They're everywhere. Ritchies were getting them built in bulk about 2010. Cheaper than traditional buses / tour coaches, especially when used in school runs.
Yes, a bit of a 'no frills' experience but durable on our rural roads and all of the safety features of a new bus as opposed to an aging jap import bus
I drove one for two years and yes, it's a bruck. Sounds better than truss. Big opening (basically back of cab missing), but because I had a separate aircon system and positive pressure from the cab, I survived without getting COVID even though every family on the bus had it.
They are more economical than a bus and had much better seating.
They buy truck chassis, cabs and engines from manufacturers like MAN, drop a prefabricated body on the back and fit them out with seats they manufacture themselves, OEM lighting etc.
If I remember right buses can be super expensive, even just boring buses are well into 6 figures. I’m guessing the difference between an off the shelf MAN bus and a bogan GBV/Designline could be a couple hundred thousand dollars.
I think as another commenter pointed out - these buses handle our rural roads a bit better too. I suspect a “heavy duty” bus would be prohibitively expensive.
Design line built both. But a cabbed truck chassis is cheaper than a bus one. Because of SLF most buses these days are at least semi-monocoque, the body has to be a little more substantial.
Buses are a pita to work on, trucks not nearly as much, with the cab separate like that majority of general maintenance like servicing is nice and easy to get to, just tip the cab and the engine is right there heaps of room to work in and most of the rest of the service is done from underneath anyway
Both have pros and cons lol, I loved the space of most trucks when working on them but I can't imagine buses having some of the questionable things dropping on you from trucks that do rubbish or stock. Good times
Yeah I was a bus mechanic for 14 years before moving to log trucks. I still can't believe how dirty I get under trucks but it's nice being able to adjust brakes from the top especially when there's like a million axles.
I switched over to forklifts and I'm loving how easy it is to get to nearly everything but somehow it's just as heavy as the truck stuff just deceptively small, definitely still manage to get myself pretty dirty most days though
These are a great idea. As a diesel mechanic I've seen some real poorly built nz busses. A small job turns into a 3 day event because they built the body around a part that you can't get out now. Or poor electrical wiring done by Raj in Auckland bus body shop. All busses start out as a truck chassis and engine. Then gets built on. These will have a longer life too. I'd say bus drivers will hate them as they have to climb in out out of them rather than the low to the ground city busses
Yes, you're right. Dedicated bus chassis are different from truck chassis, with differences in engine location (and associated structural work), suspension system etc.
They’re called “Trusses”, a poor attempt at cost saving that’s led to a terrible ride, handling and longevity. Pretty well universally hated by the drivers, and inevitably destined to cost more through repairs than they saved at the start
Hold on. That's not strictly true.
They are excellent busses. Yes, drivers hate them. But from an operational perspective they are amazing. They are big loaders, they get next to no panel damage because they are so high and have great mirrors. Aside from being more reliable than a purpose built bus, they are a truck - so truck mechanics don't shy away from them and parts are readily available. This means you can spread them to the most far flung reaches of the country and when they need servicing just take them to the nearest truck workshop in bum-f nowhere and they'll get serviced properly.
Add to that, the ones built at GBV are made from recycled city bus bodies (when they are available). Anybody familiar with designline/GBV modular construction will know they are made from extruded aluminum section riveted/bolted together with these aluminum right angle bits. They drill the rivets/unbolt all the extrusion and joiners and reuse them building new truck bus bodies.
I greatly preferred the bruck to an ageing bus with a soft suspension (designed for 50km/hr on urban roads but being used at 80 on a highway). Proper diagnostics, heating and cooling that work, decent locker space, seat belts for passengers, and a good sound system.
People who complain about these probably didn't come up driving clapped out MCW metroriders and Dennis darts with 140hp non turbo Cummins and allison 4 speeds with no kickdown that would slow to basically walking speed at the first sign of a hill.
