Awning on the outside of a 102" bus ? 365 steer for 16K ?

[someguy]

Is it legal to mount an awning on the outside of a 102" bus ?  Or does it have to go on the roof ?   

If so does that mean one must use an awning that doesn't have arms on the outside of the bus ?

[Bill Gerrie]

My bus is a 102 wide and my awning wraps around the roof curve. I have never had any issue with the width due to the arms on the side. The awning has been on for 35 years.

[luvrbus]

I have awnings on the roof,also have window awnings mounted on the sides not a problem I guess it is a factory install, roof mounts were for the lateral arm awnings I have had Zip Dee mounted on the side of 102 wide buses with arms lots of Prevost had Zip Dee on the sides.Kinda like the law and 45 ft buses most are over 45 ft long

[someguy]

Yeah, a lot of jurisdictions have max length at 45 feet and a J4500 with the early Rennaisance bumpers is 45 feet 6 inches or so.  But I noticed the 2016(?)+ bumpers are less thick.  Maybe to get the length back down to 45 feet ?

In most jurisdictions the rule book says 102" max, not including safety equipment.  If a LEO wanted to get nasty, an awning would put a 102" bus over maximum width.

I guess nobody really cares.

Here is another thing... a lot of jurisdictions have a max of 10Kg per mm of tire width.  With 315 tires that is 3150 Kg x 2 = 6300 Kg or 13,860lbs max on the front axle.   To get to 16,000 pounds, you need 365 tires on the steering axle.   3650 Kg x 2 = 7300 Kg = 16,060 pounds.

(FYI, front axle on a J4500 is rated 16K.)

Not sure that gets enforced either.

The reason I bring this stuff up is that whatever bus I buy will need to be inspected locally before it can be registered.  Just looking out for the got yas.

[chessie4905]

Since it is an empty shell shouldn't be a problem.

[luvrbus]

I have a 16,000 lbs front axle my 315x80x 22.5 Michelins are rated at 9000 lbs ea @125 psi 

[someguy]

I have a 16,000 lbs front axle my 315x80x 22.5 Michelins are rated at 9000 lbs ea @125 psi

The tires are rated for that, but many jurisdictions have tire loading laws governed by weight for width.  Like the 10Kg/mm law.

Even more interesting is 2019 J4500 has a 17,000 pound front axle rating.

[lvmci]

Most home converted busconversions, don't reach the maximum weight capacity of a passenger and luggage full passenger bus, IMHO, lvmci...

[luvrbus]

My Michelins 315's are over 13 inches wide on 9 inch wide wheels since you can no longer mount the 315's on 8-1/4 wide wheels   

[richard5933]

Most home converted busconversions, don't reach the maximum weight capacity of a passenger and luggage full passenger bus, IMHO, lvmci...

Maybe not the conversion itself, but it's easy to push one over the safe limit once things get loaded onboard.

Our Custom Coach weighed in at about 28,500 with full tanks all around when we got it set up pretty much as it left Custom Coach. The factory sticker from GM rates the bus for 30,000 GVWR. We are now sitting at just around that 30,000 mark with everything on the bus. Biggest Weight additions were the house batteries, solar panels, electric bikes, and the tools we carry.

Granted Custom Coach conversions tend to be heavier than home built since they used full thickness 3/4" plywood for nearly everything they built, but the pounds do add up fast.

[someguy]

Maybe not the conversion itself, but it's easy to push one over the safe limit once things get loaded onboard.

Our Custom Coach weighed in at about 28,500 with full tanks all around when we got it set up pretty much as it left Custom Coach. The factory sticker from GM rates the bus for 30,000 GVWR. We are now sitting at just around that 30,000 mark with everything on the bus. Biggest Weight additions were the house batteries, solar panels, electric bikes, and the tools we carry.

Granted Custom Coach conversions tend to be heavier than home built since they used full thickness 3/4" plywood for nearly everything they built, but the pounds do add up fast.

This is why I would never go with a single rear axle Class A.  They are almost always over loaded on at least 1 axle, if not GVW.

I'm thinking of making a bay one big roll out tool box.  I love to work on stuff, even when on holidays.

[ol713]

   Hi;
        Check      out Bus Grease Monkey.com. He has approx 5k lbs worth of tools he hauls around  and has no weight problems.

                                                                     Merle   

[richard5933]

   Hi;
        Check      out Bus Grease Monkey.com. He has approx 5k lbs worth of tools he hauls around  and has no weight problems.

                                                                     Merle   

I'm not sure about that - he has failing rear springs. Probably more to do with age than weight, but weight has to play into the picture. Now he's got a substantial weight on the roof with the solar panels. Of course, his conversion is much more lightweight than mine.

[luvrbus]

I'm not sure about that - he has failing rear springs. Probably more to do with age than weight, but weight has to play into the picture. Now he's got a substantial weight on the roof with the solar panels. Of course, his conversion is much more lightweight than mine.

5000 lbs of tools in 1200 lb bay   

[buswarrior]

Steer axle on new Prevost H3 are those bigger shoes you mention.

Read beyond the sections about tire width and weight, the world is evolving, somewhere else, the legislation will enable what the manufacturers are rating.

Laws are written by lawyers, none of us little people are supposed to be able to figure it out in one read through...

As for awning arms... don't fail the attitude test, and there will be no trouble...

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior