-
Safely Supporting the Chassis ?
Newbie uncertainty / confusion… After research, I “think” I understand how to support the chassis to prevent if from dropping on me while working underneath with the chassis aired up all the way.
This will be my first time driving it upon my 2 x 12 ramps and I would also like to raise it as high as possible using its air suspension.
My uncertainty is whether or not a jack stand between my concrete floor and the front and rear jacking points (as seen in a photo posted by Jon in the past) is sufficient OR IF there are some points above ground level where a wooden block must also be inserted within points only on the frame (above / not contacting the ground) to prevent the frame from dropping due to a sudden loss of air.
Photos sure would be appreciated if blocks must be placed where they do not rest on the ground. THANK YOU, Jeff
-
17 Replies
-
Jeff et al, that is my bus sitting on stands I had made and actually sold two production runs of them, distributed at rallies at cost.
I continue to use them but there are other options also that I use depending on what I am working on.
I use jacks like below (this from Harbor Freight) by keeping the hydraulic portion all the way down and running the center screw post up until it contacts the chassis support point. The coach is all the way up on Level Low when I do that, then I can run the jack higher with shop air, such as to work on a tire. When extended hydraulicly I never get under the coach.
The key is to not use anything that can fail which is why for chassis support I only use the fail proof center screw post.
-
So is support between the ground and frame jacking points all that is required prior to going beneath when the chassis is fully raised with air?
I ask this as someone elsewhere led me to believe there were frame to frame points (not in contact with the ground) that ALSO required blocking. It did not make sense, but wanted to double check. Thank you again
-
I have had my bus fully supported by stands, either as you pictured or the bottle jacks I showed with all wheels off and all 53,000 pounds supported. That puts about 9000 pounds on each front support and in the rear each support is carrying about 17,000 or more.
But my concrete floor is 7″ thick rebar reinforced concrete. The stands have to sit on a surface that will not collapse under the weight.
When supported as we are discussing nothing else is needed and you never have to worry about the chassis dropping which is something that can happen if it is unsupported and an air bag fails.
-
T H A N K Y O U
No more mystery or worries 🙂 -
If I have some major things to do under the bus I will put bus on ramps 8 inches tall then raise air bags to max height support frame 4 corners then I can roll under with a cheaper and lots of room, If I need a wheel off Like for working on front brakes I will raise front bags to max height support front frame, let air out of front bags all the way, jack under axle and support it. It’s so easy and open on ramps like a freeway under neigh.
-
I have a pit.
All joking aside I still support the entire chassis at its fully extended height because even though I am in a pit, I still find myself occasionally reaching over things or around things and putting myself in potential pinch points. The only two ways I will ever get beneath a coach is if it is all the way down, or fully supported on chassis support points.
If I have to raise a wheel I do exactly what Art says.
-
Art, are those ramps in the picture something you made or bought?
-
I made them out of 1 inch plywood it was a little thicker then that 12 inches wide
-
Jon and Art,
restart your production runs on those ramps and those stands. I will purchase right now.
R
-
Ron just bought a pair of (Sunex 1522-22 ton jack stands) off Amazon. $148 bucks shipped. These are welded not cast. Think there $351.84 off Sunex’s site.
-
Ron I would be having them made for distribution at rallies except some people screw up a good thing.
The last time I had them made for distribution at a rally I had them bought and paid for. There are coach specific heights so I had them produced to orders from people who told me they would pick them up and pay for them at the rally.
People did not show up, people changed their minds about buying them, and some folks had sold their coach and got a different one and did not want the stands built for a different model.
It got to be like herding cats and fortunately I was able to sell the ones I was stuck with so I’m out of the business of having stands built.
Easy to make. Use heavy wall pipe or tube. The ones I had made were 4 X 4 square tubing, 3/16 wall. It could just as easily be schedule 40 or 80 pipe, perhaps 3″ pipe size.
The top and bottom plates can be 3/16 or 1/4″ plate. The bottom plate on mine was 8″ square and had gussets going to the corners. I had a handle welded on so a rod with a hook could be used to push them in place or pull them out so you never have to reach under an unsupported coach.
I use the Harbor Freight hydraulic bottle jacks about 50% of the time only because to periodically check for slop and wear in the front suspension and steering I can add air to raise the wheels off the floor, and wiggle and shake everything to look for loose beatings, upper and lower A arm issues, loose ball joints, drag links etc.
-
Jon’s stands were the best with shims to make any combo work. I don’t blame him for throwing in the towel, I helped him at a couple Rally’s distributing the stands and dealing with the no shows, mind changers and cry babies. I know he ate the cost on some and never complained. I still have mine…
-
Too bad. When you commit you commit and follow through. Hate to hear if the trouble you encountered.
R
-
I suspect a lot of things we used to do no longer happen because of people who ruin it for everyone.
-
Jon you me mention different heights for different busses.
how do you know what height one needs?
1998XLV
how many shims do you recommend as max on top of your stand
Log in to reply.