1994 International Thomas 7 window w/c

[djdalfaro]

More Pics!

[djdalfaro]

Spent about an hour and a half today unbolting seats with my eldest. No rusted shut bolts. Most were extracted with the air rachet and only a few required the impact.

[CaptSquid]

I paid two kids to remove the seats from my beastie. Used a Sawzall and an impact driver. Faster that way (for me).

[xrw44]

or a wood stove you can cook on?
I put my stove half way down the side to heat both ends and fans help a lot.

I looked at small stoves and purchased an excellent 30LB steel stove 11"Hx16Wx24"D [now unavailable] and bolted it to a custom welded steel stand that is bolted thru the floor [3/8" bolts].

DO NOT SKIMP on securing items.
Suppose a skoolie hits something inelastic of equal weight with an unsecured 30LB item,
In a 30 to 0mph in 1ft crash the deceleration is 30Gs and the force is 900 pounds.
In a 45 to 0mph in 1ft crash the deceleration is 70Gs and the force is 2032 pounds.
In a 55 to 0mph in 1ft crash the deceleration is 100Gs and the force is 3035 pounds.
Above 50Gs internal organs are damaged.

Here is a deceleration calculator
Car Crash Example

The seatbelts in your plan are an excellent idea.
It is safer to face the back, than the front.
Thinking carseat, no one can hold onto a 15LB child who suddenly weighs 450 to 1500 pounds!

[djdalfaro]

Originally Posted by xrw44

or a wood stove you can cook on?

I've gone back and forth on this. It'll probably boil down to what I can find cheaply (probably a stove). I've got a 7 window so I don't have as much to heat up.

Originally Posted by xrw44

DO NOT SKIMP on securing items.

Oh yes, I'm well aware of the scary car crash physics.

Originally Posted by xrw44

The seatbelts in your plan are an excellent idea.

I wouldn't take my kids on a trip without them.

[brokedown]

Nice bus! If it were me, I'd fix the broken AC. Both my buses have dual air and even in a short bus it's not enough while driving into the sun in the summer. I can cool my Vista down to the low 60s if I'm idling with my windshield sun shade in place, but it doesn't mean much when you're driving. I'll be sweating in the driver's seat while Hillary is putting on a jacket 3 feet behind me.

[djdalfaro]

Originally Posted by brokedown

Nice bus! If it were me, I'd fix the broken AC. Both my buses have dual air and even in a short bus it's not enough while driving into the sun in the summer. I can cool my Vista down to the low 60s if I'm idling with my windshield sun shade in place, but it doesn't mean much when you're driving. I'll be sweating in the driver's seat while Hillary is putting on a jacket 3 feet behind me.

There are several reasons I will be removing one unit.

1. The rear unit is right over the rear exit and cuts into head space in my already small bunkroom/bathroom.

2. One of the condensors is mounted exactly where I plan to put my grey tank (between the shower and sink). See my proposed floor plan on the first page.
3. These units are fairly large, I'm not sure what the but is off the top of my head, but I'm guessing its more than I will need for transporting about half of the rated capacity of people. I don't think I'll need both, but I'll run come calculations with my proposed insulation and see.

4. When driving the front unit is directly overhead of where my family will be buckled in.


What does your insulation setup look like? Floor, walls, ceilings?

[djdalfaro]

So progress has been slow. Mainly I haven't had any room to put things in my garage as I work on the demo. But that problem has been solved. So work progresses. Both A/C units were tested before clearing and I found that one was in serious need of a charge. No worries. They both need to come out for the time being. I heard somewhere that if you open the system to air for a significant amount of time you have to replace the dryer. Does anyone familiar with A/C care to comment?

On other notes I had posted in indivual threads but I think I should document here some of the things I've purchased for my bus.

1. I found 6 unused tires for sale at auction and bought them for 250. They are being stored at my parents house in NM until I make it that way. Turns out they are 8 years old but have been stored inside. I'll have to inspect a bit more before I put them on (maybe).

2. I found 4 245w Bosch mono solar panels for $75 a piece. I'm hoping I can fit these panels 2 in front of front emergency hatch, and 2 in rear of rear emergency hatch. We shall see.

3. I picked up a Xantrex Freedom 458 2500w MSW inverter/charger for $145. I would have preferred a PSW, but at that price I couldn't turn it down. Now to find a remote panel for it..

Things I'm on the hunt for a good deal on.
1. Midnite Solar Classic 150
2. Hot water heater
3. Stove top w/ or w/o an oven
4. 24x32 shower pan
5. Airhead toilet
6. Water tanks
7. Breaker box, fuse panel, outlets, various electrical, etc...

My son and I will attempt handicap lift removal tomorrow. Wish us luck and direct any pointers this way please. I know I need to beware any interlocks, but other than that we'll be just winging it.