overweight -1st Press release

[Don Bradner]

You are correct that I could run 100 - my weight is over 14K, but not by a lot.
I like to have a little bit over when I start a long trip, as then I rarely need
to add during the trip.

On 3/18/2009 at 6:42 PM david brady wrote:

>Don,
>
>The Michelin XZA2 Energy can handle:
>
>13880# at 95 psi,
>14380# at 100psi, and
>14880# at 105psi
>
>You should be able to back your 315 steer tires down from
>105. I run 100psi and I do notice a difference in 5 psi.
>
>David Brady
>'02 LXi, NC
>
>Don Bradner wrote:
>>
>> 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: http://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
>> <http://www.aeonix.biz/BBforsale.html>>
>> >El Sobrante CA
>> >aeonix1@...
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >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 >> > wrote:
>> >>
>> >> Ross, Can you tell me what is the load limit on the front axle?
>> >>
>> >> Dan Williams 88wb38 Jackson, MS
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> From: WanderlodgeForum@ yahoogroups. com [mailto: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
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>
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