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I had a Bluebird with IFS and an older one without. Current coach does not. The IFS coach I had was a pain in the ass--alignment. Since my current coach is a 40 the IFS is a non issue regarding the turning radius. IFS would neither a deal breaker or maker for me.
For the way I use a coach solid axle is fine with me. Less moving parts, the better.
I don't think I can tell the difference in terms of the ride.
This thread has mentioned the issue of turning radius several times. On of my pet peeves is not being able to back up while towing a car, so I have found it is important to know the amount of space required to make a U turn. Turning radius as published is not so useful, because do they measure the tire tracks or the corner of the coach for the measurement? And since most places where you turn do not have dimensions painted on the ground, at best all you have is an eyeball guess.
How many times have you pulled into some small road, driveway, park entrance, etc. and wondered if you were going to be able to make it out of there without having to stop and unhook the car? Annoying!
One day we pulled into a dead end street with a nice round cul-de-sac at the end....I was wondering if it was big enough to make it around, and lo it was. So I used that opportunity to get out and pace off the diameter of that circle, so I would know in the future what was needed. That one happened to be 100 feet in diameter, and it was adequately sized.
Last month we were at Prevost in Mira Loma when faced with the same problem. Whew, for a shop that deals in big rigs, the lot is exceptionally poorly designed unless you can back up. Anyway, I walked around back to see if it would be possible to make the turn around and was able to pace off 97 feet between obstacles. Figured it was worth a try, since the only option was to disconnect anyway, and once again I made it around.
Mine is a 94 XLV at 45 feet, and my tow car remains inside my wheel tracks at all times. Your situation might be different. But I think it is a good thing for each bus driver to know. Anyone could find a big open lot somewhere, set up a cone or two ( or wife acting as a cone) , and so test their own rig and pacing distance for themselves. I think it would be 10 minutes well spent.
And so Peter, when you are trying to make a turn on a busy highway (no, I will NOT go into details) are you suggesting we just stop, tie up traffic, pace off the distance, and then make a decision?
With time our sense of whether we will make a turn gets pretty good, but I can tell you that there are times it doesn't matter what the radius is, or how good we can judge. We are going to unhook.
Further, and I hope everybody realizes this, no matter what the turn radius of the coach is, there will be times when we will have to use the full capability, and there will be times we won't make it.
Jon, of course on a busy highway you do not do this. On a busy highway, by definition, you are not on a dead end road.
My example applies when turning down some odd little street or lane. And if you have to get out to unhook anyway, you might as well have the info so you can pace off the space, then you might not unhook for nothing.
As witnesses will attest, no matter the anticipated outcome I make the turn, hope for the best, and then unhook (or not).
I still think Peter makes a good point, and that's about learning how your bus will react in different driving situations. I've never really attempted to try a U turn in a an area that I wasn't sure I would make. I did, one time going into a KOA camp slot have to unhook, because I couldn't make the turn. At least knowing your turning radius will be helpful. Of course the helpful KOA lady remarked, "oh, I should have sent you in the other direction with a big rig!"
I think a similar learning point is backing into a camping spot the first time! I remember all to well doing the "intuitive" thing the first time I backed the bus, and not getting close to the inside edge before starting my swing. And of course I was way too wide to make the turn.
It becomes obvious after you have done that one or two times that you always start with the bus on the inside lane, close to the turning edge, giving yourself enough room to swing.
I had 15+ years driving a 27 coach (GMC with front wheel drive). Believe me, that doesn't hardly prepare you for how a bus turns.
Ray
Does anyone know or have enough experience to state definitively that lifting the tag axle would reduce the turning radius. As in Peter's example if his 45" takes a 100 diameter circle to make the turn- would raising the Tag Axle improve or reduce the diameter of the 100' diameter circle to say 75",80', or 90'.
One of these days I will experiment on my own.
What say ye?
I personally don't like to unhook. I always have a number of witnesses. Once upon a time, I don't think a one of them could speak English. I spoke to them in a Redneck dialect.
I like Peter have measured the turning radius of my coach; it takes me about 90' to turn around. If I pace off 30 giant steps that equals about 90 feet. The turning radius of the coach is a good thing to know, I would suggest everyone to take the time to try this little experiment.
Does anyone know what the published turning radius is on a 45' Prevost XLII? I think that I remember reading that it was 41.5'; which would mean that you could turn one around in 83'. That is a pretty sharp turn around:D
Tuga, the last 1/3 of the article in the link contains some of the information you were asking about.Quote:
Originally Posted by merle&louise
http://www.fmca.com/fmc2004/decmag/prevost.asp
Thanks Jim, that was a great article.:)