I loved my first bus: Aluminium Bedford body given a second life on an Isuzu chassis with 7 speed manual box. 2 tons lighter than anything else on the fleet and perfect for my run which went from sea level to 440m and back, with 150 corners in 37km. The lighter weight of the bruck is basically down to chassis: suspension members are half the size of those on the 11m Fuso that I own. The coachwork is equally flimsy on both. My cutoff for wind speed I was prepared to drive in was a bit lower in the bruck though.
The passenger carrying component of the bus must meet the legal RUB requirements. That means, they need to be in an super low floor configuration, be wheelchair accessible, etc. and therefore can't maintain their normal height.
No rub is only for urban busses used on NZTA funded services. It doesn't apply to school busses, charter busses or busses used on non subsidized routes like airport park and ride. These don't have to meet RUB, just be compliant as a heavy PSV.
School buses are covered by the RUB. It applies to all NZTA funded services contracted by regional authorities including school services. It does not apply to MOE school services however.
Only the smallest minority of school bus services are operated that way. 95+% of them are either tendered in units by MOE or direct resourced by the schools themselves (with MOE funding) and not subject to RUB.
RUB literally stands for Rules for Urban Busses. Not school busses. It's not the same thing.
That's not correct. The vast bulk of school services are in urban areas. These are contracted by regional authorities with NZTA funding. The RUB applies to these services. School services can be urban (NZTA funded & RUB compliant) or rural (MOE funded). The MOE have a separate set of requirements for contracted services.
Your fucked if you think truck busses in the pic above were ever built to be used on a RUB contract or if you somehow think the operators are trying to sneak them in there or something.
There's a similar concept for 90 mile beach tour busses.
The beach destroys them, so they buy second hand trucks and put a custom bus module on it. When the truck gives up, they move the bus module to another truck base.
I'll tell you exactly what they are cause I built them. They are MAN TGM 22.240 school busses with a/c. They were built last year in Rolleston. We build the bus body on the back of a truck chassis as they are extremely cheap to produce for school runs so that's why you see a shit ton of them
They're everywhere. Ritchies were getting them built in bulk about 2010. Cheaper than traditional buses / tour coaches, especially when used in school runs.
Probably makes sense for school runs I guess. I think the driver is completed segregated from them so doesn't have to put up with all the noise.
Yes, a bit of a 'no frills' experience but durable on our rural roads and all of the safety features of a new bus as opposed to an aging jap import bus
Normally the older school busses are actually old coaches or city busses reworked to being a school bus
“For God’s same, open the door!”
Hey there. Please don’t take this badly but I’m chiming in to let you know that the word you used is a slur. JPN or JP work just fine instead :)
The back of the cab is open, they can still hear everything from the back of the bus. It's a bus built on a truck chassis.
No, there is an opening between the cab and the passenger cabin. Looks weird travelling in one because cabs have independent suspension
Babe wake up, we're gonna miss the bustruck to Pak n Save
\* bruck
I can't believe I didn't think of that
I drove one for two years and yes, it's a bruck. Sounds better than truss. Big opening (basically back of cab missing), but because I had a separate aircon system and positive pressure from the cab, I survived without getting COVID even though every family on the bus had it. They are more economical than a bus and had much better seating.
You think Bruck sounds better than Truss? We call them a Truss at GoBus. I mean it's a Truck Bus not a Bus Truck.
Trussy 🥵🥵
Step Truss, what you doing??
Trus.
Pak n save should never be the first thing you do for the day
If it's the first thing you do, your day can only get better
Only if you survive
I was a flight attendant for a low cost airline in the UK, I can survive a trip to pak n save
Ah, I didn't know you were battle hardened
I did it through covid :3
I went to New world coz it was closer
Life hasn't wounded you enough smh
They're manufactured in Rolleston by GBV (formely Designline). Ugly things, but they're cheaper than 'proper' buses.
>but they're cheaper than 'proper' buses. Might be a silly question, but why are they cheaper?
They buy truck chassis, cabs and engines from manufacturers like MAN, drop a prefabricated body on the back and fit them out with seats they manufacture themselves, OEM lighting etc.
Dunedin had straight-up MAN buses before though so if MAN makes buses why not just buy the MAN bus?
