Rear Engine Ground Clearance

[selfdetermined]

Hey all. I'm buying a bus that I expect to be driven plenty on highways but will also see its fair share of gravel roads as well. Particularly up in Alaska. For a whole host of reasons, I've decided that I want a rear engine bus. I've been eyeing up buses with underbelly storage, but that extra space typically comes at the expense of ground clearance.

So here's my question for all of you (with particular interest in you RE drivers, and AK Skoolies): do you ever have ground clearance issues?

(The inclusion of your bus's wheelbase and ground clearance numbers would be helpful for the discussion.)

[jazty]

I had the same concerns, as well. The problem with all the flat-nose buses I've seen is that the front bumper is lower than the main frame rails, unlike a conventional that has both bumpers connected to the ends of 2 straight frame rails. That'll equate to a bumper height difference of around 8", I would guess. That'll hurt your approach angle a bit while school bus "offroading", but departure angle is always terrible on these things. I've scraped several bus asses while driving through ditches to access de-activated logging roads. In my opinion, it's wise to route the exhaust out the side instead of the rear to keep from squashing it flat

[EastCoastCB]

A 40ft bus is going to be tough to maneuver on tight backroads. RE is going to have the longest wheelbase and lowest ground clearance.
For "offroad" duty a mid-length conventional is king.

[elkoskoolie]

Really depends on the model. Older RE Gilligs have great clearance. Check out "gillig to alaska" here. Pat from wheelchairbusproject took several down to central america. I have a 1980 RE that I take to Burning Man every year with a rail crossing that is a bit scary (high center risk) and then a few hundred feet of twisty, hummocky road to get to the lake bed. I've got a great running '75 RE with a CAT 3280 with even better ground clearance I might let go here in northern Nevada.

[cowlitzcoach]

If you are serious about getting off the beaten track then a Type 'D' RE bus is your worst choice.

Regardless of the length, the engine is hung out back where it will hit if you are not careful.

This bus would be prefect for your purposes. http://showroom.auction123.com/thebu...6VH454131.html

If you are interested contact me. We can work on the price.

FE buses have a lower front frame rails with a bumper mounted lower.

RE buses normally have the front bumper attached to the end of the front of the frame rails.

[selfdetermined]

cowlitzcoach, I'm not sure how I gave the impression that I intend to be off the beaten track. I very much intend to be on the track, however, I recognize that the track in many places I intend to do has yet to be paved. It's maintained - but it's gravel.

The last thing I want is a 4x4 CE, for about 100 reasons.

My question was directed to those who also use their buses on mostly-paved roads, with occasional gravel use. Or to other people in AK who are more familiar with the road conditions up there. I want to know if others feel an RE is still an option in those conditions.

[opus]

We're on gravel a lot. No issues, even in the mud. Tire choice will be important if you are going to spend time on gravel.

By gravel I mean gravel roads. Not paths, trails, non-maintained roads.

[bansil]

RE is they way to o go on gravel or wet dirt roads,period

Our FE has no wt on rear tires, if can spin them easy in gravel/mud/grass (that's why I want chains lol)

Oops sorry back on topic, if it has rear airride, I have seen OTR coaches that can be lifted 6 inches from drivers seat with bypass switches to airbag leveling valves etc

Might be something to tuck away in back of brain

[boojiewoojie]

The front of my RE has better clearance than all the FE's I've driven. So far no problems with the rear. Yes, clearance with underbelly storage can be an issue but they're all like that.

[Alan N]

We went to Dead Horse (Prudhoe Bay) and just about every where else in Alaska you can drive to in a rear engine Gillig. No Problems.

[selfdetermined]

Awesome! Can't wait to make that trip myself.

You drive that same Gillig down the AlCan back to Minnesota?

[Alan N]

Yes. 10,000 miles round trip. Trying to decide where to go this year. Maybe Glacier park, maybe.???
If you go I can recommend some things to see. Lots of very interesting country.
The Alaska hwy is a little ho hum, good for the newly wed and the nearly dead.
If you got a skoolie you got the machine for the north imho.

[selfdetermined]

I'm driving from MN to AK in June. No foreseeable return trip. Lots, and lots of places I'd like to explore once I get there.

Can't. Wait.

[EastCoastCB]

Sounds like an awesome plan.

[MCV1964]

I got a 1949 GMC School Bus. It needs about everything! I have been going over my plans to replace the floors n insulating. This lead me to thinking about the floor structure and plumbing and storage under the bus.

My bus is 35 or 36 feet bumper to bumper.

Just wandering what kind of ground clearance I need do I dont crape bottom and damage the storage areas and framework I will be putting in for tanks n solar batteries.

Thanks guys!

[PNW_Steve]

I spent 6 years and 260k miles running around the country in a rear engine bus. I did try to avoid really rough roads but did have one notable issue.

I took a scenic drive outside of Sedona AZ. As I approached the "exit" from a gully that the road dipped into I drug the rear frame and could not proceed. The road was too narrow to turn around. I had to back up almost three miles.....

The only damage was to my ego......

FWIW: When I set out to buy another bus I did not consider anything other than a RE.

[Tango]

Air bags can help with the clearance issue.

[family wagon]

One of our members (was it Vlad?) had at least planned on adding air bags partly to improve the ride, but also to gain several inches of clearance if/when the bags are inflated to their maximum. I don't recall now whether the idea was brought to completion.