Are we converting our buses into a potential desaster?

[Jon]

No, I cannot find tests on the H3, XL or XLII. I wish I could.

I am not impressed with the knowledge of Prevost reps. Too often if you ask a question they make up the answer or tell you what they think you want to hear. My guess is they have never spun a wrench.

[Scott & Heather]

Jon,

I read the data sheet link you posted and noted that they specifically were looking for "permanent" deformation during jacking. Nothing was mentioned about temporary deformation. My coach always bounces back to normal once on all fours....er all eights. Are you using air leveling or actual hydraulic jacks?


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[luvrbus]

I just noticed that test was done on the X3-45 commuter coach made in America in New York I saw a couple of demo units in Phoenix last year.

It's hard to believe Prevost would build a bus with a life span of 12 years or 500,000 miles for the transit authorities surely they will last longer than that. 

That is why the test was done I understand it now different ball game  it only needs to last 12 years and our tax dollars buy new ones this throw away society we live in just amazes me 

[LuckyChow]

Twelve years or 500,000 miles is the FTA standard for useful life on heavy duty transit buses.  It's been this way for a long, long, time.  That doesn't mean that the agency will not run them more than that.  My transit bus (the one I converted) had 674,753 miles on it when I bought it.  

At our property, we routinely run them for quite a bit longer than useful life.  To some degree it depends on the bus too.  As they age, maintenance costs go up.  Sometimes there are other issues like structural problems to consider.  We keep our MCI's well past their FTA useful life, but can't wait to get rid of 12 Novas as soon as possible.  They were early CNG units and have been mucho headaches.  How long buses are kept varies from property to property.  For new purchases, the FTA will pay 80% of the capital cost for heavy duty buses.  The system must fund the other 20% from local or state money and pay all the operating cost.  

The ole girl doesn't look too bad for 700K does she?

[luvrbus]

That's my point Prevost never built a bus to those standards before a tour bus operator would flip out with the 3.77 average mpg,I don't understand Prevost building that bus in the USA maybe for sales to cities that have a charter prohibiting buying non USA  who knows 

With all the cites in the Phoenix area having 1 transit authority seems like they get new buses every week on top of the billions they spend on the light rail system going nowhere In Vegas and Phoenix you can't buy a transit bus now they are scraped out but you can buy the wheels  

[LuckyChow]

Yeah, I think you're right.  3.77 mpg is average mileage for a transit bus in transit service.  A tour operator is not going to be happy with those metrics.  I wonder what kind of service they tested it in to get those numbers.  If it was transit service, I can believe them.