How much does your conversion weigh vs GVW

[miltruckman]

I thought it would be interesting to ask what people’s conversions weigh vs their listed GVW. And what they may have built into their conversions.

I finally got around to weighing my 1998 (1997 model year) Bluebird TC2000, 11 window bus. It is 34 ft long. And has the 5.9 Cummins engine with Allison 545 transmission. Regrettably I never weighed it before the conversion.

Listed GVWR is 30,000 lbs
GAWR: Front it 11,340 lbs
GAWR: Rear is 19,000 lbs

I took it to a CAT scale at a truck stop
Front axle weight came in at 9,720 lbs
Rear axle weight came in at 16,840lbs
Gross weight came in at 26,560lbs

This was with empty water tanks and I have yet to mount the generator and install the washer/dryer and small dishwasher. Otherwise it is done.

Items I installed:
It has 4 steel fold up bunks in the back
A 32” x 32” shower with glass door
A small bathroom with ceramic sink and composting toilet
A large 980ah 24vdc battery bank
1kw of solar panels
A 3/4” oak floor over 3/4” dry ply plywood underlayment
A 60” long granite countertop over lower cabinets in the kitchen
About 10 ft of upper cabinets on each side in the front
And a fold down sofa bed from flexsteel.
Two conversion van seats in the front
A dinett made out of two bus seats
And a convection microwave/oven
A one bowl kitchen sink and a single burner inductive stove top burner
A small under counter style two door refrigerator/freezer
Two 110 gl stainless water tanks
A marine 11 gallon electric water heater
A small 24vdc water pump
Two small diesel furnaces and small diesel water heater
Lots of electronics including a large inverter
And a set of shelves for laundry baskets for clothing storage
I also installed the roof rack off the top of my express van for extra cargo carrying capacity.
A large class 5 receiver hitch and a city bus bike rack on the front.

Most of my added weight is pretty low and I built everything very solid and strong. So I think most people won’t have a problem with coming in overweight.

But I do see how a bus with a roof raise could add considerably more weight which could be a factor to consider when planning the construction.

Bill
Lebanon, IN

[Doktari]

That’s a nice conversion!
My landlord owns a gravel pit with a giant scale. If I remember I’ll drive onto it and weigh mine. I’m curious how much it weighs empty without the seats. That’s the number one needs to compare the before conversion and after conversion weight.

[Ronnie]

Took mine to a gravel pit. 17,700 with water and fuel full.

[Tcoz95]

Originally Posted by miltruckman

I thought it would be interesting to ask what people’s conversions weigh vs their listed GVW. And what they may have built into their conversions.

I finally got around to weighing my 1998 (1997 model year) Bluebird TC2000, 11 window bus. It is 34 ft long. And has the 5.9 Cummins engine with Allison 545 transmission. Regrettably I never weighed it before the conversion.

Listed GVWR is 30,000 lbs
GAWR: Front it 11,340 lbs
GAWR: Rear is 19,000 lbs

I took it to a CAT scale at a truck stop
Front axle weight came in at 9,720 lbs
Rear axle weight came in at 16,840lbs
Gross weight came in at 26,560lbs

This was with empty water tanks and I have yet to mount the generator and install the washer/dryer and small dishwasher. Otherwise it is done.

Items I installed:
It has 4 steel fold up bunks in the back
A 32” x 32” shower with glass door
A small bathroom with ceramic sink and composting toilet
A large 980ah 24vdc battery bank
1kw of solar panels
A 3/4” oak floor over 3/4” dry ply plywood underlayment
A 60” long granite countertop over lower cabinets in the kitchen
About 10 ft of upper cabinets on each side in the front
And a fold down sofa bed from flexsteel.
Two conversion van seats in the front
A dinett made out of two bus seats
And a convection microwave/oven
A one bowl kitchen sink and a single burner inductive stove top burner
A small under counter style two door refrigerator/freezer
Two 110 gl stainless water tanks
A marine 11 gallon electric water heater
A small 24vdc water pump
Two small diesel furnaces and small diesel water heater
Lots of electronics including a large inverter
And a set of shelves for laundry baskets for clothing storage
I also installed the roof rack off the top of my express van for extra cargo carrying capacity.
A large class 5 receiver hitch and a city bus bike rack on the front.

