September 21, 20187 yr Well i bought a bus and working on conversion and figure i would document it here.
September 21, 20187 yr Author So first things first...go buy yourself an angle grinder if you dont own one. People say they take their seats out without but why would you.Got all my seats out in like 7 hours...grind off bolt and unscrew the 2 nuts attached to wall easy peasy
September 21, 20187 yr Author Got some land to park it on for now...will probably travel with it in future
September 21, 20187 yr Author Now if you are just making a camper you can probably leave roof in but im doing full tiny home so ceiling is coming out....FUCK RIVETS!!!Air compressor and air chisel set highly recommended...first punch out rivetThen you need to grind X in rivet and the air chisel works
September 21, 20187 yr Author This will be a 2 day job most likely and its where im currently atAfterwards will be ripping up floor and treating rust and sealing her back up Will post updates of course
September 21, 20187 yr I guess my more specific question is, will it be self-propelled mobile, and I am guessing not?
September 21, 20187 yr Author Of course it will be...runs fineNow you wouldn't what to drive it much since it gets like 6 mpg...but when i get it done and decide im going to yosemite for the summer im driving it I guess my more specific question is, will it be self-propelled mobile, and I am guessing not?
September 22, 20187 yr There's a Netflix film called Expedition Happiness about a German couple that bought and converted a similar school bus and traveled North America.
September 23, 20187 yr Author Holy fuck nuts thats a lot of rivets....ceiling us out sorta...used my air chisel to cut metal out since i thought only 6 metal cutter disc would be enough
September 23, 20187 yr Author The 2 drill bits i bought havent done shit...these are big hearty rivets...online says grinder and air chisel ...worked great on ceiling rivets...those ones along window in pic are a painBest thing i can find says to grind them flat and punch out center...im hoping i can saw down backside since i cut panels out
September 24, 20187 yr Author Well most of it is done already...but i colored engineered someI hope you have good hearing protection.
September 24, 20187 yr Saw one of these for sale on Facebook. Had about 80,000 miles. Someone had already gutted most of it.
September 24, 20187 yr This looks interdasting. Do you have a drawn plan or just free-wheeling the whole thing? Post the plan if you have it.
September 24, 20187 yr 1 hour ago, Bone3421 said: Not a drawn plan but i know the layout and how i will design it I like your style.
September 26, 20187 yr Author So instead of dealing with all the rivets above window i just decided to cut it out with grinder...also opened up side panels to see if i could cut rivets from backside(grinder wont fit,see if i can borrow a saws all)
September 26, 20187 yr Author Im almost to the fun part(building) ...i have also been grinding off rust and then i will take out windows and reseal them...seal up roof and treat rustThen can put subfloor and be building by monday/tuesday hopefully
September 26, 20187 yr Author And just a fyi...if your disc doesnt look like that then its still good dont change it* protip if it gets to small to reach what you need it for grind off some rust until its ready to change
September 27, 20187 yr On 9/21/2018 at 3:15 PM, Bone3421 said: Now if you are just making a camper you can probably leave roof in but im doing full tiny home so ceiling is coming out....FUCK RIVETS!!! I still don't understand why you took the ceiling off. Seems like it's 1-2 inches from bottom of roof, and full of insulation which you'll need anyway. Are you planning on running conduit (or wiring) between the roof and new ceiling?
September 27, 20187 yr Author Putting in better insulation and will be doing a nicer wood roof...not rolling with a metal bus roof If i was making a camper sure but this will be a tiny home I still don't understand why you took the ceiling off. Seems like it's 1-2 inches from bottom of roof, and full of insulation which you'll need anyway. Are you planning on running conduit (or wiring) between the roof and new ceiling?
September 27, 20187 yr Author Took my trick from above windows and just cut side panels above rivets...will be framed around any waysSwept up a bit..and today is treating rust and start sealing her up before subfloor goes in
September 27, 20187 yr Author So as far i can tell from research you want yoyr rust to look like this black/blue color when its done right
September 27, 20187 yr Author I also put first coat of roof sealer on along all the rivets...will be about 4/5 coats total when doneRest of day will be spent cleaning off rust treatment and treating other halfTomorrow will be cleaning window frames with mineral spirits and sealing them and a full coat of roof sealer
September 28, 20187 yr 21 hours ago, Bone3421 said: Putting in better insulation and will be doing a nicer wood roof...not rolling with a metal bus roof If i was making a camper sure but this will be a tiny home Spray in foam insulation ? I'd think about adding extra junction boxes in the ceiling and walls for potential unforeseen future needs Edited September 28, 20187 yr by Onboard 2.0
September 28, 20187 yr Just now, Bone3421 said: Nah thinking the rigid foam insulation Definitely cheaper. What kind of R value can you get ?
September 28, 20187 yr Living in a bus is....different. Do you park it in a RV lot with hookups like power and sewage?
September 28, 20187 yr 6 hours ago, Bone3421 said: So as far i can tell from research you want yoyr rust to look like this black/blue color when its done right You read correctly. It may look funky, as it’s not at all what most people are expecting when they spray it on, but that is exactly what you want it to look like once it has taken effect. Can’t wait to see the progress over the coming months
September 28, 20187 yr Author Living in a bus is....different. Do you park it in a RV lot with hookups like power and sewage? You can...i have some land ill put it on and hook up to water/electric....doing compost toilet though so i dont have to deal with a blacktank. Also will have solar and offgrid water tanks at somepoint
September 28, 20187 yr Composting toilet IN the bus? Or just at your land? Black tank isn't really all that bad when on the road. Unless you are boondocking for extended periods, there are dump stations everywhere. Another option are these incinerator toilets. Needs power though. http://www.incinolet.ca
September 28, 20187 yr Author Yes looking at compost toilet in the bus...i've heard some say it doesnt smell and some say it does...ill find out lol then decide if i want to upgrade
September 28, 20187 yr Author Took windows out and removed old weather stripping with wirebrush drill bit...now cleaning ledges and putting on new strippingClosed cell fyi...heard thats the one to use over open cell
September 28, 20187 yr Author Spray in foam insulation ? I'd think about adding extra junction boxes in the ceiling and walls for potential unforeseen future needsI missed the part about junction boxes earlier and stuck with insulation....my buddy who is electrician will be wiring me up and i will have him wire me in a few extra spots for when i do solar and get the ac(rv ac that will attach in spot emergency exit is)
September 28, 20187 yr Just curious, did you consider a container home as opposed to the bus route? Or did you want the mobility? Maybe you couldn’t work on the containers off site like you’re doing w the bus?
September 28, 20187 yr Good luck sir, the container doesn't have the cool look or amount of windows of that thing. Speaking of, with all the insulation you are planning it's going to be tough to detail those windows well enough to keep them energy efficient. You may also look into new gaskets on the glazing itself into the aluminum frame, or wet sealing everything. Glass is never going to achieve a good R-value, but you may want to consider some type of sun shade or shutters on the outside to prevent too much light from hitting the glazing and heating up your weakest spot thermally.
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