Weight Distrubution

[Kenny]

When planning and building you coach, did you keep in mind not only weight distribution from front to back but also from side to side?

It's my understanding that Bay loading for an MCI 9 is as follows - Rear Bay 3310 lbs, Center Bay 1200 lbs, Front Bay 1540 lbs

This with allowable tire loads pretty much dictate front to back weight distribution.

What about side to side weight distribution? To much weight to one side or the other could be a problem.

Has anyone had to change your design or build to redistribute the side to side weight? Has anyone done side to side weight measurements?

Any specs or rule of thumb for side to side weight distribution?

Thanks - Kenny

[Chopper Scott]

I guess I would have an 85 gallon propane tank, the generator and the water all on the street side but I also have the 144 gallon diesel tank on the right side. I think basically everyone is similar in that regards. My water tanks are basically centered side to side with the battery bank being on the curb side. I'm betting it's pretty well balanced side to side.

[Lin]

I know this was something of an issue when I had a motorhome.  It would be less so with a bus, but I would still take it into consideration.  I may not go to the point of knowing the exact weight of every fixture, but would look to keep things roughly balanced.  

[luvrbus]

I watched the guys at Marathon they were pretty particular on the side to side weight on the buses they had scales under each wheel fwiw

[Lin]

Clifford,

It would be interesting to know the range that they felt was acceptable.

[white-eagle]

when i had mine checked by the rv safe guys where they use individual scales for each side/axle, they wanted the side to side load within 150 lbs on each axle.  This was with all tanks full, except about 3/4 fuel, and we were over gvw by about 1500 lbs which they weren't concerned about with our tires.

[Kenny]

Just read an article in the FMCA magazine about weight distribution. They mentioned unbalanced side to side weight could be dangerous but the whole article was mainly about coach weight ratings, labels and how to weight front and rear axles. They mention nothing about limits on side to side loading limits. Maybe its not so important after all?....... Kenny

[buswarrior]

That FMCA article was such a bag of generalizations...

How many times did you see them mention the effect on braking?

None.

Don't go looking to FMCA for any definitive words, and certainly not for sound engineering or testing, or practical experience.

First thing to go south when you overload is stopping distance. The bearings in the axle? Shuzzbutt...

Pretty lame, and ineffective, and non-committal, and pro advertising manufacturers, as usual.

Off the soap box, but this is far from...

happy coaching!
buswarrior