M380 vs other fiberglass coaches
|
08-28-2006, 14:43
Post: #11
|
|||
|
|||
M380 vs other fiberglass coaches
Marty, I am now very concerned about the hundreds of ships that go in harms
way and are totally welded, frames, substructure, superstructure, and no bolts, no rivets. Been that way for near a century. Jerry MS Gulf Coast Looking _____ From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com [mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of martingregg598 Sent: Monday, August 28, 2006 11:46 AM To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: M380 vs other fiberglass coaches Dick, I have been on these factory tours, Blue Bird, Alpine, Beaver- Bend Or, Road Master, Monaco, Marathon, and visited Featherlite. I cannot speak about the Prevost as they come as a unit to the converter. But here is what I know about the others. They build a frame and weld on the lower supporting structure to the frame. Many of the welds that I saw were welded incorrectly and over welded. Blue Bird builds the frame and builds the sub substructure and then lower the frame into the substructure and bolts the two together, this is the way structural steel should be dealt with, the frame and the substructure metals are not compromised by welding. Then there are the ribs and the metal skin and roof and the rest of the coach being constructed after the shell is built. All the others use a vacuum bonded wall, a wall with a metal frame that has fiberglass on one side insulation and the interior wood then glued together and vacuum bonded, ever heard of "De-laminating." What they do is, build a chassis to include the floor, they load it with all the plumbing, wiring and cabinets and furniture, and then they bring in a pre-constructed wall and lower it to the floor and set the wall on the floor and spot-weld or screw or bolt the wall to the floor. Then the roof is lowered on and the same process. It's all good on the factory floor. What happens after the coach is on the road? When you pull it into a driveway and the frame stressed? The box gives, spot tack break, screws pull. That's why they fall apart, leak, rattle, and on and on. 95 BMC Marty [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] |
|||
08-28-2006, 18:51
Post: #12
|
|||
|
|||
M380 vs other fiberglass coaches
In that DVD I got from the factory it said the new M450 walls were all
welded to the chasse & BB said they the only manufacture that had a structural engineer on board. Don 89 SP 36' Butler, PA Marty, I am now very concerned about the hundreds of ships that go in harms way and are totally welded, frames, substructure, superstructure, and no bolts, no rivets. Been that way for near a century. Jerry MS Gulf Coast Looking [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] |
|||
08-29-2006, 02:05
Post: #13
|
|||
|
|||
M380 vs other fiberglass coaches
Jerry, sorry, didn't mean to make it sound like welding was bad, I
have been a United Association Steamfitter welder for 25 years, I love welding it has provided a good living for my family. There is a place for every type of joint and their needs to be engineering. Did I mention that BB has a structural engineer on staff. It appears that most other manufacturers learn as they go. Marty |
|||
08-29-2006, 02:39
Post: #14
|
|||
|
|||
M380 vs other fiberglass coaches
Don, from what I saw and the tour guide said the wall skeleton and the
lower compartment, and floor skeleton were welded, and looked to be done properly, then the bus chassis (skeleton) is lowered into the main frame rails and bolted. Perhaps all the bus skeleton being stainless steel and the frame rails being carbon steel, dissimilar metals do present a different welding strategy. I am not a engineer but someday I will have to find out just exactly why cars, pick-ups, big trucks, buses, most rigs with a frame, almost everything is bolted? Maybe someone on the forum has worked in the frame manufacturing industy and can shed some light on the subject. Marty |
|||
08-29-2006, 09:33
Post: #15
|
|||
|
|||
M380 vs other fiberglass coaches
--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Henry Jay Hannigan"
> > ---I cant stand it...I only use my three prevosts on months ending > with > ..R... > > LOL > Hank > 90 SP36 > 80FC31 > Prevost wannabeeee<<<<< ROTFLMHO!!!!!!!!!!!! Well said, Hank!! Regards, Jack and Liz Pearce Fulltiming in a 1993 Wanderlodge WB40 |
|||
08-29-2006, 10:57
Post: #16
|
|||
|
|||
M380 vs other fiberglass coaches
yahoogroups.com, "gepatch"
> >........... new Prevost. I use the Prevost for Rallys and general traveling and > the M380 for back woods, sand dunes, Mexico, etc.<<<<< Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. [/] [8-|] [:-?] Regards, Liz Regards, Jack and Liz Pearce Fulltiming in a 1993 Wanderlodge WB40 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] |
|||
08-29-2006, 11:33
Post: #17
|
|||
|
|||
M380 vs other fiberglass coaches
---MY M379(1990SP36) with only 41,000 miles and beautiful is STILL
FOR SALE and stored in Vegas if u no anyone looking for a great coach at a great DEAL BEFORE Naty & I return to AUSTRALIA in late October.......It is #607 on birdconnection.com.....tell your friends to check it out as I am getting more comfortable about selling at a reduced price...the BIRD is "like new!!" Nerw tires, fridge etc. Thanks, Hank Hannigan 90SP36(stored in VEGAS) 80FC31 on the road heading SOUTH In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Jack and Liz Pearce" > > > yahoogroups.com, "gepatch" > > > >........... new Prevost. I use the Prevost for Rallys and general > traveling and > > the M380 for back woods, sand dunes, Mexico, etc.<<<<< > > Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. [/] [8-|] [:-?] > > Regards, > Liz > Regards, > Jack and Liz Pearce > Fulltiming in a 1993 Wanderlodge WB40 > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > |
|||
« Next Oldest | Next Newest »
|
User(s) browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)