Where can I get the "Rubber Fender extentions/skirts" that go above the tires on my 1978 MCI? is that a dealer Item only and about how much are they I need all four for the rear of coach
I was going to ask which model coach you have, but since you need 4 fenders, it must be an MC8.
You should check with Luke at US Coach, a long time supporter of this nutty hobby: 1-888-262-2434. He may have what you need.
The part number for the LH drive & RH tag is 3R-23-14.
The part number for the RH drive & LH tag is 3R-23-15.
You'll need 2 of each and MCI is showing them in stock for $100.20 each. They can be reached at 1-800-323-1238
Bob
They look nice: maybe. They keep the wheels from spaying the side of the bus: maybe. But they sure make removing the wheels difficult. I have been thinking about removing them.
JC
It's just a two jack process to remove the wheels easily with the rubber skirts, which I think look great and really help to keep things neat and tidy. The first jack lifts at the body jacking point to lift the bus up in the air, then the second jack lifts the wheel so the tire is just off the ground. With the clearance from having the bus body up you have easy clearance to pull the wheels off.
Brian
Part of my problem is that my tires are 11R24.5, larger than stock. Even with lifting the bus up, the tire is larger than the width of the skirt opening. I fight with it every winter to replace the outer duals after my brakes maintenance. The front wheels aren't as bad because they are a couple of inches farther inside the body with more wiggle room.
I had forgotten that you guys probably have 22.5s.
JC
Quote from: bevans6 on August 18, 2013, 09:52:20 AM
It's just a two jack process to remove the wheels easily with the rubber skirts, which I think look great and really help to keep things neat and tidy. The first jack lifts at the body jacking point to lift the bus up in the air, then the second jack lifts the wheel so the tire is just off the ground. With the clearance from having the bus body up you have easy clearance to pull the wheels off.
Brian
I have really been looking at a breakdown on body jacking points. MCI9 need to know where to shore up body to work on suspension.
Sent from my C5155 using Tapatalk 2
I have a full set and half plus one extra. I will sell them all for $200.00 plus shipping. Let me know if you are interested............. Richard
richard I tried to email you but it returned..is the email you posted current? anyway if you wtill have them I would like to have the fender skirts for my mc8 bill johnson 918 361 4446 or drivermci@aol.com
Quote from: lostagain on August 18, 2013, 06:43:42 AM
They look nice: maybe. They keep the wheels from spaying the side of the bus: maybe. But they sure make removing the wheels difficult. I have been thinking about removing them.
JC
Lostagain,
Personal opinion only, but i dislike the look of them.
I cut them off with a razor knife leaving the piece behind the fender molding.
It make changing tires much easier and I prefer the look.
If it rains and i am out driving, its getting a bath anyways....
Again, just personal preference.
Cliff
Cliff do have any side pictures with them cut off. I want to do mine that way too but wanted to see what it would look like first.
Dave5Cs
Our MC8 has the rubber around the wheel wells, both front and rear. To remove any tire I use the campground air leveling system to raise the body as high as it will go on whichever corner I am removing a wheel. I place a steel spacer between the axle and the rubber bumper so the body can't come down. Then I use my new 20 ton air over hydraulic jack to lift the axle high enough to remove the wheel. Works for me.
Good luck, Sam
Cliff, you are right about the rain: the bus is getting wet and dirty anyway, no matter whether it has rubber skirts or not.
They look nice in an aerodynamic, slick way. But many buses have them in the front and not the rear, and that looks nice too, in a more functional way. So I think mine are coming off this winter when it is up on blocks getting PM done.
I have been thinking if I had to change a rear tire on the side of the road, at night, in the rain, with the OL impatiently waiting, those skirts would be a PITA.
JC
Quote from: Dave5Cs on August 30, 2013, 04:26:29 PM
Cliff do have any side pictures with them cut off. I want to do mine that way too but wanted to see what it would look like first.
Dave5Cs
Don't blame you, hard to glue them back on... :)
I will take and post some on Saturday!
Cliff
Why worry about the rubber fender flares I spent days installing new ones on my MCI 8 the first trip out I blew out a new Michelin tire on the tag it wiped that side out so I replaced all with a Eagle aluminum wheel flare they are still on that bus
BJ, I sent you an e-mail
Richard
Here is a shot of the front wheel without skirt.
Those look nice and clean . Thanks for the pictures.
Dave5Cs
The front rubber fender skirts do have a tendency to reduce the amount of muck thrown up on an MCI and pre-Buffalo GMC driver's exterior mirror when running in the rain. No real effect on an Eagle or Buffalo, due to mirror placement.
OTOH, pulling into a steep driveway ramp at full lock can quickly split one.
FWIW & HTH. . .
;)
Buffalo have mirrors in same place as pre buffalo.
Quote from: chessie4905 on September 02, 2013, 10:06:04 AM
Buffalo have mirrors in same place as pre buffalo.
Chessie -IBME that the different shape of the OEM mirror arm and mirror head of a Buffalo somehow didn't get as mucked up as the older GM hiway models did when running in the rain. (Let alone an MCI 7, 8 or 9!)
Dunno why, perhaps due to a different airflow pattern around them? Perhaps because the driver sits lower in a Buffalo, thus the mirrors are lower, thus changing the way front wheel muck is thrown at them? Perhaps because of the larger rubber fender skirts on a Buffalo's front wheels? I just don't know.
But I do remember not having to reach thru the toll window to wipe them off as often as I did for the others.
FWIW & HTH. . .
;)