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Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: Darkspeed on October 02, 2015, 08:12:07 AM

Title: Wheel well insulation?
Post by: Darkspeed on October 02, 2015, 08:12:07 AM
With the 4106 sitting on its stops there still seems to be an opportunity to insulate inside the top of the wheel wells. Anyone done this?

Fire rated spray foam coated with undercoating?

Is there a good way to do this?
Title: Re: Wheel well insulation?
Post by: eagle19952 on October 02, 2015, 09:55:36 AM
wet gravel will destroy it ... eventually.
unless i am missing something...
Title: Re: Wheel well insulation?
Post by: bigred on October 02, 2015, 09:57:45 AM
That seems to be the Prevost way!!!! Or the converters way.Any how,that is the way mine is!!
Title: Re: Wheel well insulation?
Post by: kyle4501 on October 02, 2015, 11:08:37 AM
After 28 years, most of the foam Newell used in the wheel wells is still there, only a little at the bottom behind the tire has been eroded away.

If they had put a mudflap over it, it would have prevented that erosion. . . .
Title: Re: Wheel well insulation?
Post by: Darkspeed on October 02, 2015, 12:55:40 PM
How about danger from a tire fire?
Title: Re: Wheel well insulation?
Post by: Jim Eh. on October 02, 2015, 01:14:36 PM
If you have a tire fire I think you have more to worry about than 40 oz of urethane foam insulation. BTW there is more erosion from driving in the rain than from gravel. Larger particles tend to bounce off more so than itsy bitsy droplets of water with road sand.
Title: Re: Wheel well insulation?
Post by: chessie4905 on October 02, 2015, 01:50:40 PM
  Foam it and then 2 coats of Herculiner.
Title: Re: Wheel well insulation?
Post by: OneLapper on October 02, 2015, 05:56:32 PM
Darkspeed

A few weeks ago i installed a new fan clutch on a Prevost.  I was amazed that the inside wheel wells had spray foam insulation.  I thought the same thing, I figured it would have been beaten to nothing by rocks, etc.  The foam was in good condition.  The coach has almost 300k on it.  The entire bottom side of the coach was sprayed with foam.  

I plan on spraying the inside of my wheel wells.  Dont know if it'll make my 4106 quieter, but in theory it should help.  
Title: Re: Wheel well insulation?
Post by: Darkspeed on October 02, 2015, 06:34:44 PM
Quote from: OneLapper on October 02, 2015, 05:56:32 PM
Darkspeed

A few weeks ago i installed a new fan clutch on a Prevost.  I was amazaed that the inside wheel wells had spray foam insulation.  I thought the same thing, i figured it would have been beaten to nothing by rocks, etc.  The foam was in reallt good condition.  The coach has almost 300k on it.  The entire bottom side of the coach was sprayed with foam. 

I plan on spraying the inside of my wheel wells.  Dont know if it'll make my 4106 quieter, but in theory it should help. 

Thanks OneLapper! That is good news, I will give it a shot..
Title: Re: Wheel well insulation?
Post by: bigred on October 03, 2015, 05:41:54 AM
My Prevost is twenty years old w/150k and I only have a few small specks of yellow foam showing through the black which I take to be under coating.Mine is also completely foamed on the underneath.I think the secret to the longevity of the foam is keeping it covered with somthing to keep UV rays away.I can tell you for a fact that I have used the foam on construction jobs and it sure will lose its integrity long before  twenty years! It will turn to powder.
Title: Re: Wheel well insulation?
Post by: scanzel on October 05, 2015, 07:53:43 AM
What kind of foam are they using ?
Title: Re: Wheel well insulation?
Post by: bigred on October 07, 2015, 06:09:10 AM
Looks to be the same stuff that they insulate houses with or that you can by in the spray cans.The only spray cans I have seen are crack fillers But I would think that urethane foam would be the same regardless.Your best bet would probably be to contact a insulation company and have them come out and spray it for you.Don't know what kind of expense you would incur if you started trying to buy the equipment to do it yourself!
Title: Re: Wheel well insulation?
Post by: Jim Eh. on October 07, 2015, 09:31:06 AM
The "caulking" version is not really sprayable. A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away I used to spray urethane insulation. What we used back then is not allowed today. It was in the neighboorhood of 2lb density. I just had my coach insulated and the stuff available in Canada is pretty much the same as the US but coloured blue to signify compliance with Canadian regs. However if one were to feel the need to take out their frustrations by punching this stuff I think they would break the hand. Wow is it solid!
There are "Froth Paks" available from building supply houses that are supposed to be sprayable but I think they are a little pricey. Don't know how well they work. You will definitely want to do some serious masking as the overspray can travel a couple of hundred yards. Ask me about detailing 48 cars years ago.... :(

Best to do it inside with proper setup. If there is an insulation company that has any large bays for doing semi trailers, that would be the place to go visit. The wheels have to come off to do a proper job, so you can realize your price is starting to climb.
Title: Re: Wheel well insulation?
Post by: bigred on October 09, 2015, 05:58:07 AM
Dang Krank!!! And I thought getting yellow stripping paint of five cars was bad!!!! What in the world did you use to get it off ?? That stuff will stick like a mothers love!!!
Title: Re: Wheel well insulation?
Post by: Jim Eh. on October 09, 2015, 01:34:29 PM
All the cars were sent to a detailing centre on the customers nickel thank God. We specified responsibility of over spray  in the contract because they refused to vacate the employee parking lot.  Apparently they did not believe me. Go figure. We tried to approach the employees and word did get around to all of them but I guess some of them used to be non believers as well.