I've decided not to carry a spare tire and I'm trying to think of how to best use the space. Being somewhat open to the weather, I'd like to hear what everyone else has done. Thanks!
Glenn
Here is what we did with our spare tire compartment when we quit carrying a spare. Front of tray is attached to the front bumper. Jack
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I have 2 Cursair air conditioning units in mine,if they were not there I like Jacks idea but it would be a hassle on the Eagle removing the 4 bolts each time. good luck
Glenn -
I decided to carry a spare, even tho space is very limited on a 4106, because:
1) I don't have a tag axle I can chain up and "borrow" a tire off of.
2) I refuse to run a single wheel on the drive axle, unless both duals blow and I have no choice.
3) I don't have to worry about road service having to dig around and find the correct size tire before coming out to my coach, especially at Oh Dark Thirty in Cantua Creek.
3) The extra weight of the spare helps on the front axle of the lightweight aluminum coach.
4) The slight safety aspect of having something to help absorb the energy forces should (God forbid) there be a collision between my coach and something lower than the floorline.
But I like Jack's idea!
FWIW & HTH. . .
;)
Great place to put the kids when they get whiny :D
Jack - do you have a way to latch the tray closed? Do you remember what weight ratings the slides are? That's a really great idea.
Glenn
Jack, could You please post a frontal picture, so I can see Your brush guards! Did You build them Yourself or are they commercial items. Regards, John
John, those aren't brush guards. They are a testimony to how nicely polished the stainless is. The "bars" are the ribs and the apparent space behind the "bars" is the reflected view in the polished metal.
I thought the same thing for a moment. Then I thought, "I don't remember brush guards on Jack's bus." So I looked again and figured it out.
I also carry a spare for the obvious reason and the safety issue to help a little if you hit something in the front.
I put my Mother-in-law in the spare tire compartment. It increases my fuel economy.
.
.
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I get about 3 miles to the nag. ::)
That's not really true. I have a wonderful Mother-in-Law. ;)
Jack,
Again, you have just wonderfully clean coach including this storage bin. Have you many miles on this installation, as My spare tire is filty along with the driver's tool storage area after a trip, with dirt, rain, slop getting into this space.
I am going to have to start my spring cleaning to park a block from your bus at a rally. Any closer I would be embarrassed.
High Tech, I couldn't remember seeing brush guards at Arcadia but jack is very profilic. After looking again I can see what You are talking about! I guess I will never have the ilusion because My stainless is never going to be that bright! Thinking about that I am not that bright either. Oh well, thanks and best regards,John.
This thread was worth it just for Jacks pics. He has one good looking coach!!!
God bless,
John
Quote from: Tenor on April 01, 2009, 10:22:29 AM
Jack - do you have a way to latch the tray closed? Do you remember what weight ratings the slides are? That's a really great idea.
Glenn
The slides are full extension slides rated for 500#. Here are couple photos showing the 2 latches that are under the bumper. These are the same latches that were used to keep the bumper closed when we still hauled a spare. We have used this for approx. 25,000 miles. I add add piece of SS angle that attaches across the front of the bus and has a foam lined lip the bumper seats against to help keep out rain & debris. Jack
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Here is a photo of the front with the tray closed and latched
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On my MCI 7 that is where the radiator for the Kabota generator is.
Jack, looks really good. I noticed the rope lights under your bumper. Pretty nice...
God bless,
John
Jack, Now that's thinking outside of the box! Or in this case inside. Great idea!
;D
~Paul~
Quote from: bobsw on April 01, 2009, 06:13:35 PM
On my MCI 7 that is where the radiator for the Kabota generator is.
We installed our generator radiator and fan in the rear wall of this compartment before building the slide-out tray. Actually, we made a new rear compartment wall with the generator radiator instaslled in the wall and the fan inside the compartment (behind the tray). the fan pulls air from inside the compartment (plenty of air inlet area on under the bumper on either side of the tray) and pushes the air through the radiator. Jack
I did some work on an Eagle entertainer that had the generator radiator and fan in the tire compartment. It was so packed full of leave, mud, and crud that the fan had stalled.
I keep a box full of money to pay for the new recap tire that they gouged me for that I'll have to replace asap. ;)
firewood and blocks
Quote from: Len Silva on April 02, 2009, 07:18:42 AM
I did some work on an Eagle entertainer that had the generator radiator and fan in the tire compartment. It was so packed full of leave, mud, and crud that the fan had stalled.
Just curious, which way was the fan moving the air. Our fan is inside the compartment and pushes air throp0ugh the radiator into the area around the front axle. So far, we have never had any debris in the rad or radiator.
We did have to install a deflector on our basement AC discharge under the bus to prevent leaves & debris from being stirred up and pulled into the AC condenser air inlet. Jack
Jack,
I'm sorry, I really don't remember. I know it was using a 12 volt automotive fan, I think blowing out the bottom. It wasn't so much a design problem as it was lack of maintenance. I don't think the compartment had been opened in years. Until the generator quit, nobody looked.