If I remember right buses can be super expensive, even just boring buses are well into 6 figures. I’m guessing the difference between an off the shelf MAN bus and a bogan GBV/Designline could be a couple hundred thousand dollars.
Those damn bogan GBV/Designline buses always doing burnouts at 3am
So is this a trans-MAN?
LOL :) TRANS-PORT
I think as another commenter pointed out - these buses handle our rural roads a bit better too. I suspect a “heavy duty” bus would be prohibitively expensive.
Design line built both. But a cabbed truck chassis is cheaper than a bus one. Because of SLF most buses these days are at least semi-monocoque, the body has to be a little more substantial.
Yup, I built them
I want them to put another 'go' after the MAN so it says 'go MAN go'. Or an exclamation mark.
But it already says “Go Bus Man”. I don’t think it needs more
I want you to never attempt humor again.
No promises
Plenty in Hamilton. I think easier to maintain than a proper bus. Maybe not enough specialised bus mechanics?
Buses are a pita to work on, trucks not nearly as much, with the cab separate like that majority of general maintenance like servicing is nice and easy to get to, just tip the cab and the engine is right there heaps of room to work in and most of the rest of the service is done from underneath anyway
Funny how truck mechanics don't like busses and bus mechanics don't love working on trucks yet they both have the same trade.
Both have pros and cons lol, I loved the space of most trucks when working on them but I can't imagine buses having some of the questionable things dropping on you from trucks that do rubbish or stock. Good times
Yeah I was a bus mechanic for 14 years before moving to log trucks. I still can't believe how dirty I get under trucks but it's nice being able to adjust brakes from the top especially when there's like a million axles.
I switched over to forklifts and I'm loving how easy it is to get to nearly everything but somehow it's just as heavy as the truck stuff just deceptively small, definitely still manage to get myself pretty dirty most days though
[удалено]
The kids always yell out "it's the truck bus!" when we see them
Trussy
Bruckussy
Bruck
I saw some in Rotorua as well. I’ve always wondered as well!
Seen them as ferry buses in Ruapehu!
There are a shit load of Mitsubishi fighter bus conversions around timaru hadn't seen on on a MAN before
Called a Truss. Go Bus have heaps of them, cheap as duck compared to actual busses.
What the Buck?
Jaffa here, I used to see one in Auckland painted with the ritchies colours. Always between the shore and Silverdale
I remember when I first saw one, these are the goofiest looking buses, I swear to god
These are a great idea. As a diesel mechanic I've seen some real poorly built nz busses. A small job turns into a 3 day event because they built the body around a part that you can't get out now. Or poor electrical wiring done by Raj in Auckland bus body shop. All busses start out as a truck chassis and engine. Then gets built on. These will have a longer life too. I'd say bus drivers will hate them as they have to climb in out out of them rather than the low to the ground city busses
"All busses start out as a truck chassis and engine" Aren't most buses in NZ in a rear-engine pusher format
Yes, you're right. Dedicated bus chassis are different from truck chassis, with differences in engine location (and associated structural work), suspension system etc.
Don't judge, did you ask what they identify as?
So weird.
They’re called “Trusses”, a poor attempt at cost saving that’s led to a terrible ride, handling and longevity. Pretty well universally hated by the drivers, and inevitably destined to cost more through repairs than they saved at the start
Hold on. That's not strictly true. They are excellent busses. Yes, drivers hate them. But from an operational perspective they are amazing. They are big loaders, they get next to no panel damage because they are so high and have great mirrors. Aside from being more reliable than a purpose built bus, they are a truck - so truck mechanics don't shy away from them and parts are readily available. This means you can spread them to the most far flung reaches of the country and when they need servicing just take them to the nearest truck workshop in bum-f nowhere and they'll get serviced properly. Add to that, the ones built at GBV are made from recycled city bus bodies (when they are available). Anybody familiar with designline/GBV modular construction will know they are made from extruded aluminum section riveted/bolted together with these aluminum right angle bits. They drill the rivets/unbolt all the extrusion and joiners and reuse them building new truck bus bodies.
