Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 05-25-2015, 08:52 PM   #1
Hex
Skoolie
 
Hex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Buffalo, New York
Posts: 191
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Bluebird, Model 3800
Chassis: International
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 42
Opening that accordion door with a linear actuator

Well, I didn't see a How-to for this one, so I'll put this up. I have an old-skool accordion door with a locking swing-arm as the main door to enter exit the bus. I love the glass, and the fact that it opens in, but there's no way I've found to lock it to my satisfaction, both for security and for ease. So I went with a linear actuator in place of the main bar, and a remote for controlling it.

It's on my blog here.

Please let me know if you've got questions I didn't cover there. But just so you can see the (basically) finished product:


Hex is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-25-2015, 09:21 PM   #2
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Florida
Posts: 584
Year: 1988
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: I.H.
Engine: DT360
Check out my thread. I used a linear actuator to lock the door. It pushes the shaft down into the track area just behind the door post that goes vertical into the track. This blocks the door from opening. I really like the use of an actuator to open the door as well. Nice clean work.
My wife is not having an easy time getting up and down the stairs. I keep looking at them and wondering if I could use and actuator to lift a platform up and down in stead of the steps. Almost like a small version of a wheelchair lift.
I haven't figured it out yet but your vid gives me hope.
HolyBus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-26-2015, 10:08 AM   #3
Hex
Skoolie
 
Hex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Buffalo, New York
Posts: 191
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Bluebird, Model 3800
Chassis: International
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 42
Holybus, if your floor height is like mine (about 42-44" high), then a pair of these 48" long guys might work to extend down to the ground, then lift up to floor level. Then a sort of removable (or folding?) platform might do the trick for a side or rear exit door. Or maybe a fold-down floor over your existing stairs to meet up with the platform? It's a neat idea to play with.
Hex is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-26-2015, 06:47 PM   #4
Bus Geek
 
bansil's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MNT CITY TN
Posts: 5,158
Check out the Grey airport fire truck converted to an rv(expo vehicle) his wife was same way he made the floor platform move to ground like an elevator he used air or hydraulic I think....
__________________
Our build La Tortuga
Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory.
George S. Patton
bansil is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-26-2015, 06:48 PM   #5
Bus Geek
 
bansil's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MNT CITY TN
Posts: 5,158
Google this---> airport fire truck rv
__________________
Our build La Tortuga
Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory.
George S. Patton
bansil is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-26-2015, 08:58 PM   #6
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Florida
Posts: 584
Year: 1988
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: I.H.
Engine: DT360
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hex View Post
Holybus, if your floor height is like mine (about 42-44" high), then a pair of these 48" long guys might work to extend down to the ground, then lift up to floor level. Then a sort of removable (or folding?) platform might do the trick for a side or rear exit door. Or maybe a fold-down floor over your existing stairs to meet up with the platform? It's a neat idea to play with.
At 1/4" per second travel, it takes 3.2 minutes to travel the 48". No offense, but I can imagine her response when it takes that long to get in or out.
HolyBus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2015, 09:16 AM   #7
Bus Crazy
 
somewhereinusa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Andrews,Indiana
Posts: 2,430
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: AARE
Engine: 3116 Cat 250hp
Rated Cap: Just the two of us.
Can she walk up a ramp?
somewhereinusa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2015, 09:46 AM   #8
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Florida
Posts: 584
Year: 1988
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: I.H.
Engine: DT360
Quote:
Originally Posted by somewhereinusa View Post
Can she walk up a ramp?
Yes if it is not steep. She can do the steps but not too many times and only slowly. It is the height of each step that is the biggest issue. A lift in place of the steps would be ideal.
Open the door and raise and lower the platform where the steps currently are would be great. Replacing the steps with more steps and one outside that retracts may be more feasible.
HolyBus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2015, 11:57 AM   #9
Hex
Skoolie
 
Hex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Buffalo, New York
Posts: 191
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Bluebird, Model 3800
Chassis: International
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 42
Sounds like a lift-gate/observation deck on the back might be the way to go ... I'd certainly think that a railing on one of these would be the way to go up and down ...

Liftgates for Trucks - Manufacturer of Hydraulic Liftgates
Hex is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:09 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.