Never seen this toad setup before

[Scott & Heather]

Spotted this on I-4 in Florida this morning:





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk. Clumsy fingers may contribute to mistakes.

[HB of CJ]

Cool setup indeed.  That would also have the characteristic of removing weight from an overloaded front axle.  It also probably means that rear axle is slightly underloaded and can handle some more weight.  

About the only thing I can think of is weights and balances when everything is settled down, but I am sure that has been calculated into the engineering. (?)  Cool way to haul a toad.  Thank you.   HB of CJ (old coot)

[gumpy]

I'd sure like to see how they modified the frame and engine cradle to handle that. Those cars are about 1800 lbs. Add another 200 or so for the lift. They're what, about 4 feet wide? So
you have 1000 lbs sitting 4 feet from the rear frame attachment. That's about 4000 lbs of downward force on a bump, if I recall that correctly.

No. I'm thinking this is probably an accident looking for a place to happen! But maybe not. Would really like to see this up close and personal.

[Hard Headed Ken]

I am sure that has been calculated into the engineering HB of CJ (old coot)

I seriously doubt it.

[Oonrahnjay]

I seriously doubt it.

    Looks to me like there is a stub receiver for a trailer along what would be the centerline of the bus.  Yeah, pretty much slapped together looking to me, too. 

[luvrbus]

I was told by Prevost the max tongue weight is measured 8 inches from the receiver to the center of the ball is that correct ?

[lvmci]

hi All, the buses back looks lower than the front, one of those swivel wheel flat trailers would probably take the weight of the hitch, lvmci...
http://www.cruiserlift.com/swivelwheel.html

[HB of CJ]

In addition, and FWIW, does that dinky car only weigh 1800 pounds?  I kinda remember reading or seeing something where they are much much heavier.  They needed to be even using high grade steel to pass the USA crash worthiness tests.  Extremely heavy for their size?  Dunno.  Anyhow, if they were heavier, then that might make the proper engineering even more ... of a "challenge"?  Dunno either.  Yikes?  HB of CJ (old coot)

[harleyman_1000]

 Won't work on my GM   

[OneLapper]

Yup, spec is 1808 pounds for that car.  108" bumper to bumper.  Per the Smart Car website......

[Debo]

The tiny engineering part of my brain tells me JDLR. (Just don't look right) I could be wrong though. I have been before...

[Jon]

I'd sure like to see how they modified the frame and engine cradle to handle that. Those cars are about 1800 lbs. Add another 200 or so for the lift. They're what, about 4 feet wide? So
you have 1000 lbs sitting 4 feet from the rear frame attachment. That's about 4000 lbs of downward force on a bump, if I recall that correctly.

No. I'm thinking this is probably an accident looking for a place to happen! But maybe not. Would really like to see this up close and personal.

Actually the entire 2000 pounds is centered 4 feet from the hitch. The heaviest Prevost engine cradle is limited to 1500 pounds 8" from the receiver face. that means in the simplest of terms that Prevost owner is destroying his cantilevered engine cradle structure. The first evidence will be a longitudinal crack all across the fiberglass cap near the bottom as well as splits in the cap at every rivet up the sides and across the top.

By then however the hidden damage to the structure will be broken welds. It will reach a point if he continues to load the car like that it will result in a catastrophic failure because even though there are some diagonal members from the truss going down each side, they are outboard of the structure that is cantilevered off the axle structure sub-assembly.

A Harley will do the damage I noted above. You can imagine what that car is doing.

[Ed Hackenbruch]

And if he should have a problem/emergency in the engine compartment......good luck with that!

[Jon]

Prevost has stated they will not do repairs to any coach in which the engine / hitch structure has been damaged.

I know some coaches that had damage because a motorcycle carrier was added. Nobody knows the extent of the damage because the supporting structure is behind the skin and I don't think anyone would want to get into tearing the skin and damaging the expensive paint work, just to see if there is damage.

[Lin]

One would hope that there is some serious engineering that we just can't perceive for this attempt at a toad free lunch.