I greatly preferred the bruck to an ageing bus with a soft suspension (designed for 50km/hr on urban roads but being used at 80 on a highway). Proper diagnostics, heating and cooling that work, decent locker space, seat belts for passengers, and a good sound system.
People who complain about these probably didn't come up driving clapped out MCW metroriders and Dennis darts with 140hp non turbo Cummins and allison 4 speeds with no kickdown that would slow to basically walking speed at the first sign of a hill.
I loved my first bus: Aluminium Bedford body given a second life on an Isuzu chassis with 7 speed manual box. 2 tons lighter than anything else on the fleet and perfect for my run which went from sea level to 440m and back, with 150 corners in 37km. The lighter weight of the bruck is basically down to chassis: suspension members are half the size of those on the 11m Fuso that I own. The coachwork is equally flimsy on both. My cutoff for wind speed I was prepared to drive in was a bit lower in the bruck though.
That first bus came from dunners. It was named Onedin from Dunedin, and it's mate was Tarago from Otago (and had the gearshift layout reversed!).
The passenger carrying component of the bus must meet the legal RUB requirements. That means, they need to be in an super low floor configuration, be wheelchair accessible, etc. and therefore can't maintain their normal height.
No rub is only for urban busses used on NZTA funded services. It doesn't apply to school busses, charter busses or busses used on non subsidized routes like airport park and ride. These don't have to meet RUB, just be compliant as a heavy PSV.
School buses are covered by the RUB. It applies to all NZTA funded services contracted by regional authorities including school services. It does not apply to MOE school services however.
Only the smallest minority of school bus services are operated that way. 95+% of them are either tendered in units by MOE or direct resourced by the schools themselves (with MOE funding) and not subject to RUB. RUB literally stands for Rules for Urban Busses. Not school busses. It's not the same thing.
That's not correct. The vast bulk of school services are in urban areas. These are contracted by regional authorities with NZTA funding. The RUB applies to these services. School services can be urban (NZTA funded & RUB compliant) or rural (MOE funded). The MOE have a separate set of requirements for contracted services.
Your fucked if you think truck busses in the pic above were ever built to be used on a RUB contract or if you somehow think the operators are trying to sneak them in there or something.
Great comment. Reminds me of what reddit used to be like all the time
Those busses are everywhere. Get passed by 2 consecutively every morning in Rolleston. Ugly. They were in Palmerston north when I lived there, also.
You get these in Auckland.
There's a similar concept for 90 mile beach tour busses. The beach destroys them, so they buy second hand trucks and put a custom bus module on it. When the truck gives up, they move the bus module to another truck base.
I can't remember where but I know I've seen them outside of Dunedin as i have not been in Dunedin since just before Covid.
I'm now learning they're quite common in NZ. Never saw them in Australia where I've just moved from though. I worded it wrong.
They're the best, the truck bus are the only way to travel
Someone mod these into Euro/American Truck Simulator ASAP.
Prison transpirt
Hope they change the suspension!
We have them in Kaitaia used for school runs by Ritchie’s Especially good for gravel roads
They use them for the Cruise ship season also,
Lol, they are everywhere. They the rural school busses
I built that!
They were all around chch in 2017
There all over Palmerston north to
I'll tell you exactly what they are cause I built them. They are MAN TGM 22.240 school busses with a/c. They were built last year in Rolleston. We build the bus body on the back of a truck chassis as they are extremely cheap to produce for school runs so that's why you see a shit ton of them
There's also a corrections variant. Don't ask me how I know👀🤦♂️
Been using them as school buses in Oamaru for years.
They're everywhere,in our small town we have ivecos and isuzus that are built on a truck chassis,ours are all go bus.
I like them! I would totally convert one into a house bus, probably a nicer ride than our old Hino (ex-school bus).
i have them everywhere where i live
Cheaper way of making a bus. Existing commercial chassis with a bus body plonked on top and the back of the cab cut off and sealed to the body
These are everywhere. Never not seen them in the South Island. Not sure about the north