The Hubbly Bubbly Bus!

[lornaschinske]

Originally Posted by Tango

...
And Lorna[/b] --- have you ever seen the book "Rolling Homes - Handmade Houses on Wheels" by Jane Lidz?

Had the book along with a pile of skoolie bus conversion books (converting on a shoestring etc) but they were in a box of books that got sold (didn't realize it) on one of our storage shed "thin downs". But I still have my "Story book houses" book. David's main goal is to get rid of all my books. Too much weight. He has agreed to keep the leather books. I need to scan some out of print books into PDF format though. Like a lot of them. they don't seem to exist in electronic form and I have no room for them. I do like Storybooks... and Vardos!

Have you thought about mounting a used HitchHaul to the rear of the bus to haul your LP tanks plus a few extra things? I would like to bolt one to the bumper with 2 receiver tubes used to cantilever it out for support. But we will use the bus to tow and I have to work that out. Ideas, ideas.

[Tango]

Hey Lorna --- right now my plan calls for extending the frame about 30-36", reinforcing and then mounting a proper bumper onto them. It will likely be stronger than what is there now, so it lessens my concerns a bout rear ending.

And funny you mention the Vardos. So many of the 60's & 70's conversions were built on that theme. Too bad you lost the book too. I just looked it up online and it now sell for over a hundred bucks!

[lornaschinske]

My Class C's permanent mount LP tank is under the back passenger side corner. It has a 2x4 steel tube bumper. Not as beefy as the bus bumper either.

[lornaschinske]

Originally Posted by MasterFeather

... The cats are gonna go apeshit, but they will deal...

For folks who are going to travel with pets!!!!! MICRO CHIP!!!!!

Micro chip your pets! It's only about $15 now and you can change the registration info online. We lost our cat in Nashville and thought we would have to delay leaving until the next day but the fat little thing decided she liked the pop-up better the the campground. Many years later, our dog died suddenly in GA (the cat was actually the dog's cat) and the cat kinda lost it. When we left her with my daughter in NC, she took off (we assume looking for her dog). Never found her. I think some got her and kept her. The local pound was a no-kill. My daughter kept going there for months looking for her.

Our cat was leash trained... dog harness (she was 16 lbs when she took off) and a long lightweight cord attached to her with an aluminum carabiner worked for letting her wander in the campgrounds on a early morning. Cats walk you not the other way around.

[Stuff]

she looking good! get that porch off or re-done and it will look awesome!

[Stuff]

awesome! keep her going!

[syke]

looking good!

[lornaschinske]

Originally Posted by MasterFeather

Aaaaaand aside from touchups, paint job level complete! Interior decorating level unlocked!

And the fun continues!

[Diesel Dan]

Wow, dude that is one groovy looking bus.

[lornaschinske]

Originally Posted by MasterFeather

... Stay tuned. Same bat bus, same bat thread!

Same black cat?

Looking good. Oh to be that far along. Time is slipping away.

[bus-bro]

Hopefully, things will only get better. Stay warm somehow.

[Diesel Dan]

Y'all need a propane heater for situations where you have no power. I got a "Big Buddy" portable heater made by Mr. Heater, which uses either the small disposable cylinders or you can get an adapter to hook it up to a big tank. I haven't had a chance to really test it out though. I also have electric space heaters for when I do have shore power.

[Accordion]

Those heaters are good. As with all propane heaters (the vent-less ones) make sure you have some air coming in. It is unlikely that your bus is air tight so you should be OK.

I have a Carhartt insulated coveralls that I wear all the time in the bus during the winter. I suggest you get sleeping bags. You can zip two of them together to make a two person sleeping bag.

Perhaps you can find wool blankets at a thrift store.

If you have a dog, invite it to sleep with you.

I sure hope you get your bus fixed so that you can escape the cold of Colorado.

Please keep us posted.

[lornaschinske]

A couple of days ago it was in the 80's in CO. Two day later, they got snow! We are getting the cold now but at least we have heat!!!

I would at least pick up a kerosine heater. We used them for years as space heaters in our homes.

[Accordion]

Oh Yeah. I forgot that I had used a kerosene heater in a Chevy van that I was living in. It put out a lot of heat. I made sure to leave both the front windows down a half inch.

The bad part of using that heater in my van was that I had to put it outside when I shut it off.

Kerosene is probably cheaper than propane. It is stinky though.

[bus-bro]

When you're freezing the stink of a kerosene heater smells pretty darn good.

[TygerCub]

I don't live in a bus, but can't afford much in the way of heating, and space heaters only do so much - even for a closed room .

Things I've done to keep warm that don't cost much of anything:

• Wear a beanie style cap of some kind to bed to conserve body heat.[/*:m:2r9kxj84]
• Layer your thicker blankets with thin sheets to trap more heated air. Polar fleece blankets are just about as good as wool and easier to find. They are light weight, which helps maintain air pockets when they are layered, and can usually be found in the thrift stores for uber-cheap. [/*:m:2r9kxj84]
• Invest in some of the foil-bubble insulation usually used in attics. If you LOOSLY tent it over your sleeping area, it will act as a reflector to maintain your radiant body heat. You may need to do some creative cutting+taping to get decent coverage, but this is much more quiet than those mylar emergency blankets. Word of caution, though: it is important that you TENT the material! Otherwise you'll wake up soaking wet because the stuff doesn't allow body vapor to escape and you'll end up with condensation.[/*:m:2r9kxj84]

Hope this helps

[lornaschinske]

What kind of garbage Kerosine do you guys run in your kero heater? And learn to adjust your wicks! I had Aladdin brand Radient heater (catalytic combustion chamber). 5 of them bought over a span of several years. About 2 or 3 minutes of a light smell when I turned them off. Keep your kerosine in a translucent container so that you can see any debris, water that may be in it.

http://www.endtimesreport.com/Kerosine%20heaters.htm info on kerosine heaters

http://www.milesstair.com Good source of info and wicks. I have bought wicks and mantles for my Aladdin Kerosine lamp from these folks. Good prices.

[RevBill]

Sure would like to hear from these kids to know they are okay ..

[lornaschinske]

It could be frozen. You have the dreaded "pile of doom" but it is the mega pile of doom! Other than replacing the tank, you might want to try a poo digester. Dilute some Ridex (not yeast) in warm water (like baby formula temps... test on wrist, should be only slightly warm) into your toilet. Add as much warm water as you dare. Let sit for a few days, keeping your waste tanks warm. If your tanks aren't enclosed, build a "box" to shield the tank from wind and stick either an electric heater or a 40 or 60 watt incandescent light bulb in the "box". Keep checking it so that you don't get too hot. Pull your tank valve after a few days to see if anything comes out. Add more warm water if possible or just let it set foe a few more days. Once it starts to flow, add more warm water. Once you get more of it out and are ready to travel down the road, pour a bag of ice in there and some cold tap water. Travel down the road and dump that night (ice will have melted by then). You may have to keep repeating to completely wash the sides to the tank down. Before you can do much of anything (like the GEO method) you will have to clean out your tank. The ice cubes will do that.

BTW, a small fan set on lowest speed will help move the air down off the ceiling. Point the fan up towards the ceiling. Use one of the tiny "desktop" or "personal" sized fans so that the air is moved with the least amount of cooling. Wal-Mart and other stores should have them in the clearance sections now.

About the poo... you might want to call a local septic tank outfit (look for a portalet rental). They may have an idea or can sell you a good poo digester. I do not think they can suck it out with a honey wagon.