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BusBoy
Top Member
USA
2042 Posts |
 Posted - 05/22/2002 : 1:15:16 PM
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Can you all tell me what kind of bus you spec for wheelchairs?
Indianapolis Public Schools went with a 48 passenger forward control bus this year. The Wheelbase is 129", with flat floors. The suspension is air ride both front and rear.
This bus has low ride tires (7.50 X 22.5).
It also has trake mounted seats. Blue Bird got the bid and they received 10 of them.
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Silas J.
Top Member
USA
938 Posts |
Posted - 05/22/2002 : 2:46:47 PM
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We went with a 4-row Blue Bird Micro-Bird/Ford. I don't really know what kind of lift or tires......Regular floor......Standard suspension, I think. Before that we had (we still use them though) 2 early 1990's Carpenter minis.
Silas J.
97-12 It will outrun your bus.
http://schoolbusarchives.tripod.com
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Busrepair
Senior Member
121 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2002 : 12:45:52 PM
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I am glad to see they spec'ed track type seating. It allows more flexability. As always any bus is better than a car or " van". We spec ours with Braun lifts. They have always provided excellent years of service. Also flat floors, but this is partially due to only transporting handicap passangers and the hump (wheelwell) causing problems. Air ride suspension is also a benefit except in some cases I have seen the air ride buses sway more (such as when going over speed bumps at an angle)
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Bus Boy 39
Top Member
USA
1315 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2002 : 6:23:08 PM
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We have three wheelchair buses. All of them are 2002 Ford Blue Birds. All they are is a mini bus with a lift on it. They only hold two wheel chairs.
What next will happen in this crazy circus?! |
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1983WardFord
Top Member
USA
1395 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2002 : 6:40:51 PM
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2002 Blue Bird Fords? I thought they weren't gonna produce those.
Superior--built tough, built to last! |
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Silas J.
Top Member
USA
938 Posts |
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1983WardFord
Top Member
USA
1395 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2002 : 8:30:07 PM
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 I guess it'd help if I read the whole thing. I missed the part about the minis. My bad.
Superior--built tough, built to last! |
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wagonmaster
Top Member
USA
2298 Posts |
Posted - 05/25/2002 : 4:36:08 PM
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Our basic wheel chair bus is an International FE 210" wheelbase 77 passenger unit with five wheelchair positions, forward facing, between the axles. This bus comes equipped with a DT466E engine, MD3060 Allison transmission, Carrier A/C with dual compressors, evaporators, and condensors. The lift is a 32" wide Braun with an 800 lb.weight limit. We also get a 200 amp alternator, white painted roof, tinted windows, extra insulation, and a Bostrum air seat with tilt steering.
Although this bus is large, it has short wheelbase that allows turning and movement in tight areas. This has been our "standard" wheelchair bus now since 1998. We have about 60 of them now and they work hard!
Joe
Edited by - wagonmaster on 05/25/2002 4:37:21 PM |
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BusBoy
Top Member
USA
2042 Posts |
Posted - 05/29/2002 : 6:45:32 PM
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Hey Joe,
With the way you have your chairs to be placed in the middle of the axles, is your ramp in the rear of the body or in the middle also?
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wagonmaster
Top Member
USA
2298 Posts |
Posted - 05/30/2002 : 05:37:00 AM
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The lift itself can be located in front or in the middle of the bus for this type of application. (I Assumed you meant lift when you said ramp?)
Joe
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BusBoy
Top Member
USA
2042 Posts |
Posted - 05/31/2002 : 4:40:16 PM
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Yes! I know you can relocate your lift or ramp in the front of the middle, but I'm asking you where is your lift or ramp placed on your buses?
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wagonmaster
Top Member
USA
2298 Posts |
Posted - 05/31/2002 : 6:39:05 PM
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Ours are located in front of the rear axle, behind the right side wheelchair positions. The first few we got have the lift all the way in front. It's really personal preference. We got them in the middle the next year and the drivers seem to like it better, so that's what we stayed with, middle of the bus at the rear of the wheelchair positions.
Joe
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thomasvista2012
Top Member
USA
747 Posts |
Posted - 05/31/2002 : 7:17:40 PM
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What are the merits of sepec'ing a lift that folds underneath the bus versus a conventional lift? Is there any price difference or performance difference?
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wagonmaster
Top Member
USA
2298 Posts |
Posted - 05/31/2002 : 7:42:47 PM
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Tuck away lifts are significantly more expensive than conventional lifts. In addition, in a dedicated wheelchair bus the space used up by the conventional lift is generally not an issue. The previous two facts would indicate that there is not much demand for a tuck away type lift in a school bus application. Since I know of no one that uses tuck aways, I cannot compare performance.
Joe
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Topic |
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Specification For a Wheelchair Bus
