Conversion Encyclopedia - Floor Plans

[joshmay88]

That’s a great idea! I just recently saw one of those wheel locks and was thinking the same thing!

[Sleddgracer]

Originally Posted by Setsu-P

Yeah, the overhead space is an option weighing on my mind, but...I was planning to use it for bookshelves anyway, and my library needs downsizing as it is. Sacrifices


So 'transit" in this case just means flat nose, that's a distinction I must have missed out on before. Good to know!

overhead storage is where you want to put the low weight items, the heavy stuff should be kept as low in the vehicle as possible - for safety concerns you want as low a center of gravity as possible

[lemmeskoolu]

Originally Posted by Vern1

Greetings,

Here is my initial floor plan.

It hasn't changed much except to add or take away a small amount here and there as I go along with construction.



I also have multiple level plans that show plumbing, electronic, LP gas, tanks, etc.

Enjoy!

When can I get the plumbing plans!

[lemmeskoolu]

What I learned since I started my skoolie life and if I had to do it over this is what I would do in hindsight, I had my bus since Feb 2017, and have not completed it cause in life shyt always happens to either distract us and/or deter us, however, if you are patience and hopeful shyt falls in place
* get concrete feeling this is truly what you want to do
* Buy bus
* tell as little ppl as possible your plan - Beware and ignore the nayersayera
* If you have a concrete layout in mind, keep any eye out for stuff u already have that you will absolutely use
* Make the bus your primary residence asap
* sell everything else or anything you can to get intital funds for build, even if you plan to recycle stuff, you're still going need some funds even if it just for gas and food. And the 100ks of screws you going need
* After removal of school associated items/equipment, insulation and/or any other mods if you partially built with home furnishings, hit the road -start your travels- if you want more details or are curious why I suggest this just ask?
* Communicate with those that matter from the road that today is the first day of you life of freedom and no morr BS!
* build in order of most needed for your individual needs as you travel and take in beautiful sights and experiences.
* tag the naysayers of every experience you encounter especially the good!

[hidn45]

Not sure if this is the place for this question, but does anyone have any clever solutions to the issue of having access to both sides of the bed? The younger crowd probably won't get it, but us old coots don't like climbing over the partner or out the end to get out of bed in the middle of the night....

Is the only option a narrower bed, centered in the space? We've gotten used to a queen size bed, & should have room for it, but I think access from both sides will be essential.... It's either that or separate beds, & we haven't slept separately in 40 years....

Thanks for any insights!

[Drew Bru]

We were used to a queen sized bed too, but opted for a full size in our bus. We have it against the wall, but I think if it were centered we'd have room on each side to get out in the middle of the night for a bathroom run or 3.

[synestine]

Originally Posted by hidn45

Not sure if this is the place for this question, but does anyone have any clever solutions to the issue of having access to both sides of the bed? The younger crowd probably won't get it, but us old coots don't like climbing over the partner or out the end to get out of bed in the middle of the night....



Is the only option a narrower bed, centered in the space? We've gotten used to a queen size bed, & should have room for it, but I think access from both sides will be essential.... It's either that or separate beds, & we haven't slept separately in 40 years....



Thanks for any insights!

Not sure how clever it is, but I'm planning on a full sized mattress (54" x 75"). I want a standard size mattress (i.e. not custom) so I can buy normal bedding. If that isn't a concern for you, make your bed any size and shape you want.

-S

[Truffles]

We’ve done many floor plans and so far this is the best one yet. What do you all think?

[hidn45]

Here's a rough plan for a 16 ft x 8 ft space. I say rough - there's no accounting for wall thickness or other "reality" type adjustments, just putting spaces together.

I don't think this is going to help us, with the east-west bed.... I had thought that I could use the rear door for nighttime sorties, but upon further reflection, I'm not sure that's practical.

In any event, I'm interested in what y'all think of it. What haven't I thought of?

[BarnYardCamp]

we were considering a queen central in the back...would allow room on either side to shuffle, with storage access under via emergency door. Ran into a road block as wheel wells are right where the foot of the bed would be. Now, we are considering single beds over wheel wells, leaves about 12" isle way...moved bathroom and a closet to back, partially blocks E exit but E exit will still be usable.

[JackE]

We are king bed sleepers, wife makes me sleep in my own zip code, but still the same bed! I'm getting old enough that I don't want to have to climb over her, or play the scoot game to get out of bed.

