Weight and Balance Concerns of a Converted Bus

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

This article by Dave Millhouser discusses the importance of managing the weight of converted vehicles and RVs.

It emphasizes that exceeding the vehicle's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) can lead to safety risks such as tire blowouts, poor handling, and potential fines during inspections or if you are involved in an accident.

The author explains that weight concerns are especially relevant for vehicles converted into motorhomes, where added components like tanks, generators, and lifts can significantly increase weight. Proper weight distribution is also crucial to avoid problems with handling and tire wear.

Millhouser advises conversion owners to be mindful of their vehicle's weight, regularly check tire ratings and inflation, and stay within the GVWR to ensure safety on the road.

BCM Members can read the full Article by clicking the link below. You can also choose the 'Click HERE to Read this Article to me' button to have it read to you, making it easier to absorb the information while multitasking.

https://www.busconversionmagazine.com/articles/new-articles/

You can read several older articles today if you are not a current BCM member. Click on this link to access over 250 articles about converting any wheeled vehicle into a home on wheels.

https://www.busconversionmagazine.com/online-articles/

Become a member for only $12 annually and gain immediate access to all New Articles and Buses for Sale six months before non-members. You will also have access to other valuable information and discounts on all RV components and be able to read over 2,500 articles on Bus Conversions that apply to any RV conversion you are interested in converting.

https://www.busconversionmagazine.com/membership/

[luvrbus]

This article by Dave Millhouser discusses the importance of managing the weight of converted vehicles and RVs.

It emphasizes that exceeding the vehicle's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) can lead to safety risks such as tire blowouts, poor handling, and potential fines during inspections or if you are involved in an accident.

The author explains that weight concerns are especially relevant for vehicles converted into motorhomes, where added components like tanks, generators, and lifts can significantly increase weight. Proper weight distribution is also crucial to avoid problems with handling and tire wear.

Millhouser advises conversion owners to be mindful of their vehicle's weight, regularly check tire ratings and inflation, and stay within the GVWR to ensure safety on the road.

BCM Members can read the full Article by clicking the link below. You can also choose the 'Click HERE to Read this Article to me' button to have it read to you, making it easier to absorb the information while multitasking.

https://www.busconversionmagazine.com/articles/new-articles/

You can read several older articles today if you are not a current BCM member. Click on this link to access over 250 articles about converting any wheeled vehicle into a home on wheels.

https://www.busconversionmagazine.com/online-articles/

Become a member for only $12 annually and gain immediate access to all New Articles and Buses for Sale six months before non-members. You will also have access to other valuable information and discounts on all RV components and be able to read over 2,500 articles on Bus Conversions that apply to any RV conversion you are interested in converting.

https://www.busconversionmagazine.com/membership/

I watched conversions being done in Oregon and they used scales under each wheel to get the balance with in + o r - a 100 lbs getting it right on a 45 ft was a challenge with all the stone counter tops and stone floors with the slides on the front axle of the Prevost, You   heard some ugly words sometimes when a designer would move around items. They didn't worry to much about the GVW they worried about the GAW (gross axle weight)

[Jim Blackwood]

I'm a little surprised that weight would even be an issue on a Prevost or a DL, considering the number of passengers they could carry. By the time you remove the seats don't you have something like 12,000 lbs or more  of load capacity to work with? Takes a good bit of RV stuff to reach that number.

Jim

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

I'm a little surprised that weight would even be an issue on a Prevost or a DL, considering the number of passengers they could carry. By the time you remove the seats don't you have something like 12,000 lbs or more  of load capacity to work with? Takes a good bit of RV stuff to reach that number.

Jim

I had a 250-gallon fresh water tank and a 250-gallon grey/black tank in one of my buses.  At 8# per gallon, that starts adding up when they are full. It was converted by a guy who wanted to travel to Canada about 30 years ago, and wanted plenty of capacity. He also had an extra fuel tank, but I never used it, so I don't know the capacity.  That and a washer/dryer combo, a spare tire, over-the-range microwave oven, a spare tire, a 12kW generator, two 8D start batteries, six 4D house batteries, and a lot of tools, and plenty of other stuff that have been built into buses I have owned starts adding up. I think it's more important to ensure the weight is balanced when you want to carry that much stuff.