:04 PM   #10
Bus Nut
 
Alan N's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Gonvick MN
Posts: 339
Year: 1975
Chassis: Gillig
Engine: Cat 3208t/10 speed transmission
We went to Dead Horse (Prudhoe Bay) and just about every where else in Alaska you can drive to in a rear engine Gillig. No Problems.
__________________
Remove hence to yonder place....
Alan N is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2015, 09:07 PM   #11
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 65
Awesome! Can't wait to make that trip myself.

You drive that same Gillig down the AlCan back to Minnesota?
selfdetermined is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2015, 11:24 PM   #12
Bus Nut
 
Alan N's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Gonvick MN
Posts: 339
Year: 1975
Chassis: Gillig
Engine: Cat 3208t/10 speed transmission
Yes. 10,000 miles round trip. Trying to decide where to go this year. Maybe Glacier park, maybe.???
If you go I can recommend some things to see. Lots of very interesting country.
The Alaska hwy is a little ho hum, good for the newly wed and the nearly dead.
If you got a skoolie you got the machine for the north imho.
__________________
Remove hence to yonder place....
Alan N is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-12-2015, 12:00 AM   #13
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 65
I'm driving from MN to AK in June. No foreseeable return trip. Lots, and lots of places I'd like to explore once I get there.

Can't. Wait.
selfdetermined is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2015, 05:31 AM   #14
Bus Geek
 
EastCoastCB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
Sounds like an awesome plan.
EastCoastCB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-07-2017, 01:12 AM   #15
New Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 5
Ground Clearance

I got a 1949 GMC School Bus. It needs about everything! I have been going over my plans to replace the floors n insulating. This lead me to thinking about the floor structure and plumbing and storage under the bus.

My bus is 35 or 36 feet bumper to bumper.

Just wandering what kind of ground clearance I need do I dont crape bottom and damage the storage areas and framework I will be putting in for tanks n solar batteries.

Thanks guys!
MCV1964 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-07-2017, 10:53 AM   #16
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
I spent 6 years and 260k miles running around the country in a rear engine bus. I did try to avoid really rough roads but did have one notable issue.

I took a scenic drive outside of Sedona AZ. As I approached the "exit" from a gully that the road dipped into I drug the rear frame and could not proceed. The road was too narrow to turn around. I had to back up almost three miles.....

The only damage was to my ego......

FWIW: When I set out to buy another bus I did not consider anything other than a RE.
PNW_Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-07-2017, 11:03 AM   #17
Bus Geek
 
Tango's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 8,462
Year: 1946
Coachwork: Chevrolet/Wayne
Chassis: 1- 1/2 ton
Engine: Cummins 4BT
Rated Cap: 15
Air bags can help with the clearance issue.
Tango is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-07-2017, 12:23 PM   #18
Bus Crazy
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Salt Lake City Utah
Posts: 1,635
Year: 2000
Chassis: Blue Bird
Engine: ISC 8.3
One of our members (was it Vlad?) had at least planned on adding air bags partly to improve the ride, but also to gain several inches of clearance if/when the bags are inflated to their maximum. I don't recall now whether the idea was brought to completion.
family wagon is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:29 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.