| Author | Message | ||
| Johnny (4.174.103.101) Rating: N/A |
The coach guys here may not like it...but this thing is COOL. It's a 2002 Freightliner FB65 chassis (25,500lb GVWR, essentially a lo-pro MDT with a bus body) with a 28-passenger wheelchair-lift Eldorado body. It's a great bus: just under 20,000 miles on it, with Cummins power (I think a 230HP ISB), a 4-speed OD Allison with a Park setting, air brakes, 19.5" wheels with 245/70R19.5G tires, front & rear A/C, cruise control, tilt & telescope column, ABS, automatic fast-idle (after running 2 minutes, it raises the idle to ~1300), full gauges with a tach & trans temp gauge, air-suspension driver's seat, & power-adjustable heated mirrors. With a nice manual trans, it would be pretty much perfect. With a Cummins 600 (305HP/600lb-ft) backed by a 5+2 Spicer, it would be my next conversion.  | ||
| Scott Whitney (66.82.9.28) Rating: N/A |
How is the ride? Headroom? Basement storage? Is it metal or fiberglass? Scott | ||
| Michael Lewis (24.17.17.222)
Rating: N/A |
Johnny, We previously had a similar setup with a FL chassis and a Cat/740 combination with something like 1600 lbs of torque. Last trip we did a continuous 6500 miles purring like a kitten and passing everything on grades. Don't worry about the power, and don't forget to shift down on the downgrades. Our coach was a 36' Dynamax, and the only thing I didn't like is that it was a class "C" and wasted front space. Get an air ride captains chair if it does not have one. Happy cruising! Michael | ||
| Johnny (4.174.70.164) Rating: N/A |
Ride is a bit bouncy empty, pretty good loaded. I'm 6'1", & have a good 8" above my hat while wearing boots. No basement storage, though it seems high enough to add some, especially if you swapped to either 265/70R19.5's or some lo-pro 22.5" wheels & tires. Fibreglass. Hmm...maybe I'll buy if for my next conversion after it hits 200,000 miles. | ||
| James Maxwell (Jmaxwell) (66.81.213.59)
Rating: N/A |
Maybe someone will start a Truck Nut BB, since that is what they are---economical alternative to buying a bus--but a truck nevertheless. Just think, you could hire it out for local delivery of veggies or office supplies and things when not using it to live in! If one of these is your cup of tea, at least think Kingsley, where u can get a Real Truck (Pete or KW) | ||
| Sam Sperbeck (204.248.119.254) Rating: N/A |
Hi James, I suspect there are plenty of truck BBs already in existence. But the real issue is whether a bus built on a truck chassis is a bus. In my opinion it is, otherwise you would have to call every school bus built on a truck chassis a truck and I think school buses are generally accepted as buses. Your statement, if serious, sounds a bit elitist to me. What kind of "REAL BUS" do you have? Thanks, Sam Sperbeck La Crescent, MN | ||
| Johnny (4.174.103.151) Rating: N/A |
A truck? Well, that's funny, it has 28 seats in the back. Sounds like a bus to me. It has an electric entry door on the curb side--yep, definitely something found on a bus. Hey, what do you know, even the licence plates say it's a bus! |