GVWR and final build

[BeNimble]

Originally Posted by TheArgobus

I forgot to add—the BEST way to build out your interior isn’t wood or metal framing, it’s no framing at all with a Kreg pocket hole jig to attach 3/4” plywood walls/bulkheads directly to each other. That would be the ideal solution!

Hanging beads for walls. That is how real skoolies are done.

[Proudy202]

Hey guys so the below image is what I plan my bed frame to look like, the refrigerator is going underneath hence the cutout at the front....the left hand side and rear left corner I plan on being attached to the wall with no leg for support. And it will be faced off to hide the "garage" area

I've used 1530 for the top runs (1.5"x3.0") and then 1515 (1.5"x1.5") for the remainder.

Then plan to use a slat system for the mattress support

My issue here is this is coming in at 154lbs the same structure out of wood is likely to be 104lbs...i've never really worked with wood at this scale, would I likely need much more support? Or am I over engineering the bed design if it's made from 8020 (this is for a queen mattress, with 310lbs between me and my GF)

[magnakansas]

well designed..... I think the structure could be 15%-25% of the weight it holds.... holds 400 lbs should be able to do around 60 lbs ... I have a trailer holds 2500lbs, the trailer weighs 560lbs and the trailer is a little over built... I think dont think it well ever fail at those loadings..... should have gone two gages lighter in the tubing.....

william

[o1marc]

Seldom does a build exceed the GVWR.

[Proudy202]

Originally Posted by magnakansas

well designed..... I think the structure could be 15%-25% of the weight it holds.... holds 400 lbs should be able to do around 60 lbs ... I have a trailer holds 2500lbs, the trailer weighs 560lbs and the trailer is a little over built... I think dont think it well ever fail at those loadings..... should have gone two gages lighter in the tubing.....

william

Thanks I've taken it into account and worked out for the 1" 8020 and it comes in at 54lbs!!! Now we're talking!

If only I could persuade the girlfriend we could live with full not a queen! 😂

[Proudy202]

Originally Posted by o1marc

Seldom does a build exceed the GVWR.

If I was on my own maybe not, the girlfriend wants everything but doesn't want anyhting bigger than a short bus!!!

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by Proudy202

If I was on my own maybe not, the girlfriend wants everything but doesn't want anyhting bigger than a short bus!!!

I got a big bus (37'), because I didn't want to sit on the edge of my bed and be able to touch the kitchen, bathroom, and living room while sitting there.

[Proudy202]

Originally Posted by o1marc

I got a big bus (37'), because I didn't want to sit on the edge of my bed and be able to touch the kitchen, bathroom, and living room while sitting there.

At least I'll be able to cook breakfast from bed

I suppose that's one advantage of using 8020 when she realizes it's too small I can take it apart like Lego and put it back together in a bigger bus!!

[rg1220]

I'm actually checking out a Chevy 4500 with a Thomas body on Tuesday! That has a GVWR of 14200. I did a little searching after finding it - doesn't appear that many 4500's are out there.

[BeNimble]

For smaller spaces, having the bed 'convert' is a good solution as they take up a lot of floor space that can be used in other ways during the day. For camping that is ok, for full time living I would not want to deal with that twice a day..but then full timing in a tiny space is not my idea of a good life either.

[Proudy202]

Originally Posted by rg1220

I'm actually checking out a Chevy 4500 with a Thomas body on Tuesday! That has a GVWR of 14200. I did a little searching after finding it - doesn't appear that many 4500's are out there.

Yeah I've seen a handful of these around, they seem to be really rare! That would be ideal though

[Proudy202]

Originally Posted by BeNimble

For smaller spaces, having the bed 'convert' is a good solution as they take up a lot of floor space that can be used in other ways during the day. For camping that is ok, for full time living I would not want to deal with that twice a day..but then full timing in a tiny space is not my idea of a good life either.

Yeah that's one thing, we plan on living on the road for some time so having to fold the bed away and out every day seems like too much!

[Turtlini]

Just for a frame of reference, our bus is a 2003 Chevy Collins 6 window with a 12,500 GVWR and it weighed in at 7,550lbs when completely gutted.

[Rwnielsen]

Originally Posted by o1marc

I got a big bus (37'), because I didn't want to sit on the edge of my bed and be able to touch the kitchen, bathroom, and living room while sitting there.

Ain't that the truth. I need space just to relax.

[Proudy202]

Originally Posted by Turtlini

Just for a frame of reference, our bus is a 2003 Chevy Collins 6 window with a 12,500 GVWR and it weighed in at 7,550lbs when completely gutted.

Oh interesting....gas or diesel? And how gutted are we talking just seats? or floors, walls, insulation, roof all out?

I've already got my build weight down enough to have a 900lb safety margin in a Chevy but that was working with a 8800lb gutted weight...having another 1000lb to play with helps as I'm sure I'm forgetting some bits

It also appears theres a lot more Chevys out there than the 7.3 Fords so it opens up my options when buying the bus!

[Turtlini]

Originally Posted by Proudy202

Oh interesting....gas or diesel? And how gutted are we talking just seats? or floors, walls, insulation, roof all out?

I've already got my build weight down enough to have a 900lb safety margin in a Chevy but that was working with a 8800lb gutted weight...having another 1000lb to play with helps as I'm sure I'm forgetting some bits

It also appears theres a lot more Chevys out there than the 7.3 Fords so it opens up my options when buying the bus!

6.0 Gas and fully gutted down to the bare sheet metal flooring with everything else removed. Had a half tank of gas too if that matters.

[Proudy202]

Originally Posted by Turtlini

6.0 Gas and fully gutted down to the bare sheet metal flooring with everything else removed. Had a half tank of gas too if that matters.

Perfect thankyou!

[Rucker]

Originally Posted by TheArgobus

I forgot to add—the BEST way to build out your interior isn’t wood or metal framing, it’s no framing at all with a Kreg pocket hole jig to attach 3/4” plywood walls/bulkheads directly to each other. That would be the ideal solution!

Mine is all 3/4" plywood, glued, biscuit-joined, screwed with 3/4" aluminum channel at the bottom and top. Because the interior is a bunch of tetris cubes it's extremely rigid.

[rg1220]

We're picking up our 2011 Chevy 4500 6.6L Duramax on Thursday! GVWR is 14000. I'll get it weighed with a full tank as soon as possible.