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02-15-2016, 06:47 PM
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#1
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Lee, Florida
Posts: 35
Year: 1995
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 36 adults
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Please Help Find Roof Hatch!!!
Anyone see the difference? Our hatch is on the left. The standard hatch (on the right) will not fit our roof holes.
Our hatch doors are very simple and not shaped like the standard door.
I can not find any marks indicating who made these hatches.
We Need One Hatch!!!
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02-15-2016, 07:07 PM
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#2
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: EHT New Jersey
Posts: 1,134
Year: 2003
Coachwork: AmTran
Chassis: International 3000RE
Engine: T444E/AT545
Rated Cap: 75
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I'd say talk to you local Thomas dealer. They might have an idea/clue
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02-15-2016, 07:39 PM
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#3
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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whats the measurement?
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02-15-2016, 07:55 PM
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#4
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Lee, Florida
Posts: 35
Year: 1995
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 36 adults
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastCB
whats the measurement?
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My opening measures 24.5" by 22.5"
The standard hatch won't go in without grinding the hole wider (left to right). There are welded in supports on the sides that would have to be removed and relocated in order to allow for the 23" wide hatch.
Then the opening would heave to be made smaller (front to back) by about 1.5". If I center the hatch in my current opening the screw holes (front & back) are right on the edge of the metal. I would have to push the hatch forward then add material to the back. This would need to be done to the inside as well.
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02-15-2016, 07:58 PM
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#5
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Lee, Florida
Posts: 35
Year: 1995
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 36 adults
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scooternj
I'd say talk to you local Thomas dealer. They might have an idea/clue
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No local Thomas dealer. I tried the local International dealer, they can help with the drivetrain but thats it. They suggested Freightliner, they could not help.
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02-15-2016, 08:02 PM
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#6
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Lee, Florida
Posts: 35
Year: 1995
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 36 adults
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This was never a "School Bus" it was a Military transport bus. Got it from the online auction site GovPlanet - Surplus Military and Government Vehicles, Trailers and Equipment
Maybe because it was always intended for adults and not kids the hatches were bigger?
Not being a school bus I don't have to repaint or remove any of the school bus things. But that is offset by stupid stuff like this Fracking Hatch!
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02-18-2016, 02:13 PM
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#7
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Lee, Florida
Posts: 35
Year: 1995
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 36 adults
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For anyone interested I have found the answers I was looking for, I don't like the answer, but I found it.
This is what I got from Thomas Built Buses Inc.
"The hatch you had in your vehicle was an Allied roof hatch. They are long out of business. Their measurements were 21 ¾” X 23 ¾”. "
So there it is, Allied roof hatch, no drop-in replacements.
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02-18-2016, 06:32 PM
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#8
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: North carolina
Posts: 651
Year: 1986
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Ford
Engine: Detroit 8.2
Rated Cap: 60 bodies
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Find a sheetmetal shop and some bondo for the inside and have the shop make flashing for the outside to fit whatever you would like to do with the opening.
Welcome to the skoolie world.
Some things you have to create and some are salvageable.
You get what you pay for but you know what you have when it is created.
My wife hollers at me about overkill but they always want to run to the kids playhouse when there is tornadoe weather?
Choose wisely or you will be doing it again later on.
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02-18-2016, 06:55 PM
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#9
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 352
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: International
Engine: 466DT
Rated Cap: 65
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No need to make it pretty. Nobody can see it up there anyway. It just needs to be waterproof! I just cut a piece of metal big enough to cover the old screw holes. Sealed it with some elastrometric caulk, new self tapping screws and then put in a standard rv vent. Couldn't be happier and no leaks.
20150417_125559 by Hvbuzz, on Flickr
20150417_170750 by Hvbuzz, on Flickr
I was trying to remember when I cut the hole. So I looked through my photo's.. It was before it was installed.
20150417_124639 by Hvbuzz, on Flickr
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02-18-2016, 09:18 PM
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#10
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Lee, Florida
Posts: 35
Year: 1995
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 36 adults
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We are going to use tinted Lexan, 3M VHB tape, screws and caulking. We will reuse the inner trim part of the hatch so it looks clean on the inside.
We do not want to cover the opening. The tint will block most of the UV rays so the sun will not heat up the bus. The father-in-law has a drag car with Lexan windows that have stood up great to the intense SW Florida sun for the better part of 9 years.
At this point I just need to cover the hole so I can work on the innards and not worry about rain getting in. Further down the line I'd like to add a A/C unit but for now the budget doesn't allow that.
Nice work there Hvbuzz!!
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02-19-2016, 05:45 AM
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#11
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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I'm in Eustis- if you decide to go with steel, I'll get you a piece for free.
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