I agree with the need to weigh each axle and run the tires
accordingly.
There is a problem, though, with the numbers presented. There is zero
chance that a coach would need 12R tires inflated to 115/120 across all
axles when the GVW is 48000! Numbers need to be looked at again.
Tire inflation guides say this about 12R tires:
Single tires at 115 carry 7130 and at 120 7390
Duals at 115 carry 13050 a pair, and at 120 13560 per pair
So front 115, drivers 120, tag 115 would be:
7130
7130
13560
13560
7130
7130
That would be a GVW of 55640!!!
The tag is probably only around 10K, which would be covered at 75 PSI,
although I don't like to run them that low. 85 PSI will handle the tag
at over 11K.
22K drivers are handled fine at 90 PSI.
The steer tires do need 115 to handle 14K.
I'm going to be replacing my steers in the next few days with 315/80
which can handle 14K at 105 PSI
Don Bradner
90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
My location:
www.bbirdmaps.
com/user2.cfm?user=1
On 3/18/2009 at 1:20 PM Pete Masterson wrote:
>The overweight front axle infects the LXi (and probably LX)
starting
>in 2004 or so... These coaches were built by Blue Bird before CCW
>bought the company. The recent bankruptcy/liquidation of BB
Coachworks
>probably inspired the need to file the lawsuit(s). As I understand
it,
>a recall was issued on the coaches with the problem. No doubt, CCW
has
>contractual language as part of their BB purchase that protects
them
>from the liability for this problem (shifting it to Cerberus), but
the
>usual course is to sue the current owner of the company.
>
>It is certainly a warning to all of us to weigh our coaches axle by
>axle. When I did, I was surprised that the axle weights were
somewhat
>above the weights suggested by the tire inflation guide located and
>visible in the street side front cargo compartment. Using the axle
>loadings (and allowing for a modest side to side variance) based on
>actual scale weights, I determined that I needed to inflate my
tires
>to 115-F, 120-D, 120-T* to have sufficient rated weight carrying
>capacity for the tires. The axles were all under their rated
weights
>(sufficiently) to allow for variations in loading that normally
>occurs, but (due to the side to side variation) the tires were
>actually somewhat closer to their limit on one side than I had
>expected. The "suggested" inflation does give a slightly softer
ride.
>
>*Based on the numbers, I probably could drop the tag down to 115
psi,
>but I may as well give the tires the pressure to handle any
transient
>higher loads caused by the dynamics of movement. I don't notice any
>particular difference between 115 and 120 on the tag axle in ride
>quality -- since passengers sit in front of the front axle, most of
>the ride perception is based on that axle's tire inflation.
>
>I've subsequently heard that due to vagaries caused by the air
>suspension that side to side weights may not be fully reliable even
>though the total axle weight may be correct. Still, it suggests
that
>during movement, the actual weight carried by one side or the other
>might be rather higher than the combined weight suggests.
>
>When packed, loaded, and filled with fluids and passengers, my
coach
>weighs just under 48,000 lbs, leaving it about 900+ lbs under the
>GVWR. I don't have the weights by axle handy right now, but each
axle
>was comfortably below its maximum weight.
>
>I think it's wise for all Wanderlodge owners to physically weigh
their
>'bird axle by axle, and if possible, wheel by wheel, to assess the
>properties of their coach so inadvertent overloading can be avoided.
>
>Pete Masterson
>'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42 (For Sale)
><http://www.aeonix.biz/BBforsale.html>
>El Sobrante CA
>"aeonix1%40mac.com"
>
>
>
>
>On Mar 18, 2009, at 11:16 AM, Leroy Eckert wrote:
>
>> Yours is probably around 14,000. For instance, mine is 14,600.
You
>> can find it on the data plate most likely above the driver
hidden on
>> the overhead. I am not overweight on any axle when completely
full
>> of everything my wife wants in the bus, full fuel and full
water. I
>> have plenty of variance.
>> Leroy Eckert
>> 1990 WB-40 Smoke N Mirrors
>> Dahlonega, GA
>>
>> --- On Wed, 3/18/09, Dan Williams <"danusa%40comcast.net">
wrote:
>>
>> Ross, Can you tell me what is the load limit on the front axle?
>>
>> Dan Williams 88wb38 Jackson, MS
>>
>>
>> From: WanderlodgeForum@ yahoogroups. com ["Wanderlodge"
>> Forum@yahoogroup s.com] On Behalf Of Ross
>> Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2009 12:22 PM
>> To: WanderlodgeForum@ yahoogroups. com
>> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] overweight -1st Press release
>>
>>
>> Copy and paste please . Couldn't get "link" to work.
>>
>> http://www.rvinews.
com/News/ tabid/16941/ ctl/ArticleView/ mid/
>> 38805/ articleId/ 3623/Blue- Birds-luxury- motorhome-
division-
>> faces-lawsuits. aspx
>>
>> Ross
>> 2006 450 LXi
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
Member Funded
Link Directory
Wanderlodge Trader
Document Library
User Locations
Gallery
Calendar
/
overweight -1st Press release
![[+]](http://www.wanderlodgegurus.com/images/collapse_collapsed.gif)