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Old 12-03-2015, 06:12 PM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 21
Year: 2003
Chassis: Freightliner
Engine: CAT 3126
Rated Cap: 35
"623" - Freightliner 6 window

Hey all,

This will be our 2nd go at building a skoolie. Our first bus "Big Black" has served us well for about 5 years and over 20,000 miles of road trips, mostly going out west to snowboard. We decided it was time to go a little bigger and add a few more things as our previous bus was pretty basic.

Here is our Freightliner we just picked up. It's fleet number in its previous life was "623" so that will have to do until we can come up with a name for it. It is a 6 window, 34 passenger bus, CAT 3126 motor and auto tranny.

We won't be living in it full time, just using it for various road trips and camping. Here is what we have planned so far;

- Futon that folds down flat with some sort of bunk overtop
- Counter top (with some sort of burners, possibly a sink)
- A booth with table
- Bathroom (camping toliet)
- RV heater (Possibly AC too)

After we get all that stuff in we are going to determine what we want to do with the remaining space.

We started putting some cedar panels on the walls and working on the flooring. Planning on painting it this weekend.

Have been gathering a lot of helpful info on the forum, looking forward to sharing the build with everyone!






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Old 12-03-2015, 08:25 PM   #2
Bus Crazy
 
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Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Billings, MT
Posts: 1,269
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: HDX
Engine: Cat C7
Rated Cap: 84 passenger
Where's the insulation?
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Old 12-03-2015, 10:20 PM   #3
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 21
Year: 2003
Chassis: Freightliner
Engine: CAT 3126
Rated Cap: 35
Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptSquid View Post
Where's the insulation?
I'm sure we'll catch some flak for this, but no added insulation here. We typically grab a hotel when taking our boarding trips out west and it's used for summer camping the rest of the time.
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Old 12-05-2015, 02:33 PM   #4
Bus Nut
 
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Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Brazoria County, Texas
Posts: 819
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 32 Passenger
Floor length

What is the length from back door to cab ?
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Old 12-05-2015, 07:01 PM   #5
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 21
Year: 2003
Chassis: Freightliner
Engine: CAT 3126
Rated Cap: 35
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phatman View Post
What is the length from back door to cab ?
It's 16 feet 10 inches from the back door to the edge of the stairs/back of drivers seat.
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Old 12-09-2015, 09:54 PM   #6
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 21
Year: 2003
Chassis: Freightliner
Engine: CAT 3126
Rated Cap: 35
bathroom

Made a little progress over the past few days. We framed out a wall for the bathroom and painted around the bottom of the walls. Hopefully be working on our booth and table next week.

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Old 12-10-2015, 07:56 AM   #7
Skoolie
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jroy139 View Post
I'm sure we'll catch some flak for this, but no added insulation here. We typically grab a hotel when taking our boarding trips out west and it's used for summer camping the rest of the time.
Insulation also works in the summer, keeping the inside cool.

But I dig the wood!!!
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Old 12-10-2015, 03:31 PM   #8
Bus Crazy
 
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Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Billings, MT
Posts: 1,269
Year: 2003
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Chassis: HDX
Engine: Cat C7
Rated Cap: 84 passenger
Wood also acts as an insulator, although not as good as other forms. But it's beginning to come together.
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Old 12-13-2015, 07:00 PM   #9
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 21
Year: 2003
Chassis: Freightliner
Engine: CAT 3126
Rated Cap: 35
Last weekend we were able to get into a heated shop for a bit and throw a quick paint job on the bus. It definitely needs some body work and rust repair, but that will have to wait until spring.

We had our short bus out this weekend so that we could strip a few things from it before we sell it. We took out the front seat and swapped it into the freightliner and took off the roof rack. The rack is going to need a few modifications before we can get it swapped over to the new bus though.

Started building out the futon as well. Next up is a bunk over the futon, countertop and a table/booth.




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Old 12-13-2015, 09:06 PM   #10
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Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 8,462
Year: 1946
Coachwork: Chevrolet/Wayne
Chassis: 1- 1/2 ton
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Damn... must be nice to be ready to work on the interior. I am still busy building basic systems...like brakes...and steering...and driveline.

But...someday!
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Old 12-24-2015, 01:13 PM   #11
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 21
Year: 2003
Chassis: Freightliner
Engine: CAT 3126
Rated Cap: 35
Things are starting come together, we finished up the pull out futon and bunk combo. Also got the table/booth setup. After the holidays we will probably start working on the counter area. Happy Holidays everyone!


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Old 12-24-2015, 01:28 PM   #12
Bus Nut
 
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Location: Brazoria County, Texas
Posts: 819
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 32 Passenger
I see you used the old seats. Good move. I will be posting pictures of my international as soon as I figure out how to do it. I used old fence to cover the inside of my shop. Be careful, it can be covered in mold. 95% of mold is not a problem. Just pay attention to your breathing if you are in it for more than a couple of days at s time.
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Old 12-24-2015, 07:51 PM   #13
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
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Looking good! Keep us updated!
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Old 12-24-2015, 08:49 PM   #14
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: WNY
Posts: 53
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: International 3800
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jroy139 View Post

Curious what this seat is out of....
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Old 12-24-2015, 11:09 PM   #15
Skoolie
 
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We also used a futon (not exactly in this configuration) and we used two of the bus seats for a dining room table. Really like the work you have done so far. Looks great.
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Old 12-27-2015, 05:49 PM   #16
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 21
Year: 2003
Chassis: Freightliner
Engine: CAT 3126
Rated Cap: 35
Quote:
Originally Posted by mangus580 View Post
Curious what this seat is out of....
The seat is out of a Nissan NV van, we got it for free, integrated seat belts and it's a whole lot more comfortable than a bus seat!
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Old 12-27-2015, 05:58 PM   #17
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 21
Year: 2003
Chassis: Freightliner
Engine: CAT 3126
Rated Cap: 35
Thanks for the feedback guys. We built and hung the door for the bathroom this afternoon, really liking the way it turned out!

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Old 12-27-2015, 05:59 PM   #18
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Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Billings, MT
Posts: 1,269
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: HDX
Engine: Cat C7
Rated Cap: 84 passenger
Where's the crescent moon?

Seriously, I've seen corrugated metal roofing used like that before. I like the effect.
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Old 12-28-2015, 02:19 PM   #19
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 21
Year: 2003
Chassis: Freightliner
Engine: CAT 3126
Rated Cap: 35
Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptSquid View Post
Where's the crescent moon?

Seriously, I've seen corrugated metal roofing used like that before. I like the effect.
The thought never crossed my mind while building it, that would be funny tho!
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Old 12-28-2015, 03:56 PM   #20
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Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Billings, MT
Posts: 1,269
Year: 2003
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Engine: Cat C7
Rated Cap: 84 passenger
So spray paint the moon on the door! That or make one of wood and fasten it to the metal.
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