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Old 09-01-2020, 07:36 PM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 17
E450 Floor Plan

I've spent a lot of time with the layout and determined we need 16' in length from the back of the driver's seat to the rear wall. I know many of the shuttle bus conversions are this long, but I want a steel box not fiberglass. Anyone know of this is possible?
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Old 09-03-2020, 10:31 PM   #2
Bus Crazy
 
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Location: Northern California (Sacramento)
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Year: 1999
Coachwork: El Dorado Fiberglass
Chassis: Ford E450
Engine: V10 Gas
I think you'll find a lot of fiberglass shuttle bus designs out there. They are lightweight and the exterior is easy to maintain. Any reason you want steel instead?

My bus is 16' and in my opinion that's about the minimum length for a reasonable setup. It's also fiberglass and I'm really glad for that.

Is your bus for just one person? The layout looks a little tight if you are designing for two. Also, building the 'garage' into the design takes a lot of space. Have you considered a hitch mount for your two-wheeled things? Less secure perhaps, but I suspect you'll really appreciate that space on a long, rainy weekend.
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Old 09-04-2020, 12:11 AM   #3
Mini-Skoolie
 
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I like the look of the steel box and I'm a metal fabricator.
It's designed for 2 to fit our needs and from the many other campers we have done. I think it will be perfect. Also 20 years of 4 of us in an old VW camper this will feel huge��
The garage is lockable motorcycle storage and a on the road work space to continue to work on our business.
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Old 09-08-2020, 10:31 AM   #4
Bus Crazy
 
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Coachwork: El Dorado Fiberglass
Chassis: Ford E450
Engine: V10 Gas
I'd stay open to fiberglass bodies. The conversion will stretch all your talents, so no need, in my opinion, to stick with what you know.

Garage: many shuttle buses have a handicapped lift on the passenger side at the back, so that plays neatly into your design. You'll be able to see how much space will be left when you start looking at buses with a tape measure.
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Old 09-08-2020, 11:00 AM   #5
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
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Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
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Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
school bus manufacturers made / make van cutaways and typically these are metal.. although some of the latest bluebirds appear to be fiberglass.. but if you got back a few years, the like of thomas and bluebird minibirds. were metal school bus bodies on a van cutaway chassis


I havent ridden a metal shuttle before.. all of them have been fiberglass.. some seem solid others feel like an off-brand rubbermaid bin..



-Christopher
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Old 09-08-2020, 12:17 PM   #6
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Arizona
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Year: 2002
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: GMC Savana 3500
Engine: 6.5 L 395 CID V8 Diesel
you might have to tweak your floor plan to what's on the market. biggest cutaways ive seen are five window. my cutaway is a five window and its 23ft b2b which only give me about 14.5 feet behind driver seat. height is also a major concern if you want to have a shower on the side youll either need to sit down, be extremely short, or do a roof raise. if you do a raise you could possibly build a loft bed or put a bed lift mechanism over your garage and free up about 35 square feet. which is massive considering you only have slightly over 100sf in most cutaways
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Old 09-08-2020, 08:43 PM   #7
Mini-Skoolie
 
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I might do a slide out and with the steel body it would be easier. I'm to fond of the look of the shuttle bus, but I've been known to change my mind.
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Old 09-08-2020, 08:47 PM   #8
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Like you I'm a fan of the Thomas and the Bluebird.
The fiberglass doesn't give me the warm fuzzy feeling for strength and safety. This will be a 4WD conversion or lifted 2WD.
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Old 09-08-2020, 08:50 PM   #9
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by waxman View Post
you might have to tweak your floor plan to what's on the market. biggest cutaways ive seen are five window. my cutaway is a five window and its 23ft b2b which only give me about 14.5 feet behind driver seat. height is also a major concern if you want to have a shower on the side youll either need to sit down, be extremely short, or do a roof raise. if you do a raise you could possibly build a loft bed or put a bed lift mechanism over your garage and free up about 35 square feet. which is massive considering you only have slightly over 100sf in most cutaways
I too have been finding that school bus' are 14' on the inside and the hight is fine. We are short people.
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Old 09-08-2020, 08:53 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bernadette On The Go View Post
Like you I'm a fan of the Thomas and the Bluebird.
The fiberglass doesn't give me the warm fuzzy feeling for strength and safety. This will be a 4WD conversion or lifted 2WD.
Something to consider is a lifted 4wd with the very heavy steel roof is much more at risk of tipping over.
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Old 09-08-2020, 09:15 PM   #11
Bus Geek
 
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ive driven shuttles busses abnd in. general they are quieter and easier to drive than a full size chassis school bus..



I believe a full school bus body is stronger than many shuttles, however shuttles tend to have taller inside ceilings, nicer windows, Air-conditioning, and more squared off.. so other than not being metal they seem to me like something set up nicely for conversion..
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Old 09-09-2020, 06:53 AM   #12
Mini-Skoolie
 
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I think the big thing about a short bus over a shuttle is that you can put a platform on the roof.
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Old 09-09-2020, 07:16 PM   #13
Skoolie
 
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I know that this bus interior is 16 long and 7.5 wide.
It's a 2001 Chevrolet 350 6L Diesel.

https://www.instagram.com/endlesslyroaming/


My 2002 Ford e-450 interior is 14 long.
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Old 09-10-2020, 12:41 AM   #14
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Originally Posted by awilder View Post
I know that this bus interior is 16 long and 7.5 wide.
It's a 2001 Chevrolet 350 6L Diesel.

https://www.instagram.com/endlesslyroaming/


My 2002 Ford e-450 interior is 14 long.
Thanks. I'll check them out.
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Old 09-10-2020, 12:42 AM   #15
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Thanks. I'll check them out. 16' is perfect.
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Old 09-12-2020, 04:19 PM   #16
Almost There
 
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E450

I’ve got a 6 window e450 and it’s like 15 1/2 from the driver seat.... look it up on YouTube Mtb adventure bus
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Old 09-12-2020, 06:32 PM   #17
Skoolie
 
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I have a 2001 Chevy express 3500 turbo diesel cutaway with an El Dorado shell. 5 Window. 24 ft bumper to bumper. It is 16 feet from back inside to back of driver seat. But it is fiberglass.
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Old 09-13-2020, 04:41 PM   #18
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lherrlinger View Post
I’ve got a 6 window e450 and it’s like 15 1/2 from the driver seat.... look it up on YouTube Mtb adventure bus
I'll check that out. Thank you.
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Old 09-13-2020, 04:42 PM   #19
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sharee100 View Post
I have a 2001 Chevy express 3500 turbo diesel cutaway with an El Dorado shell. 5 Window. 24 ft bumper to bumper. It is 16 feet from back inside to back of driver seat. But it is fiberglass.
Thank you. It's to be fairly standard in the shuttle buses.
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Old 09-13-2020, 04:58 PM   #20
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lherrlinger View Post
I’ve got a 6 window e450 and it’s like 15 1/2 from the driver seat.... look it up on YouTube Mtb adventure bus
Could you please give me a link?
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