Who has the ramp that carries the Smart car ? (YouTube video)

someguy · April 12, 2021, 03:10:33 PM

Whose bus is in this video ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laa5AW3Hs6M

Is there a write up of the build ? What was done to the rear frame to do this ?

How about a more in depth video ?

Thanks

luvrbus · April 12, 2021, 05:55:33 PM

I don't do u tube but guessing you are talking about Steve's Prevost that the ramps fold up on the back

David Anderson · April 12, 2021, 05:56:44 PM

Wow, it looks like that car would bounce a lot being that far behind the axle. Like at the end of a diving board.
I like the ingenuity though. I bet he draws a crowd everywhere he goes.

luvrbus · April 12, 2021, 06:14:44 PM

David,I have not seen it years but a guy at a MAK rally in 2000 (i think) had a Eagle bus he carried a car over the engine at floor level,not my cup of tea but it was well designed his ramps were hidden and were hydraulic

someguy · April 13, 2021, 09:45:00 AM

Quote from: David Anderson on April 12, 2021, 05:56:44 PM
Wow, it looks like that car would bounce a lot being that far behind the axle. Like at the end of a diving board.

He has a chain on each side holding the ramps. Should make them pretty stiff ?

I'm wondering how the structure was beefed up to handle the loads.

usbusin · April 13, 2021, 10:16:04 AM

He has a chain on each side holding the ramps. Should make them pretty stiff ?

But a chain only works in one direction (tension). Nothing to keep the ramp from pivoting up.

Raymond smith · April 13, 2021, 03:37:37 PM

The Eagle with the car over the engine was in Bus conversion magazine years ago. Don't know what year. Will look it up

Raymond smith · April 13, 2021, 03:41:17 PM

Wow. Found it right away. June 2000 copy.

David Anderson · April 13, 2021, 04:42:22 PM

Quote from: Raymond smith on April 13, 2021, 03:37:37 PM
The Eagle with the car over the engine was in Bus conversion magazine years ago. Don't know what year. Will look it up

I remember that coach. Very cool design of the back end door that opened. Didn't he carry a Subaru?

David

luvrbus · April 13, 2021, 05:13:54 PM

Quote from: David Anderson on April 13, 2021, 04:42:22 PM
I remember that coach. Very cool design of the back end door that opened. Didn't he carry a Subaru?

David

He had a Mustang too he carried

Raymond smith · April 13, 2021, 05:45:46 PM

Looks like a Suzuki Samarai

lvmci · April 13, 2021, 06:04:23 PM

The way a bus twists side to side and flexes up and down, the condition of some of the interstates, not to even mention the US Highways, extending the rear of the bus by 8 or 10 feet, the way bus frame structures are under the roof, holding the engine cradle, what could possibly crack under the additional pressures?
Right now, we are looking at the engine cradle rail trusses, on my bus. cracks in the vertical and angled truss supports, and separated welds, on my 600,000 mile 8V92 engine compartment, WW Williams says this is a common problem! How much more can you way down the bus over the engineered designs, before a catastrophic failure, where the engine drops out of the bay?

someguy · April 14, 2021, 11:24:03 AM

The extra force on the engine cradle is definitely a concern. People put Hydralifts on the back of their motorhomes and sometimes trailers all the time. Not sure how they handle the extra force on the frame.

Apparently there is an extra heavy duty frame cradle for when heavy loads are towed behind buses.

The other issue is length. As far as I know the maximum length of a vehicle in most jurisdictions is 45 feet. A Smart car adds at least 8 feet to that.

I'd like to haul a couple motorcycles on the back of a bus. As well as tow a vehicle.

luvrbus · April 14, 2021, 11:55:48 AM

Rv's get a break on length I have friend in Idaho that his truck conversions are 53 ft long check Powerhouse truck conversions they are long

DoubleEagle · April 14, 2021, 08:04:42 PM

This should end the turning radius complaints about 45' Eagles. These trucks might have trouble in campgrounds.