Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 01-25-2007, 05:10 PM   #121
Bus Geek
 
the_experience03's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Saint James, MN
Posts: 2,669
Send a message via MSN to the_experience03 Send a message via Yahoo to the_experience03
I feel for you. We took VERY careful measurements and laid out a final blueprint of the interior only after MUCH fiddling. In the end, however, it turned out to just be a rough estimate. The combination of seeing stuff actually take up volume, inaccuracies in the oringal measurements (hey...it happens), and little oopses along the way when building (screwing in a bulkhead half an inch off for instance) made things change in a big hurry!

__________________
https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3024/...09f20d39_m.jpg
Skooling it...one state at a time...
the_experience03 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-27-2007, 12:21 AM   #122
Bus Geek
 
Elliot Naess's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Clearlake, Northern California
Posts: 2,505
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC-2000 Frt Eng, Tranny:MT643
Engine: 5,9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 84
Rejoice, ye faithful children of Lord Band-Aid, god of power tools,
-- we are cutting steel again!

Last time I gave this some thought, I considered making a fairly narrow door/ramp
in the back of Millicent -- to keep it simple and quick to complete. Adequate for small
vehicles, or slightly bigger ones if the wheels were replaced with bicycle wheels for
transport.
Harrrrrummmphhh! I must have been in love or otherwise intellectually incapacitated
that day. The ramp is going to be AS LARGE AS POSSIBLE, OF COURSE!

So I did a bit of cutting today. The excitement is back! Sparks! Noise!
Oh, the glory of it!
__________________

Elliot Naess is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-27-2007, 01:04 AM   #123
Bus Geek
 
the_experience03's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Saint James, MN
Posts: 2,669
Send a message via MSN to the_experience03 Send a message via Yahoo to the_experience03
I really am impressed that you've kept everything square through all this. How tall are you going to make the door and would you consider a spearheading a downhill kinetic sculpture race in Duluth, Minnesota?
__________________
https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3024/...09f20d39_m.jpg
Skooling it...one state at a time...
the_experience03 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-27-2007, 10:54 AM   #124
Bus Geek
 
Elliot Naess's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Clearlake, Northern California
Posts: 2,505
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC-2000 Frt Eng, Tranny:MT643
Engine: 5,9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 84
Thanks, but nothing is very straight or square here. But I did park the bus
somewhat close to level by putting scraps of lumber under the tires. I made
the vertical cuts (in that last picture) along the edge of an existing body-
reinforcement -- then discovered that the reinforcement was not vertical,
but leans inward at the top. No problem. I’ll compensate when I build the
door frame. The door/ramp will probably be eight feet tall/long. And I’ll
probably make the beaver tail we talked about earlier -- going out to
decide that now. How do I make such decisions? With a Power Tool.

“Downhill Kinetic Sculpture Race”?
That sounds like the Underground Soap Box Derby held every Halloween in
San Francisco. But you don't need my help to hold such an event.
Just DO IT!

__________________

Elliot Naess is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-27-2007, 03:02 PM   #125
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: tULSA, OK
Posts: 11
Send a message via Yahoo to crispyx
When I was living in Denver there were a couple fun events like this. one is the Emma Crawford Memorial Coffin Race:


thats me on the left laying on the Bed of Nails Coffin.

The other was the the Boulder Kenetics Race. it was on land and sea, we did well until a storm started coming in and blew our craft into a cement retaining wall on the reservoir.



crispyx is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-27-2007, 04:23 PM   #126
Bus Geek
 
Elliot Naess's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Clearlake, Northern California
Posts: 2,505
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC-2000 Frt Eng, Tranny:MT643
Engine: 5,9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 84
Crispy, you're all right!
In case you missed it, Millicent's full name is (deep breath)

Millicent, The Kinetic Sculpture Racing Team Mobile Kommand Post and Tea Parlour.

