Frame patches; Screws for Stairs

[Jforeman]

Does anyone know why there are these patches welded onto my frame? I see telltale marks from a hole saw. I can't imagine the floor will sit correctly, but I'm not seeing any large wear marks on the underside. Though, it was rotted out at the wheel well edge.

New photo · Friday, Jul 18 📸

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I'm also wondering if anyone has sourced the screws for the stairs. I've never run across a head that large, a 1/4-20 nut provided for reference. Here's what came out of mine:

New photo · Monday, Jul 28 📸

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[Christo]

For the bolts, this comes close: https://boltdepot.com/Elevator_bolts

 

[tmsnyder]

Does anyone know why there are these patches welded onto my frame? I see telltale marks from a hole saw. I can't imagine the floor will sit correctly, but I'm not seeing any large wear marks on the underside. Though, it was rotted out at the wheel well edge.

New photo · Friday, Jul 18 📸

Tap to view!

photos.app.goo.gl

I'm also wondering if anyone has sourced the screws for the stairs. I've never run across a head that large, a 1/4-20 nut provided for reference. Here's what came out of mine:

New photo · Monday, Jul 28 📸

Tap to view!

photos.app.goo.gl

I wonder if the hole saw marks removed the floor material so those bits of angle could be welded on? I don't think those are factory. Where's the center pilot hole for the hold saw? Underneath the welded on tabs? I think a PO cut the holes, then welded on the tabs.

I just noticed that you have a Coachman upfitted coach, that aluminum weld looks too good to be a PO mod, Coachman must have done that to create mounting points for their interior. They cut those holes and welded in the tabs, that's my bet.

Folks have used trailer deck bolts in place of the bolt you show. Since it's a GMC Motorhome there is latitude available in how you choose to restore / repair it. No one is going to judge, as long as it works. These aren't Corvettes lol

 

[Jforeman]

I just noticed that you have a Coachman upfitted coach, that aluminum weld looks too good to be a PO mod, Coachman must have done that to create mounting points for their interior. They cut those holes and welded in the tabs, that's my bet.

Yeah I did notice that those welds are the nicest on the entire rig. They didn't weld completely around the patch, so weatherproofing wasn't the goal. There was maybe 10% original interior when I got it, and a lot of DIY from the PO, so I can't begin to guess what was in that area originally.

For the bolts, this comes close: https://boltdepot.com/Elevator_bolts

This tells me I can stop worrying about finding them Thank you.

 

[JPB]

That's interesting. I only see angle stock on the right most patch. The other two appear to be flat stock. Am I not seeing it correctly or have the other two angle stocks been cut off?

I have a 1976 Royale. As you can see from the pic there is a flat aluminum plate welded to the bottom of the aluminum framing and there are channels in the frame for brake lines etc. The channels prevent crushing. There are plates welded at each end of the wheel well. I presume the plate is some kind of reinforcement. Perhaps yours are/were as well. Other coaches do not have the welded plate and some folks double up on the rubber pads at this point. I used 1" thick pucks and and had to slice the top off of 4 pucks to accomodate the welded plates.

Dual Fill Neck Mockup

This setup doesn't was problematic. The outside fill door must be 12+ inches tall to allow a gas fill nozzle to fit into the neck.

www.gmcmhphotos.com

JPB