It begins! - Page 2

captainkf · 02-16-2007, 06:32 PM

Thanks for the info! It looks great. I definatly see somthing like that for the future of ours. The idea of contracting out cabinet work is a good choice if you want high quality looking custom cabinets if you don't have the tools, space and or skills to do it (as is my case). Keep up the posts.

-Richard

w1bmw · 02-18-2007, 02:49 PM

Closeups of the carpet I'm using are:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Mark.D.Zimm ... 7684544210
http://picasaweb.google.com/Mark.D.Zimm ... 3519119074
and the glue is...
http://picasaweb.google.com/Mark.D.Zimm ... 9288922866

w1bmw · 03-11-2007, 06:07 PM

Well, another good weekend... I got the shower all plumbed and almost all of the sheathing up. Pics are up at http://picasaweb.google.com/Mark.D.Zimmerman/BusMar07 and I am down to three weekends left. All of the carpentry is done and the cabinets and appliances are next. This should pretty much finish it out and with a little paint, she'll be ready to move to the park and start living in. I can handle the trim work with a small battery powered saw once we get settled.

Griff · 03-11-2007, 09:26 PM

Nice work, it's coming along quite well and looks great!

w1bmw · 04-22-2007, 03:13 PM

OK.. the three weeks came and went, but the bus didn't get done. I was able to part the thing behind my office and it's done enough to live in it, so that's what's going on. The last thing really remaining before I take it to a park is getting all the cabinets hung and they should be done in 10 more days.

As of today, the door is done! I talked to several salvage places looking for doors, but never seemed to find anything that I wanted to deal with (the two i actually went out and looked at had damage i didn't wanna try to fix). I ended up going to Giant Recreation World in Orlando and just ordering one from the catalog for about $400. It was more than I really wanted to spend, but it was a brand new door in the frame all nice and shiny!

The biggest problem was the largest I could order was 24" x 72" and I had a hole that would accommodate 32" x 83". Having already had fits with the fridge, I wanted keep the largest opening possible there in the event something big had to come in or out. Also, framing had me nervous. I had figured I was going to have to weld something, but I got lucky.

Anyway, I've posted pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/Mark.D.Zimm ... sApril2007 if you want to take a look.

jterry · 04-22-2007, 03:54 PM

do you still have the doors you took off? my doors are badly rusted on the bottom and I am not looking forward to fabbing new bottom pieces. I am in the southern ocala area and may be interested in them if they are available. thanks. jterry

w1bmw · 04-22-2007, 03:58 PM

Hell yeah! Come get 'em

PM me with a phone number and I'll PM you with mine.

crazycal · 04-22-2007, 08:52 PM

I think your bus turn out very nice. Good job.

w1bmw · 05-26-2007, 01:23 PM

Well, I'm really really glad I started the bus project when I did. The wife has decided to move on and I have found myself single again ready to start a new life just as the thing has come together and become livable. I found a park that's clean and cheap and took a slot across from an old timer in a mid 60's GMC coach conversion. He watched me park the MCP II on the slot, get plugged in, then came over to thank me for "classing up the neighborhood with my sweet conversion." Apparently, they don't get many buses and I'm the only schoolie in the park.

The management was cool. She was slightly hesitant when she read '82 as the year of the bus, but when she looked out and saw the fresh white paint job, RV style door, and the blanked out windows with blinds in them, she had no problems with it and said it looked much newer. Thanks, Rustoleum! The park is Citrus Hill RV park, just east of Tampa on Hwy 60 (on the web at http://www.floridaparks.com/floridacamp ... rvpark.htm)

Anyway, it's there. It's plugged in, and it's getting cool. Sometime around dusk, I'll hook up the toilet and christen the thing while I reflect on a question the ex's mother asked a week or so back, "Aren't you ashamed to live like that?"

In a word? Hell no! For the first time in my life, I'm actually not ashamed. I'm not taking more than I need, pissing money away to keep up with the neighbors, or worrying about keeping someone else happy. I am who I am and I'm living in something that *I* made with the help of honest folk here on this board and elsewhere in my life. I'm quite proud in fact

Thanks guys for helping me get here.

