Fame dimensions, please.

[luvrbus]

The best source for scoping out structural changes in truss framed coaches are books by Dave Galey, who is an Architectural Engineer. We have not heard much about him lately, I'm not sure if he is still with us, but his book "The Bus Converter's Bible", published in 1995, is a good start. I got my copy from him personally in 1996 at one of the BCM Conventions. His coaches were Eagles, but his knowledge applies to other makes. In the case of an Eagle, the framework would be continued under a slide-out in the baggage bay area. You can not cut into a truss frame without making up the strength elsewhere. 
A little tid bit it took MCI and Prevost years to come around to the Eagle design which they used since 1957 same with the Independent front suspension too 

Walter,Dave a long time friend was a electrical engineer he's been quite ever since Roberta passing a few years back,Doing a slide in Eagle is not as hard as other buses  I need to check on Dave it's been a few years since I have.Art and Cindy Wales Eagle owners lives close by him and checks on him from titme to to time Dave is smart guy the dumbest thing he ever did was when he bought the Prevost but he didn't keep it very long till he purchased   lowly class C motor home

[luvrbus]

Gee, why didn't I think of that ?   

Eagles don't require much they have used the same bridge truss frame since 1957 and independent front suspension.40 years down the road it dawned on MCI and Prevost  Eagle had it right so lets build our like that
   

[Jim Blackwood]

So did you ever come up with the construction details? More to the point, have you decided what coach to buy?

Jim

[someguy]

So did you ever come up with the construction details? More to the point, have you decided what coach to buy?

Moi ?

I'm still waiting for frame dimensions so I can do some analysis.  I'm also looking at slide mechanisms.

I'll be purchasing an MCI E or J 4500, as my profile description states.

[Jim Blackwood]

Well good luck with it. As Bob said the slide will take more time than the rest of the build put together. But maybe you just work fast. At least you seem to have all the answers so that's got to help. Probably the most essential requirement is the determination and perseverance to see it through to the end. If you have that it's half the battle.

Those new coaches do look nice. They weren't designed to be turned into RVs though so you may find some unpleasant surprises. Pretty complex compared to a DDEC4 vintage coach. Even more compared to the older ones. But the good thing is that if you can pull this off you will have all the good stuff like air leveling and aux heat and a great engine and drivetrain. If you've been around here since '05 you should by now have some idea what you are getting into.

Jim

[sledhead]

yup slides can't be done ?

here are some pics of the slide in the MCI102c3 and there is a split unit a/c above the front windshield as well that can't be done as well and I did this in 2005 started and finished the coach build in 11 months from a full seated bus
https://photos.app.goo.gl/qv23NNsTDpKxKtY98

https://photos.app.goo.gl/XAisX2zXh6AsBss5A

https://photos.app.goo.gl/rog9Te1foGVFJkSs6

https://photos.app.goo.gl/JsBDQQHq24gJhWDB9

https://photos.app.goo.gl/YK7CDNEBTCTLJxvC6

yup tell a bus nut it can't be done and wait and see what happens

dave

[Fred Mc]

"Now it's true that a bus frame is not a soda can."

I always refer to my GM 4106 as being built like a pop can.

[6805eagleguy]

Ok someguy, as you see there are a lot of different opinions, just look at the Eagle world

To list 2 buses Wayne Schell and Kentucky Steves buses

One has 4 slides, the other none.

It's a bus conversion because we can build what we want.

yup tell a bus nut it can't be done and wait and see what happens

dave

My thoughts exactly



Some guy, I'd like to know more about what you know about steel.
Are you a welder? Almost anybody can weld, that won't cut it. You need to be a welder if you are, you'll know what that means

Just curious

[DoubleEagle]

Walter,Dave a long time friend was a electrical engineer

Cliff, you might be thinking of George Myers, who is an Electrical Engineer.

[luvrbus]

Cliff, you might be thinking of George Myers, who is an Electrical Engineer.

Could be but I recall Dave telling me he was electrical engineer with a degree from Oklahoma U or Oklahoma State,he  published  his books  under the name of Winlock which was his name,He was a sharp guy I have seen Eagles with rust but he bought one the friggn bays fell off, took him awhile but he finished it and installed a 8v92 engine and drove it for years .He lives in Sun City Ca I will try and reach him or I may just drive down since I would like to see him if he is still around and I hope he is     

[luvrbus]

Ok someguy, as you see there are a lot of different opinions, just look at the Eagle world

To list 2 buses Wayne Schell and Kentucky Steves buses

One has 4 slides, the other none.

It's a bus conversion because we can build what we want.

My thoughts exactly



Some guy, I'd like to know more about what you know about steel.
Are you a welder? Almost anybody can weld, that won't cut it. You need to be a welder if you are, you'll know what that means

Just curious

Doing a slide on the later MCI or Prevost he is going to have stainless and steel to contend with lol where a old Eagle just rusted mild steel.Steve had a lot of set backs in the last 6 or 7 years but with his determination he finished that Eagle 

[someguy]

yup slides can't be done ?

...

yup tell a bus nut it can't be done and wait and see what happens

dave

LOL.  Cheers, Dave.

[Busted Knuckle]

Don, roof raises are piece of cake ,a guy on this board Robert Glines has installed slides on both his Prevost and built all the components can't get more DYI than that plus he started the mini split craze people said would never work lol me included.The poster we are talking about here I know nothing about his skills who knows he maybe a whiz or a dud only time will tell  lol he does spend a lot of time with Google and Youtube some where I never go because you can always find the answer only you are looking for with your ideas it will be there someplace

Yup I have seen both of Bob's Prevosts with home built slides (and other awesome unique stuff like the center island), and both very well done! Bob's a down to earth good ol' boy who will sit down and tell you or show you every last little thing he's done on his home builds in detail. But I seriously doubt he'd tolerate "Someguy's" arrogance long enough to show him anything but the door!

If you will notice Ol' Bob's been pretty quite about all this as I think he's already decided he doesn't wish to deal with the all knowing attitude from someone who only shows what he's found on the internet and no real world experience, or accomplishments! (but honestly I can't speak for Bob, but I do know how he thinks! I know at the Evansville bus rally he let/helped me take the auxiliary air compressor out of his coach and take it to Ned in KY where he lost his main compressor in route to the rally.)

I can't emphasize enough to "Someguy" to learn to tone it down and show a little respect and he'll get far more help than he could imagine. His I know more than you attitude is keeping him from getting real world advice from guys that have been there done that.
Like Clifford, everything Clifford tells him he come's back with a smart @$# reply trying to show he "out knows" Clifford!
Personally I don't know why Clifford's still putting up with the arrogance, or is it ignorance?[/i
  BK 

[luvrbus]

Answer him and keeps him busy on Google ,like the injector on the DDEC ends up being a MUI,took him a whole page to get that point 

[Jim Blackwood]

Personally I still think he's a troll. Notice he hasn't said a word lately about buying a bus. I'll believe that when I see it. All this big talk doesn't mean a thing, and the attitude seems calculated to create controversy. Hey, it's what trolls do.

Jim