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07-02-2015, 06:01 PM
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#801
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: West Lafayette, IN
Posts: 832
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Engine: 3126
Rated Cap: 72
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Yes, but I want the option to takedown and move things until I have it the way I want.
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07-02-2015, 06:37 PM
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#802
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: EHT New Jersey
Posts: 1,134
Year: 2003
Coachwork: AmTran
Chassis: International 3000RE
Engine: T444E/AT545
Rated Cap: 75
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Have you tried lock washers and thread lock?
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07-02-2015, 06:46 PM
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#803
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Dowdy Lakes, Colorado
Posts: 1,444
Year: 1989
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner ER
Engine: 3208 CAT/MT643 tranny
Rated Cap: 87
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I'm thinking about glued-in wood screws myself...
__________________
Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people’s liberty teeth and keystone under independence. — George Washington
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07-02-2015, 07:04 PM
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#804
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: West Lafayette, IN
Posts: 832
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Engine: 3126
Rated Cap: 72
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The steel is so thin you barely get one thread on the screws. I'm taking about how the 1/4 plywood is attached to the framing. Lock washers would look weird on your walls.
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07-02-2015, 09:26 PM
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#805
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Vacaville, Ca
Posts: 1,634
Year: 1988
Coachwork: Crown / Pusher
Engine: 8.3 Cummins
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wmkbailey
We have been doing some camping in the bus. I'm planning to start working on it again. I will post here when I do.
I did some of my walls using the steel framing, but have to rip it out because the screws keep working their way out from the vibration of driving the bus
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Did you put any kind of adhesive on them when you installed the screws??
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07-02-2015, 09:43 PM
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#806
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 8,462
Year: 1946
Coachwork: Chevrolet/Wayne
Chassis: 1- 1/2 ton
Engine: Cummins 4BT
Rated Cap: 15
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My thought too. Some modern construction adhesives can hold almost like a weld...and will take vibration better. They are using it here on my building even as I write to lock some 14 gauge steel framing down to the concrete. Course...the building doesn't move that much, but still...
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07-02-2015, 10:41 PM
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#807
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: West Lafayette, IN
Posts: 832
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Engine: 3126
Rated Cap: 72
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I want the option to take it down and move things until I have it the way I want. That would make it too permanent. The other thing is with 1/4 plywood the walls are flimsy. I'm going back to wood.
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07-03-2015, 09:19 AM
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#808
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wmkbailey
I want the option to take it down and move things until I have it the way I want. That would make it too permanent. The other thing is with 1/4 plywood the walls are flimsy. I'm going back to wood.
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I'm only 11 pages through this 80 page and counting thread. I had to skip to this post to see how it all turned out. It's encouraging to see that this is an ongoing story.
I am currently focused on about 15+ busses from Montgomery County Schools on GovDeals right now. All I need is a place to store and work on the bus then there is a high degree of certainty that I will pull the trigger on this.
Your project is awesome.
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07-03-2015, 09:31 AM
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#809
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: West Lafayette, IN
Posts: 832
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Engine: 3126
Rated Cap: 72
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Thanks, I ran out of money and just now getting back to working on it. We have been using it a lot. Several camping trips and a fun trip to NY City. We are hoping to head out through the Dakota's and back in August.
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07-03-2015, 01:36 PM
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#810
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wmkbailey
Thanks, I ran out of money and just now getting back to working on it. We have been using it a lot. Several camping trips and a fun trip to NY City. We are hoping to head out through the Dakota's and back in August.
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That sounds very awesome. In a few months, you may see me rolling about in a converted Skoolie.
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07-15-2015, 05:26 PM
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#811
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Bakersfield, California
Posts: 1,013
Year: 1976
Coachwork: Crown
Chassis: Supercoach
Engine: Detroit 6-71 Mid-Ship Mounted
Rated Cap: 79 at Birth
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wmkbailey
Thanks, I ran out of money and just now getting back to working on it. We have been using it a lot. Several camping trips and a fun trip to NY City. We are hoping to head out through the Dakota's and back in August.
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i can relate to the money thing over the years
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07-25-2015, 11:45 AM
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#812
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 43
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Im not going to say anything that hasn't already been said but great build and thank you for all the information and inspiration you have provided.
I have found a great bus although pricey it has everything I want (engine, transmission, basement storage, low enough miles, no rust, etc.). I am just hesitant knowing what a big project this will be. My wife and I discussed the fact that it doesn't need to be complete to enjoy and use it. Hopefully things work out.
Thanks again!
Eric
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07-25-2015, 11:47 AM
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#813
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: West Lafayette, IN
Posts: 832
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Engine: 3126
Rated Cap: 72
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Mine is far from complete, but we use it a lot. I need some free time to work on it again
Welcome to the madness.
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08-03-2015, 01:44 PM
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#814
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Fort Riley, Kansas
Posts: 42
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Wm: I just finished reading the thread start to finish. Your work is an inspiration! When I finally get my bus I'm printing this thread as a step-by-step guide (minus the roof raise... a bridge too far for me)!
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08-03-2015, 04:21 PM
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#815
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Bakersfield, California
Posts: 1,013
Year: 1976
Coachwork: Crown
Chassis: Supercoach
Engine: Detroit 6-71 Mid-Ship Mounted
Rated Cap: 79 at Birth
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Yes, this is a GREAT build!
