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Old 08-28-2017, 08:10 PM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Your Perfect Converting Order

Hey Everyone!

In the process of converting and after all my research I've noticed some people put flooring before infrastructure and vice versa, Electricity before Infra and vice versa, some paint their bus at the beginning others at the end!

So I guess my question is from experience what is your Order preference?
What goes first? Floor? Infra? When would you start Electrics and plumbing? How about painting and insulating?

Thanks!!!

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Old 08-28-2017, 08:44 PM   #2
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1) make it run dependably. It must start and go.

2) Tear-out seats- cathartic/legal.

3) Paint legal color

Start tearing-out flooring-go until it looks good, repair. Clean, ospho, seal prime, paint.

Do all the least-sexy stuff first. A bus with Corinthian leather and Italian Marble that doesn't start isn't an RV.
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Old 08-29-2017, 05:16 PM   #3
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Pretty much the same thing.
1. Take out the seats.
2. Take out the walls and ceiling and insulation.
3. Take up the old floor.
4. Fix the old floor.
5. (optional) raise the roof.
6. (optional but highly recommended) Insulate.
7. new floor.
8. new walls.
9. new ceiling.
10. systems (electrical, solar, plumbing, waste, etc)
11. interior build-out (interior walls, furnishings, appliances, decoration)
12. drive it around!

Note that items 7-12 get done in parallel and sometimes twice. Good luck.
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Old 08-29-2017, 05:18 PM   #4
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I'd put systems before floor, walls & ceiling. Much less to work around.
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Old 08-29-2017, 06:16 PM   #5
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As Rusty mentioned, start by getting to know the workings, electrically and mechanically of your bus fist or why bother with anything else.

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Old 08-29-2017, 07:20 PM   #6
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My perfect converting order...

1. Win the lottery

2. Pay someone else to do it
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Old 08-29-2017, 08:36 PM   #7
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what they said....

pretty much, i think waste tanks and plumbing is one of the first things. electric is before walls too.

if i did mine over, the bed would be the very last project. everything is stored under my bed; fresh water tank, water heater, furnace, battery charger. i disassembled my bed 5 or 6 times thru the course of the build. would have been easier if it were last.
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Old 08-29-2017, 09:58 PM   #8
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I ripped out the seats, walls, flooring.
Pulled the lights and painted the exterior.
Cut and installed the ceiling lights and vent.
Cut and installed the window AC (in the back of the bus)
Pulled all the windows, cleaned, flipped re-sealed and re-installed.
I did any further grinding that needed to be done. Any metal work that would cause a bunch of nasty chips and metal dust.
Then I rebuilt the walls and added electrical wiring and outlets.
Built the bath and a designed in a place for all of the electrical stuff.
Built the composting toilet and shower.
Built the overhead cabinets and painted the ceiling.
Painted the walls.
Painted and sealed the floor... installed insulation and hardwood flooring.
Installed carpet around the driver and passenger seats.
I left wire ways in the cabinets to allow additional wire pulling.
I rebuilt the heater box and i'm currently connecting all the switches to various circuits around the bus.

and on and on and on...

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Old 08-30-2017, 04:32 AM   #9
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It seems that it depends on your mind set. For me I need to see pretty quick progress otherwise I get burned out.
Most of the fun is dreaming what you want and how you are going to do it. My order was for a part determined in what showed up in the junkyard or dumpster. The logical order might not be the most efficient one. During our builds ( never finished) we camped and traveled and then implemented what was most desirable.
Have fun.

Later j
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Old 08-30-2017, 06:39 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by annvp89 View Post
Hey Everyone!

In the process of converting and after all my research I've noticed some people put flooring before infrastructure and vice versa, Electricity before Infra and vice versa, some paint their bus at the beginning others at the end!

So I guess my question is from experience what is your Order preference?
What goes first? Floor? Infra? When would you start Electrics and plumbing? How about painting and insulating?

Thanks!!!
im raising the roof and will paint it last as it will not be on the road yet in iowa it must be a different color than yellow so those that paint sooner can drive it if they need
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Old 08-30-2017, 08:23 PM   #11
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That's what I did! Made sure the bus sounds and runs good! Changed all filters and oils! Lube! Sugesting to test it if it leaks from the windows and seal them! Then tear the inside and start with a clean slate)))
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Old 11-04-2017, 11:06 AM   #12
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Sorry I've ghosted!! I finally got my baby and she manage to survive the Hurricane!!! Also for anyone that's looking for someone easy to change the title to RV in Miami get in touch! I was in and out with a tag and the title changed in 25 min!

I think I'll take the recurring advice of doing electric and plumbing first! Shall I wait for floors as well or does it not make much of a difference if I do floors and then electrics and plumbing and then move on to the infrastructure?