We'll be racing in Boulder in a year or two.
__________________

Elliot Naess is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-27-2007, 10:13 PM   #127
Bus Geek
 
Elliot Naess's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Clearlake, Northern California
Posts: 2,505
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC-2000 Frt Eng, Tranny:MT643
Engine: 5,9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 84
We brainstormed about a beaver tail floor a while ago, and with the rear wall
gone, I was almost there. Is it worth the effort? Well, I have struggled to load
and unload Kinetic Kontraptions by myself too many times on the trailer -- which
is only 18 inches off the ground -- so I don’t want the bus floor any higher than
absolutely necessary. Beaver tail it is. And I can happily “lose” the thickness of
the plywood too. I cut across the rubber and plywood with a Skil saw, and pried
the plywood out. There was water in there, but only cosmetic rust.




Two length wise cuts, and two bolts, and the floor is free to be folded up a little.
That gave me room to work and cut “pockets” in the floor joists, so the floor can
come down to the frame.
Now the frame. I’ll cut with the angle grinder and gain another three inches.




To my own surprise, cutting the frame was easy. So... should I make a second
cut, and fold the top flange down and reweld it? Or what if I just force the top....



I didn’t think it would work. But it did! It took just a few minutes of grinding -- and
a bit of Brute Force -- to let the top “pie slice” overlap on the outside of the frame
web. It’s not neat, but we’re not building a watch here! The trailer hitch is back in
position and the entire works clamped snug with a chain. When I clamp the floor
down onto this, the rear edge of the floor will be about six inches lower than before.

Tune in to these same stations for the next episode of Millicent in a day or two.
__________________

Elliot Naess is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2007, 11:51 PM   #128
Bus Geek
 
Elliot Naess's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Clearlake, Northern California
Posts: 2,505
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC-2000 Frt Eng, Tranny:MT643
Engine: 5,9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 84

Welcome back to the show, boys and girls.

Today we...

ah... Excuse me for a mome...

Ah... ahhh... ahhhhch, KA-FOOOOOO...


Soddy. Ah habba cod.
Please excuse me a moment while I put the top of my head back on.

There.
Now.
Here is the hinge for the ramp/door in the back. The concept is a big piano hinge
across the door. I rummaged around in the garage and found a five foot length of
5/8 round stock, and a shorter length of... hmmm... elephant rifle barrel, ¼” wall,
¾ ID. So.. 5/8 in ¾ -- just enough slop to work smoothly and not bind up when
the pieces warp from welding. I have learned that there is such a thing as too
much precision. There is not enough pipe to go all the way across for a true
piano hinge, but three pivot points should be plenty. Specially when the main
pieces are fairly heavy wall 2” square tubing. Here is one of the three hinge
segments, assembled and tack welded:



After tack welding, I pulled the hinge pin out for a clearer picture. Again, this is just
one foot or so, of a seven foot long hinge.



Originally, I had planned to build the door frame first, then the door, and then
add a hinge. So much for planning!

Next,...

Ahhh... ahh......

Oh, no...

Ka-FOO...
__________________

Elliot Naess is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-01-2007, 02:03 PM   #129
Bus Geek
 
the_experience03's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Saint James, MN
Posts: 2,669
Send a message via MSN to the_experience03 Send a message via Yahoo to the_experience03
Quote:
Originally Posted by Elliot Naess

So.. 5/8 in ¾ -- just enough slop to work smoothly and not bind up when
the pieces warp from welding.
You just crack me up. I know exactly where you're coming from on that. I, too, have learned that there is such a thing as too much precision. It's easier just to plan a little wiggle room into everything.
__________________
https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3024/...09f20d39_m.jpg
Skooling it...one state at a time...
the_experience03 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-01-2007, 09:55 PM   #130
Bus Geek
 
Elliot Naess's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Clearlake, Northern California
Posts: 2,505
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC-2000 Frt Eng, Tranny:MT643
Engine: 5,9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 84
Uh... Cracking you up... that's good, right?

A couple of hours a day results in steady progress.

