Driveway clearence

[Runcutter]

Jim, one other thought while you're looking for a suitable place.  We often think of vertical clearance, only looking up, but need to look down, too.  Is the driveway approach too steep?  Is there a swale (gutter) along the curb that the wheels will dip into, so that the bumper, motor cradle, or something else expensive bottoms out? 

Bus specs have approach, breakover, and departure angles, you may be able to find those angles for the 5.  You'll want to make sure the front and rear don't drag going in or out (middle, too, but normally if the front and rear are ok, so is the middle.

I have a client that fuels it's buses at a local gas station, with a moderately steep driveway approach.  If they don't take it at an angle, they'll drag part of the bus.

Arthur

[buswarrior]

If you can see air in the gap, then put the coach through!

Watch very closely up high. Many a bus have taken off the eavestrough.

Besides solid footing, when parking really close, a busnut must consider the effect of the air suspension leaking down unevenly. If one side stays strong, and the other empties, the top of the bus will overhang the "curb line" by a little bit, not as much as some might exaggerate, but 2-3-4-5 inches depending on the height of the coach.

Also, nose or tail swing will be a critical error waiting to pounce when parked that tight, Giving the house or fence a little rub as you stopped watching. Usually the tail when in the forward gear and nose glued back to the windshield instead of the mirrors...and usually the off side nose when reversing, concentrating too much on the tight one side mirror, and swing the nose into the other side.

I'm torn as to the advice to give. On the one hand, I'd say if it gives you stress, go elsewhere, on the other, I'm a firm believer that one should possess the skills to squeeze the coach into tight places, or one shouldn't drive it down the road.  Mind you, one does not have to put those skills on display regularly, but they need to be in the toolkit, if you know what I mean...

You spend more time in the house than in the coach, choose the right house, the coach will have to fend for itself?

Not much help, eh?

happy coaching!
buswarrior