Thank you all again for taking the time to reply that's been really helpful!
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Old 02-05-2018, 08:35 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rossfree View Post
I ripped out the seats, walls, flooring.
Pulled the lights and painted the exterior.
Cut and installed the ceiling lights and vent.
Cut and installed the window AC (in the back of the bus)
Pulled all the windows, cleaned, flipped re-sealed and re-installed.
I did any further grinding that needed to be done. Any metal work that would cause a bunch of nasty chips and metal dust.
Then I rebuilt the walls and added electrical wiring and outlets.
Built the bath and a designed in a place for all of the electrical stuff.
Built the composting toilet and shower.
Built the overhead cabinets and painted the ceiling.
Painted the walls.
Painted and sealed the floor... installed insulation and hardwood flooring.
Installed carpet around the driver and passenger seats.
I left wire ways in the cabinets to allow additional wire pulling.
I rebuilt the heater box and i'm currently connecting all the switches to various circuits around the bus.

and on and on and on...

Would like to know any tricks to "Flipping your windows". I want to keep mine but it sounds like flipping them upside down might help.

Genghis sends.

z
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Old 02-05-2018, 10:24 PM   #14
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Yeah, that window flipping has been a subject in the past. Did you flip the window clips so they catch properly now that they're inverted?
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Old 02-06-2018, 10:35 AM   #15
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So many good techniques.

Get her running in top shape.
Drive her weekly to keep her in shape.
Washer her down really well.
Gut her like a pig and deal with the floor.
Fix her leaks. They all have incontinence when it rains, when they cough or sneeze. Oh wait, I'm getting onto something else. Forget that last part.
Once she's dry inside, remove the windows that you don't want and skin her closed, check for leaks.
At this point, I like to coat her roof and apply her make up.
Then I go absolutely nuts filling her with wood, I mean interior.
Gees, I need to get out more.
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Old 02-22-2018, 03:06 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by annvp89 View Post
Hey Everyone!

In the process of converting and after all my research I've noticed some people put flooring before infrastructure and vice versa, Electricity before Infra and vice versa, some paint their bus at the beginning others at the end!

So I guess my question is from experience what is your Order preference?
What goes first? Floor? Infra? When would you start Electrics and plumbing? How about painting and insulating?

Thanks!!!
I haven't done it yet, but I am a bit of a planner.

I would start off, assuming no rust to hassle with...

Main phases are legalities, infrastructure, and finally nice touches.

Legalitles.
1. Make it run well and pass safety inspection.
2. Loose the exterior legal markings of a school bus.
2a. Remove the swing out pole thing from the front bumper
2b. Lose the stop sign.
2c. Delete red flashers on the front. Amber and clear is fine. Rewire as desired, but NO RED UP FRONT!
2d. Repaint. This would be the time to do any window deletes and body work if needed.
3. Lose the seats.

Infrastructure.
1. Strip interior flooring, ceiling, and walls.
2. Repair any found rust, usually there will be. Delete any engine cooling system powered heaters behind the drivers cabin unless these are desired keepers.
3. Lay out space.
4. Install any and all conduit / wiring in the walls and through the floor.
5. Install in wall and through floor plumbing. Both water, and propane. Stubbed out to destination locations.
6. Make any needed roof penetrations.
7. Insulate. Foam board on the floor, spray foam in the walls / ceiling.
8. Lay down sub floors, walls and ceiling.
9. Install HVAC system. Since I am in the south, AC in the summer is crucial, especially when sleeping!
10. Build / install interior fixtures. (walls, cabinets, beds, etc...)
11. Install flooring and trim.
12. Install final plumbing and electrical fixtures, propane / CO2 and smoke detectors etc...

Nice touches.
#1. The soft stuff. Mattresses, cushions, curtains, etc..
#2. Decor like back splashes, etc...
#3. let my wife loose on it.
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Old 02-22-2018, 03:21 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by annvp89 View Post
Sorry I've ghosted!! I finally got my baby and she manage to survive the Hurricane!!! Also for anyone that's looking for someone easy to change the title to RV in Miami get in touch! I was in and out with a tag and the title changed in 25 min!

I think I'll take the recurring advice of doing electric and plumbing first! Shall I wait for floors as well or does it not make much of a difference if I do floors and then electrics and plumbing and then move on to the infrastructure?


Thank you all again for taking the time to reply that's been really helpful!
IMHO, it is easier to bore holes through whatever flooring you have to install wires or plumbing than it is to build the floor around those accesses. A lot of electric wiring goes through the walls. On mine I plan on stripping everything out then laying the floor, laying out the build with tape on the floor and then frame the few walls. At that point you can run all your plumbing and electric. Then cabinetry and covering everything up.
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Old 02-24-2018, 02:09 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Genghis View Post
Would like to know any tricks to "Flipping your windows". I want to keep mine but it sounds like flipping them upside down might help.

Genghis sends.

z
I found this video on flipping the windows a while back! I'm still considering if I want to do this or not, I kinda like the opening in the windows being higher up, but then it's a little counter to what we usually do with windows. Still, here ya go!

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Old 03-26-2018, 06:37 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tango View Post
My perfect converting order...

1. Win the lottery

2. Pay someone else to do it
Made me lol
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Old 08-19-2019, 01:06 PM   #20
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Great thread!! Thanks!
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