| Author | Message | ||
| mark (Coolbus)
Registered Member Username: Coolbus Post Number: 19 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 65.40.227.162 Rating: N/A |
where might one find out the turning radius of the different models? If you are reading this and you happen to know your bus' turning radius, please post here! thanks Mark | ||
| John MC9 (John_mc9)
Registered Member Username: John_mc9 Post Number: 99 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 66.217.105.72 Rating: |
Go HERE and click on the "all about buses" tab, then do it again for the make/model you want. (IE: Eagle Buses) | ||
| Jim Stewart (H3jim)
Registered Member Username: H3jim Post Number: 264 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 68.7.236.108 Rating: N/A |
H3-41, 1995 model, the turning radius is 39 feet. | ||
| mark (Coolbus)
Registered Member Username: Coolbus Post Number: 20 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 65.40.227.162 Rating: N/A |
WOW, Jim! Thats tighter than most 35 footers!What a great feature. Mark | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1025 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 71.195.113.23 Rating: |
Jim - Is that 39 feet the wheels, or the body corner? Several manufacturers only publish the wheel turning radius, not the radius out at the body corner, which is often quite a bit greater. Just one of those things that's inconsistent. . . Mark - FYI, the new Setra S417 coach, which is a 45-footer, has a 40 foot turning radius at the body corner - gotta watch the tail swing when pulling away from a curb with this one! Setra's previous models also had tight turning radius'. The 35-foot S215HDH was 34'1" at the wheels, and the forty-foot S217HTH came in at 39'9". My own bus, a 4106, has a published turning radius of 38'6" at the wheels, and 42' at the front body corners. The forty-foot 4905s are 45' at the wheels, and 49' at the body corner. A forty-foot, 102" wide RTS is 38'6" at the wheels, and 44' at the body corner. The Eagle Model 10 is 39'6" at the wheels, 42'6" at the body corner. Prevost says 43' for both the LeMirage and the H3-40, but doesn't indicate wheel or body corner. And the good old forty-foot MC-9 takes forever at 46'5" at the body corner. All of the above specifications are from manufacturer's published literature in my file cabinet. HTH. . .  | ||
| Jim Stewart (H3jim)
Registered Member Username: H3jim Post Number: 266 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 68.7.236.108 Rating: N/A |
It is a bonus, however with the wheelbase I still have to be careful about the shorter tracking of the rear wheels. The great turning radius is one reason I went for the 41 over the 45 footer. The MAK bus calendar has turning radius's of many of the coaches out there. RJ, to be honest, I have never checked as it was not something I can do much about. I generally wanted a tighter turning bus, but not so much that it would make me switch make and model as there were many other considerations. All of them require awareness when turning. (Message edited by h3jim on September 19, 2006) | ||
| John Ferguson (Jarlaxle)
Registered Member Username: Jarlaxle Post Number: 15 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 4.174.103.101 Rating: N/A |
The turning radius of every vehicle is...exactly six inches greater than the amount of available space.  | ||
| Marc Bourget Unregistered guest Posted From: 64.142.42.176 Rating: |
RJ, You didn't give any data for the steerable tag MCIs, Have any available? The first or second BC Seminar at Laughlin had MCI demo a steerable tag bus in the parking lot. The difference was striking! Marc | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 309 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.162.3.30 Rating: N/A |
The IC-41 Brill that I used to have seemed to have about 150' turning radius in one direction, as the tire got real close to the drag link in one direction. | ||
| Kyle Brandt (Kyle4501)
Registered Member Username: Kyle4501 Post Number: 193 Registered: 9-2004 Posted From: 65.23.106.193 Rating: N/A |
The infamous Fast Fred is credited with posting drawing showing a bunch of outside dimensions for the 4501 (on a scenicruiser website). It shows the TR ~42 feet to the outside corner. I wish I could find a copy of the original document. I don't know if that is with the tag axle loaded or unloaded...... I need to do some experimenting to verify this before I change the driveway to make room for her! | ||
