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Topic: Underbelly Protection for Our Foretravels (Read 948 times) previous topic - next topic

Underbelly Protection for Our Foretravels

I have often thought of using expanded carbon steel to protect the underneath from road hazards and larger critters.
 
It could probably be attached to the large bulkhead metal angles and secured rearward and frontwards from there.
 
This Criaigs List ad shows a typical product:
 
3/4" Expanded Carbon Steel
 
Has anyone tried using this or a similar product? This particular listing includes 16, 13, and 9 gauge material; which would be best?
 
Please let me know what y'all think,
 
Thanks,
 
Trent

Trent and Jean Eyler
2000  U295  4003  WTFE  ISC  350
Build#5603 MC#17385

Re: Underbelly Protection for Our Foretravels

Reply #1 –
First thoughts:  Increased weight, increased aero drag, decreased ground clearance, something else to rust.
 
Has anyone ever had a hole punched in the belly pan from running over junk or high spot in road?  I don't recall hearing anything like that...


1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Underbelly Protection for Our Foretravels

Reply #2 –
I have on rare occasions scraped the underbelly of my then 280 but no damage was done.  I can't really think of a good reason to modify the sheet of Fiberglas under the coach.  If you did place something under the coach I would be very careful to see that it did not have any exposed edges that could get caught if you did scrape the underbelly.
Gary B

Re: Underbelly Protection for Our Foretravels

Reply #3 –
I can just imagine 8 ft x 20 or 30 ft of expanded metal mesh somehow attached to the underside getting snagged on somehing, ripping off and the damage it would do to all the important parts behind.  Not good.  Leave well enough alone.

A car in front of me hit an orange traffic cone which bounced in front of me and I ran over it at highway speed. Horrible noise. It exited just behinsd the rear duals and dinged the rear corner of the wheel well. The cone was toast.

Roger
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Underbelly Protection for Our Foretravels

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Gary Bouland –
I have on rare occasions scraped the underbelly of my then 280 but no damage was done.  I can't really think of a good reason to modify the sheet of Fiberglas under the coach.
Gary,

I wasn't talking about the fiberglass bottom. I was thinking primarily of the transmission and engine area which is open to all sorts of critters and UFO's.

Trent

Trent and Jean Eyler
2000  U295  4003  WTFE  ISC  350
Build#5603 MC#17385

Re: Underbelly Protection for Our Foretravels

Reply #5 –
Trent, OK I see your point.  I would think that the likelyhood of snagging something in the rear of the coach would be unlikely.  Going forward if something got under the coach it would most likely be demolished by the time it reached the engine area.
When backing you are most likely going to snag something on the hitch area and hopefully stop before it gets under the engine.
I saw an incident in CO a few summers ago where a guy in a Safari was backing in to a forest service spot that had a concrete bumper to keep you from backing over the hill,  When he touched the bumper he gunned it, the coach rolled the bumper over and the drain plug was ripped out of the pan.  It was a real circus from that point to see them try to remove the bumper that was wedged under the pan before they could move the coach forward.  They finally used shovels to dig the bumper out and then Towed the coach forward enough so that the mechanic could get under it and remove and replace the pan.
Case of pure stupidity.
Gary B

Re: Underbelly Protection for Our Foretravels

Reply #6 –
93 U280 Charge Air Cooler

Tulsa Trent,

I recall some of the guys that went to Alaska talk about a rock protector. It was made up of wire mesh and attached underneath with zip ties. Chicken wire or something. It's a good idea if you're going to be on that type of road.

Found it HAREWARE CLOTH
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My advice and experiences are Free, you decide if they are worth anything .

John - driving Old Faithful
1994 U280 GV
C8.3, Banks, Pacbrake, 900 watts, Resonator, XLHD tow dolly
Retired Army Warrant Officer

Life is what you make of it - if it is lemons, make lemonade!
Former Coaches:
1988 GV 40' ORED 300HP CAT - 9 years
1990 Winnebago LeSharo - 3 years
2000 Newmar London Aire - 3 years (#18 of 23 produced)

Re: Underbelly Protection for Our Foretravels

Reply #7 –
Trent,

No opinion on using it or not, but the smaller the number the heavier the material.

Larry
Larry Warren
1996  U320 36' SBID "Lola" sold 2020
Build #4970
Motorcade #18318

Re: Underbelly Protection for Our Foretravels

Reply #8 –
I really can't see the point of such a modification unless one is going to spend extended time on very unimproved roads. Even then, I wonder if the potential for something impacting the protective material and that in turn causing even more damage might be fairly high.
David and Carolyn Osborn
1995 U320C SE 40' Build 4726 Feb 1995
FMCA 147762
Motorcade 17186

Re: Underbelly Protection for Our Foretravels

Reply #9 –
I could see  fabricating some kind of a skid plate that would attach to the engine carrier and run from the crank pully up to just in front of the transmission. This could protect the vitals such as the oil pan and transmission lines etc. I have been considering this ever since I contemplated putting on the Fumoto Valve on the oil pan. I don't believe critter protection would be feasible given all the moving assemblies down there. The differential is often the lowest part of the coach.
Don
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Don & Tys
1999 U270 3602 WTFE #5402
Xtreme Stage 1 w/Headlight, Step Conversion, etc.
2009 Honda Fit Sport with Navi
Freedom is NOT "just another word for nothing left to lose"... with apologies to Kris Kristofferson
 

Re: Underbelly Protection for Our Foretravels

Reply #10 –
I ran over a piece of bent up sheet metal (or something like that) on the 94 freeway (westbound) in San Diego at 5pm on a Friday.  Couldn't avoid it.  Heard a commotion in the back for a few seconds and then saw it in the rear view mirror in the road.  Half mile or so later engine starts to loose power, I notice the check engine and engine shutdown indicator is on, and I pull over to the shoulder.  Apparently the sheet metal flipped up after going under the rear axle and nearly sliced in half the heater hose.  ECU detected the loss of coolant and did a gradual shut down of the engine.  So it can happen but as others have said not very often.  I think an expanded metal shield would have prevented it.
It all happened at the worst time.  Shoulder of freeway was very narrow - passengers side was right against a steep embankment - left side almost on white line of traffic lane - cars whizzing by every few seconds.  I had owned it only a month and was bringing it home from storage.  No supplies, or tools to speak of and I was by myself.  The cut was close enough to the end I was able to reattach it - I must of had a least a screw driver.  Clothes, face, hair all soaked with coolant (at least it tastes sweet) and mixed with road grime.  Had some water in the fresh tank but no container - had to use the vacuum hose with it looped down to hold water and make a bunch of trips between the kitchen and the radiator.  A water hose hooked up to the utility spigot would have worked great but I didn't have one nor could I get to the spigot.  Still years later when I pack "emergency roadside stuff" in the basement I think if I can get to it if the drives side of the coach is inaccessible like it was on that day.
P.S.  I forgot to mention, we also had guests coming in from out of town that were do to arrive at that time too... (when it rains...)
John Fitzgerald
1991 U300 (SAI) Side Aisle Island Bed 40'
Detroit 6V92 with Allison Retarder
Meridian (Boise), Idaho