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Welding on Over Built Hitch
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I would hope everyone has weighed their coach and properly used the Michelin tire chart to be sure their tires pressures are correct.
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The only possible method for determining the correct tire pressures is to run the coach across the scales as soon as it is loaded with all personal effects and has full fuel and water and an empty holding tank.
Since we tend to collect “crap” I will pull across the scales every few years. My coaches all varied. The first, an 87 weighed about 41,500. The second, a 97 weighed 46,600. The current one weighs just over 53,000. Looks like our buses tend to get as fat as we do.
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I think just with the basics we dont take out of the bus (which is allot) just filled with fuel and water I was over 55,000lbs
Maybe the slide HWH Slide adds some weight and the XL ?
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you didnt mention your weight 🙂
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I tryed to edit my last post to put Tom,s name in but it says I am trying to acces an area that is not mine? when I hit edit on my post,
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Larry,
Check my post;
General Discussion; page 5
Dated 9-19-2012
Where is the fuel weight
This was with and with- out fuel on our XLII 2/s IFS tires 365’s
AL
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Very interesting Al,
I also noticed the guys post below you, being on the Motorcycle lift conversation I think he had a late 90s bus and was running about 1,300 tounge weight on his trailor but before he weighed it he had allot more because of the way the trailer was loaded to the front,
Now Prevost states toung eight at 8″ from the Bumper so the extra 12 ft back to the tires plus the 1,300lbs on the single center hitch bouncing down the road must almost break that bus in Half ?
I am running Dual recivers into 3/8 to 1/2 in an L shaped configuration plate mounted on the rear cradle or frame at around 1000 lbs with no tounge weight grom the tow vehical.
And so I have an extra 1000 lbs on the back of a 55,000 bus Does it feel any different going down the road,
If it were a passenger bus it would just be like an extra row of people,
No it drives itself smooth as glass over the moutains and through the woods,
Maybe its good to take a little weight off the steer axel With a Scooter .)
I have three years in and some pretty rough roads If the motor falls out at least it will look good on the hiway thers not an oil spot on it .)
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I started this tread five months ago and have done a ton of research on the subject ,,, i have concluded that it will probly not hurt your coach if you have the 8v92 cradel But the most valable lesson learned was that JON knowes what he is talking about and has become my Prevost Bible. Expiernce can not ever be replaced .His openion will aways be respected by me . every one have a merry xmass
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Actually if the hitch or engine cradle (to which the hitch is mounted) limits are exceeded it is likely damage will occur, and generally the damage will be invisible because if you look at the Prevost structure you will note the engine cradle is cantilevered from the drive / tag axle structure with some members in tension going up to the truss frame for support. The damage occurs when the coach is bounced up and down while going down the highway and the up and down forces can be substantial. I think of one bump we hit coming out of NYC onto the George Washington Bridge that literally lifted the clothes hangers right off the rod in the closet. There are similar whoop de do’s all around the country at bridge expansion joints an construction sites
I think the greatest “at risk” coaches are the 45 foot coaches because of the greater distance from the cradle attach point to the hitch. Because of the construction of the XL coaches and their rear cap full width cracks in the cap near the bottom become visible along with cracks around the rivets. That to me is a good indication the rear structure has been flexing and may have failed welds or structural members. That is only an opinion so take it with a grain of salt.
I am not suggesting that because an XLII or an H3 is less likely to have visible stress cracks in the cap that they are not subject to structural damage.
Since this thread touches upon coach weights I would suggest owners that choose to have motorcycle lifts installed get their coaches weighed with the motorcycle mounted. Because the motorcycle adds a lot of weight to a long lever arm it is going to have a significant impact on the pressures required for tires. It would be great it someone with a carrier weighed each axle with and without the motorcycle mounted and report the difference in axle weights. I imagine it will be significant. It would be ideal if the weights were compared to the Prevost axle weight limits also so we could see the big picture.
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You know what I appreciate?
That this thread hasn’t degenerated like one about the weight police would have on rv.net.
Merry CHRISTmas, and a Happy New Year!
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Karl,
Like you I have been on sites on which the members act less than adult like. I am happy to say, and I think Tom will agree this site is populated by great folks that know how to discuss a topic without it getting personal or nasty. Everybody here should take a bow for contributing in such a responsible manner.
When we started the site we wanted it to be one where we could exchange information, express critical thoughts, and be open in our opinions. We are happy you and the rest of the members are doing such a great job expressing yourselves without any of the negative stuff we see elsewhere.
Prevost owners generally are not shy about expressing themselves because that is how they have succeeded.
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Jon , I had a hitch mounted on mine and in fear have not used it , although i would gladley get it weighed if I knew where.I live close to Daytona Beach any one know were I can go for a weight check ,,or will D O T do it for you?
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Most every truckstop will have scales David.
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Scales are at Flying J truck stop 950 State Rd 206 West St. Augustine, Fl 32086 Interstate 95 and hwy 206 Exit 305 Phone 905 794 0426 I have been on them and just called them to make sure that they were still there.
On the issue of the trailer hitch, engine cradle
Stashed in the woods under snow I have an old used broken welded and re welded with new cracks showing. A 10,000 pound hitch from the previous owner of my 1995 coach.
I had A new 20,000 pound hitch / engine cradle installed at prevost Jacksonville.
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