Wheel wells on bagged bus

[hcarter951@gmail.com]

Our first bus!
We have a '06 CE300, 9 window. Kentucky bus. Got the usual, I suppose, rust holes in front of the rear wheel wells.

I see mention of some with "bagged" buses and flat floors. Ours is bagged. When the air pressure is zero, the bags are fully compressed. From the outside, it looks there is maybe 1/2 inch interference if the floor was flat. So, of course my question is, instead of fixing the holes and dealing with the wheel well arches for our conversion, could I just replace the arch with 1/8 flat plate? It can't roll until the air is high enough to release the brakes and that would raise the air bags.

Has anyone tried this? Did you put an "up stop" so the drop is limited to prevent the tire from touching? Is there something obvious I'm missing?

Photo attached of bag fully deflated

Thanks in advance, I find a wealth of info here while I creep about!

 

[cadillackid]

dangerous thing to do... if for some reason your air suspension went flat on the road you are in a world of hurt.. and yes it happens.. I blew a bag on mine and it went down pretty quick.. the protection valve on my accessory tank kept my air from completely depleting..



if you had interference you could be skidding all over the road


it may be possible to replace the bump stop on the low end of the suspension with one that gives you the needed clearance at minimum height

 

[miles_3m]

it may be possible to replace the bump stop on the low end of the suspension with one that gives you the needed clearance at minimum height

Love this!

 

[hcarter951@gmail.com]

That's the voice of experience there! I believe we'll just leave it alone and figure International had some idea of what they were doing when the built the bus! Thaks for the words of wisdom!

 

[cadillackid]

That's the voice of experience there! I believe we'll just leave it alone and figure International had some idea of what they were doing when the built the bus! Thaks for the words of wisdom!

the flat floor busses from the factory are running low profile tires typically. you'll see them, the wheel well opening are smaller and the tires are smaller to account for the low well height

 

[Hooker-SKO]

the flat floor busses from the factory are running low profile tires typically. you'll see them, the wheel well opening are smaller and the tires are smaller to account for the low well height

That is correct. I've got a handy bus with flat floors and little tires. Honestly, I think I'd rather have 10 or 11R tires so I may be taking wheel wells out of another bus and putting in this bus. Rear wheel wells aren't that big of a deal in most cases. Build you closets, electrical storage cabinet or whatever over the wheel wells.

It doesn't appear to me that smaller tires are much cheaper, will wear out faster and I think I'd prefer the bit more top mph for freeway driving. IMO, more advantages to the bigger tires than no rear wheel wells.

 

[Omnibot2000]

That is correct. I've got a handy bus with flat floors and little tires. Honestly, I think I'd rather have 10 or 11R tires so I may be taking wheel wells out of another bus and putting in this bus. Rear wheel wells aren't that big of a deal in most cases. Build you closets, electrical storage cabinet or whatever over the wheel wells.

It doesn't appear to me that smaller tires are much cheaper, will wear out faster and I think I'd prefer the bit more top mph for freeway driving. IMO, more advantages to the bigger tires than no rear wheel wells.

There is different structure between the wheel wells. The reinforcements run length wise between the wheel wells. As well the front and rear structure in front and rear of the wheel wells are doubled up.

You can add wheel wells but don't forget the supporting floor structure is different.

 

[Hooker-SKO]

There is different structure between the wheel wells. The reinforcements run length wise between the wheel wells. As well the front and rear structure in front and rear of the wheel wells are doubled up.

You can add wheel wells but don't forget the supporting floor structure is different.

Yes, I realize this. There'll have to be some reinforcment work done, but it won't be to bad. I will be using a set of OE Blue Bird wheel wells out of another bus also. It's an extra bus cabin that's being taken off the chassis and set on the ground for a different purpose. Kinda like Bus to Shed project.