Thoughts For Front Under-Body Storage On a Rear Engine Bus?

[stiltdancer]

I’ve got a 2002 Thomas HDX rear engine bus and I’m trying to maximize storage.

Between the front tires to the front of the bus there’s a lot of space where an engine and transmission would be if this were a front engine model.

I’d like to use that space for something, but most of it isn’t very accessible and it’s an odd shape.

Under the driver’s seat I’ll build in some kind of cabinet/tool box, an air compressor and extra tanks. I’m thinking about drawers in the stairs.

It’s probably not a good place to put water tanks.

Do you have any thoughts on what could go there and what to avoid putting there?

Thanks!

 

[somewhereinusa]

I put the condenser for the front minisplit there.

 

[solvo]

A lot of motor coaches have the generator under the captains chair. I like the drawer idea for the stairs. I have seen modifications where the stairs open on a hinge and storage inside for small items. Depending on the size of the water tank, I would feather have that weight in the center of the bus for better weight distribution.

 

[Biscuitsjam]

https://www.amazon.com/Buyers-Produ...qid=1564938911&s=gateway&sprefix=buyer&sr=8-1

I have two Buyer’s Edge 36x18x18 Tool Box and one 24x18x18 Tool Box.

https://www.amazon.com/Flame-King-Y...nk+horizontal&qid=1564939132&s=gateway&sr=8-3
Flame King 29.3 gallon propane tank

https://www.amazon.com/PROPANE-CRAW...awler+propane&qid=1564939202&s=gateway&sr=8-1
3x 20-pound propane tanks in these brackets

https://www.amazon.com/Honda-EU3000...onda+eu3000is&qid=1564939266&s=gateway&sr=8-3
Honda EU3000IS with breather heater kit, remote start, and propane conversion kit mounted in the engine compartment

My bus came with a 100-gallon fuel tank and a 48x18x18 storage box already also.

 

[o1marc]

https://www.amazon.com/Buyers-Produ...qid=1564938911&s=gateway&sprefix=buyer&sr=8-1

I have two Buyer’s Edge 36x18x18 Tool Box and one 24x18x18 Tool Box.

https://www.amazon.com/Flame-King-Y...nk+horizontal&qid=1564939132&s=gateway&sr=8-3
Flame King 29.3 gallon propane tank

https://www.amazon.com/PROPANE-CRAW...awler+propane&qid=1564939202&s=gateway&sr=8-1
3x 20-gallon propane tanks in these brackets

https://www.amazon.com/Honda-EU3000...onda+eu3000is&qid=1564939266&s=gateway&sr=8-3
Honda EU3000IS with breather heater kit, remote start, and propane conversion kit mounted in the engine compartment

My bus came with a 100-gallon fuel tank and a 48x18x18 storage box already also.

Did you mean 3-20lb propane tanks?

 

[Biscuitsjam]

Yes. 20-lb (a little less than 5 gallon).

 

[Iceni John]

Under the front of my bus I made a spare wheel/tire mount, in the same place as the factory-optional one would have been, complete with a worm-drive winch and a wheeled dolly to move the wheel and tire when it's on the ground. Between the front door and front wheel is about 24" of space, so my emergencies-only generator goes there on a slide-out mount. On the driver's side opposite the generator is a small vented compartment that I originally made for two 20lb propane cylinders, but when I realized that was a stupid place for propane I reused it for storing spare engine oil, hydraulic/PS fluid, distilled water, gear oil, etc etc - if anything leaks it doesn't matter too much because the compartment is open to the ground. And above the front axle is my 120VAC air compressor which is connected to the bus's accessories air system and supplies three air outlets for inflating tires and running air tools.

Not an inch of space anywhere is wasted or unused!

John