| sylverstone (Sylverstone_pd4501864)
Registered Member Username: Sylverstone_pd4501864 Post Number: 193 Registered: 7-2005 Posted From: 216.173.223.253 Rating: N/A |
kyle, i think this: http://www.warbusaur.com/specs/outside-dimensions.jpg is the document i think you mean? i found it to be pretty accurate with my bus fully loaded, and i cannot lift my tag. -dd (Message edited by sylverstone_pd4501864 on September 21, 2006) | ||
| John MC9 (John_mc9)
Registered Member Username: John_mc9 Post Number: 104 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 66.217.106.178 Rating: N/A |
Unless the transmission's reverse is shot, why is a short turning radius all that important? How many "U-turns" does youse guys make in a day, anyhow? (and why?) | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 8 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 4.240.213.166 Rating: N/A |
Kyle....why is FF infamous??......From my point of view over the years he has contributed much to this board....some controversial, some not,but nevertheless contributed in a generally positive way. Frankly, I, and I am sure others, miss his contributions. Hope he returns soon. He has an opinion on many things....so do many others. That is what makes this board so great. Infamous...., doubt it. Check the dictionary... FWIW RCB '64 Crown Supercoach (HWC) | ||
| Jim Stewart (H3jim)
Registered Member Username: H3jim Post Number: 268 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 68.7.236.108 Rating: N/A |
John, if we have to splain it to you... Its not that big a deal, but for those of us that like to put our buses in tight spots, it just makes it easier. I like to boondock, and I have found myself in many very tight spots with very little room to maneuver. Also I have turned down many small side streets in out of the way places, that I probably should not. Visiting friends and family around the country, some have very tight, narrow driveways. While its true that teh long wheelbase requires more width to negotiate a turn, I believe that in addition, a longer turning radius requires even more width to get that beast turned. And then there is backing up. While I am very comfortable backing, I don't like to back when I can't see well, and those short tight places that might require backing increase the chances of running into / over something I don't want to. While there were many other more important considerations than turning radius that caused me to select the bus I did, it was definitely in the mix. | ||
| Bryce Gaston (Busted_knuckle)
Registered Member Username: Busted_knuckle Post Number: 265 Registered: 1-2006 Posted From: 65.7.40.231 Rating: N/A |
RJ, Very informative post! But your specs on the Setra's are slightly off! "FYI, the new Setra S417 coach, which is a 45-footer, has a 40 foot turning radius at the body corner - gotta watch the tail swing when pulling away from a curb with this one! Setra's previous models also had tight turning radius'. The 35-foot S215HDH was 34'1" at the wheels, and the forty-foot S217HTH came in at 39'9"." The S215 is a 40'er and the S217 is a 45'er but all the other info is correct! FWIW BK S215HDH in the driveway, and hopefully soon a S217 to be beside it! | ||
| Kyle Brandt (Kyle4501)
Registered Member Username: Kyle4501 Post Number: 196 Registered: 9-2004 Posted From: 65.12.100.208 Rating: N/A |
Thanks RC, I checked the dictionary & I owe FF a HUGE appology! I was thinking it meant something totally different. (ie not getting the credit due, or something like that) Just for the record, I have a huge amount of respect for FF & his way of cutting thru the hype & BS. He is very well read and has helped me aviod problems by responding to my questions. I too miss his input & look forward to his return. While I may not always agree with him, I do like the way he provokes me to think. I also just like his style. Again, I appologize for the unintended insult. | ||
| Kyle Brandt (Kyle4501)
Registered Member Username: Kyle4501 Post Number: 197 Registered: 9-2004 Posted From: 65.12.100.208 Rating: N/A |
