DaimlerChrysler Commercial Buses North America SLF 200

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DaimlerChrysler / Thomas Dennis SLF 200
SLF
Thomas Dennis SLF 235
Years of manufacture 1999 to 2007
Length 29 to 35 feet
Width 102 inches
Power/Fuel Diesel, CNG
SLF CNG
Thomas Dennis SLF 232 CNG

The DaimlerChrysler Commercial Buses North America SLF 200 (usually shortened to SLF) was a low floor midibus originally marketed by Thomas Dennis.

Dennis Specialist Vehicles and Thomas Built Buses entered into a joint venture known as Thomas Dennis to market a North American version of the Dennis Dart SLF with Alexander ALX200 body. The first few demonstrators and prototypes were fully built in England by Dennis and Alexander. Later buses were manufactured in England and then delivered to North America in a completely knocked down (CKD) form with final assembly at the Thomas plant in Greensboro, North Carolina in the United States. Full production at the North Carolina plant later commenced.

The early demonstrators and prototypes were more similar to the Alexander ALX200-bodied Dennis Dart SLF. Two obvious related features was the narrow European standard width and the integrated front and rear bumpers. Some production units would keep the same bumpers, but others would sport the thicker North American bumpers commonly found on other North American buses. Production units also used the North American 102 inch width.

The SLF was later re-engineered and marketed under the SLF 200 brand of DaimlerChrysler Commercial Buses North America (DCCBNA) in 2003 when the transit division of Thomas became part of DCCBNA. The SLF was sold via the Orion direct sales organization and through DaimlerChrysler Commercial Bus dealers. The engine compartment and dash area were reconfigured, and the SLF was made available with a Mercedes-Benz engine. All SLF buses under DCCBNA received the "SLF200" badge in lieu of the Thomas badge.

The SLF was initially offered in a 30 foot length (known as the SLF 230). A 35 foot length (known as the SLF 235) later became available in 2002. A change that was made for the SLF 235, but not the SLF 230 was the radiator was moved from the door side to the driver's side and was made larger. The larger radiator protruded into the passenger cabin and took up some of the space for the two rearmost seats on the driver's side. Therefore, those seats were moved up. A 32 foot long CNG-powered model, known as the SLF 232 CNG, later made available around 2001. The bus sported roof mounted CNG tanks in an enclosure, which took the place of the roof mounted HVAC unit. The unit was moved to the space behind the rear seats and therefore added length to the bus.

After the modifications done to the engine compartment of the 30 foot SLF 230 by DaimlerChrysler, the SLF 230 became the 29 foot SLF 229. The 35 foot SLF 235 and CNG-powered SLF 232 rear design remained relatively unchanged.

The SLF model is used by the American Public Transportation Association in their 30-foot diesel bus procurement guidelines manual to show the dimensions and other details of a 30-foot bus.

Specifications

Engine

Transmission

HVAC

  • Carrier (rear mounted, on CNG models)
  • Thermo King LRT I (roof mounted, on diesel models)

Axles

  • Dana I-beam (front)
  • Dana 19060S (rear)

Doors

  • 42" Deans air operated slide glide front and centre doors

Glazing

  • Gasket
  • Bonded

Operators

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United States Flag of the United States.png

Demonstrator and engineering units

Below is a list of known demonstrators and engineering bues

Fleet number Thumbnail Length Year VIN Engine Transmission Notes
30' 1999 SFD182AL6XGW13472 Cummins ISB 175 hp Allison AT-545
File:York Region Transit 9901-a.JPG 30' 1999 SFD182AL3XGW13851 Cummins ISB Allison AT-545 Bought by YRT and became 9901
30' 1999 SFD182ALXXGW14124 Cummins ISB 185 hp Allison AT-545
30' 1999 SFD182ALXXGW14186 Cummins ISB Allison AT-545 Sold to Regina Transit in 2003
35' 2000 SFD121AL1YGU10101 Cummins ISB 260 hp Allison B300R
32' 2000 SFD241CL9YGU10102 Cummins B5.9G 230 hp Allison B300R
  • Powered by CNG
  • Submitted for Altoona Test August 2001
35' 2002 5DF235DB42JA32879 Detroit Diesel MBE906 Allison B300R
  • Displayed at OTE 2002
  • Submitted for Altoona Test late 2003
DaimlerChrysler Commercial Buses North America SLF demo.jpg 29' 2003 5DF229DA63JA38203 Mercedes-Benz MBE904 Allison
29' 2003 5DF229DAX3JA46594 Detroit Diesel MBE904 Allison 2000 Series Submitted for Altoona Test May 2004