The Bear Den (Bug Out Bus)

[Papabear]

Smitty, Hang in there! Ya got a bus (1/3 the battle) and you have a raised roof.

RazorDen, Stuff down here in basically nil. We have a local salvage yard that has bee closed for about a year, but the county and people still keep dropping stuff all arounf it. There was a line of 8 RV's outside the gate, with a sign (I'm sure it said free to a good home or maybe it was no tresspassing) The things were pretty well gone thru. I have been getting all my parts from a salvage place in SLC. (Pick-n-pull), e-bay and home depot. Still looking for a door and frame to do a swapp.
Still cold and windy down south also. I get up your way now and again. Will look you up for sure, if I get your way.

[browncrown]

Papabear, the pics of you kitchen cabinets and work are great...looks like you are making some good progress and the craftmanship is really nice

[Papabear]

Again, the weather breaks and give a little motivation to work on the den. Got the hole cut in the side for the mid-door and most of the gaping hole filled in where the old door was. Decided to keep some of the original steps and use that area for storage. The original door location is about finished. only have a few screws holding the new door in. Still have to build the entryway. Whoever thought of using old bed frames for angle iron was really clever. The stuff is great and has saved me a bunch of money. Those things are lying around everywhere, if you just keep an eye open.
Only one lttle injury on this phase. Welding on my back-overhead. Hot slag in the ear..OUCH.. and while I was laying under the bus thinking that really smarted, I smelled something burning. It was my T-shirt. No harm-no foul. Happy Busing

[Papabear]

Pics of the semi filled in area where the old door sat.

[Papabear]

Starting to get the inside cleaned up All new area for a passenger seat. Had to leave the monster defroster/heater in for now. I'll pad the top of it for use as a passenger foot rest.P.S. Thanks to RazorcityDen for your great job leading me to this.

[JakeC]

Originally Posted by Papabear

Only one lttle injury on this phase. Welding on my back-overhead. Hot slag in the ear..OUCH.. and while I was laying under the bus thinking that really smarted, I smelled something burning. It was my T-shirt. No harm-no foul. Happy Busing

I had to laugh when I read this part!! Been there...slag in the ear, burning teeshirt, the works... I've lit my pants on fire a couple times, too. Both times I smelled it before I felt it, haha...

[Papabear]

Originally Posted by JakeC

I had to laugh when I read this part!! Been there...slag in the ear, burning teeshirt, the works... I've lit my pants on fire a couple times, too. Both times I smelled it before I felt it, haha...

Ya know you should change something in the way your working when you walk in the house and your wife say "Again?" I was welding under the bus the other day and thought "why are my nether regions so cold?" it was hailing on my lower half. Ya just get involved in something and don't look around to see what's happening next to you.

[Papabear]

Originally Posted by Smitty

Don't know how I missed the update late last month, but ....looks great! Good idea with the storage area under where the stairwell was too, be a good spot for spare parts & fluids

Put a cotton ball in your ear before welding.....then you'll have a wick

Smitty

Thanks for that tip Smitty. I won't clean my ears out, install cotten ball, weld a little and I'll have indoor lighting and a heat source. All off the grid. Skoolies are always thinking green

[timbuk]

very nice work papabear,very nice.how about when the wire is hot and you stick it in your leg,or am i the only one whos done that??? OUCH

[bus-ted]

- I've got a gruesome one... I burned a small hole with wire right through the seam in my glove and into my thumbnail, and while it looked painful, it didn't hurt near as much as I would have thought. The guys that I was working with turned a strange color when I showed them, though...haha

[Papabear]

Hey All, Thought I'd better put up some pics. Summer is a busy time and everyone wants a piece of ya. Not alot of time spent on "The den" But some progress has been made. I ended up adding 6 inches to the bottom of the body to get the door to fit inder the rain rail, but it's still 5 inches higher than stock. Still have a folding step to go in.

[Papabear]

And a couple more pics of the inside

[Seeria]

Looking great! What color you planning to paint the outside?

[Papabear]

Thanks Smitty As for color........The top will be Kool Seal white, the main body will be rustoleum Almond and accent with three shades of striping, Sand, tan and brown. Plan on rollering the sides and rattle can the stripes.

[zman18]

That looks so cool. I want a back porch. Great job.

[dogfinn]

Papa Bear,

Really like your bus, Love your ideas and your constructuion looks awesome.

In your galley picture I see an electric panel is that a store bought or did you build it yourself? That is the one area of my conrstruction that I am a liitle leary and noit sure how to proceed any help would

great accepted.

Thanks

Dogfinn(akitabus)

[dogfinn]

Papa Bear,

Thanks for the info, keep your eyes peeled cause I am sure that I will have more questions for you. Just about got the walls done then I decided to go back and rip up the plywood on the floor, thats after I glued and screwed 1/4" ply on top of the old 5/8" orginal floor. But at least now I know what the steel looks like. I can't believe that I have almost no rust, just a little around the back and front door areas. I am going to put down 1" foam and 1/2" plywood then I will back to the wiring side of things. Pics to follow. Thanks again for the reponse.


Dogfinn

[Redbear]

Papabear,
Great to see you back posting. I really like the back porch on the original frame, the co-pilot's (or is it navigator's) area, and the side entrance. I think your chassis set-up is my favorite design to date. Don't stay a stranger, it will be awesome to see how you finish the bus.
- Redbear

[Papabear]

OK, I can take a hint. I have worked on "the Den" this last summer. It's now 26 degrees outside so that slows everything down. Give me some time to catch up on other stuff.
Was hoping for paint this summer but maybe next spring. Got alot done though.Scored 4 leather seats from a Kia Sorenta. Driver is 8 way and heatedWill make an oak glovebox door and add a custom wheel

[Papabear]

A few more pics of the galley area