Interior metal wall panels structural?

[brettpearson67]

I am wondering if the panels that I have removed from the interior walls(and ceilings?) of my 96A3 (and other buses, such as eagles)are structural and if they need to be re-installed? I don't see people doing this on their conversions.

[Jim Blackwood]

Dunno Brett, might depend on how much weight you plan to carry.

Jim

[brettpearson67]

Dunno Brett, might depend on how much weight you plan to carry.

Jim

No more than any other typical conversion coach.

[6805eagleguy]

Eagles don't rely on any structural panels, I think mci's do?

[buswarrior]

Age old question, and getting more complicated with newer coaches...

Many an online friendship has been destroyed arguing about these matters.

The panels were there for HVAC purposes?

How easily were they removed? Structural elements are rarely "easy" ...

What's left to hold your bus together?

External skin glued on or rivets?

Nobody can decide except you. The rest of us took our gambles, following us might not be in your budget, both risk management and financial?

Less than helpful, but sometimes, there's no advice, pick your poison and live with it?

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

[Iceni John]

My rule of thumb is whether big 1/4" structural rivets spaced every inch are used, or instead are there 3/16" pop rivets spaced much more widely?   Pretty much all my bus's exterior and interior is built with the former, with the latter only for the ceiling inside.   So, if it's the former, I don't mess with it!

John

[Scott & Heather]

A lot of us who converted our own coaches removed those. We did. If you're lining the inside with wood, you'll be plenty structurally sound.