Got weighed today

[bobofthenorth]

So I was in need of a nap and the scale was closed.  What a bit of good luck.  I pulled in over the scale and got the following:
11350 fronts
18040 drives
6640 tags

Then I backed up, lifted the tags and did it all over again.
10250 fronts
25920 drives

And then just for giggles I backed up again and did the right side only.
5720 front right
11880 right drive & tag

I know the tags up and tags down totals don't match exactly but I guess that's the margin for error on a highway scale.  Lifting the tags took almost exactly 1000# off the steers.  No wonder it gets a little squirrelly if you drive with the tags up.

Then I pulled over and had a nap.

[DaveG]

Hope you had a nice nap!

The weights are a great reference for others who have a bus with the same configuration as yours, tag (not bogie!) behind driver.

It would be interesting to see what an Eagle with the bogie ahead of the drive does.

[Eagle Andy]

Well I weighed the Eagle last time we went out . Came up with this. Steers 10,080  Bogie 5,320 Drives 18,400   Both Bogie and Drives 24,060

[DaveG]

Thanks Andy...interesting that they are almost the same.

[TomC]

Andy- based on the usual use of 11R-24.5 on Eagles with 14 ply tires, Michelin suggests inflation of (for the XZA3) of 75psi for steer (10,140lb capacity), 70psi for the tag (lowest suggested at 9,640lbs), and 70psi for the drives (18,640lb capacity).  If you're running higher, lower to that pressure-you won't believe the ride improvement.

Bob-what tire size, make and model are you using? Can look up your tires for proper tire inflation.  Good Luck, TomC

[Eagle Andy]

Hey Tom ,  I run 100 psi all the way around , I asked the truck boss at work what he thought and his reply was run them there and see what kind of tread ware you get. The ride seem pretty good to me and the tires are wearing very nice I watch them close as I drive for a living and am always checking things out. However I will try the lower pressure when I go to Quartsitze this jan . Thanks for the info

[belfert]

One thing I noticed with lower PSI in the tires is increased movement of the bus as people move around.  My brother was walking in the bus and I could see the tire sidewalls flexing.  I may have to go a little higher on the PSI to avoid this.

[luvrbus]

Don't run your tires at 70# on a Eagle Andy, 105# in the front, 90# on the boogies 90# on the drivers, at 70 # they will cup been there done that you don't have but 1 axle per say and that is the drive axle, the front and the boogies are independent each wheel has it's own axle.
Your Eagle will also drive and ride like crap at 70#and fwiw your bus came 12r 22.5 from the factory.
Eagle knew what they were doing when they recommend the tire pressures and they are the same from 29,000# to 40,000#
 good luck and now it's back to floating the river  

[bobofthenorth]

11R 24.5s Tom.  I run Michelin XZA-1s on the steers and tags and Bridgestone grips on the drives.  All at 90#

[John316]

Clifford! Great to hear from you. Where you been hiding? I have missed the sage, sound advice...

God bless,

John

[JohnEd]

With radials:  Doesn't the tread seem to wear evenly regardless of pressure.  Uneven wear indicated toe in/out or camber problems.  IS THIS TRUE?  I hate doubt.

Thanks,

John

[DaveG]

Tires are a whole 'nuther discussion...ride quality, tread wear & carrying capacity. As Tom C indicated, most tire manufacuturers have a chart for each size/ply rating tire with regards to it's carrying capacity at a given tire pressure. Probably the most important thing is to make sure you have enough air in the tire to carry the load you are asking it to carry...that is why, in my opinion (I can have one, right!?) one should weigh their coach/truck/bus/trailer/whatever so that they KNOW what the load is they are asking the tires to carry. That should be the baseline for everything else related to tires.

[Ed Hackenbruch]

"Tires are a whole 'nuther discussion...ride quality, tread wear & carrying capacity."   And don't forget that tire pressure affects your fuel mileage too!

[John316]

And don't forget that tire pressure affects your fuel mileage too!

Yup. Our dear car mechanic president oBAMa told us to fill them up .

So I guess you have the word folks. Pump them up just before they burst, and save the planet .

God bless,

John

[Tom Y]

I had my 5C on the scales. I was told I could run 70 psi also, but I had 82 all around and ran them. I then checked footprint and went to 95 in the rears to get the same footprint as the front. I could not feel a difference in ride but still getting used to it.  Tom Y