Cargo Compartments Installed!!!

[dammitAndy]

I just finished the installation of my custom cargo compartments for my bus. It was a lot of work but I am very pleased. Check out my work and progress photos of this project and let me know what you think.

Visit http://www.dammitandy.com/bus/05-spring05.htm

Heres a quick pic

[1979GMC6000]

Looks awesome! Do you have contact info for the makers of those boxes? Do they sell to anyone or is it a local to you deal?
Thanks
~B~

[TravelingMan]

Looks sharp! How much would those boxes cost? Like the info on your site too.

[dammitAndy]

Originally Posted by 1979GMC6000

Looks awesome! Do you have contact info for the makers of those boxes? Do they sell to anyone or is it a local to you deal?
Thanks
~B~

Actually, I have the hookup. Family business is a metal fab shop. I designed them and put them through the shop like a real job. I worked there all through highschool and college so the guys knew me and knew what they where for so they didnt give me any greif.

The boxes are totally custom and made to spec for the doors you see on them and my bus. Dont think many small quantity customized jobs like that go through the shop cause of what it would cost, but ya never know. Check with a local fab shop around you. Or if you are on a budget, check some of the junk yards for old pickup cargo boxes. I hear those work pretty good to.

[dammitAndy]

Originally Posted by TravelingMan

Looks sharp! How much would those boxes cost? Like the info on your site too.

I called up my dad and asked what he would quote something like the boxes I had made, and he said about $100 per box, plus the cost of the doors, which was $120 for all 4. So I'm looking at a $520 total investment there.

Wow, I really got the hookup

Thanks for the props too

[dammitAndy]

Originally Posted by dammitAndy

So I'm looking at a $520 total investment there.

Oh ya, dont forget the $70 I spent on hardware at Fastenal to hold them things up too.

So, $590 investment!!!

[Eric von Kleist]

The boxes are really nice! You definitely have the hook up! I'm trying to figure out how to store 2 T105 batteries somewhere, and I really don't want to have to spend bucks for more containers.

Funny how that "oh ya" stuff adds up pretty fast.

"Oh ya, one more can of spray primer for the mirror struts."

"Oh ya, another box of 1 5/8" decking screws for the doghouse."

"Oh ya, another GFCI receptacle for that extra circuit I installed."

"Oh ya, another bag of grout for the tile work."

"Oh ya....dang! What happened to all my money?!?!"

[bdavis441]

Hi guys!
Being a fabricator myself, I think I can give some advice on how to build low (...lower) cost under bus storage without having access to a full fab shop. First, depart from the norm of a sheet metal box and first build frames out of angle iron. 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 x 1/8 is strong and relatively lightweight. You can do this at home with a chopsaw, sawzall, or bandsaw, and a 110v mig or stick welder (Harbor Freight has 110v stick welders that would do the job for less than $200). Or, everyone seems to know someone with an old 220v AC stick welder. Next, use flat panels to enclose your box, 18ga min for welding. Tack these on every couple of inches and grind tacks flat. You can purchase doors or make them from heavier gage flat metal with foam gaskets or use the skirting itself for the door, add continuous (piano) hinge and some latches. It will be much cheaper to have a fab shop cut you flat panels out of the scrap rack than have them build a box. Or, you can buy a sheet of metal and cut it at home with electric or air shears or a nibbler or even a jigsaw if you have alot of time. If you take your time, clean your welds up a little with a grinder (if they're less than attractive) anyone can do this with a little skill, and a lot of patience. Remember, A thick coat of paint hides a multitude of sins. Check out Big Blue's generator box on page 10 of the gallery, I built it by this method at home in the evenings, the only part I did at the shop was shear the panels. Oh yeah, you'll need to seal these on the inside if you want , as this method isn't watertight.

Just a little info I thought might help.

Brad

[dammitAndy]

Thanks Brad, thats some really good info. And I'm sure people dont have the resources I do with our shop, so that is some great advice for a cheaper solution.

I like your plan too, very do-able for the novice builder. And one can get as creative as they want doing it that way.

All I had to watch was to make sure the doors i bought fit. My advice to everyone is to experiment, remember, its just a damn bus, you can't hurt it.

[dammitAndy]

Now that I am all painted... Looking to find a way to hold these doors open while im loading and unloading them. Air cylinders would take too much work cause the inside walls are wider than the door opening and I would have to build some sort of mount. So I am looking at something to for the door to clip to when its up... I found these...

http://www.campingworld.com/browse/s...=8801&tab=spec

I think they should work well and their cheap. I'm ordering some next paycheck and I'll post on how their performance.

Any other ideas, let me know please.

[Steve]

I like locking devices similar to that because they basically work automatically you don't need two hands to lock or unlock them.

[Branden]

Hi Andy,

Damn nice paint job.

My bus has little loops attached directly to the side of the bus--you hardly know they're there. Once you open the basement doors, though, you notice that the inside of the door has a similar loop, and a short stout rubber cord with two S-hooks, one of which is on the door loop, the other of which connects to the loop on the outside of the bus.

I'm not a fan of little plastic pieces myself, and my doors weigh a good piece, so I like the straps and hooks.

Branden

[Roasting8]

Hi Andy,

I also have little loops on the outside, but instead of rubber cords with S hooks, mine came with small chains. I like the setup (simple and reliable) and wouldn't change it for anything else.

Robert

[J.B.]

Hi Robert , being a KISS fan (keep it simple stupid) I am not much into the plastic thing. Like Robert I have a "Crown" Bus. The method employed there is simple and very effective. On the inside of the door on one end is a small chain with an S hook attached. When the door is closed it just hangs down with a piece of rubber hose on the chain to prevent motion chafing. When the door is opened the S hook loops into a loop or eye attached to the body of the bus. My doors are 2' x 3' and no problems of any kind when door is being held open by the small chain and S hook. The eye attached to the body is only about 1/2" in diameter and painted body color is not even visible when door is closed. Crown used this method for many years and never changed so it worked for them.

J.B.

[Griff]

You can also get those "T"-style holders that are on cargo trailer doors. They're pretty much a one-handed operation too (if installed correctly), and they're very inexpensive.

[Vern1]

Greetings,
You can also use those "T" shaped door holders from any RV place.
The part that fits on the door has a slot and the hinged "T" part fits on the wall.
You open the door and drop the "T" in the slot and it holds it open.
They use them to hold the solid door open so you can use the screen door for ventilation.

[dammitAndy]

Ya, I saw those on a semi trailer the other day. They looked pretty cool. I still havn't decided...

[cogyfarm]

I would love to have some boxes like that. I know I need something like that for the battery compartment. I have a voltmaster D904 deepcycle (398AH)@25A@80F. For tanks the only thing I could find cheaply was fruit 55 gallon plastic drums. I have no idea how to do this. I do have a friend that has a "wire welder" but not a cutter, so I'm going to try to cut the frame from the unused seats as the framework for the battery and water boxes.

Having a few extra under coach storage area would be a blessing as we have 7 normally in the coach.

My bus is a 1975 Ford B600 Sheller-Globe (Superior) Gas Conventional 9½ Windows.

Where do you get those doors?