Calling All My Tall People

[maverick20]

Anyone over 6ft... did you do a roof raise? Do you regret not doing one?
I’m 6ft and my husband is 6’2”. Our bus has the slightly higher roof. We have about 2-4 inches above our heads but haven’t put in insulation or floors or anything yet. Just trying to get opinions about doing it... don’t want it to be 2 years later and we really regret that we didn’t try to do it. However I will say that we don’t have a hefty supply of tools nor endless money... so is it worth it??

Thanks in advance!

[tugboater]

Originally Posted by maverick20

Anyone over 6ft... did you do a roof raise? Do you regret not doing one?
I’m 6ft and my husband is 6’2”. Our bus has the slightly higher roof. We have about 2-4 inches above our heads but haven’t put in insulation or floors or anything yet. Just trying to get opinions about doing it... don’t want it to be 2 years later and we really regret that we didn’t try to do it. However I will say that we don’t have a hefty supply of tools nor endless money... so is it worth it??

Thanks in advance!

So I have a higher roofed Thomas. I'm 75.5" tall, & am not doing a roof raise. Just wanted to share my experience & thoughts so far.

My bus, from the steel floor to the bottom of the rib in the center is 78". A foot from the wall is a couple inches less. My subfloor is 1.5" XPS & 5/8" ply. From the top of the ply to the center of the rib I now have 76". After we put in finish flooring and a ceiling I'll be just able to touch the ceiling with the top of my head, bare footed. I am not at all worried about it. Nobody walks at full height, or at least I don't. I've also worked on boats with lower ceilings my whole career & have learned that after a couple bonks of the head or shoulder, you automatically adjust. I have zero worries about not doing a raise. That doesn't mean I wouldn't do a raise if I wanted to or don't think about it. I just know I"ll be fine with our decision not to, even if I kinda wish we did sometime down the road. After watching several progressions on here I don't think it would be beyond most average skill sets...which is what I consider mine to be. If you are on the fence...research it more! I kinda like the compact nature & simplicity of our bus the way it is. There will be plenty of space to stretch on the outside of the bus!

You ask , is it worth it? I'm sure that few regret doing one...most folks on here seem thrilled that they chose to do one. Except maybe not the one that just had the roof fall during the raise. I feel bad for that guy. I'm sure they'll figure it out.

[maverick20]

Originally Posted by tugboater

So I have a higher roofed Thomas. I'm 75.5" tall, & am not doing a roof raise. Just wanted to share my experience & thoughts so far.

My bus, from the steel floor to the bottom of the rib in the center is 78". A foot from the wall is a couple inches less. My subfloor is 1.5" XPS & 5/8" ply. From the top of the ply to the center of the rib I now have 76". After we put in finish flooring and a ceiling I'll be just able to touch the ceiling with the top of my head, bare footed. I am not at all worried about it. Nobody walks at full height, or at least I don't. I've also worked on boats with lower ceilings my whole career & have learned that after a couple bonks of the head or shoulder, you automatically adjust. I have zero worries about not doing a raise. That doesn't mean I wouldn't do a raise if I wanted to or don't think about it. I just know I"ll be fine with our decision not to, even if I kinda wish we did sometime down the road. After watching several progressions on here I don't think it would be beyond most average skill sets...which is what I consider mine to be. If you are on the fence...research it more! I kinda like the compact nature & simplicity of our bus the way it is. There will be plenty of space to stretch on the outside of the bus!

You ask , is it worth it? I'm sure that few regret doing one...most folks on here seem thrilled that they chose to do one. Except maybe not the one that just had the roof fall during the raise. I feel bad for that guy. I'm sure they'll figure it out.

Thank you! That is some great input! I also felt like if we wanted to stretch we could just go outside! I’ve just heard so many people wish that they had done the roof raise so that was on my mind. If we had gotten an average height bus, I think we definitely would have had to do it but those extra 3-4” really make a difference. Thanks for you input!

[PNW_Steve]

I am 5'8", my bus had about 76" headroom before I raised the roof 10".

Raising the roof adds a perception of space that is surprising. It makes the bus seem much larger inside.

It also makes space for some upper cabinets with nice usable space.


If I were building a weekend camper I probably would not bother but for something that I am going to be living in for months at a time I want to be as comfortable as possible.

That is the great thing about Skoolie's. Each of us gets to build it to suit what each individual wants.

