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wwinters
Senior Member
USA
114 Posts |
 Posted - 02/04/2019 : 04:43:47 AM
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| Looking at International propane bus, anyone running them give me any insight? I know all buses have their good and bad.. |
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Fastback
Top Member
1500 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2019 : 05:36:36 AM
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So far my favorite of the three available choices, torque, lower rpms, minimal downshifting, fuel fill below floor line, outstanding engine accessibility, tensioner pulley on air compressor drive....
The annoyances are few; long wait to start light, won't start or run with fuel door open.
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Why yes, the ORIGinal CHARGER is a Fastback |
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Thomasbus24
Administrator
USA
4547 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2019 : 06:16:20 AM
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| Some states (like mine) won't allow them to start and run if the fuel door is open. If you order more, see if that code can be removed, assuming you don't have to have it. |
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Fastback
Top Member
1500 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2019 : 06:36:02 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Thomasbus24
Some states (like mine) won't allow them to start and run if the fuel door is open. If you order more, see if that code can be removed, assuming you don't have to have it.
Its interesting as our Bluebirds will run but won't start, and the Thomas doesn't even have a switch/sensor on fuel door. |
Why yes, the ORIGinal CHARGER is a Fastback |
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wwinters
Senior Member
USA
114 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2019 : 09:59:41 AM
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| The no start switch on fuel door is mandatory in KY it was added to the specification's to stop a drive off while fueling. |
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flint1
Senior Member
Canada
74 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2019 : 11:19:42 AM
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| How is the fuel consumption? We just purchased 1. Was a special order for another contractor who backed out. Hoping we made the right choice. Going into service next week. We got it for less then a currant gas model... |
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wwinters
Senior Member
USA
114 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2019 : 12:21:44 PM
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| I think all three brands will get close on MPG we run Bluebirds and Thomas propane and see an avg of 5mpg. we bid propane and the past 5 years have got it as low as .69 and the high at 1.28 per gallon. so the difference between the 5MPG that the propane gets and the 7mpg the diesel's are getting saves up a lot of money |
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Fastback
Top Member
1500 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2019 : 12:25:15 PM
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| Fuel consumption for us has been about like the other propane units, averages roughly 4 to 4.5 on routes, maybe 4.5 to 5 on trips. |
Why yes, the ORIGinal CHARGER is a Fastback |
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Sherm
Top Member
USA
621 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2019 : 12:33:44 PM
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| Do you think we can expect the purchase price of a propane bus to come down in the future now that there's competition? I've been buying propane for 5 years now, but have to consider gas because of the lower purchase price. |
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bwest
Administrator
United States
3820 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2019 : 1:37:27 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Sherm
Do you think we can expect the purchase price of a propane bus to come down in the future now that there's competition? I've been buying propane for 5 years now, but have to consider gas because of the lower purchase price.
I really think there will be a price reduction because of competition. Be sure to consider price of fuel and the increased hazard of gasoline before you purchase. |
Bryan |
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wwinters
Senior Member
USA
114 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2019 : 2:19:19 PM
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Here are some calculation's from an earlier post, shows the comparison of true cost.
If a gas engine is priced say $10,000-15,000 cheaper than diesel, I wonder how many operators will look at going that direction.
Here are some calculations based on $3.999 diesel / $3.599 gas, with diesel at 8 MPG and gas at 5.5 MPG. Figuring on 150,000 miles driven.
Diesel Gallons = 18750
Gas Gallons = 27272.727272727272
Diesel Price = 74981.25
Standard Gas Price = 98154.54545454546
Diesel Savings = 23173.295454545456
These are numbers from a post in 2011 here at this site. But it shows my point on propane as well as I stated earlier I have bid propane starting in 2013 and have locked in the price from July 1 - June 30 the low being .69 and the high being 1.28 per gallon which is less that 1/2 what I paid for diesel. The propane buses are about 4,900.00 higher than diesel buses for me and with the miles they run per year the cost difference is balanced in about 1 1/2 years. |
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RBrian
Senior Member
United States
71 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2019 : 03:30:44 AM
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| We have Blue Birds and get an average of 4.1 mpg. 7 for our diesel fleet. We will continue for now to get the Ford/Roush because I am concerned as to where PSI will be in 5-10 years. |
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wwinters
Senior Member
USA
114 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2019 : 03:51:32 AM
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| I wish I has a service center to work on the Bluebirds close by. We have tried a couple Ford dealers but workmanship was really poor and we ended up having to redo so much once the bus came back. |
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Topic |
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International propane reviews
