The Bucket List

[o1marc]

Cut the exhaust pipe in 2 spots to turn it 180° and take it out the side about 2' behind the rear w heel. Cut off a straight section about 6' long, freeing up that space for a 48"x 15"propane tank.

[o1marc]

Finally finished up the rub rails. I had to scrounge around and use every piece of straight section I had laying around to get the bottom piece the correct length. Had nothing but ends left over from the rub rails.

[o1marc]

So I'm in the drive talking with a customer when I happen to notice my stack of 6 bus wheels/tires is short a couple. WTF, did someone swipe a pair during the night, surely not. Nope, I glance down the back and there is one of them laying about 20 yards from the rest. I walk part way down the 120yd, 45-60° hill out back and sure enough, one of the wheels has rolled all the way down the 120yd hill and landed on the other side of the creek. Good Lord, how am I gonna get that 200lb combo up that hill. It's just as steep and long from the house on the other side of the ravine.

[o1marc]

I'm trying to set my solar panels up on hydraulic lift rods and secure in each corner with a Dzus wing head. Just undo the upper or lower 2 corners and the panel will tilt up at 22.5°. Trying to locate the winged Dzus fastener at a decent price. Got down to a buck a piece with $3.78 shipping. Surprisingly in the contact info he had his phone number. I didn't think eBay allowed phone numbers or emails in listings so you can't do what I did and go around eBay so they don't get their fees. Anyways I called the guy to see if he would do 30 of them for $25 shipped. He said he was really interested in getting rid of all of them, he had 61. He figured it out and said I could have all 61 for $35 shipped, DEAL, $.57ea.. I'm hoping this set up works as planned.

[o1marc]

Got the tops of the doors ready to weld up. Was thinking of having a friend tackle those long welds, but they are busy. So I'm going to attempt them myself.

[o1marc]

Ya, I think this set up will work. Pull a wing head Dzus from either the lower or upper corners of the panel and it automatically raises to 22.5°. Some more tweaking is needed, but I like the concept.

[o1marc]

Patched the few "big" holes today. Welded up the rear door extensions and have the first coat of body filler on them before I powder coat them.

[o1marc]

Pocket door framing for future reference.

[o1marc]

Love getting mail deliveries on Sunday.Got my charge controller and some overhead lights delivered today.

[o1marc]

Got the hitch cut in, situated and ready to weld. I'll weld a 1/4" x 6" square steel to the crossmember and the receiver.

[o1marc]

This ladder was a PITA. There's no way it would fit the way the directions tell you to do it. If cutting the 2 pieces to have a 12" spacing, the ladder is too long on the bottom. The only way to fix it was to cut the down legs of the roof "U"s to bring the ladder up to the "U"s. That joint was already machined with screw holes that had to be cut and redrilled. I want to make it removable and can use push button lock pins to secure the upper and lower corners, but all the 5" braces down the side all get screwed to the side, not easily removed.

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by o1marc

Deposit made, flight booked for 6/11, my deceased brothers birthday, it's an omen. I'm a Skoolie.

Guess I need to wander around out in the "public" threads more often.


Congrats.


Reading thru now and will likely make some smartassed comments here and there.

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by Whatthefak

About three weeks out is the cheapest on Southwest usually

Read somewhere that 56 days is the magic number.

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

I've gotten the lowest fares I can find using my trip advisor account and flying Frontier.

Skyscanner.com and usually Spirit. They suck. They suck hard. But they are cheap.

Originally Posted by Dog Rescuer

Where in Montana is the bus? I am about 7 hours from Twin Falls (in Helena, MT) - If you would like me to go look at the bus before you fly out.

What the hell are you doing in MT/ID? You're supposed to be in FL.

Originally Posted by o1marc

My friend from High School happened to be on the connector, going to visit the same friend that picked me up. So today I will officially become a bus owner.

Should have screwed the bus and bought a lottery ticket. ^That **** never happens.

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

I keep telling people that factory buses can do 80!

Not with the tranny I have.

Originally Posted by o1marc

I'll stop at Walmart and buy a couple of cheap blankets, pull the seat back covers off 3 off the removed seats and just catch a couple hours in the back. ...
I started getting eaten by the mosquitos coming in the open windows. I fought this for awhile until I literally had to cover up like a cocoon only to be sweating my self wet.

Walmart and/or Home Depot sell screen and duck tape too.

Originally Posted by o1marc

I've made 4 30hr round trips to Ct. in the last year.

Better you than me. I'm getting too old for that crap. My butt literally hurts from sitting that long.

Originally Posted by o1marc

Stereo (am/fm/cassette) is useless while driving, needs and amp and some good speaker. My brother gave me a new used Kenwood he took out his daughters car.

A stereo loud enough to be heard in a bus is also loud enough to cause bleeding of the ears.

Originally Posted by o1marc

The light post thing was a minor incident to me and hasn't swayed me other than to get more practice driving this huge beast. I no longer will recommend 40'er's anymore unless you just have to have the room and don't plan on driving it much.

Light post?

Still like mine but you've already driven yours 3 or 4 times as far.

Note to self: post 56.

[Seriousracer]

You do realise brewerbob you are responding to almost year old posts.

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by Seriousracer

You do realise brewerbob you are responding to almost year old posts.

I was rounding down to 6 months but yeah, I know. Marc is more than a bit of a smartass too so he should still enjoy the comments. And some of the comments still have merit regardless of time line and may help someone else out when they go to fetch their bus. Duct taping screen over open windows, Skyscanner, etc.

[Brewerbob]

P.S. I used to be in a thread named B.A.W. on a car forum. B.ored A.t W.ork. To give you some idea of how bored, we would hit 10,000 posts a month. We crashed the server on more than one occasion. But don't worry, I'm about done for now. I do want to see his build, ideas etc. but I'm just about done with build threads for today. Just done. Too much internetting.

[o1marc]

For referance

https://www.camperid.com/solera-awni...yABEgL0RvD_BwE

My bus cover arrived, but they sent the wrong one, sent back for replacement. Ordered the propane tank and bought the Onan.
Was trying to find a 50gallon water tank, but no luck, then, DUH, why not have 2 tanks for fresh and double my capacity. That got me looking and now I'm looking at 2-100 gallon tanks.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Concession-...af3d972bde8b91

[peakbus]

I could use a bus cover. My bus is 3' longer than my carport.
Makes it easier to look for leaks though.

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by peakbus

I could use a bus cover. My bus is 3' longer than my carport.
Makes it easier to look for leaks though.

My concern with a cover is how well it will hold up in heavy winds with a bunch of sharp cornered solar panels.

[peakbus]

Good point