Damn Hurricane... Need some advice

[NowhereFast]

So my bus handled the hurricane that came through my coast super well. I'm only about a mile from the beach and the winds were crazy. Huge winds, no problem. Sideways rain, no problem. Literally only a slight leak when the worst was coming through...
After the storm passes I come to see a giant branch has broken a passenger window. Luckily for some reason I had grabbed an extra sitting around from this other bus we ran into.
My QUestion is: Instead of keeping the bus windows, you guys think I should just cover with sheet metal? There's plenty of scrapper rvs to get Windows from here in FL. I absolutely hate the bus windows for everything besides the view and wouldn't miss them

Anybody know a rough a cost on the steel to cover all windows in theirs?

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by NowhereFast

So my bus handled the hurricane that came through my coast super well. I'm only about a mile from the beach and the winds were crazy. Huge winds, no problem. Sideways rain, no problem. Literally only a slight leak when the worst was coming through...
After the storm passes I come to see a giant branch has broken a passenger window. Luckily for some reason I had grabbed an extra sitting around from this other bus we ran into.
My QUestion is: Instead of keeping the bus windows, you guys think I should just cover with sheet metal? There's plenty of scrapper rvs to get Windows from here in FL. I absolutely hate the bus windows for everything besides the view and wouldn't miss them

Anybody know a rough a cost on the steel to cover all windows in theirs?

Shouldn't cost too much.
Get me a size and I can get it for you free.
I have some friends down in Sarasota so I could possibly even deliver it.

[NowhereFast]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Shouldn't cost too much.
Get me a size and I can get it for you free.
I have some friends down in Sarasota so I could possibly even deliver it.

Size on the amount of steel? Sorry I'm a bit confused! But, you're the man. I'll be in Orlando this weekend (twin brother goes to ucf)

[EastCoastCB]

If you need a panel or two cut, I can probably get you whatever you need for free, but I usually have to wait a few days.
I can get you a price on whole sheets if that's what you're looking for.

[NowhereFast]

I'm looking to cover about 8 windows on each side, I'd have to measure but I'm guessing it's around 25 feet or so?
To be honest I don't even know what's a good price on it

[EastCoastCB]

You have small prison windows, right?
You can go really cheap and easy and cover each one, or you can cover the whole of them with sheets cut to an appropriate width.
If you want option 1 I can get you covers cut out for free or next to nothing.
If you want whole sheets sheered to a specific width, I can get you a really good price monday or tues.

I have some decent used rv windows you can have, too, if you want them. Not sure on the sizes, they've been in storage for a while, but they're yours if you can put them to use.

[NowhereFast]

Man you're awesome! I think i'd go with the second option. The bottom of my windows have a metal cover across all of them thats riveted in, I'd remove that and sheet metal over the whole thing.
And I'd love the windows, lunch is on me!

[cadillackid]

id go find scrap RV windows and keep the view.. otherwise your bus is gonna be dark and dreary and feel like a prison.. but yes id say anything is better than school bus windows
-Christopher

[EastCoastCB]

Let me know what measurements you need and I can have them ordered and sheared to size for the wholesale cost of the steel.

[NowhereFast]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

id go find scrap RV windows and keep the view.. otherwise your bus is gonna be dark and dreary and feel like a prison.. but yes id say anything is better than school bus windows
-Christopher

My bus already looks like a prison !!!
There's a few campers being parted out in my area, plus eastcoast is a boss so finding windows won't be too hard!
Been studying up on the reskinning, my helper is my 5 foot 1 wife. So I'm thinking screwing in the sheet metal and then riveting?
Maybe I can make a jig with some jacks to hold it up too

[NowhereFast]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Let me know what measurements you need and I can have them ordered and sheared to size for the wholesale cost of the steel.

Deal man! I'm going to measure today, I assume it comes in 8 or 10 foot sheets? Thinking 18 gauge or 20g if I can get away with that?

[somewhereinusa]

Maybe I can make a jig with some jacks to hold it up too

I did my skinning by myself. I had the top rub rail off so I just screwed some 2x4s on to set the skin on while did the drilling and riviting.

[Stu & Filo. T]

I copied this from another member, made it easy to hold in place plus I was able to work I
The sheetmetal under the roof metal so I over lap a couple inches.

[NowhereFast]

Originally Posted by Stu & Filo. T

I copied this from another member, made it easy to hold in place plus I was able to work I
The sheetmetal under the roof metal so I over lap a couple inches.

I had screenshotted that before! Thanks man, love a raised crown.
My last question is I planned on removing a few original supports between windows for some large rv windows to go. I should weld some new supports near the rv windows after right?

[Scooternj]

Originally Posted by NowhereFast

I had screenshotted that before! Thanks man, love a raised crown.
My last question is I planned on removing a few original supports between windows for some large rv windows to go. I should weld some new supports near the rv windows after right?

I would say frame out the what you've cut away, to help keep the structural rigidity. However, no more than 2 ribs, and NOT the same sections of ribs.

[International]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

id go find scrap RV windows and keep the view.. otherwise your bus is gonna be dark and dreary and feel like a prison.. but yes id say anything is better than school bus windows
-Christopher

I was thinking the same thing. It can get really tight and dark without windows. I only owned one van in my lifetine without windows, got rid of it fast. We have dark shade curtains when we want it dark.

[Tango]

Use Clecos to hold the metal in place while drilling & riveting. They are avail in various sizes and work great.

https://www.amazon.com/Boulderfly-Pc...cleco+fastener

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by NowhereFast

Deal man! I'm going to measure today, I assume it comes in 8 or 10 foot sheets? Thinking 18 gauge or 20g if I can get away with that?

I'd go 18. less tin can effect and all.
normal sizes of the sheets would be 4x8, 5x10, 6x12
Those can be sheared into strips or whatever you need, and the price is by weight, so figure out what size sheets would be the best utilization of the material etc and we can get it ordered for you.
I also have a brand new harbor freight riveter if you wanna try that out.

[NowhereFast]

Hey man I'm looking at about 30 feet on each side
With a height of 25'' between the bottom window to top under the (rain lip??? Lol) I'm no too worried if it's sheared beforehand but it certainly would help.
Maybe 7 sheets of 4x10 to be safe, 18g
Let me know

[EastCoastCB]

5x10's could be sheared to the right width and you would have less waste, or am I missing something?
Would 6 5x10's sheared in half work?
I'll get you a price on plain steel and galv-anneal.