Truck Conversion

[Scott & Heather]

Wow, very very well written. The best comparison I've read anywhere. Thanks for taking the time to detail your observations Paul. We all owe you one. Very interesting info. Sounds like there are equal pluses and monies in both categories. One thing I think about often is if we ever rear end a semi or have any sort of frontal collision, most likely whomever is driving will be seriously injured or killed. If we drove a truck conversion, that risk would be greatly reduced.


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[paul102a3]

Thanks for your comments.

I can't speak to other truck manufacturers but Volvo designed the front frame rails to spread outwards and the engine to be driven downwards in a front end collision absorbing most of the crash energy and hopefully protecting the occupants.

[muldoonman]

Thanks for the info. Have been thinking about trading or selling my 91 XL Mirage and getting one.

[oldmansax]

Good write up!  Thanks!

TOM

[RichardEntrekin]

Paul, 

Excellent job on describing the differences.

The one I am most curious to understand is the driving and steering behavior. I too have observed the same thing in comparing both Newells I have owned and something as crude as a 26 ft box truck.

My question to the forum is does anyone know why the steering would be more precise in a truck than a bus. What physics or mechanics explain that?

Thanks for your thoughts.

[paul102a3]

A small part of it is visual perception. I spent a portion of my career dealing with vision related issues and how we humans use our peripheral vision to help determine spatial orientation. An example of this is the condition of Glaucoma. Patients that have advanced glaucoma lose their peripheral vision but will maintain 20/20 vision. They can read books, watch TV, etc but will often bump into door jambs as they pass through doorways.  As they walk towards the doorway, they lose sight of the door jamb because of the disease process. The loss of visual cues in their peripheral vision (the door jamb) causes them to lose their spatial orientation and they veer off to one side.

For myself, as I look out the windshield of the truck, I see the small wing mirrors mounted either side of the engine cowl in my peripheral vision as I look straight down the road. Without us realizing it, we humans use those visual cues such as the mirrors or some other physical reference (hood) to help maintain our sense of position within a given space. Obviously in a bus or cab over truck, those visual references are much further out to the side and much closer in front of us so our reaction time to change of direction is different.

Studies of spatial orientation and the human visual system show that to a degree, it is a learned response so folks that drive buses for a living learn to adjust. Those of us who only drive part time may not adjust as well.

Others in the group can speak to the mechanical aspects but the above is for sure a contributing factor.

[RichardEntrekin]

Thanks Paul for the comment.

I hope your journey back to Florida is progressing. We stopped in Memphis. House is OK, but no power so no need to hurry down right now. ......

[TomC]

I have the same opinion. My bus is much more attentive driving wise than my truck. My bus has a rebuilt Sheppard power steering which is finger tip-that I really like. And it is tight. I can move the steering wheel 1/4" and the bus moves-so it isn't looseness in the suspension or steering. Just feels not very attached.
My Kenworth truck, on the other hand, I can sit there all day long (as I used to do) driving very casually with my left hand and two fingers. And my truck is a cabover-so driving positions on both truck and bus are the same. My wife is looking forward to driving the truck too. She also agrees that the bus is a bit tender to drive. Good Luck, TomC

[paul102a3]

Richard, We were finally able to get eyes on the house and had only slight roof damage from a fallen tree. Roof was repaired yesterday so no need to get back to FL right a way.  No power in our area either and not expected until next week.

TomC, I assume your truck has spring front suspension. Do you think the stiffness of the spring front end contributes to sense of stability?

[TomC]

Maybe the spring suspension on the front of the truck may have something to do with the ease of driving. But-the bus air suspension is basically the same as a 4104-except 102" wide. Good Luck, TomC