| Author | Message | ||
| HuskyPups (63.52.49.24)
Rating: N/A |
Hello All: Well, as much as I hate to say this, the bus dream may well be over  It looks like my Wife and I may have to move in order to care for my Mother and I don't "think" I can get a bus to where Mom lives. To be honest, Mom lives so far back in the sticks that they pipe in sunshine, TV is two weeks late, and you can forget about the mail. My main concerns are: 1. The winding goat path Mom lives on is no real big deal by it's self. Just seven slow miles driving on a narrow road (still wide enough, barely, for a car to pass a log truck without stopping). BUT, and here is the first kicker, to get onto this road from the hi-way (divided four lane with a short (50 or so feet) center turn lane) means a left hand turn up a 20-25 degree incline then driving across a set of train tracks set back about ten feet from a guard rail. Would a 4905 high center on this bad of an incline? How much ground clearance does an 05 have anyway? I have even considered passing this turn off, making a "u" turn five or so miles down the road and coming back to make a right hand turn onto this road. The problem with this idea is that the guard rails on either side are too close together (once agin "I think") to let me make a shallow enough turn to avoid most of the incline, I've seen semi log trucks have to use both lanes to make this turn. 2. About six miles down this road there is "THE BRIDGE". This bridge can't be more than twenty feet long and not much wider. Plenty of clearance, nice fairly straght approach and exit. But, there had to be a 'but' didn't there, it's only rated (so the sign says) for ten tons. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the rear axle on a 4905 weighs in at just a bit over 20,000 lbs (or is this gross weight)? Even using the 'new math' they teach in school these days 20,000 lbs = 10 tons, "I think"  Thankfully both axles won't be on the bridge at the same time, close but not quite. "Gee Mister Hiway Man, I didn't think my little-ole-bus would break your little-ole-bridge." Yes, I know that bridges are (or at least should be) under rated for weight capacity. I also know how my luck is! Alternate routes you say? Well, there may be one but I'm not real thrilled about it and using it would only eliminate the incline, not the bridge. There is a one lane, and I do mean ONE LANE, gravel road that runs by the river. If you meet someone on this road, one of you WILL backup to the closest wide place so you can pass. And I'm not to sure I'd trust the right hand side of this road due to flooding under cutting the road bed in places. It's not that bad with only the weight of a car, but the weight of a bus? The last thing I would want is to dump me and the whole family along with my rig into the Clinch river because the road couldn't take the weight! Not to mention low hanging trees knocking off the satalite dish and playing merry hell with the roof in general. And besides, as Jeff Foxworthy says "If directions to your house include 'turn off the paved road'...you might be a redneck." So, am I worring about nothing or do I need to rethink the whole idea of a bus? On the brigher side, at least this all came up BEFORE I bought a shell Sorry about the long post, but sometimes a guys just gotta vent!! LOL Thanks in advance Dave | ||
| bob k (24.56.194.188) Rating: N/A |
Just arrange to have the bus delivered to moms house. ; ) | ||
| Johnny (63.159.185.32)
Rating: N/A |
Can you put the bus somewhere else? I live at the end of a winding, 1/3-mile gravel "driveway", & frankly am dreading trying to get my skoolie through--even a 22' motorhome isn't fun. Having said all that, it's worth it--I love living halfway between "no" and "where". Maybe a skoolie?-they DO have ground clearance. | ||
| Ross Carlisle (Ross) (216.107.197.2)
Rating: N/A |
I cant get the bus in the driveway, so Im working on it at a friends lumber mill. To get to the mill I have to go across 2 bridges. One marked 4 tons and one marked 6 tons. After that I turn onto a single lane winding dirt road and go for about a mile into the back entrance to the mill. Getting out is a little easier. I can go out the front entrance which is another bridge posted 4 tons and single lane. The bus fits with 4 inches on either side. I may be able to get it in the front entrance as well, but have not been brave enough to try. In order to get across the single lane bridge, you have to set up dead straight. Moral of the story...Just when you think your bus will not go somewhere, it will surprise you. The locals can't figure out how I get the bus into the mill. It doesnt look like it will make it, but in reality, it's not really that bad. Also...I didnt go across any of the above bridges untill I saw loaded cement trucks go across first. Ross | ||
| Tom Caffrey (Pvcces) (64.114.233.126)
Rating: N/A |
Dave, I think that if the 4905 you're looking at is a standard shift with highway gears, you're not likely to make that steep of a grade with it. This is something you can check out. You can also figure out if you can clear the bridge without high centering by doing some measuring. Check your actual clearance with a tape and make yourself some drawings with the bus in several positions. Be sure to allow for overhang, as well. We have a 4106 and it runs 27,000 lbs. or a shade over in its converted condition. To figure out the maximum grade that I would gamble on, I know that 3 percent is the maximum grade I can pull in high gear and since my low gear is 1/4 the top speed of my high gear, I know that I can pull a 12 percent grade in low. Reverse is worse. Now, I realize that with very little wind drag and very little tire and oil drag, I'm actually going to be able to climb a somewhat steeper grade. But trying to start up from a standing start would be very hard on the running gear, so I would not want to try much more without a good way to back out. Also, I would walk or drive in a car over any questionable road before I took the bus over it. I failed to do that recently when a friend told me that getting in to his place would be no problem. It was night, no less. Well, after I got the rig parked and he saw where my tracks went coming down his driveway and turning around the next day, he was a little sheepish about the whole thing, and so was I. No serious damage was done, but I decided not to skip that step in the future. And I won't. If you get an automatic, I think it would be easier to negotiate bad spots by creeping up on them. Starting up on grades should be easier, too. I think that they are an awfully expensive proposition, though. I've always driven stick shift trucks, so I didn't feel the need of an autmatic, but there are times when you have to be careful and you have to use your head. You can get around better in shorter wheelbase rigs. Many rural areas and small towns use 30 foot buses for that reason. However, the shorter wheelbase likes to porpoise in dips, so it's really a compromise between ride and maneuverability. In a pinch, you can get familiar with the adjustment for the air ride and adjust it for more clearance to clear bridges, but you won't likely want to do it often. Some busnuts disable the automatic leveling and adjust their height manually, from inside the bus. There is something that you should remember as an out if you get in a bad spot. The amount of pulling force that can be gotten from a 4 wheel drive pickup with an automatic transmission is a lot. If you can't quite climb out of a steep driveway, they can easily make up the difference. I hope this helps! Tom Caffrey PD4106-2576 | ||
| Johnny (63.159.185.32)
Rating: N/A |
A 4x4 with a manual is even stronger, if the driver knows what he's doing--I've seen trucks pull immense amounts of weight in low gear. Weight in the bed (IE, a bunch of sandbags, or lumber, or whatever) is a HUGE help. | ||
| Jayjay (65.134.221.45) Rating: N/A |
My converted 4905 weighs 24,375 with my rear axle at 15k and the front at 9K (+/-). So with only one axle on the bridge it would be okay.Increasing the pressure on the Pressure Protection Valve to give a slightly higher ride height will help also. Two of my friends drive 4106's and I was surprised when they told me that they weighed several thousand pounds more than my 4905. HTH...JJ | ||
| FAST FRED (63.215.235.227) Rating: N/A |
Although 4 ton bridges will still be a problem , here is the coach for your problem. http://shell.amigo.net/~suepete/bus.html These were done to be able to make it up the winding roads of Pikes Peak ( GUESS THEY COULDNT FIND DRIVERS AS GREAT AS SOME CLAIM TO BE) so they simply shortened the coach 5 ft. This must be a powerhouse , I'dd guess 17,000# empty with 200 Real rear wheel HP should be a real blast to drive. Its for sale at about $50,000. FAST FRED | ||
| Donn (63.10.133.67)
Rating: N/A |
Husky' If logging trucks are using this road I can't see why you wouldn't be able to.As for the high centering, find the center of the hump,measure 1/2 the wheelbase in each direction and check the rise between those two points.A line level and a tape measure will work.Then measure the groung clearance of the bus of your dreams.This can be increased with an air leveling system.-Donn | ||
| Jayjay (65.134.221.184) Rating: N/A |
I've been up Pike's Peak, and it can't hold a candle to S.R.#9 thru Zion Natn'l Park. 4905 and towing. Several switchbacks are 230% and a road surface that is only 17 ft. wide! Cheers...JJ | ||
| Derv (12.19.32.9) Rating: N/A |
According to an engineering friend of mine bridges are rated at the advertised weight X 2 (for each direction) X 4 (safety factor). Therefore, following this formula a bridge rated at 10 tons should be capable of holding 40 tons or 80,000 pounds. | ||
| HuskyPups (198.211.213.105)
Rating: N/A |
Hi All: Sorry it took me so long to reply, it's been a bad week at work. Thanks for all the info and suggestions. I guess the hunt for a bus is back on!! Now if someone knows where I can pickup a new 4905 for less than $2,000 I'm set! LOL. But seriously, I have access to a 4x4 and a good tow chain so I guess when I find what I'm looking for I'll have to call in some favors. Thanks again Dave |