overweight -1st Press release

[Pete Masterson]

David,

Thanks for the correction ... I get a little confused with all the different names that have been used in the recent years..

Pete Masterson

'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42 (For Sale)

<http://www.aeonix.biz/BBforsale.html>

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"

On Mar 18, 2009, at 5:13 PM, david brady wrote:

The lawsuit concerns the 2005 and beyond 450LXi, not to be
confused with the 1998 to 2003 LXi, or LX. I don't believe
there was a 450LX.

David Brady
'02 LXi, NC

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.

[david brady]

The lawsuit concerns the 2005 and beyond 450LXi, not to be

confused with the 1998 to 2003 LXi, or LX. I don't believe

there was a 450LX.



David Brady

'02 LXi, NC



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.

[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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