| Author |
Message |
Sean Mormelo (Sventvkg) (66.58.223.108)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 - 6:30 am: | |
Hi everyone, I'm looking for some advice or insight as to the best way to fill in the space where the side doors are currently located. And what have you all done when it comes to filling in the stairwell? Newbie here starting the journey...Thanks! |
doug86newell (63.74.232.26)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 - 8:18 am: | |
The first thing I would do is check out your floor plan. I didn't have to fill in the door since mine was not a conversion coach, but I hve my entrance where the side door is located. That offers a lot of advantages. When my awning is down, the door is well sheltered from the weather. It also allows some nice seats to be located in the front of the coach for a passenger up front. Just a thought.
Doug |
John that newguy (199.232.240.233)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 - 8:23 am: | |
Nice idea, Doug! Solves a ton of problems with
that front stairwell area and seating. |
Marc Bourget (209.142.38.81)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 - 11:58 am: | |
My fathers Prevost had a side door, but it's not located as far back as the second door on the MCI-5's. One compromise, especially that far back, with the side door is reducing the space for waste tanks and compromising the bath layout.
You might wish to move the door forward.
I like side doors because of the security door I installed inside of the Prevost's outer door. Really helps air exchange in the coach when you can lock up a real security door, leaving the outer door open.
I'd just duplicate the existing structure found in a "non-door" segment. The inner shear plate was compromised by the door and maybe some beefing up was done. If so, don't reduce the structure if you move the door forward, duplicate what was present at the original location. If you fill in the shear plate, mimic the rivet pattern next to the door in the replacement panel. It will help transfer the loads across the joint.
Onward and Upward
Marc Bourget |
Sean Mormelo (Sventvkg) (66.58.223.108)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 - 12:25 pm: | |
yea mark, i'm just going to take the door out completely and put a one piece door on the front of the Bus..Of course I have no idea how to do it but i'm sure i'll figure it out. I would think that I would want to weld some new steel framing into the space where the side door was then get the appropriate skin for the bottom and steel sheeting for the top section, and mimic the rivet pattern as you say..Match it up the best I can..This sounds good too me. |
John M. (216.166.159.4)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 - 2:07 pm: | |
Hi, I built a frame with 1" square steel tubing and welded in 19 guage steel to cover the side door opening. Then I bought a used 1 piece door
from an MCI 9 and installed it in place of the bi-fold front door with the hinge hardware which bolts right in to the MCI 5C. |
John M. (216.166.159.4)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 - 2:10 pm: | |
PS. I used the stairwell opening with a fabricated
door to install 3 30# propane bottles. |
Sean Mormelo (Sventvkg) (66.58.223.108)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 - 10:35 pm: | |
John, so you took the stairs themselves out and put the propane bottles there...Exellent idea man! I'll put a little doos on there as well...I guess I could just find and put on a pice of Bus skin to cover the prefab door so it matches the rest of the bus...Cool idea, thanks. |
Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (204.110.227.63)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 04, 2004 - 12:39 pm: | |
I just eliminated the front steps on my bus, and was wondering what to do with the space. I thought about LP (That is if I even HAVE LP) but putting bottles in the "Impact Zone" didn't seem like a great Idea to me.
Gary |