Smitty's Bus

[C00LR]

LMAO... Wouldnt that be a hoot to see?? Go to the drags to watch screamin fast fire breathing ground pounding drag cars and see a grudge race between two school busses!!???

http://www.spike.com/video/drag-racing-school/3157206

[cheezypsnookle]

some ammo box seating would and a touch of flare

[thesaltydog24]

Don't forget to accent the bus with some gun ports along the sides and back too. And a turret on top would be a nice touch also.

[C00LR]

Nice entertainment center! This would call for an awning made of camo netting!

[paul iossi]

I figgured you were holding out on us, what no pink toys in the entertainment center?

[Sojakai]

I'm not sure that smitty can lift that gun... what with his having no knees (picking on short peoples), thanks to BFTL, and no back...not sure how that happened. ^.^

[TygerCub]

Wow! Talk about adding "window treatments"?!?!

Looks like THIS is really what Smitty's planning to build in that shed...

[Diesel Dan]

Ah but Smitty, you're going to lose all that space you could have used for insulation. The way you go on about that stuff, I figured you would have put in enough to have like R500!

Just teasin' ya!

[Eric von Kleist]

I like it. Most of the time I'm standing, I'm in the 30% of the bus right along the center. Keeping all that headroom makes huge sense.

[Redbear]

I had the same idea for stepped rafters, but with more insulation in the middle and less of a "step" at the sides. The space above the cabinets would have a fore-and-aft cooling duct with outlet vents at appropriate places, sort of like BFL Johnny has is his ceiling. Intake vents would be at toe level, and efficient electronics/computer fans would gently lift air through a riser duct hidden somewhere in the walls. This would be kind of like having a concealed ceiling fan.

The business end of any air conditioning or swamp cooler could cool the air in the riser, so the floor-level air would be cooled as it was lifted to the overhead vents.

In cold weather, either the fans would be reversible, or there would be an alternate "faller" (as opposed to "riser" ) that would take in the warm air near the ceiling and discharge it at your feet. The core from an under-seat heater or other heater core could be in the "faller" so the fans would circulate warmed air when the engine is running.

The rest of the space further back above the cabinets could be used for wiring ducts for low-voltage, high-voltage, photovoltaic and antenna wiring.

[RazorCityDen]

I don't see why it wouldn't work, it wouldn't be any problem at all to "gang" build the trusses.

I would build the first one out of plywood or OSB as a pattern and then use it to make a cleated jig for assembling the rest of them. I've jig build lots of that sort of thing over the years and even if you cut each piece exactly the same on a radial arm or chop saw with a stop, things can go astray. What usually happens is they grow in size. When it came time to install, I would install the first one and the last one and then set the others to a string line so the ceiling would plane out nice.

...or

You could use 3/4" plywood for the trusses and put a 2"X2" cleat on the bottom for nailing/screwing. They would be easier to build, once you had a pattern you could use a router and a bearing supported, flush cutting bit to cut the others. This would also be lighter than building out of 2X lumber and not need any gang plates etc. This is how I would probably go about it.

With all that head room, I would consider lofting the bed in the rear and reaping all that storage underneath it.

Take care,
Den

[Sojakai]

Originally Posted by Smitty

Is there going to be enough insulation in those corners. Looks like a bit in the middle and sides, but you have those corners where the middle and sides meet that will have alot less.

[RazorCityDen]

On the trusses, I'll use 2X4's with plywood webbing on the corners, and build a simple jig on a sheet of plywood. Plywood wouldn't be bad for the entire truss, but expensive as hell, due to the amount of waste.

Are you sure? You could get six trusses out of a $20 sheet of plywood if they weren't any more than 16" deep, seems like it would pretty close wash to me

Take care,
Den

[baadpuppy]

I think this is a great idea Smitty.

I was also thinking of doing my ceiling as a straight across truss, leaving a huge attic, which just felt like wasted space but simplified a lot of other things. Doing it this was would be a good compromise.

I can't wait to see how it turns out.

jim

[thesaltydog24]

Originally Posted by baadpuppy

I think this is a great idea Smitty.

I was also thinking of doing my ceiling as a straight across truss, leaving a huge attic, which just felt like wasted space but simplified a lot of other things. Doing it this was would be a good compromise.

I can't wait to see how it turns out.

jim

It wouldn't be wasted space if you incorporated it into storage space if it was large enough. it would take a bit of creativity but I'm sure you could build several attic hatch's that drop down throughout the length of the bus. This would at least give you a place to store items (example: blankets and winter clothes during the summer months) not used often and open up other valuable storage spaces for more regularly needed items. You would just have to make sure that the material used to build the space would be strong enough to carry the weight. I wouldn't go putting any water tanks up there, because I wouldn't want a 300Lb + tank of water to come crashing down on someone because I hit a rough bump or bad craftsmanship. but as far as lighter stuff it would be a great place for off season or not used often items.

This is a good Idea, almost justifies raising the roof for me. lol

Chris

[RazorCityDen]

Gotcha!, you would get six if you had a 4 ft span! My coffee hadn't gotten to my brain yet LOL!

Take care,
Den

[Duckf00t]

Yep- that is the one thing I wish I had to do over. I left the 1/2 ply, and used 1/2" foam board, and luan over that. Floors get chilly depending on wind. What we noticed out here in Oklahoma is so long as there is no wind we're toasty. A good breeze and you need sleeves, and a good pair of slippers. So, how can I fix this problem? Well, what I am planning on is to install under storage- while I'm down there, will be putting more foam up in the floor trussing. As an experiment I grabbed a bunch of hay bales, set up an "under penning" of sorts- presto problem solved. I took great care to seal the drafts, but the wind from under the bus cools it no matter what. That air space just needs to be blocked.

I have another idea- retractable under penning. Basically a rod with a tarp, when you stop roll it down- the weight of the rod will hold it down. A quick wind block. I have found even another RV parked next to us helps- hopes this sparks an idea for ya.

[paul iossi]

Last week I was surfing truck conversions and stumbled into ICT indiana custom truck the monster semi sleeper company, their standard specs for insulation is 3'' in the floor and 2'' for the walls, they also hae some neat looking floorplans for someone running the highway and not spending a lot of time living in their unit.
I like the coffered ceiling look of the step trusses, question, how much insulation do you need behind/above the upper cabinets if you plan on keeping them full and the doors closed?

[Diesel Dan]

Hey Smitty, don't forget to take some pics!

[Sojakai]

Its funny watching someone tell the guy who normally bugs others for pictures, to remember to put up pictures. ^.^