Remember where the last couple of feet of frame rails got tapered down. At the
tail end of that, is where the hinge mounts. I cut 2-inch-square notches in both
rails, and set the hinge in place so the top of the hinge is flush with the
beaver-tailed floor. This is the right frame rail, and the "extra" piece of
steel in the upper left is the right end of the trailer hitch cross tube.



Out goes the wood block and down comes the floor. It will get fastened to the hinge.



The scrap of plywood illustrates the actual ramp/door -- down in the above picture,
and almost up in this shot. Here you also see the hitch, which will be behind the bumper.



Oh... last time we were here, that wonderful Small Angle Grinder croaked. I suspect its
Designed Duty Cycle was exceeded once or twice If I hadn’t worn such heavy gloves, I would
surely have noticed how smoking hot it was getting! I bought another one just like it -- $35.
__________________

Elliot Naess is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-01-2007, 10:59 PM   #131
Bus Nut
 
KC10Chief's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Edmond, OK
Posts: 529
Year: 1993
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International
Engine: 7.3 International diesel
Rated Cap: 60
Wow! That looks like more project that I'd be willing to handle!
__________________
Matt
1993 International Carpenter 10 Window bus
7.3L diesel w/AT545
https://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...DSC02426-1.jpg
KC10Chief is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-02-2007, 12:03 AM   #132
Bus Geek
 
the_experience03's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Saint James, MN
Posts: 2,669
Send a message via MSN to the_experience03 Send a message via Yahoo to the_experience03
I think I'm going to start painting little angle grinder pictures on my vehicles like they used to do on planes for kills. I've gone through a few too.

What's your plan for sealing that back door? It will probably be important given the fact that the exhaust is right there. I'm VERY impressed thus far. I need an eighbor like you to kick my butt in to gear sometimes.
__________________
https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3024/...09f20d39_m.jpg
Skooling it...one state at a time...
the_experience03 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-02-2007, 09:22 AM   #133
Bus Geek
 
Elliot Naess's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Clearlake, Northern California
Posts: 2,505
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC-2000 Frt Eng, Tranny:MT643
Engine: 5,9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 84
Quote:
What's your plan for sealing that back door?
A very important concern, indeed.

A rubber weather strip for starters. And a rubber "accordion bellow" at
the bottom. In addition, the "garage" is walled off from the rest of the interior.
I have looked at a couple of mass produced "toy haulers", and will be
copying that, roughly. I realize those are trailers without people
onboard, so I'm still thinking about it.
My exhaust (Millicent's exhaust! Silly. ) exits in front of the drive tires.
I'm considering installing some kind of stack, either there, or at the
back.
It's definitely on my mind.

And there will be a firm rule to never run the engine while people are sleeping.
I don't like generators and furnaces and such either. I'm thinking that
any such could be installed on the trailer, like those remote wood
stoves that seem to be popular with the off-the-grid folks.

M-a-n-y years ago, I bashed the bottom of my car on a rock and
broke the exhaust pipe. That car had a few holes in the firewall.
Drove home with my head out the window. In the rain.
__________________

Elliot Naess is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-02-2007, 10:39 AM   #134
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: downriver, detroit mi
Posts: 794
You might want to check out Austin Hardware & Supply they have an amazing inventory of RV and truck body stuff like hinges, latches, locks and weatherstrip, http://www.austinhardware.com Cat used to have a good selection of bulk weatherstrip available in their hardware catalog, check your local parts dept. I also have a Thomas Hardware metal products catalog that is full of truck body parts, but I can't get their catalog to come up, http://www.thomparts.com.
I'm sure that their are other specialty automotive weatherstrip suppliers for the restoration custom car market as well.
paul iossi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-02-2007, 11:12 AM   #135
Bus Geek
 
the_experience03's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Saint James, MN
Posts: 2,669
Send a message via MSN to the_experience03 Send a message via Yahoo to the_experience03
I think the bus is the first vehicle I've ever owned that has a complete, leakfree exhuast from cylinder head to exit at the rear of the vehicle. What makes it worse is that in Minnesota we tend to idle our engines for a long time to warm them up. I personally try and limit how much I do this...I really don't care if the interior is warm or cold...but I hate climbing into the truck and not being able to shift the transmission without two hands because the gear lube is so stiff. Thankfully I've never suffered any ill consequences from all this, but I think you're wise in taking the problem very seriously with your bus. When mine idles in place for even a short time I can smell the exhuast in my bedroom and that's with a tight exhaust, windows closed, etc.
__________________
https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3024/...09f20d39_m.jpg
Skooling it...one state at a time...
the_experience03 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-02-2007, 12:01 PM   #136
Bus Geek
 