GoneCamping · 05-27-2007, 09:05 PM

Way to go!! My brother tried to tell me my plan to convert the bus into full time living unit was "lacking in ambition" but I'm very proud of what I have built, and extremely happy of the living arrangement at the campground. I couldn't live anywhere else cheaper, and I've got security here...and I love being here at the campground!!

Little does my brother know just how much 'ambition' it takes to convert a bus into a nice MH....

w1bmw · 03-02-2008, 03:34 PM

It's been a while! I hope everyone on the board is doing well and projects are going smoother than planned. I've been living in the bus for a while now and got away from the conversion for a bit, but it's time to get moving again. For your comment, I present adding the 'sofa' (Nov. 2007) and some work in the bedroom this weekend, new cabinets. Here are some pictures of the exterior at the RV park.

Everything is running smoothly, but it's time to get busy tackling all the trim and little odds and ends now. I'll be documenting more as the spring progresses and with any luck, get a little done every weekend.

Roasting8 · 03-03-2008, 04:49 PM

Your bus is looking great. It looks like you've taken your time and made it look professional.

Man, it looks better than most of the other stuff around you.

phillbus914 · 03-03-2008, 06:19 PM

Your bus is looking great. Nice photography too.

I used particle board for my cabinets too... I plan on rebuilding them this summer with real wood. I've broken 2 doors off already because the screws just pulled right out of the "wood"

bigballsbus · 03-03-2008, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by w1bmw

I started the process of calling around the various state offices today to get the title converted to a Florida RV Title from the original Texas title. I was amazed how how easy it seems to be. I started with the local tag office who said I needed to speak to someone at the state with an RV Manufacturers inspection. The inspector was much more knowledgable and said all I needed to do was obtain and follow Procedure TL-13

Because my bus has less than three axles, it cannot be defined as a Private Motor Coach, but instead is a Motor Home. It must also not exceed the size limitations set out in s. 316.515 of the state motor vehicle code. No problem there. Also, since the vehicle is out of state, I'll need to follow Procedure TL-10.

Basically, for now, I'll be applying for a "title only", so I will need an affidavit stating that the vehicle is in dead storage (my driveway) and will remain in dead storage until it is fully registered. And here's the good part. In the case of an individual converting their own vehicle and requesting the identity changed on the title to register and license it as a recreational vehicle, I need to submit an affidavit saying it has been converted to the extent to include one of the afforementioned items. They give a nice little sample affidavit:

Code:

This is to certify that I, ________________, owner of a (year)______,
(make)___________, (VIN)_____________, hereby request the vehicle be
classified as a recreational vehicle for the following reason:

( ) Installed 110 volt electrical wiring
( ) Installed LP gas piping
( ) Installed plumbing system

Can it really be that easy? Are there any Florida Skoolies on the list that can tell me if I'm overlooking something? If not, then on to GMAC for insurance!

can anyone tell me where to find these requirements for Indiana. i've looked at all the government websites and can't find anything!!

w1bmw · 03-11-2008, 05:24 PM

I spent the weekend taking everything out of the bus to see the light of day and ended up making two trips to the dumpster with the junk that has collected from the life of the project. I also did a run through of the cabinet face making process and located every tool and supply I'll need for the job. So, next Saturday baring misfortune, I should be ready to open up the cabinet face assembly line.

In the electronics phase, I got the network set up and the satellite card working in the entertainment rig up front. I was able to work this weekend with music piped in from my favorite internet station in both ends of the bus, though the back PC was about a half second ahead of the front. Sounded kind of weird in the middle.

Progress pictures are available for comment.

swinada · 05-12-2008, 12:19 AM

WOW Really like your electronics setup. You have better equipment in your bus then I have in my home. Do you work from your bus. (Sorry if you mentioned this in your earlier posts, I didnt read them all)

w1bmw · 08-29-2008, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swinada

WOW Really like your electronics setup. You have better equipment in your bus then I have in my home. Do you work from your bus. (Sorry if you mentioned this in your earlier posts, I didnt read them all)

Wow, sorry I missed the reply. I have done some freelance stuff from there in the past, but currently, it's just home

You may also like: