Fran (Sinclair) skoolie - Page 4

Seeria · 05-28-2011, 07:52 AM

Thanks, Opus! Will get a replacement for it shortly.

Plumbing question or two or more.

Anyone know what I need to seal these barrels (the rim and bung holes)?

I need to attach a psi330 to a vent cap (swivel type) and drop it into the blue barrel (black tank). Any suggestions, videos, diagrams, pics that might explain how to connect the pvc psi330 pipe to that blue barrel? Suggestions on what to use on ceiling/flooring areas where the pipe drops through? Rather not have drafts or bugs and critters climbing through

What I have on hand at moment is:

Will these work?

opus · 05-28-2011, 10:40 AM

Not sure about that. That cement is for PVC, those barrels arent PVC.

lornaschinske · 05-28-2011, 10:44 AM

If the tanks are NOT polyethylene or whatever the RV white plastic fresh tanks are, that glue will work. Being able to glue fittings onto a tank is why we have decided to use the black ABS Valterra tanks (from JC Whitney unless I can find cheaper elsewhere... shipping is really jacking the costs up) for our fresh water (I want to put an automatic fill/shut off valve inside the tank and need to have access to get the thing inside the tank in the first place). We have decided that we will build our grey tank from plywood lined with a PVC liner (think shower pan liner or pond liner). We have to build a small grey tank this weekend for the food cart. While we are up at the Home Depot & Lowes in Los Lunas, I'm gong to see what sizes they have the liner in... if they have any.

On edit: They now make a polyethylene glue... not that "plastic tank repair" that has been around for years. This is something that just came out. I have yet to find it.

GreyEagle · 05-28-2011, 11:21 AM

WAY down here in Tennessee we have a guy who collects drums from the plants around here and elsewhere, (The Drum Man)....
He has all sizes of drums, white plastic, black plastic, metal, and of course drums, both large and small......
when and if I find a bus I'll be paying him a visit....
Might want to check around yiur area and see if anyone like him around....
just food for thought

Roy B.

Seeria · 05-29-2011, 06:36 AM

Found them. Uniseal seems most popular one. Local hardware doesn't carry much in way of slip grommets, darn it. Lots of boating and fish shops seem to have the uniseal brand. Thanks for the heads up

GreyEagle · 05-29-2011, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emberglow

Most plastic barrels, drums, etc. are made of HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene.) I haven't checked in awhile, but there didn't used to be an adhesive that worked with HDPE and was safe for drinking water. .

Would not want to use them for drinking water or fresh water tank..
Think they might work for the holding tanks?

Roy B.

Diesel Dan · 05-29-2011, 08:56 AM

www.usplastic.com has bung adapters. I just bought a bunch of them for my 30gal plastic drums. I plan to use them for freshwater and greywater. But I will have a separate drinking water supply (5 gallon water jug/dispensers).

ornissi · 05-29-2011, 01:47 PM

Thanks interesting information +1

Seeria · 05-29-2011, 02:24 PM

Thanks all

The white barrels I have are #2 food grade, so they're fine for fresh water. Blue ones were questionable so they're black tanks. I've a couple and only need one. Not sure if I even need all 4 white barrels. *shrug* they were cheap and local

Seeria · 05-31-2011, 07:58 AM

Got the other wheelwell cover done yesterday, which also doubles as a fireplace stand. Don't have the cute, tiny thing yet so that'll have to come much later. In mean time I've a temp shelf stand sitting on top of it. Base is setup with heat barrier underneath with fire bricks above and designed so I can add three walls of heat barrier later on. Other than the stud boards used to make the frame, its all recycled, reused and scrap material built.

Looks like the rear break lines are new so will be replacing the front ones this week.

Seeria · 06-03-2011, 06:14 AM

Time is up

I've decided we've gotten as far as resources and budget will allow before hitting the road so we're done with the interior for now. As I mentioned ages ago, this would have to be a work in progress on the road. Definitely gotten more together than I thought we would have. Kitchen, bathroom, beds, shelving all there. No electric setup but we're used to camping or one line hookups on the road. I've plans for more elaborate plumbing but for now we're going to stick to the basic bathroom hookup and kitchen sink deal (which I have parts for but have yet to install). Cabinet doors will come as I get more reclaimed lumber. Rest of shelving and what not, ditto.

So the rest of our funds until we leave go to twinking mechanical ends of the bus. New headlights, windshield washer thingy fixed, tires, minor repairs here and there. Brake work went pretty well, getting things off was hardest so Dain says. This will let us get saved up for the bigger repairs I want done this year.

Some 4 weeks to go, more or less depending on a few factors.

Seeria · 06-07-2011, 04:36 PM

Three weeks before we headout and I get my first injury while working on a bus

Mild concussion. I banged the back of head where it meets the neck, along the spine grrr Hit it on that damn door arm thing on the back door. Removing it tomorrow!

houskou · 06-07-2011, 11:41 PM

i think you should leave it attached. No reason to lose your head over a bit of a bump. - but then you would save on hats!

Seeria · 06-17-2011, 04:42 PM

Ten days to go! Put in the new temp gage only to find that didn't solve the problem. Not sure what to look at next grrrr
Washer fluid is dead, ordered a new one but it doesn't fit. Did get the new lights put in abut one of the high beams doesn't work

I'm sensing a theme here

Getting things moved in this week, even though I still don't have cabinet doors on the shelving

New stove/grill arrived and works fantastic but is much bigger than I thought.

Seeria · 06-21-2011, 08:17 AM

Fran pulls out in a couple days. First stop is just down the road at a seriously hard to get into national park, have to reserve it a year in advance for electric sites. So no way am I missing our reservations.

I'll do a photo shoot once we're out and on the road. Still no wiper wash fluid (trouble finding right tank combo) and the temp gage still isn't working but we're setup to get that looked at after our first week of camping. Thankfully the campground and our mechanic is near each other.

Three years without being on the road... no camping trips... MUST GO CAMPING!

GreyEagle · 06-21-2011, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seeria

Fran pulls out in a couple days.

Three years without being on the road... no camping trips... MUST GO CAMPING!

I understand that one ......... sold my motorhome last april 2010 and have not been out anywhere since, sure do miss it.....

Seeria · 07-03-2011, 01:10 PM

Week out and doing good. Fran is running pretty great although she tends to get a bit warm in this heatwave if I drive her an hour-ish. No signs of radiator, tranny or engine problems and she has lots of power even when I can feel her engine and tranny heating up. We so far are doing about 30 mins of in town driving daily and an hour of interstate. The temp gage we put in and didn't work started working and isn't working again now. O.O Seeing how the headlights are acting funny (turning from bright to low on own when hitting bumps lol) I think we have an electrical issue big time. Cannot--cannot afford to fix that this month as we're scraping by right now to pay off last months repair bills.

Nice to be on the road again but not in this heat! 110 index OMG We spent the day at B&N and ran fans at the campground. Off into Minn now, slowly heading across I90. Finding that we didn't need all the goodies I thought original so the bus load is getting lighter. Haven't gotten the plumbing fully hooked up and might not bother for now as working out of blue-boys and 5gln jerry cans and 5gln buckets seems just fine for our needs. Only prob we have so far is keeping the water filtered fast enough during the hot days.

Electric needs are pretty low so won't be putting in fancy electrical until we get solar/batteries set up which is a long time coming.
Decided not to bother putting on cabinet doors as bungies are working fine and mean less weight for now. Will be replacing the one kitchen shelving unit I built as hehe it doesn't seem to be holding up like the rest. Had to brace the bugger even.

I know... where are the pics! I keep forgetting to take them DOH I'll get 'em, really.
I'm finding the looks we get to be widely different and amusing. Interested people come up and ask questions, jokers point and laugh. I'm thinking of having a custom bumper sticker put on I'M DOING ALL THE TRAVELING YOU WISH YOU COULD, WHO IS LAUGHING NOW?

Will do some update pictures this week as we cross Minnesota== which by the way has been shut down. Really, check see what is up. Poor state is closing everything, even tried to close their public schools. O.O

On way to Nebraska.

browncrown · 07-03-2011, 01:33 PM

Glad to hear the trip is going good for you so far...look forward to the road trip pictures.

Seeria · 07-19-2011, 12:37 PM

A few weeks on the road and Fran is doing well minus front tires. They started to bubble so waiting for income to hit this week before replacing them. Cheapest I can find in Cheyenne WY is two front low pro steer tires, new, for some $800ish (taxes ouch).
Notes from a skoolie builder who has no carpentry, metalwork skills

If you think the cabinet is secured down, try going over a curb a few times to be sure. Yeah, need to secure furniture better.

What looks like you built and installed straight probably isn't unless you're a carpenter. Next time I'm going with prebuilt things like used cabinets--failing that I'm heading to Ikea.

Remember to turn wide or you hit a curb and dishes will break, even if they don't fall. Oops.

I absolutely would never again do the summer tripping without a way to run an AC anytime I wanted, anywhere. Funny, never bothered me before and I've traveled most my life by foot, train, car, van, RV and boat. Guess I'm getting old.

All and all, bus is working out well. Did need to open the wheelchair lift door, which was previously insulated and locked in place. Just NOT enough air flow to the front with only 3 windows to use.

Will be doing tires Friday morn then heading off across I84 to Idaho for a couple weeks of camping. Love that state.

GreyEagle · 07-19-2011, 12:59 PM

WOW Sounds like some of my trips, everyone, well most anyway.... there are always a few who already know everything...

you will learn as you go. swing wide...lol
The more you drive it the better you will get but the learning curve is long.....
For your dishes places paper towels between each and ever plate, bowl, saucer and leave some space between them.
put the rubber non slide rubber shelf liner in all your cabinets. be sure to install latches on the cabinets and drawers to keep em closed.
always leave some room between each of your glasses and cups to prevent them from banging into one another,
always place your pots and pans in the lower cabinets whenever possible.
always try to have at least 1/4 tank of fresh water for road trips just in case, more water, more weight at 8.3 lbs per gallon.
Tires are always a biggie, and most expensive on the road..
Good luck on the rest of your trip, you are making memories ... ain't it great!!!!

You may also like: