|
|
02-07-2018, 09:01 PM
|
#1
|
Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Blacksburg, VA
Posts: 48
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Ford E450
Engine: 7.3L (Navistar T444E)
|
Short Bus vs Shuttle Bus Opinions??
Hey guys. I'm looking to get into the Skoolie life and in the planning stage still. hoping to buy a bus come summer but I'm up in the air on whether I want to go with a short bus (standard short school bus) or a shuttle bus (small transit bus, "mini bus"?).
The floorplan I'm looking to create would need at least 14' from driver's seat back so from what I've gathered it appears some 5-window Shorties would be good but to be safe I'd probably look for a 6-window Shorty or a 5-window Shuttle.
When weighing my options these are the main things I feel like I've stalled on pros and cons of each. Basically I've got that a Shorty is more likely to be diesel (ideally Ford 7.3) and a shuttle would more likely be gas but have more headroom. I'm 6' so low headroom could be an issue with some buses.
You all are more knowledgeable than I am on all this so what are you opinions? What am I missing about clear benefits of each? I plan to travel with it so gas mileage would be something to consider but would the gas vs diesel be THAT much of a difference on how often I'm refueling and would the difference in price for the fuel make up a difference or make the difference more?
Thanks in advance for any advice and please pose more questions for me to think about before getting head over heels in this project!
|
|
|
02-07-2018, 09:30 PM
|
#2
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Willamina, Oregon
Posts: 6,409
Coachwork: 97 Bluebird TC1000 5.9
|
Welcome and we're glad you've got our bus disease.
You are definitely describing a shorty. Are you talking abut a conventional shorty or a cutaway bus? I'm guessing you're talking about a cutaway bus? Depending on what you're using your bus for you could possibly use a shuttle bus. The shuttles like very flat ground, which makes them largely inadequate for boondocking. They are generally not designed for freeway travel which might affect extended trips. There have been several shuttle projects and I'm sure you'll find them soon.
Have fun.
__________________
Robin
Nobody's Business
|
|
|
02-07-2018, 09:37 PM
|
#3
|
Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Blacksburg, VA
Posts: 48
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Ford E450
Engine: 7.3L (Navistar T444E)
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robin97396
You are definitely describing a shorty. Are you talking abut a conventional shorty or a cutaway bus? I'm guessing you're talking about a cutaway bus?
|
What makes the difference between conventional shorty and a cutaway?
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
|
|
|
02-07-2018, 10:04 PM
|
#4
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Owasso, OK
Posts: 2,627
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner MVP ER
Engine: Cummins 6CTA8.3 Mechanical MD3060
Rated Cap: 46 Coach Seats, 40 foot
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by gzimmerman372
What makes the difference between conventional shorty and a cutaway?
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
|
The chassis they are built on.
Conventional shorties are simply short school buses, built on a school bus chassis. Cutaways are van conversions where the chassis and cab from a medium-duty truck are retained, and a school bus body built on behind it.
|
|
|
02-07-2018, 10:35 PM
|
#5
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Willamina, Oregon
Posts: 6,409
Coachwork: 97 Bluebird TC1000 5.9
|
I understand they both tow well. The cutaway bus would give a van type of driving experience. The shorty just feels like a tall pickup truck once you get used to it.
You're never going to have to much space inside a bus.
__________________
Robin
Nobody's Business
|
|
|
02-07-2018, 10:39 PM
|
#6
|
Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Blacksburg, VA
Posts: 48
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Ford E450
Engine: 7.3L (Navistar T444E)
|
So the Ford is along the lines of what I would be looking at. Lower overall vehicle clearance. Is the other (IC I think?) A conventional shorty?
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
|
|
|
02-07-2018, 10:51 PM
|
#7
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Willamina, Oregon
Posts: 6,409
Coachwork: 97 Bluebird TC1000 5.9
|
Yes the IC is a conventional shorty. You'll notice that one has quite small wheels. That is a handy bus and has a completely flat floor with no wheel well protrusions inside.
Some of the cutaway buses more closely resemble an RV than that one.
__________________
Robin
Nobody's Business
|
|
|
02-07-2018, 10:55 PM
|
#8
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
Posts: 10,482
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
Rated Cap: 77
|
Diesel over gas will get you anywhere from 50%-100% better mileage with diesel. At a 15% price difference, yes, it is a substantial difference. Not to mention the diesel motors, if maintained properly, will last 100's of thousands of mile more before needing a refurb.
|
|
|
02-07-2018, 10:56 PM
|
#9
|
Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Farmington Hills, Mi (Detroit area)
Posts: 1,968
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Eldorado Aerotech 24'
Chassis: Ford E-450 Cutaway Bus
Engine: 7.3L Powerstroke
Rated Cap: 19
|
The main advantage of the van based cutaway buses is the availability of parts and service. Our shuttle has had engine issues twice on the road and both times we were able to get parts at a local auto parts store. Service is as close as the nearest Ford or Chevy dealer.
