I came across a British website called the 'Self Build Motorcaravanners Club' (http://www.sbmcc.co.uk); it's mostly very amateur conversion of panel vans, but on there are some photos of a guy who has built a motorhome inside an artic trailer. He has also lengthened the trailer's tail-lift to carry a car:
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmyweb.tiscali.co.uk%2Finka1%2Ftoytown-magnum-motorhome%2Fimages%2F15.jpg&hash=c7111968c9fb40798ff944518fbfa98d87a9b3c1)
Although I'm pretty dubious about the way it's been done in this case, it is an interesting idea; I know for instance that these tail-lifts are designed to lift a lot more weight than you might at first imagine, and they are common enough to (presumably) be easy and cheap to get hold of from scrap yards etc.
With a bit of engineering it might be possible to attach a truck tail-lift to the back of a bus to carry a short car such as Smart Car or Merc A-Class longitudinally, or a big bike (or two) transversally. Obviously the tail-lifts aren't designed to be in the 'down' position whilst driving, but I can't immediately think of any technical reason why they couldn't be, and I think it would be legal too as the extra length would be classed as a 'load' rather than as part of the main vehicle.
I've just done a quick search and found this second picture which shows a specialist tail lift designed to load a race car into the back of a trailer (in this case a double-deck trailer):
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.race-trailers.net%2Fimages%2Fconst_oficina6.jpg&hash=0c0a58f6dba10bc63654ffc8b874f450a06f718d)
This tail lift is of a different design to the one shown in the first 'photo, but it is interesting to see just how 'simple' the mechanism appears to be - the load appears to all be carried on two vertical tracks bolted to the back of the vehicle - installing one onto the back of a bus would seem fairly straightforward, although no doubt you would need to do a of structural reinforcement of the body behind where the tracks were to be mounted.
Jeremy
Here there is a 60% overhang rule and that setup would certainly fail that test if the intention was to carry the car in that position. There are also pretty strict limits on load overhang that would also stymy the idea as well
I sure wouldn't want to drive behind that top one. :o :o Imagine how it would wave on every bump and dip.
I would think on a set up like that on a cargo van you might get a pogo effect on the road that might interfer with the steering or control but an interesting concept just the same.
If you could engineer the lift onto monocoque bus, the overall length for buses is 45ft. That trailer set up is just an accident waiting to happen with the tail swing when making a turn.
The "60% overhang rule" is not a law, but a suggestion for weight distribution. Ever seen a S/S motorhome that has the drive axle just about in the middle of the length with a measly tag behind? To me-scary-especially when they are pulling a trailer also.
If you want to carry your car, use a mid mounted bus (Gillig or Crown) and build a garage in the rear. Then you could still have living space above. For instance- 13'6" or 162" is the lawful overall height for all states (some are higher like Calif at 14'0", but then you wouldn't be able to go to other states). If you have 18" ground clearance, 50" of car height, 6" bounce clearance, 6" of both floor and roof thickness, that leaves 82" of headroom over the car! Personally-that's what I would do. Good Luck, TomC
Hi Jeremy,
I would bet that the top picture depicts how the car is loaded into the back of the trailer, NOT how it is hauled. I also notice that the ramps that extend from the lift gate slide. I'll bet that once the car is loaded into the trailer the ramps are slid ahead and the lift gate is stored in an upright position as it normally would be without the ramps. Things are not always as they seem, and if you contact the owner of the trailer you will get the real story. However, I have been wrong before and will be many times again. Thanks for posting the pictures. Sam 4106
Here's a link to the top picture.
The owner explains how it is to put the car into the truck.
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/inka1/toytown-magnum-motorhome/toytown_magnum_motorhome.htm (http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/inka1/toytown-magnum-motorhome/toytown_magnum_motorhome.htm)
Jason Whitaker
4104
Having looked again at the website I suspect you are probably right, although the 'photos of the interior of the trailer certainly give the impression that it is 'all' motorhome (or at least will be when finished). There is no mention or photos showing provision for the car inside the trailer, but on balance I think that probably is the intention. Either way it does not negate the original point - with the right engineering I think you could use such a lift to carry a small car or big motorbike on the back of a bus.
Jeremy
The last paragraph on the website Jason posted says it all. Jack
Lower the lift horizontal (power) & pull out the slider
Lower & tilt to load the car (just a gentle ramp)
Lift car (it will not level itself with the car on it - too much weight.
Drive car in & then power up the tail lift.
Easy