dd, The tag unload is supposed to take some pressure off the tag axle, not all & there is no lift mechanism on a 4501. U could deflate the air bags & use an axle hook & lift one when u air the bus back up, but this is for changing the tires only. Where did you get that document? I'd like to find it with more resolution. john mc9, in order to park my bus in my yard, I don't have the room to back up thanks to the trees, power poles, narrow streets, etc. backing up requires a wider space. I have used autoCad to layout the required space & a smaller turning radius makes a huge difference. But that is just my circumstance resulting from buying an old house in downtown before I bought a bus. | ||
| John MC9 (John_mc9)
Registered Member Username: John_mc9 Post Number: 112 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 66.217.107.121 Rating: N/A |
Kyle - I don't mean to be argumentive, or belabor the topic....... But as far as I'm concerned, all 40' coaches can be maneuvered within the same provided area, regardless of differences in their respective turning radius. A tighter turning radius only provided less driver jockeying.... | ||
| sylverstone (Sylverstone_pd4501864)
Registered Member Username: Sylverstone_pd4501864 Post Number: 194 Registered: 7-2005 Posted From: 216.173.223.253 Rating: N/A |
kyle: did you actually look at it full size? i don't remember where i got it, but ultimately it came from fast fred, so i assumed it was the one you were looking for. as for the tag, lift the tag, unload the tag, same thing as far as i'm concerned. a scenic with an unloaded tag will turn sharper than one with a loaded tag, because the rear pivot point moves forward when the tag is unloaded... -dd | ||
| Kyle Brandt (Kyle4501)
Registered Member Username: Kyle4501 Post Number: 198 Registered: 9-2004 Posted From: 65.12.100.208 Rating: N/A |
John, You are only right if you have plenty of space on the inside of the turn. Just because you have not experienced the need does not eliminate it for those of us with out your professed driving prowness. I have a primary power pole right at my drive-way, the power company quoted $10,000 to move it or replace it if it was 'bumped'. Yep, that's right, $10,000 I couldn't believe it either. So I'll avoid backing up when I'm anywhere near that! dd, Yes, that is the one I'm looking for, the resolution goes a little fuzzy on some of the numbers & detail, that's why I was interested in the original. There is a gmc bus that did actually lift the tag clear off the ground, a 4905A. Hence my comment on lifting vs unloading. | ||
| John MC9 (John_mc9)
Registered Member Username: John_mc9 Post Number: 115 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 66.217.106.51 Rating: N/A |
"professed driving prowness" ?? HAR!! Unless you're referring to my "prowness" driving bump-em cars, you've got the wrong guy! All I'm trying to say is, a 40 foot object is going to need 40 foot worth of room to turn. Having a 10 foot turning radius isn't going to get it around a 10 foot circle, unless there's absolutely nothing obstructing that circle..... "RJ Long" said it better, if you scroll back... I certainly don't mean to harass or dwell endlessly..... but making a choice for a bus to convert basing it solely on it's turning radius, may thin your availabler selection down needlessly. It's tough enough to find a suitable money-pit..... (Message edited by john_mc9 on September 27, 2006) | ||
| Bryce Gaston (Busted_knuckle)
Registered Member Username: Busted_knuckle Post Number: 270 Registered: 1-2006 Posted From: 65.7.41.78 Rating: N/A |
John, As far as choosing a bus for conversion goes I have to agree with you! But being around the Charter bus biz a while, I have to point out a shorter wheel base is helpful in bringing the coach home damage free! I've seen some drivers who could handle a 75' coach if it was made, and way too many who have NO BIZ in a 35',40', or even a 45' coach. But what I have seen with "these less capable drivers is less damage done to the shorter wheelbase units when they come home. Far fewer crunched luggage bay doors, gouged tires, huge scrapes down the entire side, & etc. But none the less these same drivers still find ways to damage the coaches just not as much! FWIW BK Of course in my own opinion it'd make a huge difference and there'd be much less damage to all these coaches if they were owned by the drivers! (Message edited by Busted Knuckle on September 29, 2006) |
