Monocoque Chassis and Newell - Luxury Coach Lifestyles
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Old 10-11-2003, 01:28 PM   #1
Al
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Default Monocoque Chassis and Newell

Is the Newell a full monocoque design or semi-monocoque? How does Newell's chassis/frame design compare to the Prevost shell? Aren't both of these designs greatly compromised with the addition of slide-outs?
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Old 10-13-2003, 07:08 PM   #2
TechTalk
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This is a complicated question. To start, there is no agreed definition of "full monocoque" or "semi-monocoque." Newell uses a combination of welded steel framing from the floor down and rivited aluminum framing above the floor, with the majority of the load carried by a wide steel channel going front to back in the center just under the floor (the top of the chassis). This construction is certainly some form of moncoque, rather than body-on-frame, but a hybrid to be sure. The typical bus shell extends the steel structure above the floor and across the top, with the majority of the load carried in truss like structures running front to back between the windows and the floor. Without question, this is full monocoque. When Mr. Newell designed his structure in about 1970, his goal was for the chassis to be "self supporting," not relying on the coach body, specifically the sidewalls, for support. He wanted to be able to locate doors, windows, furnace vents, etc. (slide-outs!) anywhere required without losing the structural integrity of the vehicle. By the same token, Newell solidly and permanently attaches the body structure to the chassis so that the finished unit has the much of the structural advantage of a monocoque without depending on the walls for strength. Cutting slide-outs into the walls effects the structure of both a Newell and a bus, but not as much with the Newell since the majority of the load is carried by the center channel under the floor. Hence Newell has required only a small amount of structural upgrading to go to four slides, while buses are typically limited to only two slides. We would not agree that the chassis/frame design has been greatly compromised in either case.
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Old 10-17-2003, 02:45 AM   #3
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Monocoque Chassis and Newell We stated that "buses are typically limited to two slides." You are correct in stating that there have been three slide buses. But the numbers have been very limited. Bus shells with "factory built" slides are limited to two. It is our understanding that this is for structural reasons. We have talked with an independant installer of slides in bus shells. He told us that in his opinion the structural changes required to install a third slide in a bus and the size and location limitations of the third slide made the concept, in his opinion, unattractive. We stand by our original statement that buses are typically limited to only two slides.
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Old 10-17-2003, 04:06 AM   #4
Kelly Scott
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Anything you do to the chassis would alter it. But the design is for comfort, along with protection. A tour of the factory would answer all your questions.

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