What's the deal with the front bump

[dzl_]

I really like the look of the front bump or crown (like the blue Skoolie at the top right of this page, or the one pictured below), but I'm wondering what it means for ceiling height, and what the purpose of it is (or is it just aesthetic).

[Brad_SwiftFur]

This photo appears to be a "low ceiling" Thomas bus, and the piece behind the front cap drops down for this ceiling height. On a "high ceiling" bus it is reversed giving the ceiling roughly 6" more height, along with correspondingly taller walls and windows.


Presumably this is so that all Thomas buses use the same front cap and windshield, eliminating the need for 2 different sized windshields, frames, caps, etc.

[Rovobay]

avoid unless you are a little person (no offense...) get a high roof.

[dzl_]

Originally Posted by Brad_SwiftFur

This photo appears to be a "low ceiling" Thomas bus, and the piece behind the front cap drops down for this ceiling height. On a "high ceiling" bus it is reversed giving the ceiling roughly 6" more height, along with correspondingly taller walls and windows.


Presumably this is so that all Thomas buses use the same front cap and windshield, eliminating the need for 2 different sized windshields, frames, caps, etc.

Darn, I like the look of the tall front so much more than the low front :/ and it would be nice to tuck a low profile roof rack below that little front crown, nice and aerodynamic and visually unobtrusive.



So there are 3 heights for thomas buses of this generation than. Low (main ceiling lower than front cap), hight (main ceiling taller than front cap) standard (all one height).


Any idea what the 3 interior heights are?


This brings up a few questions:


1. why in gods name would they even make a low ceiling height model if it doesn't decrease the overall height of the bus...? what's the point?



2. Why would Thomas opt to make the curvature of the roof substantially more complex just to stick to 1 size front cap?

[EastCoastCB]

Thomas sells low or high headroom. I'm not aware of a 3rd.

The low headroom is around 6'1 and the high headroom is 6'7".

[Meathead]

Clark county, Las Vegas school district only has low ceiling busses. Mostly Thomas HDXs from what I see. I spoke to a maintenance guy there once. He said less space to air condition is the reason.

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by dzl_

1. why in gods name would they even make a low ceiling height model if it doesn't decrease the overall height of the bus...? what's the point?

There would be cost and weight savings involved in the low ceiling model, although I don't know how significant. Shorter ribs and smaller windows would be the main cost advantage, probably.

I'd really love to know what school buses actually cost, but I've never seen anything close to information on that.

[dzl_]

Followup question, anyone have pictures of what the interior ceiling looks like for either model (front bump or front dip?

[dzl_]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Thomas sells low or high headroom. I'm not aware of a 3rd.

The low headroom is around 6'1 and the high headroom is 6'7".

So just a model with a front bump or a front dip, no flat roof model?

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by dzl_

So just a model with a front bump or a front dip, no flat roof model?

right. At least till the C2 models.

[Native]

Originally Posted by dzl_

Followup question, anyone have pictures of what the interior ceiling looks like for either model (front bump or front dip?

This is from the rear door looking forward on a high-roof (front bump) Thomas:





As you can see, the ceiling looks straight from front to back. In reality, the part from the front bulkhead to the first rib slants down from the back of the ceiling to the bulkhead by about 2 inches over the 2 feet. It is hard to see even in person.