FLOOR - Floor consists of 14-gauge G-90 galvanized steel
transverse hat section crossmembers, secured to the chassis
frame by isoprene rubber isolators using grade 8 bolts. The
side perimeter of the floor is then reinforced with 16-gauge g-
90 galvanized crash rails, which encapsulate the ends of the
crossmembers and extend upward behind the seat rail.
BODY AND BOW STRUCTURE - The roof bows and side
posts are combined into one piece of continuous roll-formed
hat section 14-gauge G-90 galvanized steel and extend from
the top of floor on one side to top of floor on other side. These
bows are then spaced apart by (7) strainers of the same
material as the bows- three (3) in roof, one (1) above each
window, and one (1) below each window. This construction
forms a continuous high-strength steel roll cage.
SEATING - The seat frames are tubular steel, 1" diameter, and
black powder-coated to resist rust and abrasion. The seat
cushion foam is attached to a plywood base, and covered
with transit-grade 42-ounce fire-resistant vinyl. Cushions are
removable from the seat frame by releasing the retaining clips
beneath the cushion, rotating cushion upward, and off the
frame. All seats installed by TransTech Corporation comply
with all applicable federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards in
effect at the time of manufacture.
INTERIOR LIGHTING - Dome lights are installed in the passenger
compartment,controlled by a switch in the driver's console.
A separate light is furnished in the driver compartment,
with its own switch. Dome lights are installed in the ceiling
panel above the windows.
RUB RAILS - Three polyurethane painted rub rails are
installed on each side of the body at window line, seat cushion
level, and floor line. These rails are mechanically-fastened
twice to each vertical post and upright body member. All rails
are vented to prevent condensation leading to rust, and to
promote air circulation. Rails are pre-primed with an epoxy
primer prior to attachment to body. Rails at window line and
seat cushion level wrap around the rear corners of the body
and extend to the emergency door opening.
EXTERIOR PANELS - Exterior panels are fabricated from .050
thick aluminum which is pre-primed before installing on bus.
Wherever aluminum is attached to steel structure, an isolator
is used to prevent electrolysis; panels are fastened to structure
with stainless steel self-sealing rivets. In addition, panels
are fastened together with a high-strength structural adhesive.
INTERIOR PANELS - Interior roof panels are fabricated from
.040 high-gloss white pre-painted aluminum. Panels below
windows are fabricated from .030 stucco-embossed mar-proof
aluminum. White pre-painted panels are attached to structure
with white pre-coated square-drive screws which deter tampering.
Clear-coated aluminum panels are attached with stainless-
steel rivets. Front and rear bulkheads, as well as trim
pieces and driver storage compartment are high-gloss-finish
fiberglass, gray in color.
STEPWELL - Stepwell is fabricated from pre-primed 14-gauge
G-90 galvanized steel. Two step risers are furnished. Stepwell
is illuminated by a stepwell light which is actuated by opening
the entrance door.
ENTRANCE DOOR - Entrance doors are made from extruded
aluminum, and are powder-coated with a black finish. Clear
opening is 75" high x 26 1/2" wide. Glass is light-tinted, as
limited by federal standards. Glass is one-piece top to bottom,
with no sight-restricting center bar. Door is equipped with a
manual, over-center-mounted door control attached to a
heavy-duty square-tube support structure. A thumb-actuated
switch is furnished to actuate the amber lights without having
to take eyes off the road. When doors are opened, amber
lamps are de-activated and red lamps automatically actuated
(school bus models).
EMERGENCY DOOR - The emergency door is fabricated from
1/2" square steel tubing, to which is attached an outer panel
of .050 pre-primed aluminum, and an inner panel of ABS plastic
with a textured surface to inhibit marring. A three-point
latching mechanism and internal door hinges are standard.
The exterior handle is of an anti-hitch design, and the latch
incorporates a plunger switch to activate a buzzer in the driver
compartment when door is opened. Large light-tinted
glass panels are furnished in the upper and lower areas of the
emergency door.
PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS - Passenger windows are constructed
of black anodized aluminum frames, and feature
light-tinted (62% light transmission) glass as standard.
Windows may be raised or lowered by means of two (2)
thumb latches, which are removable and replaceable without
having to remove the entire window. An exterior drip rail runs
the entire length of the bus to inhibit water-shedding into the
bus with the windows slightly opened. A water stop is furnished
on driver side to prevent water from running down onto
the driver when entering or exiting the bus.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING - All vehicles are built with lighting to
conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. School
bus models shall be equipped with lighting in compliance with
the regulations of the State of final destination. The entire electrical
system is color-coded for easy wire circuit identification.
All functions are controlled through a solid-state driver control
module attached immediately above the door control. All
switches are identified and back-lit for easy night viewing. All
switched circuits are protected by a fuse attached to the back
of the driver control module for easy access. Relays, flasher
units, buzzers, etc. are located on an easily-accessible panel
in the driver storage compartment above the driver's head.
For increased visibility and longer life, clearance and marker
lights are L.E.D. lamps, and warning lamps (8-lamp system)
are halogen. As an added safety feature, all TransTech products
feature intermediate side directional lamps as standard
equipment.
PAINT AND METAL TREATMENT- All sheet metal used in the
manufacture of the bus body is either pre-primed (surfaces
which require painting) or pre-painted (interior panels), to provide
the highest level of rust and corrosion prevention, as well
as the highest-quality paint finish. All metal parts which are
painted by TransTech receive a chemical cleaning and zincphosphate
etching prior to primer application. School bus
model exteriors are painted national school bus chrome in
accordance with the colormetric specifications of the National
Bureau of Standards (US Dept. of Commerce). As stated
above, the interior roof is painted white, while the front and
rear bulkheads are pre-painted gray fiberglass. Prior to final
quality control checks, the entire underside of the bus body is
coated with a waterproof, asbestos-free undercoating.