Nova RTS. Let's talk about them...

[shaymcquaid]

Hi and thanks for looking....


So I am looking to make a bus a (temporary) home. (Don't tell my wife)

Transit buses for the interior room have caught my eye. (Although swayable for a skoolie)

So now I am looking for opinions about RTS buses as candidates for conversion.

They are wide 8.5 Feet. They are tall at something like 9+ feet INSIDE. And they come long @ 40' (and 60')

THEY EVEN HAVE UNDER BUS STORAGE BAYS!!!!

Alas, I am sure there has to be a down side.
Please take a minute and look at this bus and please lay you opinions on me!!

Here is the link:
https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?fa=Main.Item&itemid=1332&acctid=4740

 

[Iceni John]

Series 50s are good engines as long as their damper shafts are replaced on schedule, and they need soft engine mounts to keep their idle vibration from shaking the fillings out of your teeth. The ZF transmission is probably good if you're in Europe, but parts here are VERY pricy, and finding someone qualified and experienced to work on one is a challenge - the sister bus to this one has a broken ZF transmission, and that's the reason it's being sold.

An RTS can make a good conversion (one contributor to the BCM forum has one), especially if it was a suburban bus with higher gearing, and there is some underfloor space for making storage bays and places for tanks etc. Some RTS have IFS, some don't, so be careful there. All in all, definitely worth considering, but only if it has a V730 instead of a ZF or Voith.

Yes, GM did make a prototype articulated RTS but they never went into series production, so every RTS you see now is no longer than 40 feet.

John

 

[shaymcquaid]

Thanks for your input....


What do you rekon my odds for getting another 80k out of that tranny?:Thanx:

 

[PNW_Steve]

The older RTS's with 6v92's and and Allison V730's had quite a conversion following some years ago.

Enough that there were folk selling body panels kits and baggage bays for them.

I wonder if anyone is still offering those pieces? They made a pretty sharp looking rig.

https://www.google.com/search?clien...i131i20i263.QAEz0SO8Pz8#imgrc=nW99yRNIy7I5XM:

 

[o1marc]

High mileage over 500K, low ground clearance will limit where you can go. These usually don't have a high speed for freeways. Needs tires.

 

[alpine44]

Series 50s are good engines as long as their damper shafts are replaced on schedule, and they need soft engine mounts to keep their idle vibration from shaking the fillings out of your teeth. The ZF transmission is probably good if you're in Europe, but parts here are VERY pricy, and finding someone qualified and experienced to work on one is a challenge - the sister bus to this one has a broken ZF transmission, and that's the reason it's being sold.

An RTS can make a good conversion (one contributor to the BCM forum has one), especially if it was a suburban bus with higher gearing, and there is some underfloor space for making storage bays and places for tanks etc. Some RTS have IFS, some don't, so be careful there. All in all, definitely worth considering, but only if it has a V730 instead of a ZF or Voith.

Yes, GM did make a prototype articulated RTS but they never went into series production, so every RTS you see now is no longer than 40 feet.

John

I assume that IFS stands for independent front suspension. What are the pros and cons of IFS on buses?

 

[alpine44]

Hi and thanks for looking....


So I am looking to make a bus a (temporary) home. (Don't tell my wife)

Transit buses for the interior room have caught my eye. (Although swayable for a skoolie)

So now I am looking for opinions about RTS buses as candidates for conversion.

They are wide 8.5 Feet. They are tall at something like 9+ feet INSIDE. And they come long @ 40' (and 60')

THEY EVEN HAVE UNDER BUS STORAGE BAYS!!!!

Alas, I am sure there has to be a down side.
Please take a minute and look at this bus and please lay you opinions on me!!

Here is the link:
https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?fa=Main.Item&itemid=1332&acctid=4740

Any luck with any of these auctions?

I could not deal with the logistics of retrieving a bus from Florida now and did not bid but I spoke to the fleet manager in Gainesville, FL. They have several more of the RTS buses coming in the next few weeks. They will also retire some Gilligs soon but with a lot (~800k) miles on them.

All Gainesville Nova RTS buses received an engine and transmission rebuild/replace at ~250k miles. Interior height is 81.75" in the center isle throughout the length of the bus. Buses are geared for urban use but should do 60 mph.

Does anyone know what rear axles are typically in the Nova RTS buses?

Also still hoping for opinions on pros an cons of IFS on buses.