Elliot Naess's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Clearlake, Northern California
Posts: 2,505
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC-2000 Frt Eng, Tranny:MT643
Engine: 5,9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 84
Thanks Paul, I'll take a look at those sources.

Sometimes I'm amazed that I am alive, considering how much I have slept in idling
semis -- surrounded by 100 more idling semis. I suppose it is the tall stack that
saves us. You watch, as generators become more common in semis, to comply
with anti-idling laws, we'll start losing people.
__________________

Elliot Naess is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-02-2007, 01:31 PM   #137
Bus Geek
 
the_experience03's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Saint James, MN
Posts: 2,669
Send a message via MSN to the_experience03 Send a message via Yahoo to the_experience03
I don't disagree, Elliott. Do you see any practical reason why the generator exhuast couldn't be tied into the stack? That might help the problem. I noticed the anti idling laws during our August trip at places like Mt. Rushmore and Devil's Tower. I didn't feel too guilty about letting the turbo cool for 5-10 minutes while we sorted our stuff out, but I was always waiting for the idling cop to come tap on the door with his nightstick.
__________________
https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3024/...09f20d39_m.jpg
Skooling it...one state at a time...
the_experience03 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-02-2007, 01:31 PM   #138
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: downriver, detroit mi
Posts: 794
Unfortunately you're right about the gennypacks becoming a problem with lethal CO buildup at ground level, another case of bigbrother not thinking through a situation completely before they act where they don't really belong. Anyhow if the truck owners will invest in installing tall verticle pipes on the gennies, tucked in next to the main stacks the CO should discharge and disipate above us mortal humans.

This brings up the issue of the standard practice of installing generators with ground level exhaust, probably wouldn't be too dificult to improvise an add on highmount exhaust extension for use while parked. A couple of brackets and a pipe with a heatshield around it to protect from burns and "Marmon" flanges&clamp to ease installation. Hey that may be a marketable accessory for those of us tha are safety conscious.
paul iossi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-02-2007, 08:34 PM   #139
Bus Geek
 
the_experience03's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Saint James, MN
Posts: 2,669
Send a message via MSN to the_experience03 Send a message via Yahoo to the_experience03
Mmmm.....enclosed trailer and an alcohol snorting late model....yummy.
__________________
https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3024/...09f20d39_m.jpg
Skooling it...one state at a time...
the_experience03 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-02-2007, 09:41 PM   #140
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: downriver, detroit mi
Posts: 794
Last week while walking past the participants motorhome lot at Daytona, I noticed that most of the high end coaches have a deflector across the top back to direct air down the back to breakup the vacuum and keep the rear panel clean, this would also help to keep exhaust fumes away from the back of the bus.
I also noticed that the awnings were mounted on top, instead of on the sides of these coaches.
paul iossi is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Roof Raise - Building My Own Flat Roof iverSUN Conversion General Discussions 26 02-18-2019 10:41 AM
Roof Raise ~ Cutting Roof ABOVE Windows ?? chev49 Conversion General Discussions 3 12-04-2012 02:07 AM
Roof raise: TMI !! thommassey Everything Else | General Skoolie Discussions 15 12-09-2011 01:58 AM
Roof raise Rod Conversion General Discussions 1 03-08-2008 05:51 PM
Roof Raise ~ Cutting Roof ABOVE Windows ?? pixemoss Skoolie Conversion Projects 6 12-31-1969 07:00 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:58 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.