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11-02-2015, 03:52 PM
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#816
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: West Lafayette, IN
Posts: 832
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Engine: 3126
Rated Cap: 72
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Long Hiatus
It is good to be back.
I know it has been a long time since I’ve updated about the bus. Some work has been done, but not much. I have been using it for some travel and camping, but now I’m living in it. Due to life changes this is now my new home.
I did install a frig and microwave, I know, that is a big microwave. I originally wanted an above stove microwave to put above my cooking area to vent the fumes outside. As I used the bus I realized that the Maxxair Max fan Deluxe vents the bus just fine and it is about a foot from the cooking area. So I decided it would be over kill.
They are mounted to the floor and wall and stay in place very well when traveling. I plan to build a cabinet here and mount them in it with a pantry on the side. The refrig is a 7.4 cu ft Danby. The microwave is a big honking Samsung. You can also see part of the 6′ couch I have strapped in. It is big enough to sleep on.
I have a 6′ folding table strapped down to use as my kitchen. I have Sterilite Storage bins underneath the table for my dry foods, kitchen utensils, plates, silverware, pots, pans and so forth. The blue container is my running water, it hold five gallons. The table will be replaced with two 36″ kitchen cabinets. The TV tray will be replaced with a computer desk. I plan to build a temporary one soon to use and figure out what works.
This is my bedroom, all I have in it is my queen size Sleep Number bed. Everything else is just lying on the floor. The bed is on a temporary pedestal. I used what left over wood I had to get a usable bed. It will be replaced with one about 6″ higher with storage underneath. The bed platform will be hinged to get to the stuff under it. On the engine shelf behind the bed I will build in storage and leave 4′ in the center for the window/escape hatch/Air conditioner. That will give me two 4′ x 2′ x 2′ storage areas beside the window and a 2′ x 4′ x 2′ storage area above the window. That equals 48 cu ft of storage, not too shabby.
This is the space above my battery bank viewed from my bed. I realized I could mount a dresser recessed into that space. I have room there for a 4′ dresser. I want to mount it in a way that it will be easy to remove to get to the batteries in the future.
This is where I was going to put a shower, it is a 7′ x 3′ x 2.5′ space. After talking to many RV’ers most do not use their showers, either to small, or do not hold enough water and tired of filling their water tank. Even where I’m parked I have access to a shower at my gym and it forces me to go and workout So I’m going to re-purpose it as storage and a closet. Right now it is a mess.
Actually living it the bus is helping me see what works and what doesn’t. So beware all this could change as I use the bus.
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11-02-2015, 07:23 PM
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#817
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Stony Plain Alberta Canada
Posts: 2,937
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: TC2000 FE
Engine: 190hp 5.9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 72
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Welcome back.
We have missed you. Thx for the up date.
Nat
__________________
"Don't argue with stupid people. They will just drag you down to their level, and beat you up with experience."
Patently waiting for the apocalypses to level the playing field in this physiological game of life commonly known as Civilization
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11-04-2015, 09:20 PM
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#818
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: West Lafayette, IN
Posts: 832
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Engine: 3126
Rated Cap: 72
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Webasto Hydronic Heater Maintenance.
Right after moving into the bus I realized I had forgotten that my system broke on my trip back from New York about a year ago. I haven’t had to use it since… Lucky for me the first night only got down to 42. I set my alarm to go off every two hrs and started the bus to heat. The next day it was going to get down to 34, time to research the problem.
The Webasto does start up and run, just does not fire. It is getting diesel, and I hear the igniter fire but no heat. The first possible issue is the fuel jet is clogged and dribbling not atomizing the fuel to ignite. You are suppose to clean the burn chamber and replace the fuel jet every year. I’ve had the bus two years now and have not does this maintenance.
Lucky for me I remembered I ordered one right after I bought the bus, now where did I put that thing. I was digging through my tool box for something else and guess what I found
Cleaning the burn chamber and replacing the fuel jet was relatively easy.
As you can see after two year it is relatively clean. I was lucky and the unit failed two years before I bought the bus and then replaced it with a whole new unit.
You have to loosen and swing out of the way the two Burner Head Hinge Bolts. The rear one is hard to get to. You will see in the next photo that there is an access hole in the back panel. You have to reach under the unit and stick the end of your wrench out the hole to get to the nut. You get about 2″ of movement, but patience prevails.
The brass thing is the fuel jet. The two prongs above are the igniter, when you are breaking the fuel jet loose don’t hit them or you will need to realign them. In the back is the burn chamber. As you can see it is very clean, no soot buildup.
The bottom one is the new one the middle is the old. I purchased mine at RV Hydronic Heater Parts
Now the heater fires up quicker and with less smoke than when I first bought the bus.
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11-04-2015, 09:21 PM
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#819
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: West Lafayette, IN
Posts: 832
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Engine: 3126
Rated Cap: 72
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Hey Nat,
It is good to be back and working on the bus. Even better to be living in it too.
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11-05-2015, 07:40 AM
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#820
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Skoolie
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 218
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: MVP ER
Engine: Cat 3126b 210 HP 605 ftlbs
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Thanks for the info on the Webasto, Something to add to the to do list.
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