La Tortuga...updated 05-03-15

[lornaschinske]

Bansil...
I know where Mtn. City TN is. We lived in Elizabethton for a little over 6 months... long enough for the Lowes in town to know us by sight and learn how to pronounce "Elizabethton" correctly. There's a Walmart right near the Lowes. They will ship to store. That's about 35 miles from Mtn City. It's not like you have to drive all the way into Johnson City. And THAT isn't 2 hours away either. Unless you drive like a flatlander!

[bansil]

2 hrs is round trip and in the bus around the lake at 45 mph it's almost an hour from our house to downtown E-town (walmart/lowes)

House to hiway 5 min, Doe to Butler 15min, Butler to Hampton 15 min, Hampton to Wally world 15 min anywhoooooo

new fridge strapped down for transport


so the bus came to the rescue when it was storming and our son wanted pizza with the crust done on the grill



new kitchen area





storage underneath and still have access to the heater

When parked microwave will be on fridge, I needed power so I pulled more wire


Also I swapped lenses front to back so all lights to rear are red and all front lights are amber (now legal)

[inkblots84]

Nice score on the fridge! Just out of curiosity, would there be room for your fridge in the corner where your oven mitts are hanging, or would it stick too far out and be in the way of the door? I'm thinking about my ever changing floor plan

[bansil]

Originally Posted by inkblots84

Nice score on the fridge! Just out of curiosity, would there be room for your fridge in the corner where your oven mitts are hanging, or would it stick too far out and be in the way of the door? I'm thinking about my ever changing floor plan

It would be to wide, and now it's even with the dinette so the counters work good still, will know in a few weeks

Right now it seems to work good with stock door swing also (simulated cooking some this weekend)

[Shadoll]

Did you have someone remind you that you weren't legal on your venture? Just curious.

Big refrigerator!!. And the deep sink is what I'm putting in extra in mine for my crafts. I like how you mounted yours. good ideas abound!

[bansil]

Originally Posted by Shadoll

Did you have someone remind you that you weren't legal on your venture? Just curious.

Big refrigerator!!. And the deep sink is what I'm putting in extra in mine for my crafts. I like how you mounted yours. good ideas abound!

We needed a big enough fridge for a few bottles of bubbly and mango OJ, and for the "whites" we bring (need room for at least 5 or 6 bottles at a time when we all get together for tastings) only happens a few times a year and we eat good while "camping" and feed alot of folks


As for "legality"

If you mean the lights, it's a technicality that NC troopers can use to harass.....oops...I mean to protect the safety of NC residents from evil Tourists
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.
.
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Just one less "thing" to worry about

I drove it alot here in TN as it was when I bought it,yellow,lights stop sign...only difference was it had a personal tag on it

Rural po-po are overall alot more laid back due to the "wealth status" of most residents of the surrounding counties, basically if your not tearing crap up, littering or just being plain stupid......the rest is gravy

[bansil]

okay due to new fridge purchase,I had to re-do the kitchen area this ment,
cut, unscrew, cut more and rescrew...job done for now
I ended up with a full 9 feet of counter top which should work out good.
Here is gizmo checking it out


My mom gave use a brand new convection toaster oven (she didn't like it)it has a built in rotisserie and we can have tostito (s/p) pizzas for lunch now



also created a space for microwave,the whole unstrap and move to top of fridge or counter top was...well.. old

the blue tote under it holds pots/pans etc

Also installed another seating area, this was always an issue when we had guest over
we officially have a dining and living room now



Last nite I setup the sewing machine and whipped out a bunch of straps



as you can see....Gizmo had a hard day......doing what cats do best...........


well it's 22* and am going to turn heaters on, going to get to 45* today..woop...woop

[browncrown]

Re-do on the kitchen looks really nice,and looks like you have all the appliance you could need. Gizmo likes it to, or else he'd be up around looking at the new kitchen and telling you to change something

[TheHobbits]

Y'all got a Awesome build & lots a good ideas 4 us to borrow !

Need any bricklayers own your way can't handle this snow up er too much longer

[bansil]

thanks BC and The Hobbits....

Bricklayers.. ..it's been 25years or so since i Have mixed mud and built a corner....[shivers] good $$ but the body pays for it,I am also so tired of the dang frozen water everywhere

[bansil]

Mounted a first aid kit real quick

The whole front where this is bolted will be removed and modified to add AC this spring so a few extra screw holes never hurt anything





Got a little done,this is just a quick coverup to see how noise level is affected

After our trip in a week,this will get tore out so door can be fixed before fall (Lisa will have the noise meter out for the trip aiming it at different places)

added insulation ontop of asphalt














This is just a pc plywood bolted to floor (to add structure to bottom step) covered in carpet



I will throw something on the rest of the steps after the trip probably

[GreyEagle]

Good to see you're back at it.... It was a long, cold, wet winter......
Things are picking up now and looking good at usual.
Best of luck on you trip..
GE

[usmcbay]

Man I sure enjoyed that... I'm in need of some warmer weather motivation to get my "Rockin RV" Painted... I've been working on my Kitchen lately and this is the motivation I needed - some great ideas~

[bansil]

Thanks guys

[nat_ster]

The work you did on the front stairs looks amazing. It gave your bus a vary warm, cozy feel, from the second you open the door.

Nat

[bansil]

Evening...YA'LL

It's been a long couple days, getting ready for the "guys" weekend 4 wheeling and "Glamping"

Layed down contact paper on the bunk tops to keep the memory foam from sticking and chunking



and 8" 4 layer memory foam...will need to be trimed and such after the trip...it's a little tight



there is still 10 inches between them

I decided short notice that I wanted AC to sleep in..so.....
bent some sheet metal



layed out holes for rivets(right now 1/8 steel, will be replaced with 3/16 wide head to match others.

(guess I should of took a pic after adjusting the bend)
I carried the edge down to the stock one hoping to blend it in some (yeah right )


cut rough opening in

this is big enough for a 9000 btu easy

blocked in to give verticle face



framed in 1 x 1 and the AC mount visible




finished project (still have finish welding and blah,blah to do





side view


still need a top rain lip/gutter etc
and a mesh back...that will have to wait probably

so I finally stamped her forhead....this will do until we paint the front this summer



and for those that think it's still a school bus or prisoner bus from the rear................



gotta go back out and start to clean....the "bedroom" in the bus is an ice box with that 5000 btu unit(it's 86* and full sun) me likey

[roach711]

Nice work on the AC mount and the body graphics. I've got to get myself a welder!

Do you make your own vinyl stickers?

[Accordion]

Very cool AC install.
It is good that you still have the lower window in that door to see out of.

[bansil]

Thanks,
Roach yes I do,I am a beginner big time (don't have time to learn everything...thank god for internet forums )

[browncrown]

Man, its looking good...the beds look pretty comfy! Like the air-conditioner set-up as well, and really like the forehead lettering