coach bottom

Topic: coach bottom (Read 747 times) previous topic - next topic

coach bottom

July 11, 2016, 12:21:57 pm

so I have an issue that I do not understand.From reading about bulkheads it appears that it cannot be that problem. The bottom of the coach is pulling away from the frame it appears in the area of the fuel tank/ propane tank on the rear side of the box holding the 2 tanks. It can also be seen from the next adjoining area.
I have attached 2 pictures. 1 shows the lean of the fuel tank down ward the second shows how the floor in the next storage age has pulled down .Sorry cannot currently get photos to down load from phone to computer.
Any ideas about what the issue is and possible resolutions would be helpful.
I will work on the pictures and have them loaded by the end of the day.
Thanks
Madsen

The coach in question is a 1991 Grand Villa Unihome

Re: coach bottom

Reply #1 – July 11, 2016, 12:26:02 pm

Quote from: madsen – July 11, 2016, 12:21:57 pm

The coach in question is a 1991 Grand Villa Unihome

Assume that's a 40 footer? Don't see anything on your lower sig.

Re: coach bottom

Reply #2 – July 11, 2016, 12:28:28 pm

From the limited info sounds like something rusted away and or bolts broke,someone with a 91 should know more then us.

Re: coach bottom

Reply #3 – July 11, 2016, 12:35:34 pm

It is a u280 36 foot. Working on getting the pictures from phone to computer.
Madsen

Re: coach bottom

Reply #4 – July 11, 2016, 12:45:20 pm

When you get the photos uploaded, it will help asses the situation. We have members here with detailed knowledge of the floor structure on these coaches. They will jump in once they have something to look at, I am sure.

The panels covering the bottom of the coach are not meant to be "structural" - i.e. they do not support heavy stuff like fuel tank/propane tank. This job is done by the metal frame members. SO, if the belly material is sagging, and the fuel tank is no longer sitting level, it does sound like failure of one or more frame members.

I would suggest minimizing the weight in that area as much as possible, until you discover the cause of the problem. Any way to off-load the fuel and propane into another storage container?

Re: coach bottom

Reply #5 – July 11, 2016, 12:52:24 pm

Yes, the front bulkhead is at the FRONT of the propane/diesel compartment.

So, if separating at the BACK of that compartment, the bolts from bottom frame to vertical bulkhead that forms the back of that compartment have failed. Hopefully that is all it is. Worse case is that the box beams that form the floor in that area and/or the bottom part of the vertical wall have rusted out.

Yes, that is an unusual place for a failure, as there are few sources of water in that area. I WOULD look closely at the beams around the vent that goes through the floor for the propane tank. I have inspected coaches where the fiberglass has separated from the box beam in that area and allowed water to migrate into the floor. But, usually the failure is observed when the separation first occurs and before enough water has penetrated to cause real damage.

Re: coach bottom

Reply #6 – July 11, 2016, 01:07:46 pm

Is this what your set-up looks like?

Re: coach bottom

Reply #7 – July 11, 2016, 01:17:26 pm

Mike
my coach looks different. Fuel is nearest the front wheel. it is 150 gallon and taller .Propane is near back . Fuel tank is l\clearly sitting tilted to back of coach. It is full. propane is almost empty. I will need to empty the fuel for sure. Not driving it. Have been working thru getting it ready to drive and travel.
Wolfe any ideas of search terms or places to read so i have ideas about what I am looking at for repairs from small to large ?
John
Thanks for your replies and ideas.

Re: coach bottom

Reply #8 – July 11, 2016, 02:11:21 pm

John,

Here is one thread that might give you a general idea of the floor construction used by Foretravel. The thread also contains links to the extensive reconstruction project done by Don (Don & Tys AKA acousticart):

rusted bay floor frame

Re: coach bottom

Reply #9 – July 11, 2016, 03:18:23 pm

HERE
aTTACHED

Re: coach bottom

Reply #10 – July 11, 2016, 03:20:45 pm

John,

See my post above.

Re: coach bottom

Reply #11 – July 11, 2016, 06:24:02 pm

Here is a link to a thread topic that has quite a bit of info on the attachment of the vertical compartment walls to the basement floor framing structure, along with the solution I worked out for it. Lots of pictures of process, so even if you don't use my method, you might get some ideas from it. Basically, I used through bolts by drilling 1 ¼" holes in the vertical walls above the fastener hole. I made spacers out of ¼" thick by 1 ½" wide rectangular flat stock to distribute the clamping force. Here is one of the pictures to get you the idea...
Basement fastener updates...
Don
Edit: Oops! Forgot the link... See above!

Re: coach bottom

Reply #12 – July 11, 2016, 06:50:47 pm

Excellent idea from Don. I quickly sketched up another idea. Which way you go might depend on the condition of the existing floor frame metal in the area you are re-bolting to the vertical wall.

I mention Rolok bolts which are the original method of floor attachment used by Foretravel, which looks like may have come loose and/or failed in your case. Don's thru bolt idea is much better than the original Roloks.

Re: coach bottom

Reply #13 – July 11, 2016, 09:42:24 pm

One of the ultimate good ideas in a unihome is that the bottom floor and the vacuum bonded assembly is a bolt on piece to the compartment dividers,

Obviously not a back yard job but unlike a lot of SOB's these were designed to be repairable.

Appears the frame in the floor area is broken or rusted. Then the foam has compressed allowing the tank to drop.

Needs Texas to look at this I am afraid.

Over the long run. Will still be drive able I think.

Re: coach bottom

Reply #14 – July 12, 2016, 09:48:03 am

Don Peter and Bob
Thanks all for responding. I will be removing the bottom cover today along that wall line to view the area compromised. I like both ideas and depending on what I discover I will incorporate one or both ideas. My feeling is that a few of the bolts holding the floor to sidewalls have failed and I will need to reinforce where I re-bolt them thru. I plan to redo the floor in the fuel bay so that it is water proof and sound as far as structure and ability to hold the weight of both of the tanks. The weight of the diesel is 1150 pounds alone.
Again thanks for sharing your wisdom.
John

Re: coach bottom

Reply #15 – July 12, 2016, 10:18:20 am

Quote from: madsen – July 12, 2016, 09:48:03 am

I will be removing the bottom cover today along that wall line to view the area compromised.

If you can, take some pics, this sort of thing affects all of us "old timers".

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coach bottom

July 11, 2016, 12:21:57 pm

Re: coach bottom

Reply #1 – July 11, 2016, 12:26:02 pm

Re: coach bottom

Reply #2 – July 11, 2016, 12:28:28 pm

Re: coach bottom

Reply #3 – July 11, 2016, 12:35:34 pm

Re: coach bottom

Reply #4 – July 11, 2016, 12:45:20 pm

Re: coach bottom

Reply #5 – July 11, 2016, 12:52:24 pm

Re: coach bottom

Reply #6 – July 11, 2016, 01:07:46 pm

Re: coach bottom

Reply #7 – July 11, 2016, 01:17:26 pm

Re: coach bottom

Reply #8 – July 11, 2016, 02:11:21 pm

Re: coach bottom

Reply #9 – July 11, 2016, 03:18:23 pm

Re: coach bottom

Reply #10 – July 11, 2016, 03:20:45 pm

Re: coach bottom

Reply #11 – July 11, 2016, 06:24:02 pm

Re: coach bottom

Reply #12 – July 11, 2016, 06:50:47 pm

Re: coach bottom

Reply #13 – July 11, 2016, 09:42:24 pm

Re: coach bottom

Reply #14 – July 12, 2016, 09:48:03 am

Re: coach bottom

Reply #15 – July 12, 2016, 10:18:20 am

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