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RichBusman
Advanced Member
453 Posts |
 Posted - 02/18/2011 : 11:39:45 AM
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I wanted to get some feedback from those who work on and have knowledge of buses in regards to your preferred metal for side sheets and roof sheets. In the past, this has only applied to small buses for the most part, but now there is a large bus manufacturer going to aluminum side sheets.
What are your opinions on both, positive and negative?
For our purposes, note that the steel would be galvanized steel. |
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IC_cruiser2804
Active Member
48 Posts |
Posted - 02/18/2011 : 4:22:45 PM
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| What manufacturer? |
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Thomasbus24
Administrator
USA
4559 Posts |
Posted - 02/19/2011 : 03:46:16 AM
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I don't know about this Rich.
Aluminum being lighter would almost have to improve a bus' fuel ecomony. Being lighter, it would take less energy to tear or crush it which seems unsafe. (Before anyone starts about the West coast bus makers of the past who used it, yes I know, I know, I know. Think modern day bus makers and how things are done).
While it won't rust apart like steel does, it will oxidize and rot away when exposed to our wonderful road de-icers. I suppose it would be a matter of how much longer (or shorter) time it will take.
I suppose I'm going to have to see how a full size bus with aluminum panels does in some crash testing before I could agree with it. |
Edited by - Thomasbus24 on 02/19/2011 03:47:54 AM |
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mastertech
Advanced Member
274 Posts |
Posted - 02/19/2011 : 05:56:50 AM
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| As long as it isnt in a salt state and was high strength I wouldnt have a problem with it. Some of our Thomas cutaways alluminum rear panels didnt last a year or 2 before they rotted through. Plastic and fibreglass are another option. |
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RichBusman
Advanced Member
453 Posts |
Posted - 02/21/2011 : 07:55:32 AM
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The main thing with aluminum panels is that they absolutely need to be separated from steel roof bows and other steel structure, or else you will get electrolysis/galvanic reaction. Same applies to steel rivets into aluminum structure or rubrails.
What I'm told is, magnesium chloride, the garbage that rust belt states put down on roads to keep them "safe" is worse on aluminum buses than steel buses. That is why I'm trying to get more feedback on here from those in the field. Apparently this stuff seeps into panels and rivets and can aid in electrolysis/galvanic reaction. |
Edited by - RichBusman on 02/21/2011 07:56:34 AM |
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mastertech
Advanced Member
274 Posts |
Posted - 02/21/2011 : 1:20:18 PM
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| Yes thats how ours rotted out . They were slapped up against a big steel plate in the rear and it pretty much dissolved the panels from the inside. All that was left was the paint . It was kind of a shock for the bus washer to blow 6 inch holes right through a perfect panel. We replaced them with galvanized panels . |
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Thomasbus24
Administrator
USA
4559 Posts |
Posted - 02/21/2011 : 2:47:45 PM
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| I have a box truck featuring aluminum skirting on the body, indeed that mag. chlor. is destroying it. |
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Aluminum vs Galvanized Steel Panels