[adic27]

Originally Posted by tugboater

So I have a higher roofed Thomas. I'm 75.5" tall, & am not doing a roof raise. Just wanted to share my experience & thoughts so far.

My bus, from the steel floor to the bottom of the rib in the center is 78". A foot from the wall is a couple inches less. My subfloor is 1.5" XPS & 5/8" ply. From the top of the ply to the center of the rib I now have 76". After we put in finish flooring and a ceiling I'll be just able to touch the ceiling with the top of my head, bare footed. I am not at all worried about it. Nobody walks at full height, or at least I don't. I've also worked on boats with lower ceilings my whole career & have learned that after a couple bonks of the head or shoulder, you automatically adjust. I have zero worries about not doing a raise. That doesn't mean I wouldn't do a raise if I wanted to or don't think about it. I just know I"ll be fine with our decision not to, even if I kinda wish we did sometime down the road. After watching several progressions on here I don't think it would be beyond most average skill sets...which is what I consider mine to be. If you are on the fence...research it more! I kinda like the compact nature & simplicity of our bus the way it is. There will be plenty of space to stretch on the outside of the bus!

You ask , is it worth it? I'm sure that few regret doing one...most folks on here seem thrilled that they chose to do one. Except maybe not the one that just had the roof fall during the raise. I feel bad for that guy. I'm sure they'll figure it out.

Who is the guy that had the roof fall?? Never heard of this

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by adic27

Who is the guy that had the roof fall?? Never heard of this

Current thread:

http://www.skoolie.net/forums/f13/he...ise-26874.html

[tugboater]

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

Raising the roof adds a perception of space that is surprising. It makes the bus seem much larger inside.

It also makes space for some upper cabinets with nice usable space.

Can’t argue with any of what you have to say Steve. The usable cabinet space is what I think we might miss more than the lack of headroom.

[CaptSquid]

I've got a Thomas Saf-T-Liner and I'm 74" tall.Got plenty of headroom.

[Native]

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

Raising the roof adds a perception of space that is surprising. It makes the bus seem much larger inside.

It does indeed. I went to visit ShayMcQuay's roof raise to see how it was done. I was amased how cavernous it made the space.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Native

It does indeed. I went to visit ShayMcQuay's roof raise to see how it was done. I was amased how cavernous it made the space.

This is what I copied

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR2Yn48x4vE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69ZhnIh7n84

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ic04QAq-pFA

I'd be a bit more careful skinning than other folks, though. I see LOTS of oil canning on almost every skin job. Usually its due to using steel that's too thin.

[Sleddgracer]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

This is what I copied

I'd be a bit more careful skinning than other folks, though. I see LOTS of oil canning on almost every skin job. Usually its due to using steel that's too thin.

I think this is the 3rd time I've watched these videos and each time I learn something more - a person doesn't always see and understand something the first time around, but as your background knowledge grows, you're able to see subtleties that you didn't pick up on at first - this time around, I paid more attention to how the bus frame sagged after the first cut behind the drivers seat and that could have a bearing on a modification I'd like to do

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Sleddgracer

I think this is the 3rd time I've watched these videos and each time I learn something more - a person doesn't always see and understand something the first time around, but as your background knowledge grows, you're able to see subtleties that you didn't pick up on at first - this time around, I paid more attention to how the bus frame sagged after the first cut behind the drivers seat and that could have a bearing on a modification I'd like to do

I braced for the front sagging. Didn't experience ANY.

[Sleddgracer]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

I braced for the front sagging. Didn't experience ANY.

yeah, l figured that's what would have to be done - have all wheels on something solid would likely be best - solid and level

[Ronnie]

I am 5'9" and have a 78" roof, this I am happy with.

I have been in standard height buses, including a shorty we just got, and have to say I keep ducking in a standard height bus. So if we build the shorty it will get a roof raise.

[Drew Bru]

I'm 6'1 and we've got a high headroom bus, I think it was 78" from metal floor to ceiling. We've got 1" insulation under 3/4" wood subfloor and wood laminate floor on top of that. Our ceiling is built up by an inch or so. I can walk pretty much the entire bus and not feel uncomfortable, there's around 3 inches of headroom in the center.

[Epomethius]

6'2" here. In the center I have a couple inches and have no problems at all. No roof raise, though I do have a short bus which means not much walking.

Edit: forgot to add I'm using the factory floor.