| [GMCnet] OT: Weight savings [message #296498] |
Tue, 01 March 2016 10:03  |
Olly Schmidt
Messages: 1265
Registered: February 2014
Location: Germany and Scottsville, ...
Karma: 8
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After reading about people who are building a caravan using carbon
fibre, I was wondering, how much weight could be saved on a 26' GMC by
using carbon fibre for the body, replacing the frame with aluminum, and
the interior with today's low weight materials.
Anyone has a guess?
--
Best regards
Peer Oliver Schmidt
PGP Key ID: 0x83E1C2EA
'76a Eleganza II, VA
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Best regards
Olly Schmidt
PGP Key ID: 0x18a9 3a1f 4196 bf22
'76a Eleganza II, VA
'73 Sequoia, SH, Germany
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| Re: [GMCnet] OT: Weight savings [message #296516 is a reply to message #296498] |
Tue, 01 March 2016 12:39  |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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An interesting exercise. The frame would likely save some, and doing away with spit board cabinets in favor of something lighter would be a plus. I don't know the differents per square foot of carbon fiber vs SMC, or vs aluminum. The airplane folks say it's lighter than the same panel in aluminum... but all their panels are stressed. How about a carbon fiber monocoque and skip the frame entirely?
An interesting way to spend a few hundred thousand bux is my perspective on it.
--johnny
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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| Re: [GMCnet] OT: Weight savings [message #296525 is a reply to message #296498] |
Tue, 01 March 2016 13:35 |
Adrien G.
Messages: 474
Registered: May 2008
Location: Burns Flat, OK 73624
Karma: 1
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Peer Oliver Schmidt wrote on Tue, 01 March 2016 08:03After reading about people who are building a caravan using carbon
fibre, I was wondering, how much weight could be saved on a 26' GMC by
using carbon fibre for the body, replacing the frame with aluminum, and
the interior with today's low weight materials.
Anyone has a guess?
--
Best regards
Peer Oliver Schmidt
PGP Key ID: 0x83E1C2EA
'76a Eleganza II, VA
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Peer, Having done some work with CF, the cost is very prohibitive and the light weight of the coach
could make it a road handling problem on cross wind conditions, and oncoming trucks on 2 lane roads.
As a motorcycle rider I have experienced what oncoming pressure wave can feel like and do.
SWAGing the weight of a bear (stripped, no glass) coach body could be picked up easily by 4 persons.
FWIW
Adrien & Jenny Genesoto
75 Glenbrook (26-3) Mods LS3.70 FD / Reaction Sys / 80mm Front&Intermidiate / Hydroboost / 16" Tires / Frame Rebuild / Interior Rebuild
Yuba City,Ca. Text 530-nine-3-three-3-nine-nine-6
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| Re: [GMCnet] OT: Weight savings [message #296534 is a reply to message #296498] |
Tue, 01 March 2016 15:04 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Bah, do it right. Magnesium forgings, lighter and stronger and way more expensive.
--johnny
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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| Re: [GMCnet] OT: Weight savings [message #296557 is a reply to message #296498] |
Tue, 01 March 2016 23:12 |
Hiwaystar
Messages: 12
Registered: January 2016
Location: Savannah Georgia
Karma: 0
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These things are already pretty light. The greatest opportunity for savings as already stated is in the internal cabinets.
I work in the aerospace industry.
Luxury jets.
Our cabinetry is aluminum honeycomb covered with the real wood veneer of your choice. Very light.
That is where you could save several hundred pounds.
76 Eleganza mostly stock, Sully bags, needs one of everything.
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| Re: [GMCnet] OT: Weight savings [message #296566 is a reply to message #296498] |
Wed, 02 March 2016 06:34 |
dr.diesel
Messages: 85
Registered: April 2015
Location: The Haute, Indiana
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I didn't actually weigh any of it, but:
- The two factory AC units where considerably heavier than the Coleman Mach Power savers I installed.
- One of my single AC units was holding temp in ~90F, perhaps remove one AC unit if you have the dual setup.
- Ditch the 6KW generator. I've run one AC unit off a Honda 2000 inverter style.
- Convert to Lithium batteries.
- Drink Tequila instead of Beer, save a ton of weight, HA HA HA.
Just guessing, but that might save 400lbs.
77 Kingsley
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| Re: [GMCnet] OT: Weight savings [message #296689 is a reply to message #296557] |
Fri, 04 March 2016 09:12 |
mghamms
Messages: 466
Registered: March 2016
Location: Ware, Massachusetts
Karma: 2
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AHiwaystar wrote on Tue, 01 March 2016 23:12These things are already pretty light. The greatest opportunity for savings as already stated is in the internal cabinets.
I work in the aerospace industry.
Luxury jets.
Our cabinetry is aluminum honeycomb covered with the real wood veneer of your choice. Very light.
That is where you could save several hundred pounds.
Any idea where to buy the aluminum honeycomb?
1977 Kingsley 455 as stock as it gets except lots of Ragusa parts
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| Re: [GMCnet] OT: Weight savings [message #296706 is a reply to message #296695] |
Fri, 04 March 2016 12:36 |
Jp Benson
Messages: 649
Registered: October 2011
Location: Fla
Karma: 2
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If you want to lighten your cabinets here's a way to do it.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g6868-interior.html
The original Royale face frames with 1/2" plywood base and dividers. Dadoed and glued with a few strategically located screws to hold it together while the glue sets.
I didn't weigh before and after but handling the original cabinets was a two handed task. The new ones are easily lifted with one hand. I haven't gotten around to posting pics of cabinet installation but hope to eventually.
Along with the aluminum manifold, waterpump & radiator, the A6 compressor and drum brakes one should add the Onan generator and transformer style buzz box to the list of very heavy replaceable parts.
I'm just estimating but I doubt that shedding 10% weight will improve gas mileage by 10%. The real benefit (to me at least) is that my weight budget has room for more useful things like more batteries and bigger water tanks.
JP
[Updated on: Fri, 04 March 2016 12:38] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: [GMCnet] OT: Weight savings [message #296708 is a reply to message #296706] |
Fri, 04 March 2016 12:59 |
dr.diesel
Messages: 85
Registered: April 2015
Location: The Haute, Indiana
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Jp Benson wrote on Fri, 04 March 2016 13:36If you want to lighten your cabinets here's a way to do it.
JP
Very nice!
Any noticeable cooling/heating improvement with all that insulation?
77 Kingsley
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| Re: [GMCnet] OT: Weight savings [message #296710 is a reply to message #296706] |
Fri, 04 March 2016 13:10 |
dr.diesel
Messages: 85
Registered: April 2015
Location: The Haute, Indiana
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Jp Benson wrote on Fri, 04 March 2016 13:36transformer style buzz box
Dang thing weighs 35lbs, just finished pulling mine out for a modern switching replacement.
You can use it as a portable HD jump starter in your shop, just add wheels.
77 Kingsley
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| Re: [GMCnet] OT: Weight savings [message #296712 is a reply to message #296710] |
Fri, 04 March 2016 14:34 |
cadelec
Messages: 303
Registered: September 2011
Location: Brisbane Australia
Karma: 1
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The PO replaced all my cabinets with ply and stick construction cabinets and used frp for sliding cupboard doors. when the coach was weighed to ship to Australia it came in at 4100 kilos about 9040 pounds this included some spares including a transmission
Trevor
Brisbane Australia
Siesta Koala 76 Edgemont (old Bobby Moores)
71 Cadillac Eldo Convert
58 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham Project
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