2002 Chevy short preschool bus

[Tstege]

Originally Posted by zelseman

Skinning looks really good! Making me wish we had skinned ours. Oh well, we can deal with windows for now!

What I’m most pleased about is how sturdy and quite it will make it. I figure with 2” of spray foam inside there and just 4 RV windows it should be a much quieter road tripper.

[Tstege]

Got the first window in. Took a long Tim because I was timid about cutting into it. Also had to make a frame for the inside because of the trim ring so that set me back. Liking the look though. This is the only one on this side. The others are going on the passenger side.

[Tstege]

Cut the holes for the bigger ones and made one frame but didn’t have the right size screws for the trim ring. Also decided to leave out the 4th smaller window. I like the idea of having the back area where the bed will be more secure and this way my dogs won’t destroy the screen. More to come tomorrow

[Tango]

Lookin' goood!

[Tstege]

Thanks. Lots of work but excited for some summer trips

[Tstege]

Decided not to install the last one I have that was going to go on the passenger side in case someone wants one at a discount.

[Tstege]

Scored 2 leather captains chairs with swivel bases on both of them for $58 total at u pull here in Albuquerque. There were a ton of other swivels on some older Chevy vans there too. Also found a RV oven and cabinet in town with counter top and sink so picking that up tomorrow.

[o1marc]

Nice score. We have one here in Atl. (actually one north and one south) that I went to looking for a deal like yours, but I couldn't find a pair where the drivers seat wasn't worn out. I need to go back and look again. What did yours come out of?

[Tstege]

They came out of a 2000ish Chevy 3500 explorer van, which is like fancy conversion van. These were actually the seats behind the drivers seat and passenger seat. I think that’s why they are less worn out. Good luck searching

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by Tstege

They came out of a 2000ish Chevy 3500 explorer van, which is like fancy conversion van. These were actually the seats behind the drivers seat and passenger seat. I think that’s why they are less worn out. Good luck searching

Thanks, I figured they were rear seats as neither looked worn, drivers seat is always worn out by the time they make it to Pull-A-Part.

[ermracing]

The Yukon and variants have the seats with integrated seatbelts as do some of the F150s.

[Tstege]

So it’s been a crazy 2 months. Wife quit her better paying job to be a wildland firefighter like me so we can travel all winter. So that led to us selling the house and finding a guest house that’s 1300 sq feet smaller with no garage.

We are super excited though because now we can save a ton of money all summer, fix up the bus, and travel to baja with it this winter.

Here are some updates we pulled all the wiring harness except the running lights and she’s ready for spray foam. Also removed all hoses from rear heater, rear ac, and dash ac since fans were pulled from underneath.

Makes for a much simpler looking engine bay and wiring harness. Here are some pictures.

[dazdconfsd]

Thanks for the all the pictures of the inner skins pulled. Do you mind explaining why you pulled the dash a/c? Also it seems like the front condenser is still there?

[Tstege]

It’s a 2 part answer. Simple answer is the huge fans that were under the bus were part of the unit. I pulled them with the rear ac. So once I did that I either had to get the dash ac system reconfigured since the underbody fans and condenser were pulled it just pull the rest. I decided on pulling it all to simplify the system, and create more under good space.

Also the bus will only be used by us in the winter months in North America since we are wildland fire fighters in the summer.

It’s being spray foamed with a roof fan installed so I think we should stay comfortable and we are adding a window ac with the solar set up so we can leave the dogs inside when we are surfing down south.

Hope that explains it.

[dazdconfsd]

Originally Posted by Tstege

It’s a 2 part answer. Simple answer is the huge fans that were under the bus were part of the unit. I pulled them with the rear ac. So once I did that I either had to get the dash ac system reconfigured since the underbody fans and condenser were pulled it just pull the rest. I decided on pulling it all to simplify the system, and create more under good space.

Also the bus will only be used by us in the winter months in North America since we are wildland fire fighters in the summer.

It’s being spray foamed with a roof fan installed so I think we should stay comfortable and we are adding a window ac with the solar set up so we can leave the dogs inside when we are surfing down south.

Hope that explains it.

It does explain it. I didn't realize the systems were tied together, but I also figured your work would impact what you were comfortable with climate wise. Of course between the 2 Collins I've had with separate systems only 1 has (sorta) worked when I got them but it does a pretty effect job of freezing you out now

[Tstege]

So I’ve been busy the last week since I got laid off for the season. Was able to get a welder to help me fabricate a door with some windows I had. We used 18 gauge sheets with steel 1” square tube. I insulated between them. We salvaged the original hinge from the bus.

Also was able to install a 25” boat hatch Vetus Magnus which allows us to climb on the roof. I also like the light it brings in. It also works since it’s right where the stove will go so it allows fresh air and more head room.

Directly in front of the hatch I installed the max air fan and was able to leave 41” of space on the roof for the 39” solar panel I picked up. Leaving the rear roof area for deck space and gear.

[Tstege]

I also purchased all of the solar and batteries here locally. There is an awesome place here that had 150 AMP hour AGM batteries with a 2 year warranty for $110 each so I grabbed 2.

Also got a 310 watt panel, the rails that are 14” long each called unirack and all the mounting hardware so I can install them and make a roof deck.

[Tstege]

I removed the hatch that I added the bubble dome on. It was cool but the old hatch had pretty bad signs of wear and was brittle. Decided to splurge on the nice boat hatch for looks and ease of operation.

[Doktari]

Nice progress!! Those are great batteries from my experience with them. I took a chance and bought 12 of them used from a estate sale for $10 each and that was 3 years ago. I sold 6 to a guy who ships them to Haiti and the other six are still going strong with solar keeping them topped up. Commercial grade batteries.
Coincidentally I cut in a boat hatch also. Happy with it so far. I need to figure out a inside latch for it.

[Doktari]

So how do you like your new door?
Is it worth the expense and time it took over the original door?
Thanks