School Bus Seat Rails

[Curlyawesomeace]

I plan on getting a school bus in the near future. I've done most of my research, but I cant find an answer to this question anywhere. Are bus seat rails standard? I plan on taking out a majority of the seats but still having 3-5 rows for any passenger needs. Would more comfortable charter bus seats just slot right in? Or would I have to remove and replace the seat rails currently within the bus.

 

[Brad_SwiftFur]

On BlueBird buses, the seat rails on the walls are part of the overall structure and should not be removed. You may attach seats to them using whatever brackets you need, or attaching to the floor (I'd put some washers underneath). Others are probably similar.

 

[Mountain Gnome]

On BlueBird buses, the seat rails on the walls are part of the overall structure and should not be removed. You may attach seats to them using whatever brackets you need, or attaching to the floor (I'd put some washers underneath). Others are probably similar.

I respectfully disagree. There is a horizontal frame behind the rails, and the rainls are held in place with barely a thread per bolt, and not that many bolts. At least in mine. I took all that apart to get the windows out. I like my rails, and re-installed them.

 

[Brad_SwiftFur]

This has already been discussed before on this forum. Perhaps you are thinking of a different chair rail?


http://www.skoolie.net/forums/f13/chair-rail-dilemma-9225.html


On the Blue Bird website, in this image you can see the floor and chair rail in place as a worker installs the roof bows and longitudinal framework:


https://www.blue-bird.com/images/bus-frame.png


My own Blue Bird bus has similar rails on both walls for attaching seats. They are not simply bolted in, they are very securely riveted.

 

[Brad_SwiftFur]

To answer the OP's question, other brands of buses may have different chair rail securement methods (some are indeed simply bolted in) and I also plan to swap the seats in mine for something much more comfortable. I'll attach mine to the floor, or factory seat rail, fabricating brackets if I need to.

 

[Curlyawesomeace]

Thanks guy! Its unfortunate that there is no industry standard, but with my prior experience, I imagine fabricating something to make it work should be easy. My plan is either a used international or ford E series, which afaik use the same seating rails as school buses.

 

[Mountain Gnome]

This has already been discussed before on this forum. Perhaps you are thinking of a different chair rail?


http://www.skoolie.net/forums/f13/chair-rail-dilemma-9225.html


On the Blue Bird website, in this image you can see the floor and chair rail in place as a worker installs the roof bows and longitudinal framework:


https://www.blue-bird.com/images/bus-frame.png


My own Blue Bird bus has similar rails on both walls for attaching seats. They are not simply bolted in, they are very securely riveted.

Oh, I was thinking of the wheelchair tracks that run above the windows. They are the same as the tracks that are used to mount seats on the floor in my handybus. That was what I thought the OP was talking about.



There is another "chair rail" along the wall under the windows that is, yes, very substantial to the build of the body's structural framework, and is riveted in. Yes, leave them in your bus. In my head, I call it a "flange," but "rail" works also.


Thanks for the clarity!

 

[musigenesis]

http://www.skoolie.net/forums/f13/chair-rail-dilemma-9225.html

Wow, what happened to that person who cut out part of their chair rail? That is really unfortunate.

 

[PNW_Steve]

OP,

I don't know what state you live in. Some States require a CDL if you have seating for 16 or more including the driver.