this video should have more views this was SUPER helpful

@AcrovanAdventures

2 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful! We always try to include info that we couldn’t find in videos and had to learn for ourselves. Please share! 🤗

Wow. Thought of everything and it works perfectly. Great work. Door hinge is the best idea.

@AcrovanAdventures

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! :)

Very helpful video! Looking forward to giving this a shot on my bus

What a great idea!!!

This looks awesome. I wonder if a flat tow could still be attached to the bus behind the deck. I love the fact that it was bolted and not welded.

Good call on the bumper 😅

Great job!

Thanks for the tips! I've been looking for a similar video, but nothing great until this. I'm thinking about doing something similar, but not as long. It might even be super short as almost a step, because I want to haul a small trailer and have something so I can climb up on the roof. I can climb in and out of my back window, so this could be handy. I could also put a spare or my cooler on it, or just somewhere I can keep stuff off the ground.

All great points, the bus frame is heat treated, to make it stronger , welding weakened it. I’ve been told.

Nice job. Looks like it was well thought out. I hope it doesn’t come across as nit picking but I for one would prefer to have the 6 inch C channel iron resting on the 10 in C channel iron provided that such a configuration allows the use of the pre drilled holes. I’m betting you thought of that already though…😉👍

Awesome video!! I wonder if you can enclose that deck to be like a shed or garage. Plus are you allowed to make the deck wider for bigger bikes Indians or Harley’s ?

Nice work, a couple of questions: any change in mpg with that bumper scooping air? Is it easier to bottom out in steep driveways etc? Thx

How did this affect drivability in the city did the swing prove difficult

What did you use to attach your decking to the metal frame and did you use pressure treated boards?

I was going to do the same for my motorcycle. But I had the idea of using a wheelchair crane lift like you see on the back of pickup trucks to get the bike up and down. Does that seem plausible?

I like the sign that says do not drill holes or weld right next to the extension piece that is welded in place.

@AcrovanAdventures

2 жыл бұрын

Did you watch the video? Lol We did not weld OR drill new holes. We used the existing holes.

@chrisgentry7195

2 жыл бұрын

@@AcrovanAdventures I know, I just find it humorous that there is a sign next to the factory welded stuff. I mean THEY drilled holes and welded to the frame. So why can't you do it? Although I do understand the purpose of the warning label it's still funny.

@AcrovanAdventures

2 жыл бұрын

@@chrisgentry7195 ahh yeah I hear you. It also blows my mind how some people completely ignore that warning and weld anyways lol

@C.Church

Жыл бұрын

@@chrisgentry7195 "THEY drilled holes. Why can't you?" Do you think it's about permission? 🤔

@chrisgentry7195

Жыл бұрын

@@C.Church It's really about structural integrity and ratings. An engineer designs your frame rails and calculates all the variables needed to rate the rail for a certain application and usage. If you modify the rail in any way, then you have introduced variables that were not figured in, and the rail could fail in certain conditions. However, drilling holes and welding onto the frame rails does not break them outright. They are typically overkill for any application and you can tie a lot of things onto them without having to worry about them failing. My observation was about the sillyness of the label. If you don't have any knowledge of such things, then why would you be drilling or welding in the first place? If you do have some knowledge, then you can ignore the warning if you chose to take a chance on your modifications.

I thought about doing it on my bus but was scared of all the stuff I would hit with it hanging out the back

How did you get the bumper back on?

Is length now a issue?? Tail lights are not where the bumper is??

Hey just wondering what kind of metal you used for the c channel? I figure steel, but that seems pricey.

@AcrovanAdventures

2 жыл бұрын

It is “mild steel” which is much less expensive than stainless steel but still very strong. We recommend painting mild steel because the surface can rust if you don’t paint it

@chrisgentry7195

2 жыл бұрын

I just bought 2 piece of 4" C channel at my local metal shop for $89. 6' long each. Going to put 2' into the existing channel and 4' past where the bumper is now.

Even the manufacturer that installed that sticker ignored its own recommendations by welding about a foot long extension to the rails lol, ive seen this on many buses so its not anything wrong with welding to it if its done right.

how heavy do you think a bike could be on your deck build? it looks really great, thinking about doing it the same way.

@AcrovanAdventures

2 жыл бұрын

This bike weighs about 450lbs and it doesn't seem to be a problem. The 6" C channel could certainly hold any motorcycle (even 1000+lbs) , but I might use more tube steel and thicker decking if mine weighed that much. I've seen some people with busses put a Harley on a similar deck!

Do not drill holes or weld on the frame FLANGES. That is why you see no holes in the section of the frame rails that are horizontal and many holes on the vertical piece of the frame rail.

doesnt that block your lights from being seen clearly?

@AcrovanAdventures

2 жыл бұрын

The motorcycle does partially block the original lights which is why we added additional lights onto the bumper! There’s also the lights up on the top back of the bus so there’s lights everywhere ☺️

Are you still in Austin TX?

@AcrovanAdventures

2 жыл бұрын

No, we're in North Carolina. We just picked up the bus from Texas! :)

Dude......a half inch bolt needs A HALF INCH HOLE...DRILLED WITH A HALF INCH DRILL BIT.......use the exact size bit for the bolt your using.....fyi..........you need a spacer between the c-chanel and the frame webbing....the deck will eventually sag only relying on the bolts to hold it up......otherwise nice job

@SugarCreekCrypto

Жыл бұрын

True but since they did like 5 holes they would sag evenly and only 1/16" so you wouldn't even notice that

This is really not a good idea. Even if you use grade 8 nuts and bolts, the torque generated by the weight and over hang will shear the holes in the mild steel frame. Welding is the answer.