Ours will do 75mph but isn't all that happy at that speed. It seems happiest and not nearly so noisy at 65 or so. The shuttles I've looked at all had highway gearing. Not sure about the van based short schoolies but I'd guess they would be the same.
|
|
|
02-07-2018, 11:09 PM
|
#10
|
Traveling
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Midwest
Posts: 2,573
Year: 2003
Coachwork: BlueBird
Chassis: TC2000
Engine: 5.9L Cummins
Rated Cap: '00
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by roach711
The main advantage of the van based cutaway buses is the availability of parts and service.
|
^^^ This is true. There is a Ford Dealership every 10 miles in Texas, it seems.
I had a Ford V-10 shuttle- blast to drive- ez. Was unimpressed with construction materials for my porpoise.
|
|
|
02-08-2018, 05:09 AM
|
#11
|
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
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robin97396
Yes the IC is a conventional shorty. You'll notice that one has quite small wheels. That is a handy bus and has a completely flat floor with no wheel well protrusions inside.
Some of the cutaway buses more closely resemble an RV than that one.
|
IDK if that's true on an IC. Neither of my handi buses had flat floors.
|
|
|
02-08-2018, 07:37 AM
|
#12
|
Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 111
|
You get a wider selection of diesel engines with a full sized short bus.
|
|
|
02-08-2018, 07:55 AM
|
#13
|
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
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by RRRVBUS
You get a wider selection of diesel engines with a full sized short bus.
|
Yeah, I've got a small short bus on a full size chassis. Thing is a beast. It has a DT466 in a tiny bus. 215hp and 530 lb-ft of torque. Couple with an allison 5 speed with OD, its a really nice powerful bus. Couldn't get a drivetrain that robust in a van.
|
|
|
02-08-2018, 07:19 PM
|
#14
|
Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Blacksburg, VA
Posts: 48
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Ford E450
Engine: 7.3L (Navistar T444E)
|
Thanks for the responses, everyone! I think I'm going to still look more toward a cutaway as I personally like the look of them a bit better and as roach711 said the parts are much easier to find. Also I think the lower overall height would be nice as I won't have to worry as much for clearance if I go into some backwoods places.
Does anyone have either conventional or cutaway shorty and has dimensions? Wondering what height each is, width (I would assume are pretty similar), and length from driver's seat back?
|
|
|
02-08-2018, 07:21 PM
|
#15
|
Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Blacksburg, VA
Posts: 48
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Ford E450
Engine: 7.3L (Navistar T444E)
|
Cutaway buses also seem to be cheaper from what I can find, too.
|
|
|
02-08-2018, 09:08 PM
|
#16
|
Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Farmington Hills, Mi (Detroit area)
Posts: 1,968
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Eldorado Aerotech 24'
Chassis: Ford E-450 Cutaway Bus
Engine: 7.3L Powerstroke
Rated Cap: 19
|
My 2000 Aerotech cutaway floor is 16.5 feet from the driver's seat to the back of the bus, 7'8" wide and 6'7" from floor to ceiling at the center aisle. Ground clearance would be pretty good except for the stair well. I've dragged that on a steep driveway once or twice. The Eldorado Aerotech buses have sturdy fiberglass bodies and are the only ones I know of that have been crash tested.
|
|
|
02-08-2018, 10:22 PM
|
#17
|
Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Blacksburg, VA
Posts: 48
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Ford E450
Engine: 7.3L (Navistar T444E)
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by roach711
My 2000 Aerotech cutaway floor is 16.5 feet from the driver's seat to the back of the bus, 7'8" wide and 6'7" from floor to ceiling at the center aisle. Ground clearance would be pretty good except for the stair well. I've dragged that on a steep driveway once or twice. The Eldorado Aerotech buses have sturdy fiberglass bodies and are the only ones I know of that have been crash tested.
|
I see yours is a shuttle, what kind of gas mileage do you get? Is it gas or diesel?
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
|
|
|
02-08-2018, 11:48 PM
|
#18
|
Bus Nut
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Culpeper, Virginia
Posts: 302
Chassis: Step Van
Engine: Prefer Diesel
Rated Cap: 14'-16' Step Van
|
Look for ElDorado or TurtleTop bodies. They are both crash tested to gov standard. Some even have both front doors and seats. Another great option. Swivel seats and instant add of space.
Doug
|
|
|
02-09-2018, 10:27 AM
|
#19
|
Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Farmington Hills, Mi (Detroit area)
Posts: 1,968
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Eldorado Aerotech 24'
Chassis: Ford E-450 Cutaway Bus
Engine: 7.3L Powerstroke
Rated Cap: 19
|
Ours is a 7.3L Powerstroke diesel. We get 11 to 13 MPG depending on the wind.
|
|
|
02-09-2018, 10:35 AM
|
#20
|
Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Blacksburg, VA
Posts: 48
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Ford E450
Engine: 7.3L (Navistar T444E)
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robin97396
The shuttles like very flat ground, which makes them largely inadequate for boondocking.
|
Robin, can you or anyone else expand on this? Do you mean that when you're parked they prefer it to be flat? Don't they all prefer that? What makes it inadequate for boondocking?
|
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|