"Seeker" - 1989 Thomas Pusher - www.vonslatt.com

vonslatt · 09-22-2005, 11:27 AM

Though I'd start a new thread now that the bus has been named!

Got my tanks installed, both 92 gallons blackwater and potable water seen below. I've posted the blackwater tank installation here: http://www.vonslatt.com/bus-plumb.shtml and I'll post the rest in a day or two. I'm a little behind as the propane is also done but not posted.

Eric von Kleist · 09-22-2005, 12:27 PM

Not only is it an excellent installation, but your documentation is excellent, as well. Good job!

The spin-weld fittings are something that people need to be aware of if they buy polyethelene tanks. I was not aware of them, and the company I ordered from didn't mention that installing them took special equipment. I told the company just to send me the tank and I'd locate the fittings. I ended up not being able to install them, so I just cut holes in the tank (potable water tank) and ran pipes in from the top. It works okay, as the holes are fairly tight around the pipes, but I worry about sloshing causing leakage while in transit.

92 gallons is a good tank size, I think. I have a 40 gallon tank, and it lasts me about a 6 or 7 days.

busone · 09-22-2005, 05:46 PM

You can get a plastic welder at HarborFreight for $30. I have not personally used one though people that have like them.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/D ... mber=41592

soused moose · 09-23-2005, 08:03 AM

Beautiful Job VonSlatt...
I picked up our big 96 gallon fresh water tank from the same folks you did....
I was going to order the more 'typical' RV style Black water tanks from plastic-mart...but now that I see your install ( using a potable water tank for the Black water one)...
I think I'll do the same on our trailer.

captainkf · 09-23-2005, 01:32 PM

Great Job! I have read through your site a number of times since buying and working on my bus. Everytime I read it another aspect seems applicable.

Point of interest: When I toured the Blue Bird Factory I learned the buses that are used in New York state are generally the most expensive they produce (generally), there are exceptions I'm sure though. At over $100,000 each canadian. They have major saftey requirements. Just thought you might be interested.

-Richard

vonslatt · 09-23-2005, 03:17 PM

Gosh! Thanks!

More updates today:

Propane: http://www.vonslatt.com/bus-gas.shtml
Kitchen: http://www.vonslatt.com/bus-kitch.shtml
Bathroom: http://www.vonslatt.com/bus-bath.shtml

Almost caught up! I just have to post the finished kitchen cabinets, the potable water tank, and some lighting installation and I'll be up to date.

captainkf · 09-23-2005, 04:03 PM

I like the info on where you sourced your material. However some of the text is cut off on the right hand of the screen. Just thought i'd give you a heads up. -Richard

bdavis441 · 09-23-2005, 07:21 PM

Great documentation, bus is looking great.

Automatic tire chains!!!

I've never seen such a thing, it appears they lower in front of the wheel and spin so they throw themselves under the tire. Is this correct?

Griff · 09-23-2005, 08:36 PM

Man! I'm gonna have to pull my album outta the gallery until I can post some pics that can keep up with you Jones's!

Hey, but that's some SERIOUSLY nice work you've done there! Ditto on the nice documentation.

vonslatt · 09-23-2005, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdavis441

Great documentation, bus is looking great.

Automatic tire chains!!!

I've never seen such a thing, it appears they lower in front of the wheel and spin so they throw themselves under the tire. Is this correct?

Thanks! These guys have a movie of how a similar system works:

http://www.onspot.com/

Can't wait for the first snow! I want these things on my Towncar but they are only available for 1/2 ton pickup and larger vehicles.

soused moose · 09-24-2005, 07:34 AM

Great updates and really clear pictures !
What kind of camera are you using ??????

Thanks,
Michael

vonslatt · 09-24-2005, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soused moose

Great updates and really clear pictures !
What kind of camera are you using ??????

Thanks,
Michael

I've got an Olympus C-3020 3.2 megapixel camera. It's probably about 3 years old but is was well rated by CU when I bought it. I take the pictures in "Super High Quality" mode and then use "mogrify -resize 320x240 picture.jpg" to reduce it for the web.

Mogrify is part of the free ImageMagick suite of tools available here:

http://www.imagemagick.org

They work best under Linux but there is also a Windows version.

vonslatt · 10-03-2005, 11:23 AM

Recent progess on my '89 Thomas Saf-T-Liner:

Mattresses for the bunks:
http://www.vonslatt.com/bus-bunk.shtml

Potable water tank installed:
http://www.vonslatt.com/bus-plumb.shtml

Lighting for the Dinette area:
http://www.vonslatt.com/bus-dine.shtml

Jake.

PS: If you are at all into SciFi you MUST go see Serenity

vonslatt · 11-23-2005, 11:37 AM

Hi Everyone,

I made some minor updates today, new pics in:

Plumbing - http://www.vonslatt.com/bus-plumb.shtml
Body & Chassis - http://www.vonslatt.com/bus-body.shtml

and two new pages:

Tools you'll need - http://www.vonslatt.com/bus-tools.shtml
Electronics - http://www.vonslatt.com/bus-tron.shtml

And best Thanksgiving wishes to all !

busone · 11-24-2005, 12:59 AM

Your bus sure is lookin nice. I also had one of those Intel branded confrence cameras. I got mine from the trash where I used to work. Turned out they junked it because it did not work. How are you reversing the image from the camera?

vonslatt · 11-24-2005, 07:05 AM

Reversing? Right for left? Do regular backup cameras do that? Honestly, it didn't even occur to me, I expect I'll be doing the reversing in my head. I'll just have to watch out if I ever drive someone else's rig!

bdavis441 · 11-24-2005, 07:10 AM

how about mounting it behind you so you can see it in the big rearview mirror?

vonslatt · 11-24-2005, 07:26 AM

Clever! The TV could go there on a turntable! I like it!

Roasting8 · 11-24-2005, 11:30 AM

If you ever want a reverse image on a TV, you can do that by reversing the leads going to the picture tube coil (I used to do that, by accident, when I was repairing TVs in school).

I am planning on doing this on my conversion and I'll post pics as soon as I get it done (please don't hold your breath though).

If you feel like you're not qualified to do it yourself, just get a TV tech to do it. The job is simple and shouldn't cost much.

Just remember, you'll be permanently modifying the TV.

Robert

vonslatt · 11-24-2005, 02:19 PM

Ah yes, I should have thought of that, I used to be a TV repairman myself in the late 70's when people still repaired their TVs.

I wonder if a DPDT switch could work? Though at 15Khz lead length would be an issue and you'd be liable to blowup the horizontal output if you flipped the switch with the TV on.

You may also like: