| Author |
Message |
phil potter (63.168.28.36)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 27, 2002 - 10:14 pm: | |
A lot of talk about big water tanks in the bay. Anybody know how much wieght you can put in the bay of an MC8? |
RJ Long (Rjlong) (24.127.74.29)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 27, 2002 - 10:37 pm: | |
The federal axle weight limits:
12,000 front axle
20,000 drive axle
6,000 on the tags
MCI says total GVWR equals 36,500 lbs (16,556kg), that's the maximum TOTAL weight of your coach, including all the goodies inside and downstairs, plus people and their "stuff".
Of course, if you don't want to be legal, that's another story. . . But if you have a major fender bender, and some "liar-for-hire" has your coach weighed, then finds it's 500 lbs over MCI's number: well, only you can make that call. . .
For simplicity, figure water weighs eight (8) pounds per gallon, you can do the math. . .
HTH,
RJ
PD4106-2784
Fresno CA |
jerry (205.188.209.11)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 28, 2002 - 8:50 am: | |
but is there a limit on how much the luggage floor can support? (I'd be curious of this answer on GM's -- 4106 specifically) |
FAST FRED (65.58.191.92)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 28, 2002 - 11:12 am: | |
I have heard tales that 'Hound used to toss an engine into any GM bay if it was needed at another station.
Thats about 2300lbs , depending on whats hanging on it.
What were you planning to carry?
FAST FRED |
joe shelton (Littlewind) (67.241.228.42)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 28, 2002 - 11:29 am: | |
You ask "is there a limit on how much the luggage floor can support?"
Yes.
Joe 4106-2119 |
dougwoodin (24.170.175.44)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 28, 2002 - 4:52 pm: | |
Mr Long;
Would you have any information on a 1966 Silver Eagle-01 ?? My coach weighs 36,800 pounds now. Its about 85% converted. It probably won't go over 38k when finished. I have no idea what the steer, drive, and tag axels should weigh[max] Wouldyou know??
Thanks
Doug Woodin |
Henry R. Bergman, Jr. (Henryofcj) (63.224.197.10)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 28, 2002 - 8:19 pm: | |
Take the length times height times width in inches and divide by 231 and that will give you the max US gallons.
Wheather or not the chassis could physically hold that much tonnage is another whole can of worms. Hey---maybe you can use a neat anti-gravity thing....
To actually support the water in warpspace or something.....let us ask Data....he knows EVERYTHING!!! He he he |
Luke Bonagura (Lukeatuscoach) (12.90.5.207)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 28, 2002 - 9:47 pm: | |
Hi Phil:
Tonight I checked my original MCI & GM brochures and although ALL mention cu. in. of baggage space, none list a weight limitation, although from a practical standpoint there has to be one.
Fast Fred mentions Greyhound shipping engines in the bays and I have seen it & I have done it.
I do some business with customers in Central America and they load the bays with engines, cylinder heads, brakes drums and about the heaviest stuff you can imagine.
They then travel thru Mexico ( and I understand the road conditions are not close to ours), arrive safely in Central America, unload and then put the bus into bus-service on roads that (my C.A. customers have described to me) that are not good as our highway shoulders!!!
Furthermore until today, Greyhound offers "package express" service, so that at any given time, the bellies of their buses are full of a combination, luggage & freight!!!!
How much weight??? Can't tell you, but a bunch!!!!
My suggestion, is to let common sense prevail and spread the weight of your tanks over the entire compartment and you should be O.K.
Again, on the common sense level, a converted coach owner is more likely to be aware of poor roads etc. as opposed to a driver just driving the companies for a living.
Therefore if you find yourself in that situation, slow down, drive for the the present conditions, knowing you have a bunch of weight on the bay floors and bus will probably "Last Forever".
This doesn't directly answer your question, but gives you the benefit of my 40 years experience in the business!!!
I Hope this HELPS!!!!! and most importantly,
HAPPY BUSSIN!!!!
LUKE at US COACH |
Larry Baird (Airhog) (66.171.53.151)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, October 29, 2002 - 3:53 am: | |
I have a MCI-7, the middle bay has 100 gal fresh, batties, tools and more, the back has 250 gal holding tank, 100 gal gas, water heater, and 40 gal propane. I know, I know, it already made a big boom. Why would you want any more then that? I think I have to much. |
Pete (64.12.96.235)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, October 29, 2002 - 7:54 pm: | |
Ok..my 2 cents..
I have 2 55 gallon tanks on the drivers side, 2 45 gallon tanks on the passenger side and a 35 gal hot water heater..so..thats 235 gals..X 8 lbs a gal..someone figure it out..ive had a few beers..
speaking of witch..i normally carry 15 to 20 cases of beer on the road when i go to events in the same bay..guys..help me on this one..so many gals X about 8 lbs a gal ( no wonder im gaining weight..)
Phil, I'm thinkin you either want to put a hot tub down there in that bay..or you want to do laps in the bay..just watch out for the flip turns.. ;)
pete |
Scott Whitney (66.82.9.19)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, October 29, 2002 - 9:29 pm: | |
Pete, I am assuming your fresh water tank is the same gallonage as your grey water tank. But the important question is whether you designed your black water tank equal to 20 cases of beer. . . Let's see 12oz times 20 cases times 24 per case is . . . Oh heck I can't do the math either. . .
Scott
P.S. Here in Oklahoma, I can understand why someone would haul a lot of beer. The yakpiss 3% found locally is a joke. Gonna save some storage space for my next trip to CA. . . |
Pete (64.12.96.235)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 6:41 am: | |
Scott..
Since i drycamp almost all the time..the grey water goes back to mother nature..black has 2 45 gal tanks. i keep a close watch on those..
when i go out..i go to alot of music festivals with alot of friends i travel with..we share the beer..lol
pete |
phil potter (63.168.28.36)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 10:57 pm: | |
OK, Thanks.
I'm not putting a pool in the bay, but I think I'll put in 200 Gal. fresh water and my holding tanks. We have 12 children and my oldest daughter takes 30 min. showers.
phil |
Larry Baird (Airhog) (66.171.51.208)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 31, 2002 - 2:24 am: | |
Must be a typo, did you say 12 children? You need more then water! |
RJ Long (Rjlong) (24.127.74.29)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 31, 2002 - 2:48 am: | |
Phil -
It's my understanding that a good rule of thumb is to have your holding tanks 10-15% larger than your fresh, to handle additional "stuff".
With 1600 lbs of water on board, it might be a real good idea to weigh your coach while it's still stripped inside, to get a good idea about how much weight is on each axle. You'll need to pay attention to axle weight distribution a little more closely than those folk who only carry half as much water. More than likely, the rear bay will be ok, but you might have to center it in the middle bay.
Best if it's a straight shot from the toilet into the black tank, too. Another floorplan consideration. . .
Better teach oldest daughter a little about water conservation: A 30 minute shower at 5 gallons per minute will use up 150 gallons, leaving only 50 for the rest of you. Even a low-flow 2 gallon per minute showerhead will use 60 gallons at her rate.
Hmmmm. . . maybe a good way for her to learn about water conservation is to make her dump the holding tanks???? 8^)
There's a good article by George Lowry on Tom Hall's site about building your own tanks out of ABS plastic, customizing them as necessary to fit the available space. His holding tanks are mounted above his fresh water tank in his 4106.
(http://users.cwnet.com/~thall/) is the basic link to Tom's site.
If you utlize both grey and black tanks, be sure to provide for flushing out the black with the grey, but not allowing the black to flow back.
HTH,
RJ
PD4106-2784
Fresno CA |
Peter (Sdibaja) (209.242.148.130)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 31, 2002 - 9:48 am: | |
I too would like to carry more fresh water, I now have only 30 gallons and that is only 4 short showers.
I have access (almost free) to 55-gallon plastic drums. I propose using 2 and standing them on end to avoid sloshing. I plan to use a wood floor under them to spread the weight and reduce point loads.
Any comments on that scheme?
Peter |
Pete (152.163.188.227)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 31, 2002 - 11:07 am: | |
Peter,
Thats what i use..they are perfect..limmitted sloshing and removable for more room if needed. my grey runs out a hose into the ground so dark is the only thing i need to watch..
110 gals goes pretty far and i like the fact that the fixed tanks will still power all the water items. My fixed tanks will hold another 80
Pete |
Henry R. Bergman, Jr. (Henryofcj) (63.224.197.10)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, November 01, 2002 - 4:13 pm: | |
Hey Peter, do not laugh, but I also considered the 55 gallon heavy duty grey plastic empty olive barrels as water and holding tanks on my conversion plan.
The only thing really that nixed them in the end was that they were just the wrong shape to exploit the available space. Now am planning on just biting the bullet....
And have custom stainless steel tanks made up exactly the way I need them. The olive barrels came close, but no final cigar. Good luck. |