Generator Placement?

[jmblake]

Thanks BK, that's what I figured, now to get it weighed.
Jason

[buswarrior]

Theoretically speaking, messing with axle weights, everything is a compromise in a bus.

Lowering the tag pressure may lighten the front, but it then makes the drives heavier.

Lightening the front may make the coach more twitchy in cross winds

Lightening the front may promote front axle sliding, both brake and steer, in slippery conditions.

If you knew the truth of what your chassis, and others like it, has carried regularly back in its service days...

A busnut has to try REALLY hard to make a problem.

I wouldn't be thinking about it at all unless you broach 13k on the front?

Keep the intended 12R tires, or equivalent, on the steer axle, and down the road.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[neoneddy]

I used something like this for my generator http://www.instructables.com/id/TRUCK-BED-DRAWERS/

DIY'd some steel tube and skateboard bearings to make drawer slides that held 300lbs fully extended no problem.  I have a video coming out soon with my build process.   I put an ONAN 4.0 BFA generator on there where the old AC condenser  was.

[jmblake]

Neoneddy,
Thanks for the idea, not sure what kind of slides I'm going to go with, But as I ponder this idea I figured while I have the front all apart to reconstruct things I might as well upgrade my power assist steering to the integral power steering I told the wife now would be the time to do that project also This might be turning into a all winter project. Now to call Sam Caylor and see what all it takes to do the steering upgrade.
Jason

[luvrbus]

Most slides are built using cam follower rollers they carry a lot of weight and use little space

www.mscdirect.com

[jmblake]

Thanks Cliff, My future SIL is a welder and crew foreman for http://www.brookvillecorp.com/ that makes mining equipment and streetcars, so I'll check with him and see what he can come up with since I'll be calling on him for some fabrication and welding.
Thanks Jason

[Scott & Heather]

Honestly, I personally think having more solid bulk up front can help in a collision. It's precisely why a semi truck with the engine out front protects the cab better than we are protected in our noseless buses. That generator adds more bulk and mass and I'd be just fine with that in a frontal.


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[jmblake]

Would a generator like this work? http://classifieds.rennug.com//classifieds/viewad.cgi?adindex=4576547 they say that there Onan and run at 1800 rpm.
Thanks Jason

[scanzel]

That is a great price for the military 10K but I don't think it would fit, too high with the enclosure you would need to take it apart and then remount everything and if you have ever seen the back of the control panel it would not be an easy task to reconfigure. The military puts a lot of safe guards built into them so trying to redesign would not be easy. Would make a great back up for a home.

[jmblake]

Thanks Steve, I emailed the guy to get me dimensions but haven't heard back yet, but did find a similar one on the e place and it was almost 5' long and 3' high so I assume this one is about the same witch is to big
Jason

[zimmysurprise]

Jason- I was thinking the same thing as you, and went for it. Although mine is a GM, I made it work with MORryde slides. I also had to cut some of the supports for the flooring and relocate them, which worked great. I agree with the others who chimed in about worrying that the generator or slide might take a hit rather than the existing structure. My solution was to leave the original brackets in place, but pin them so the slide out brings the bumper out as well. In a crash, the bumper should still hit the same supports the factory put in. My pics are in the Bus Projects under Flightrisk. This link might help.

http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=24620.45

[HB of CJ]

Weight and measurement calculations can be fun but at times aggravating.  Adding or subtracting weight from each corner of the Bus Conversion affects the other ends. 

Depending upon how much pre planning was undertaken, the finish Conversion can be very well balanced indeed and safe to drive ... or ... it can easily become very non safe.

Miscalculations can add up and make an unsafe balance worse.  Adding heavy stuff in front of or behind axles must be taken only if some other better place is not available.

Ideally heavy appliances such as gen sets, battery banks, water and holding tanks, multiple fuel tanks and other stuff should go between the axles, not fore or aft of them.

How close does it matter?  Very close is better.  Weight each axle end and see what you have to begin with.  Then weight or research the weight of what you want to add.

Then calculate the overall weights after all the planned stuff is installed.  Do not forget the dynamic loads.  Fuel, water, holding, and 6 heavy unplanned passengers add up.

Fun to play around with weights and measures.  If done properly the home build Bus Conversion can be a real delight to drive hard on twisty roads.  Or it can be dangerous.

Assuming that your planned chassis is immune from mis loading or over loading just because it is a bus can land one quickly into dangerous conditions.  Think it through.

Your final weight may be within chassis and axle/tire limits but an exasperated combined design weight errors can still lead to a failed Bus Conversion experience.

Respectfully.

[jmblake]

Thank you Don,
That is exactly what I want to do. Looks like it's a pretty tight fit? I started tearing my steering apart to replace with the integral steering box then I'll move over to the spare tire compartment and start in there. One question is I was looking things over tonight and wondered if I would need to leave the panel at the back of the spare tire compartment or remove it to let the generator have some open air space behind it for cooling? If I leave it in there the generator will be right up against it anyways. 
Jason

[kyle4501]

The gen set is up front in mine. We usually run the gen while underway to run the roof airs, the last trip, we left it off. It was so quiet, now I'm thinking it would be nice if it was back near the main engine.

I wonder which makes more noise - the roof air or the gen set . . . . . .

[jmblake]

Kyle, Right now I have a generac gas geny back beside the engine and I still have my O/R air so when we do use the generator it's at night and it is definitely makes a lot more noise then the ac's but it doesn't have any soundproofing around it either.
Jason