Best places to block-up chassis

luvrbus · October 20, 2014, 07:33:18 AM

Lol don't go beating around to much on a MCI 5 either they rust with the best of the best

uncle ned · October 20, 2014, 08:55:04 AM

I have four levelling jack under HUGGY. I can raise one side and change a air bag.

Did it twice before I changer my steering stops to keep the front tire from rubbing.

I am not hardheaded.

uncle ned

mung · October 20, 2014, 09:01:59 AM

What type of jacks and where did you mount them?

mung · October 20, 2014, 09:29:49 AM

OK, I just had a crazy idea and I know you guys are going to flame me for it, but.......

What about building a metal box to bury under each tire. Then in said box mount a air powered jack that pushes up on a plate on the top of the box. Lift all 4 up and you would have the same thing as run up blocks. If you wanted to take off a tire, block up the axle and let the jack down on that tire. When it is in the full upright position, place wood blocks between the plate and the ground, just in case you had a jack failure.

OK, flame away.

MightyThor · October 20, 2014, 01:21:17 PM

Quote from: mung on October 20, 2014, 09:29:49 AM
OK, I just had a crazy idea and I know you guys are going to flame me for it, but.......

What about building a metal box to bury under each tire. Then in said box mount a air powered jack that pushes up on a plate on the top of the box. Lift all 4 up and you would have the same thing as run up blocks. If you wanted to take off a tire, block up the axle and let the jack down on that tire. When it is in the full upright position, place wood blocks between the plate and the ground, just in case you had a jack failure.

OK, flame away.

No flame, but to do this you have to have several things in place. A pretty substantial jack, a mechanism to keep things from falling over with the weight on it, and a way to keep the jack from going down instead of the bus from going up. All it is is money, but cheaper to have the ramps.

mung · October 20, 2014, 01:26:14 PM

No different than if you were jacking it up normally, just that the jack would be buried deep enough that when it was down the plate was level with the ground.

uncle ned · October 20, 2014, 05:20:59 PM

Mung

I hope to get to Arcadia this news year. come by and check them out.
Was on coach when i purchased years ago.

uncle ned

mung · October 20, 2014, 05:29:45 PM

We will be there for sure, so I hope you make it.

mung · October 20, 2014, 05:41:32 PM

So what is the maximum height that a 4104 will be able to run-up on run-up blocks without burning out the clutch?

gus · October 20, 2014, 07:59:41 PM

You don't clutch it up, you get a bit of momentum and let it roll on.

mung · October 21, 2014, 05:04:00 AM

So what is the max height I should go with for the run-up blocks? Also I am assuming it is too much to ask of the 4104 and my driving ability to run up all 4 wheels at the same time, so run up on the fronts, then jack the back?

gus · October 22, 2014, 07:28:45 PM

Four is no more difficult than two. Just set the blocks all the same distance from the tires and go to it.

It is a good idea to put a good hefty chock at the end of one block to keep from going too far.

mung · October 23, 2014, 05:09:25 AM

How high should I build them? I have 4x8s already that I could re-use for this.

Oonrahnjay · October 24, 2014, 08:23:08 AM

Quote from: mung on October 23, 2014, 05:09:25 AMHow high should I build them? I have 4x8s already that I could re-use for this.

My biggest issue is that I have limited clearance under the body of my bus. My runups can't be higher than about 6" or they won't fit under the body before a wheel runs up on them and lifts the bus. Check out what you have there.

(PS I've solved this a bit by having a few 5' long 2x10' hardwood boards with an angle. I run up on a pair of those to get about 3 1/2 lift and then I put the "real" run up blocks in front of them and drive onto them. Or sometimes, the 3 1/2" gives me room to get jacks under the frame or axle.)