We looked at going to full size located in the middle, but queen is only 3" wider on each side. I can sacrifice the 3" for a bigger sleeping space. We are doing a roof raise so at the back I will probably raise the floor in the bedroom to the height of the wheel well so they aren't in the way as a step over. I won't loose much storage space, the raised floor will only go around the bed, under bed storage will still go all the way to the floor. I also have to rebuild rusty wheel wells, so they will shrink by about 6 inches in height.

We have changed our floor plan half dozen times and haven't even started on the interior build yet. I think the finished floor plan will just develop as we build back to front.

[OwllieDriver]

My friend and I are getting a 40ft bus and are looking for ideas on the build. From looking online the living space seems to be at about 32ft? Starting in the back of the bus this is what I have thought of so far: 32in garage with access under the 2nd bedroom, 2nd bedroom 6ftx6ft with the door facing the driver side of the bus which will have a ladder allowing access to the deck up top, hallway will curve around the bedrooms in an S shape with 18in spacing in the hallway, 1st bedroom 6ftx6ft door facing passenger side, L shape kitchen 7ft x 5ft counter on passenger side, driver side kitchen as of right now just has the open space and a wood burning stove, 24in passing from store front/living room to the kitchen, 18in display built off the wall of the kitchen, 5ft x 30in couches on both sides.

Now, I havent been in a bus in over 10 years so I've given you the dimensions I believe to be correct as far as available living space as well as a 7.5ft width of the bus. We are opting out of building a bathroom and the shower will be outside on an extended patio or at Planet Fitness. Everything will be storage of some kind or another. I would rather have too much than not enough

[slickwillytfcf]

I'm a fan of this layout, but I'm planning to have a few feet at the back of the bus set aside as a garage area for my tool box, maybe litter box, storage for my bike, and various things I don't need to have inside the bus. The last bus I was bidding on had the wheelchair ramp and door at the passenger side rear corner and I thought that would be a perfect size for that area. Not sure if it'll use up too much of the available floor space though considering everything else I want to do in the bus.

[RRich7676]

Hey I wouldn't mind seeing your multi level plans.
I'm in the research phase of my first conversion. Trying to learn as much as possible before getting started.
Not sure if you wanna email them to me. rrich7676@gmail.com.
It's Robin in BC Canada btw. Thanks.

[~GntlStone~]

Originally Posted by BarnYardCamp

we were considering a queen central in the back...would allow room on either side to shuffle, with storage access under via emergency door. Ran into a road block as wheel wells are right where the foot of the bed would be. Now, we are considering single beds over wheel wells, leaves about 12" isle way...moved bathroom and a closet to back, partially blocks E exit but E exit will still be usable.

Don't know if youre this deep into the build yet, but what about building storage boxes that run along the floor. It would have a hinged lid(s) that lifts for access, and the top would be even with the finished height of the wheel well. It would shorten the floor height but you would only be getting in and out of bed.

Just a thought.

[TheRelishMan]

Here is my floor plan for a 40ft Blue Bird AA RE. It is a bit messy, but the general idea. Only raising a center section of the roof, as well as a square over the shower.
https://imgur.com/6xgg9Yl

[Elderon]

So, in most if not all the layouts I've seen, the bathroom always has the hallway going down the center of the bus. Is there a reason to split the bathroom into 2 smaller areas vs. Having the bathroom take 2/3 of the bus width and putting the hallway on one side or the other?

[tobeamiss]

I love the idea of the hallway way on the side, it gives more privacy towards the back of the bus where the bedroom is and it's not the typical hallway down the center.
But I wasn't able to work that out because of the wheel wells and the construction I had already done over the wheel wells and placement of the shower stall...I have a dog nose :S
I really wanted it though and I racked my brains.

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by Elderon

So, in most if not all the layouts I've seen, the bathroom always has the hallway going down the center of the bus. Is there a reason to split the bathroom into 2 smaller areas vs. Having the bathroom take 2/3 of the bus width and putting the hallway on one side or the other?

Usually in a bus with an un-raised roof, you have to have your hallway down the center since the ceiling drops down 6-8" at the edges (unless you don't mind ducking all the time) and the wheel wells are also in the way. Splitting the bathroom on either side makes sense since showering and pooping are really two unrelated functions anyway. Usually when people raise the roof they do a more conventional bathroom layout to go along with a side passageway.

[Malene]

I know it's been a while since you posted this, but in case you haven't yet solved your problem. If you are putting your bed at the back and it's a queen size or smaller (i.e. <60"), your best bet is to place it in the center, perpendicular to the back wall, giving you approx. 12" on either side to literally sidle in. Not a lot of space, but enough to make it work.