Toy Hauler Conversion

trx · 05-24-2005, 12:15 PM

Maybe it's about time I started a topic on my bus.... On July 11 2003 I purchased an '88 GMC Blue Bird 77 passenger bus with a 8.2L turbo Detroit Diesel and an Allison 545 transmission. It has been converted (almost complete) into 1/2 camper and 1/2 toy hauler. I can haul my '73 IH Scout II or 4-wheelers/Dirt Bikes. I did this so I wouldn't have to purchase full size truck, pickup camper (too small) and a car trailer. Most current picture:

The roof was complete cut off and a new one was built. This gave me the extra height for my Scout and my head (I'm 6' 2"). In interior ceiling is almost 7'. The cargo area is about 12' long and the front camper area is about 14'. One other thing I recently added that I haven't see in other conversions is a passenger seat. You can see it here. Be sure to look look at the next few photos.

To see the complete photo gallery (LOTS of pictures) go here: http://trx.punknet.org/gallery/skoolie

The conversion is can almost be considered complete. Main things left to do:
-Finish interior (New kitchen cabinets, drivers area, carpeting)
-Finish exterior paint (including wheels). I'd like to roughly copy this paint scheme:

-Build storage compartments
-Add a shower in the back (one that can be broken down when hauling toys)
-Change rear gears for better highway speeds/rpm's
-Insulate and cover rear cargo ceiling/walls
-I'm sure I'll think of more

Chad

captainkf · 05-24-2005, 12:22 PM

Trx, the bus looks great! I have been following your site for a while and it's great to see her come together. How is the grey water tank working? It's an interesting design and I love the thriftyness.

Keep up the good work and it looks like you've got a fun toy. -Richard

trx · 05-25-2005, 07:30 AM

The grey water tank will get it's true test this weekend (as well as the rest of the water system) when we go to an off-road rally in Wisconsin. I'm scrambling right now to finish up as much as I can before we leave.

Chad

Eric von Kleist · 05-25-2005, 07:49 PM

I think the last time I looked at your site, you had just taken the top off the bus. Boy have you come a long way since then. It really looks great! I especially like the front seat arangement, and may copy that some day.

Boy, talk about not seeing the forest for the trees...for the second time today, I've seen something that I really wish I had seen before I committed to another course of action. Your grey water tank is a great idea. I bought a whole bunch of PVC plumbing stuff for a 10 foot long section of 8" pipe, but I could have had twice the storage capacity for 1/5 the cost! ARRGGHH!

Do let us know how that tank works out on your trip. I may switch my tank (or add an additional tank, since I really need to be able to use water in the bus immediately, since I'm living in it almost 100% now.)

Excellent job!

J.B. · 05-26-2005, 09:40 AM

hi there

, nice job. I am a street rodder at heart so I am very happy that you cut something apart and put it back together

. On my 78 CROWN 'FARTHER' I cut out the side and put a mid entry door in place :P . I am much interested in your graywater tank situation as that is next on my list. Let me know the particulars please.

Keep up the good work, J.B.

Roasting8 · 05-26-2005, 02:20 PM

Hi Chad,

The grey water tank is a great idea.

If the tank (rubbermaid container) springs a leak, you might try to use plywood for bottom and side support. At least using plywood would keep the container from expanding or deforming, thus creating a leaks.

I hope you don't mind but, I'm going to use your idea and just encase it in plywood.

By the way, that idea reminds me of a little kid's pool that I bought for my son. It had a hard plastic wall and a plastic sheet to hold the water.

Thanks for the idea Chad, you're a genius.

Robert

trx · 05-31-2005, 08:11 AM

Well my grey water tank survived it's first weekend but wasn't truly tested. Probably only had a few gallons in it and I emptied it before we left (we were camping in a field for a 4x4 event). There is plywood underneath it plus two 1x3's to fill a gap down the middle of the bottom (it sort of has 'feet' at the corners). This way most of the bottom is supported. I ran 2x4's around it a little over 1/2 way up and seemed to stiffen the sides enough.

Chad

Roasting8 · 05-31-2005, 12:23 PM

Chad,

That sounds excellent. I suspect your gray water tank will hold up well.

Like I said before, I'm going to definently try your gray water tank idea.