Most of my added weight is pretty low and I built everything very solid and strong. So I think most people won’t have a problem with coming in overweight.

But I do see how a bus with a roof raise could add considerably more weight which could be a factor to consider when planning the construction.

Bill
Lebanon, IN

This is such valuable information, and great delivery.... yet no one has contributed anything valuable on the thread yet.... insane.. thank you for that time brother

[o1marc]

I can't help as my conversion is not complete, but gutted it weighs 19400.

[miltruckman]

What type of bus and length do you guys have?

Bill

[2kool4skool]

Just under 20K, GVW 25,500.

[ermracing]

2003 International 3800, Bluebird conventional body, DT466E, Allison 2000, 11-window with wheelchair lift, airbags in rear. GVW is 29,000 (10k front/19k rear). Empty weight is 15,600.

[Yukon Cornelius]

Originally Posted by miltruckman

I thought it would be interesting to ask what people’s conversions weigh vs their listed GVW. And what they may have built into their conversions.

I finally got around to weighing my 1998 (1997 model year) Bluebird TC2000, 11 window bus. It is 34 ft long. And has the 5.9 Cummins engine with Allison 545 transmission. Regrettably I never weighed it before the conversion.

Listed GVWR is 30,000 lbs
GAWR: Front it 11,340 lbs
GAWR: Rear is 19,000 lbs

I took it to a CAT scale at a truck stop
Front axle weight came in at 9,720 lbs
Rear axle weight came in at 16,840lbs
Gross weight came in at 26,560lbs

This was with empty water tanks and I have yet to mount the generator and install the washer/dryer and small dishwasher. Otherwise it is done.

Items I installed:
It has 4 steel fold up bunks in the back
A 32” x 32” shower with glass door
A small bathroom with ceramic sink and composting toilet
A large 980ah 24vdc battery bank
1kw of solar panels
A 3/4” oak floor over 3/4” dry ply plywood underlayment
A 60” long granite countertop over lower cabinets in the kitchen
About 10 ft of upper cabinets on each side in the front
And a fold down sofa bed from flexsteel.
Two conversion van seats in the front
A dinett made out of two bus seats
And a convection microwave/oven
A one bowl kitchen sink and a single burner inductive stove top burner
A small under counter style two door refrigerator/freezer
Two 110 gl stainless water tanks
A marine 11 gallon electric water heater
A small 24vdc water pump
Two small diesel furnaces and small diesel water heater
Lots of electronics including a large inverter
And a set of shelves for laundry baskets for clothing storage
I also installed the roof rack off the top of my express van for extra cargo carrying capacity.
A large class 5 receiver hitch and a city bus bike rack on the front.

Most of my added weight is pretty low and I built everything very solid and strong. So I think most people won’t have a problem with coming in overweight.

But I do see how a bus with a roof raise could add considerably more weight which could be a factor to consider when planning the construction.

Bill
Lebanon, IN

Nice breakdown very informative paints a fairly complete picture.

I'm going to assume your water tanks are one fresh and one grey?
Assuming this is correct you have approx. 2860 lbs of freeboard weight.

Was your fuel tank full?
Have you weighed the appliances you haven't installed yet?
Is your genny shared fuel or different than the bus?

[miltruckman]

Fresh and gray water tanks is correct.

I haven’t weighed the appliances. I’m guessing 80lbs for the dishwasher and 150 lbs for the washer/dryer

The fuel tank was full. And now one was on board

[roach711]

Ours is a 24' Ford cutaway with the 7.3L diesel. As converted with full fuel tank (50 gal), water tank (35 gal), two full 20lb propane cylinders and two humans we weigh out at 12,000 lbs. 3500 lbs front and 7500 lbs rear if memory serves. Our GVWR is 14040 lbs so we're comfortably under the max.