How much does an RTS weigh on the hoof?

[ChuckMC8]

Anyone know how much an RTS weighs with the fiberglass transit seats installed?

[HighTechRedneck]

I recall seeing somewhere that a stock 40' x 102" seated RTS weighed roughly 27,000 pounds.  That withstands a reallity check of 47 passengers at an average weight of 150# plus the potential for a few standing (mine had 10 wrist straps for standing passengers) and still being within the GVWR of 36,000 pounds.

[superpickle]

My 1970 T6H4521 fishy 35ft and just over 20,000 lbs empty.   

[Runcutter]

Chuck, just checked the maintenance manual that came with some RTS's I bought around 1983.  Gross Vehicle Weights for a 35 footer at 35,000 (12,500 front, 22,500 rear).  Forty-footer, 36,900 GVWR,13,000 front 23,000 rear (both with 1100-20 tires). 

Subtracting passenger loads, (if I recall from those days, at 140 lb/passenger) - say 50 passengers for a 35, 60 passengers for a 40 (remember, standees for the nitpickers that want to argue) - you come around you get to 28,000 on a 35-footer, 28,400 on a 40-footer.  Stainless steel welded monocoque transit - assembled in 5-foot cross-section modules, when compared with riveted aluminum/steel on other coaches, that 28,000-29,000 zero-passenger curb weight (full fuel) sounds about right to me. 

Perhaps one of the RTS guys that has had his coach on a scale will chime in with closer numbers.

Arthur

[donnreeves]

I never weighed my 35' RTS before converting it,but it weighs 27,600 fully converted, empty holding tanks 160 gal fuel.  Donn

[ChuckMC8]

thanks guys.

[Runcutter]

Chuck, just had a thought.  If you're talking about the ex-DART RTS's, remember too that they're 40-foot 102', not 96's.  That will add a few pounds.

Arthur

[ChuckMC8]

Looks like this one (that runs and drives good) will sell for less than scrap value in Atlanta 
(Its not mine and I dont know the guy thats selling it,I just ran across it in an online classified ad and wanted to see how the scrap price vs asking price)

[Runcutter]

I wonder who Chapel Express is, and why do they want to free him/her?

Arthur

[HighTechRedneck]

I wonder who Chapel Express is, and why do they want to free him/her?

Arthur

My guess is Free Chapel Express is a church bus for this church: Free Chapel - Gainesville, GA

[Songman]

Here's the info for the 89 I had. It was the long haul version with the heavy high back seats and the ZF transmission so it weighed a bit more than most. Seems like it was 29,900 empty.