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Old 09-20-2020, 11:37 PM   #1
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Curb weight of 5 or 6 window conventional skoolie

Can anyone give me a rough idea of the curb weight (vehicle weight) of your 5 or 6 window dognose skoolie.


I don't care whether its stock (seats-in) weight, empty weight, or converted weight, just specify which you are referring to.

Also specify make/model/engine if possible.



Thanks!

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Old 09-21-2020, 04:23 AM   #2
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As weights of coach body, seats, and other variables such as handicap lift (or not) will vary, any number you get would be pure speculation. There are at least 5 coachwork builders for this style bus, and they all do things differently, which can vary weight. My advice, find a truck stop and use their scale. It's not expensive (perhaps $15) and CAT scale guarantees accuracy.

To use...

Pull gently on the scale, gently braking.
(hard braking can damage or break the scale)

Make sure your front tires are on a different pad than your rear tires.
(This will give you an idea of weight distribution front to rear)

Press the call button, they will ask for a truck number, just give them whatever number or 'bus', there's no company involved.

When the weights are captured, pull off the scale, park, go inside and get your ticket. It should have your front axle weight, rear axle weight, and total weight. Best $15 you'll ever spend for the accuracy. And no, they won't look at you like you're crazy, military folks weigh U-Haul trucks all the time when being restationed.
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Old 09-21-2020, 10:42 AM   #3
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What CW said. Like you I'd like to know who weighs what.

Just to give you an idea, my '35 Superior bodied 5 window Chevy with an Isuzu 5.2 l turbo diesel with 6 spd automatic all decked out as a MH weighs in empty at 9,820 pounds dry. The front axle carries 3,930 pounds (40%) the rear 5.890 pounds (60%). The left wheels weigh 4,630 pounds and the right 5,190 pounds.

The bus has a stove/oven, microwave, wet bath, AC, TV, propane space and water heater, a pop up roof and a slide out for the queen bed. It is a dog nose and 22.5 feet long.

I should mention that the trans weighs 400 pounds and the engine weighs 1,170 pounds and it is a dually.
Jack
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Old 09-21-2020, 04:30 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CHEESE_WAGON View Post
As weights...will vary, any number you get would be pure speculation.
It wouldn't be speculation, but it would be just one data point, not representative of all buses of that size, But a start and a ballpark, and more useful once there are a handful of datapoints.

Also, my reason for asking for make/model/engine, so there is at least a little context.

Quote:
My advice, find a truck stop and use their scale. It's not expensive (perhaps $15) and CAT scale guarantees accuracy.

This is good advice but it would cost me $15 + the cost of a bus to weigh.

I know many people have done just this (gone to the scales) and dozens people have posted weights for full size buses, and cutaways. But I haven't found any any weights for conventional shorties.

If I had a Bus I would weight it, since I don't, I'm hoping others who do can share.
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Old 09-21-2020, 06:08 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dzl_ View Post
Can anyone give me a rough idea of the curb weight (vehicle weight) of your 5 or 6 window dognose skoolie.

Purty-Please!
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Old 09-21-2020, 06:45 PM   #6
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Year: 2004
Chassis: International CE300 6 window shortie
Engine: DT466
6 window International dog nose= 21,500
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Old 09-21-2020, 06:59 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by drtbreau View Post
6 window International dog nose= 21,500


That is pretty hefty, is that post conversion weight?
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Old 09-21-2020, 07:23 PM   #8
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My 9-window dognose was around 13,500 before conversion...


John
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Old 09-21-2020, 09:02 PM   #9
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Chassis: International CE300 6 window shortie
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Sorry I was reading GVWR ��
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Old 09-22-2020, 07:28 PM   #10
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Anyone?
There is so much info out their on the larger buses, I'm sure someone has weighed their conventional shortie.
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Old 09-22-2020, 08:12 PM   #11
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I believe my 5 window Thomas Vista (almost dognose) was about 12,500 empty. My E450 Girardan was 9,300 prior to starting build.
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Old 09-24-2020, 12:35 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by johnbloem1974 View Post
My 9-window dognose was around 13,500 before conversion...

That seems fairly reasonable compared to other similarly sized buses (particularly considering you have DT466/MT643 combo)


Quote:
Originally Posted by peakbus View Post
I believe my 5 window Thomas Vista (almost dognose) was about 12,500 empty. My E450 Girardan was 9,300 prior to starting build.

The low GVWR of the cutaways is a limitation in some respects but forcing you to keep the weight down is an advantage in some respects. I think GVWR is 14k for the E-450 dually, so I suspect you have like 5-6k for the build + passengers/cargo (after the seats and lift and all that is removed).


Still hoping to get some weights for 5-6 window conventionals.
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Old 09-29-2020, 12:49 AM   #13
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Still hoping..


Quote:
Can anyone give me a rough idea of the curb weight (vehicle weight) of your 5 or 6 window dognose skoolie.
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Old 09-29-2020, 03:28 AM   #14
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Drop EastCoastCB a PM ... he has a Thomas shorty and knows the weight. I do not know it off-hand.
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Old 09-29-2020, 05:52 AM   #15
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I have a 6 window shorty without engine or trans. I am estimating it to be around 10,000lbs. I did haul it home on a three axle trailer, so have at least some feel for it's weight.
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Old 09-29-2020, 09:07 AM   #16
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Haven't weighed my 5 window Thomas FS65. But its got a 29k gross weight.
I'd guess it weighs between 13 and 15k.
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Old 09-29-2020, 10:18 PM   #17
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Thank you all for the input!
Keep it coming!


With the amount of people who have weighed their full size buses, I know there are at least a few that have weighed their shorties.


13-15k seems like a reasonal estimate seems like the fullsize and almost fullsize buses have been in the 15-24k range mostly, with many hovering around 17-19.5k


3 examples would start to give a rough ballpark, but at this rate, I'll be very grateful for just a single measured weight!
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Old 09-30-2020, 06:36 AM   #18
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I'll try to weigh mine this week. I can do so free at my work.
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Old 09-30-2020, 09:45 AM   #19
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I keep wondering if you missed my post #3. Therein I stated that my 5 window shorty weighed in at 9820 pounds dry. Its old but its a real bus and I'm sure they didn't make 'em any lighter back in the day.
Jack
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Old 09-30-2020, 02:26 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ol trunt View Post
I keep wondering if you missed my post #3. Therein I stated that my 5 window shorty weighed in at 9820 pounds dry. Its old but its a real bus and I'm sure they didn't make 'em any lighter back in the day.
Jack
Oops, I did sort of overlook it, thanks for the input, and for the detailed weights per axle and per wheel!



I do think your '35 may be lighter than newer conventional buses. 9820 converted is lighter than many of the cutaways.


Your weight is around what I hope conventional shorties weigh, but is much less than what I would guess conventional shorties would weigh. I hope that you are right though and sub 10k is normal. What is the GVWR of your bus?
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