bus dimensions?

[superdave]

i have a 96 with that bump up in the roof, its 78"

[mellowstar]

So I've been searching all over the internet.. with no luck.. I'm trying to figure out about how much space you have in the rear of most 30+ feet schools buses there is before you have to deal with the wheel well? My guess is around 8ft?

I too am in the market for a bus (once funds are available) and I am sketching out possible floor plans. I know I'm going to have to work around the wheel wells but I can't figure out where they are INSIDE the bus!

Any info would be appreciated

[Tango]

Most are 8' on the outside and work out to about 7-1/2' on the inside. Height and width of the wheel wells will vary by model & maker.

[nat_ster]

Yup 7, 6" on the inside, 7, 10" outside on most.

Newer buses like the lions are a bit smaller.

Nat

[mellowstar]

Thanks so much (:

[MaksWerks]

Bringing this back from the dead. For the conventional nose 10 window thomas units. Does anyone have a exact length bumper to bumper? Also for the same but 8 window.



Look like this bus:
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...Nx3Fx21Ekfnca0

[crazycal]

Originally Posted by MaksWerks

Bringing this back from the dead. For the conventional nose 10 window thomas units. Does anyone have a exact length bumper to bumper? Also for the same but 8 window.



Look like this bus:
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...Nx3Fx21Ekfnca0

Nothing is exact in the school bus world. Windows have different sizes. That pic is pretty small.

[MaksWerks]

Originally Posted by crazycal

Nothing is exact in the school bus world. Windows have different sizes. That pic is pretty small.

I just need a real world number. If its in the mid to high 30's i am ok, if its 40+ it wont work.

This is where I am looking ..... 70 plus Buses / Bus for Sale

[somewhereinusa]

I don't think any school bus is over 40.

[Little Bishop]

I'm shopping for a bus. It can't be longer than 30 feet. I'm looking at a 2000 International, conventional, 54 passenger bus. The bus in question is listed by First Student, and there isn't a picture. Anyone know how long it is tip to tail?

[cowlitzcoach]

54-passengers is most likely an 8-window bus.

If it is, it most likely is 256" from the service door to the back bumper and about 120" from the back of the service door to the front bumper.

If it is a 7-window bus it will most likely be 224" from the service door to the back bumper and about 120" from the back of the service door to the front bumper.

Those are approximate numbers but should be within about 24".

School buses are limited to a total length of no more than 40' overall. Some motorcoaches and transit buses are longer than 40' but school buses can NOT be more than 40'.

Also, school buses are limited to a maximum width of 96". Most larger commercial buses, transit buses, and motorcoaches are now 102" wide.

[Little Bishop]

Thank you cowlitzcoach.

[100MPG]

Originally Posted by GoneCamping

I learned early on to count windows....

lol. I am a counter also. Every pic online, every ad, I count the windows first, but only if it is an RE. I get excited if it has 14 windows...

[Little Bishop]

My problem is that I only have room for the turning radius of a 30 foot bus. Being new to shopping for a school bus, I don't know how to find out which ones are 30 feet long, but I gather that 8 windows or under are 30 feet long or under.

[cowlitzcoach]

Some of the Type 'D' FE buses have incredibly tight turning ability. Some of the front axles that are used have 50* or more cut angles. It can really scrub the rubber off of front tires if you take the corners very fast.

The reason why I mention that fact is I have driven several Type 'D' FE buses that will turn inside of a crew cab long box pickup. Some I have driven that have wheelbases longer than the total length of a Ford E-350 15-passenger van but turned just as tight as the van.

Of course those FE buses had huge rear overhangs that really swing and can hit stuff as they swing around a corner if you don't watch what you are doing.

Before you discount buses because they are too long I would try driving a few to see how much real estate they take to get turned around.

I will grant you that there were a lot of buses back in the day that required a whole corn field to get around a corner. The worst offenders were the Ford chassis Type 'C' buses with the narrow track light duty front axle.

But most buses built since the IHC S-series Schoolmaster chassis hit the market will turn a whole bunch tighter than you would expect from such a large vehicle.

Good luck and happy trails.

[Little Bishop]

Hmmm... I'd love to have a full size bus...
I'm in MA, but I'll be moving to OR. Maybe my friend can measure the width of the street and the width of the driveway where I'll be living. Then I could take some traffic cones with me and see if the bus will do that. Thanks for the inspiration!

[mikeypj]

Whats the distance from the floor to bottom of window?

The road goes ever on and on, down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the road has gone, and I must follow, if I can.” –J.R.R. Tolkien

[Scooternj]

Originally Posted by mikeypj

Whats the distance from the floor to bottom of window?

Somewhere around 3-ish feet. The top of the bottom rubrail indicates floor height, the middle rubrail indicates seat cushion height. The rails actually play a role, besides body stiffening, to give responders visual cues on the interior layout of the bus.

[CoconutExpressPartyB]

Originally Posted by Scooternj

Somewhere around 3-ish feet. The top of the bottom rubrail indicates floor height, the middle rubrail indicates seat cushion height. The rails actually play a role, besides body stiffening, to give responders visual cues on the interior layout of the bus.

This is golden information! ... and makes so much sense! Thank you

[Njsurf73]

I have never been in an Amtran, and am considering one that's quite a bit to far to kick the tires... I know it's a 40' re
Anyone know if it's 6'0 cieling?