Generator Placement?

[jmblake]

I have a 81 MCI9 and was wondering if anyone has put there generator up front where the spare tire goes like the newer diesel pusher SS motor homes do? I was doing some measuring and a Onan or powertec 8000kw would just fit with some minor modifications. I would have to put it on a slide with the bumper and the piece of stainless steal above the bumper attached to the front of the slide. Any one seen or done this? pros and cons?
Thanks Jason

[Dave5Cs]

Jason I don't believe he has a generator in there but one of the moderators on this Board "Jack Conrad" has a MCI 8 that he made a drawer in the front with the bumper attached and it was pretty neatly done as I remember. You might get a hold of him on it.
Dave

[jmblake]

Thanks Dave, That's what I.m thinking of, any one make a slide heavy enough to hold a 450lb generator?
Jason

[Dave5Cs]

Somebody does because I have seen them in coaches. Prevost puts them on their coaches for genny's maybe check with them. Or your suppliers with you being in your business might know of someone. If you find one put up a link I may need one too for mine but out the side on it.
Dave

[Scott & Heather]

Jason, McMaster Carr makes slides for this. I have 500lb rated slides for my twin Honda EU3000is generators on one tray.


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[richard5933]

Just a word of caution on this project...

The photo that was posted with a front bumper attached to a drawer seems to indicate that the bumper is no longer attached to the structural members as it was from the factory.

After having recently been involved in a front-end collision in our coach, I'd be very hesitant to do anything to the structural system in front of me. The bumper on our 4106 was mounted directly to the bus through the original mounts and did a good job of deflecting the oncoming car. I'm pretty sure that it would not have protected us as well if it was mounted to a slide instead. Just too many moving parts to properly transfer the impact to the body/chassis of the vehicle.

Please be sure to run any changes you plan to make past someone with enough understanding of the structure of the vehicle to be sure that you're not putting yourselves in harms way just to install a generator.

[buswarrior]

There is no crash protection built into a 1981 MCI. The bumper is just slammed on there, and arguably, not so slammed at that...

That being said, richard's point is well taken.

Head on is easy, the bumper is against all the stuff it was before.
Some form of heavy interface to provide some "side smear" structure, check out the cone shaped pieces on some big truck hoods, and the structure that inhibits sideways motion under the rear of a big truck air suspended cab for inspiration?

But, in pondering a solution, look at what you have available in the way of structure to back it up... there isn't much there, see sentence number one...

The driver is the crumple zone, always was, always will be.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[jmblake]

Scott and Dave:
I do have access to 500lb ones but putting a 450lb generator on them I thought might be pushing there limits. I thought about stacking 2 pair to make it more stout. I don't know what the SS manufactures use?

Richard:
I have been following your accident and it sure makes you think about what can happen in a instant, but like BW said the 9's bumper is just held on with 2 flimsy hinges and 2 rubber straps. I was thinking of making something like 2 steel tubes that slide inside of each other for guides that would actually lock the bumper and generator into the front framing of the bus, Again like BW said there isn't much up there.
Any more idea's are greatly appreciated.
Thanks Jason

[luvrbus]

People have been installing generators in the spare tire compartment for years in the MCI there is nothing there but the 2 side tow rails and a thin aluminum plate riveted to the side rails.
I say go for it Jason just watch the front axle load limit they are close in the stock form and you can adjust the load limit on the front axle with the tag axle air pressure if need be   

[buswarrior]

Yes, axle loading...

Removal of the stock coach AC components help lighten the front a bit.

Influential is water tank placement, further back the better...

And never mind smaller tire options for your steer axle.

There was a coach up here with the battery bank in there on trays, enough to run the bedroom AC all night off the inverter, that busnut HATED the noise of a generator and built the coach to work the way he wanted it to...

go for it.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[birdarchitect26]

I would say, it would help with cooling while driving 

I have a Westerbeke 4 cyl diesel on slides, I think its nearly 800lbs. basically 1/4" angle and some nice bearings.

The spare comp might fit an LP genny, or something small range.

[luvrbus]

I have seen 6-8D Lifeline batteries in the spare tire compartment on a MCI 9 before those are heavy they weigh 155 lbs ea so it was close to a 1000 lbs total 

[TomC]

I was going to do the front generator drawer design. But with my transit bus, the bumper was real with big supporting struts that I didn't want to cut and the bumper is rubber covered. Instead I installed the 10kw Powertech generator next to the driver's seat like a front engine. It faces backwards (engine rear, generator front) and I had to install it with a cherry picker through the front door. I do maintenance from on top, which is not as convenient as on the side. With lead foam insulation, it is quiet enough that you don't really notice it running when the A/C's are on. With a transit, you don't have many choices like a highway bus-but it was what I could afford. Good Luck, TomC

[jmblake]

Thanks guys I will probably go for it as soon as I find a good used generator, As far as axle weight I haven't weighed each axle but is on my list of things to do. but my tanks are all in the back luggage bay and I still have the stock AC, not sure what the spare tire and wheel weigh but it seems awful heave trying to get it in and out of that hole other than that not much I can eliminate up front for weight. Would one take air from the tag or add air to lessen the weight up front?
Jason

[B_K]

You would take air off the tag to lighten the front axle or add air to put more weight on it.
  BK