I hope you don't mind.

Robert

Steve · 05-31-2005, 12:31 PM

Just looked through your design for the grey water tank, looks excellent, I will probably build one (or two) similar. What kind/size of valve and fitting is on the drain. What kind of hose connects up to it?

trx · 05-31-2005, 12:49 PM

I figured people would ether think my grey water tank was inventive or I was just plain crazy. Glad it's for former so far

Of course you need to be a little crazy to do a bus conversion in the first place.

It a 1 1/4" PVC ball valve on the drain. I don't have any hose to connect up to it yet. It's a standard female pipe thread so shouldn't be to hard to figure something out.

Chad

Griff · 05-31-2005, 03:09 PM

I'm gonna get mine made before you patent it!

It's a GREAT idea!

Firearm · 05-31-2005, 04:47 PM

Excellent job so far and I am glad to see some progress. It was a very long winter up here and I am anxious to get working on mine now too. If you're ever up farther North in Minnesota or Wisconsin let me know. It would be nice to meet up.

Roasting8 · 06-11-2005, 03:58 AM

Hey Chad,

How did your gray water tank work out? I haven't gotten that far on the conversion and I would like to use your idea on my bus.

Thanks,

Robert

Eric von Kleist · 06-11-2005, 05:53 PM

Check out Tractor Supply Company's agricultural hose fittings. They have some cool things for hoses in 1 1/2" and 2" sizes

The 2" ones are what I used with the flat discharge hose.

You have to tend the hose, cause it will kink some if it's not laid straight, but ia 25' hose folds up to a package about 8" x 15" x 2", and that's a whole lot easier to store than regular sewer hose.

trx · 06-13-2005, 08:16 AM

I'll have to check out those fittings, looks like they would work good.

I used the bus over Memorial weekend and didn't have any issues with the grey water tank. It didn't get much use and I emptied it before we left (we were camped in a field so no reason not to).

Not too much has been happening on the bus lately. I did install a backup camera. It's actually security camera/alarm with a 2-way intercom. The intercom should work good if I have someone guiding me when I'm backing up. It doesn't 'mirror' the picture so I'll need to have my monitor behind me. I can take pictures of it if anyone is interested.

I also did some more painting on the bus yesterday. I'm trying to finish painting the top half of the bus white and once that is done I can work on painting the graphics on the side. It's rained every weekend here for the last two months so it's kind of slowed me down.

Roasting8 · 06-13-2005, 05:28 PM

Hi Chad,

I'm glad that the gray water tank worked out for you, it gives us all a reasonably priced alternative to the high priced RV tanks on the market.

Chad, if you want to dedicate a small and cheap TV for a backup monitor, you can reverse the wires on the picture tube coil and get a reverse image (used to reverse the image when learning to work on TVs

). You should be able to get the instruction from any electronics shop or Community college dealing in electronics.

Robert

Roasting8 · 06-13-2005, 05:29 PM

Oops, forgot; this will only work on TVs with a picture tube.

Robert

trx · 06-20-2005, 02:30 PM

I just finished painting phase one of the new graphics for my bus. Wasn't too bad, little over a day's work.

My inspiration (Fleetwood American Dream):

My simple computer mock-up (wife approved):

Completion of phase one:

Here's where you can see more pictures and info on the painting: http://trx.punknet.org/gallery/Skoolie2005?page=4 I'll try to take some better (daylight) pictures before I leave with the bus this weekend.

Phase two will be adding the dark grey drop shadow which should be a little easier. I might even decide to do something with the front end so it's not all white. In the mean time I'll be painting the wheels and window frames.

So, how does it look?

Chad

Firearm · 06-20-2005, 05:59 PM

Excellent job! I can't wait to see it done!!

Ryan Grimm · 06-22-2005, 08:27 AM

I'm wondering why everyone doesn't go to a local plumber a get a 40-50 gallon water heater(s), used, for free.

Plumbers regularly pull water heaters for folks and replace them. Some have many years of life left in them, particularly if you replace the sacrificial anode (cheap $).

The electric heaters would be the best, no center tunnel to close up.
Lay it on it's side in a steel cradle, use the existing pipe/drain connections to fill/drain/vent.

Or is this old news?

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