Low's Moto Hauler

[Low594]

Originally Posted by crazycal

Would have been nice if you found one with a wheel chair lift. Loading bikes would have been easier.

That was a consideration, but a few factors steered me away.
-lifts are bulky and use valued room
- lifts are side load so you have to turn the bikes once inside, which takes alot of space
-bigger bikes probably exceed the lift limit
- lifts are too short to handle a bike
-no rear standard door on lift buses at least for the available units in my area

Its really very easy to load bikes in this thing with the extra wide ramp I have. I wish the door was 6" taller and wider tho.

[crazycal]

Yes and no. Lifts are rated at 800 pounds. Unless you are talking about a really big bike, you shouldn't have a problem. They are bulky but not that bad. You do need an extension to fit the back tire. If the lift is in the front, you can use it to load and drive out the back. He are a couple pics of one of my buses.

[Low594]

Originally Posted by crazycal

Yes and no. Lifts are rated at 800 pounds. Unless you are talking about a really big bike, you shouldn't have a problem. They are bulky but not that bad. You do need an extension to fit the back tire. If the lift is in the front, you can use it to load and drive out the back. He are a couple pics of one of my buses.

I guess that could work better than I imagined!

[Low594]

Last night, we finished getting the wheel chocks and the tye-down points mounted. Time to go ride!




The main friend who has been helping is now thinking he needs to keep the ambulance that he was trying to sell and do a pit-truck/hauler conversion to it!

[Low594]

I'm really hoping to find some decent passenger seat that recline, maybe from a tour bus. That way its more comfy on long hauls and people can sleep in them.

Reading some of these threads on here has me real happy. Almost no rust, and all but 1 seat bolt came out clean. I even used the original bolts to remount them. The floor seems solid too. I used exterior window chaulking to seal the holes from below and black RTV from the top. In a week or so, I will spray all the new bolts and old holes with undercoat to keep the wet out.

[Low594]

Got to the wreckers on Saturday and was able to chop the stereo harness out to repair mine and found a few minor pieces as well. Then finish stripping the vinyl letters off before heading to the company holiday party, which I should have skipped.

Today, we loaded 2 of our bikes and went riding in the rain. Rain and clay make for messy riding!



It was a good trial run. Found we need something to improve traction in the cargo area, tires slipping all over. Planning for expanded sheet metal on the ramp so our feet dont slip thru the rungs and the tires have traction when on the vertical lengths. Also going to throw down household carpet before walking into the bus with muddy boots. Lots of cleanup!

Found the front over head panel leaks from somewhere as does the roof Emergency hatch.

[crazycal]

Originally Posted by Low594

Got to the wreckers on Saturday and was able to chop the stereo harness out to repair mine and found a few minor pieces as well. Then finish stripping the vinyl letters off before heading to the company holiday party, which I should have skipped.

Today, we loaded 2 of our bikes and went riding in the rain. Rain and clay make for messy riding!



It was a good trial run. Found we need something to improve traction in the cargo area, tires slipping all over. Planning for expanded sheet metal on the ramp so our feet dont slip thru the rungs and the tires have traction when on the vertical lengths. Also going to throw down household carpet before walking into the bus with muddy boots. Lots of cleanup!

Found the front over head panel leaks from somewhere as does the roof Emergency hatch.

Is that Tracy?

[Low594]

Originally Posted by crazycal

Is that Tracy?

Good eye, yes it is, Carnegie SVRA in the foothills just outside of Tracy.

[Low594]

I got a stereo installed during the week, it needs 3 more speakers tho, only has the door speaker. Just cant figure out why it doesnt turn on with the accessory key selection, but at least it turns off with the key and turns on when the ignition is on.

Also, took it around the block and fuelled up. 354 miles & 29.7 gallons, giving it 11.9 mpg, not too bad!

[crazycal]

Who installed the stereo? Where is the power coming from? Did you have an old radio?

[Low594]

Originally Posted by crazycal

Who installed the stereo? Where is the power coming from? Did you have an old radio?

I installed the radio, one laying around from the girlfriends old car. There was no stereo installed when I got it. It had some form of dispatch radio, but that was removed. They left around the mounting bracket and the hot wire, not safed off!

Normally a stereo install is super easy, but the school district hacks, err I mean mechanics, cut the stereo harness off, again without safing any wires! So, I went to the wrecking yard and cut out the harness I needed from a 2002 E250, which matched. Then crimped it in place, color for color. I used an install kit for the opposing side of the harness.

I suspect the issue is in a missing fuse, but trying to find the diagram of fuses has proven a nightmare! Next wrecker trip I will look for the fuse holder cover!

[crazycal]

If you used power from a 2 way, it is probably wired to ignition only. You should use a blank accessory spot on the fuse block.

[crazycal]

https://owner.ford.com/tools/account...002/Ford/E-450

Start page 162.

http://www.fordservicecontent.com/Fo.../02ecoog4e.pdf

[Low594]

Originally Posted by crazycal

If you used power from a 2 way, it is probably wired to ignition only. You should use a blank accessory spot on the fuse block.

I just safed off the hot wire from the 2way radio unit, it was wired full time on. I used the factory radio wiring harness for the new radio.

Originally Posted by crazycal

https://owner.ford.com/tools/account...002/Ford/E-450

Start page 162.

http://www.fordservicecontent.com/Fo.../02ecoog4e.pdf

Thanks for those links, just the info I have been looking for!

I'm thinking I will just document which fuses were in place, while noting the recommended fuse rating and the installed fuse rating. Then just fill all of the fuse bays with the proper size and see if the radio turns on from the accessory location of the keyswitch. I can always locate an accessory hot somewhere and run a new lead to make the radio come on at the right time. Overall, its pretty minor, I dont actually need the radio to work while sitting without the engine running.

[Low594]

I had alot of time over the holiday week to read other peoples builds, mostly on ADVRider and Expedition Portal.

Here's a fairly accurate sketch of the bus, left is front/right is rear.
So the pic shows (left to right):
-front passenger doors at the top left (drivers seat bottom left, not shown)
-half wall keeping kids out of the stairwell
-rear facing benches (left & right sides of bus)
-forward facing benches (l & r sides of bus)
-(3) wheel chocks
-rear wheel wells
-gas fill tube (bottom of pic)
-rear heater (bottom right of pic)
-rear door
Starting to think I may put in a divider wall between the "garage" and passengers, to seal out gas fumes and road noises during long trips. Also thinking I may ditch 2 of the 4 benches, front ones facing the rear of the bus & the half wall. Then put a van swivel bucket by the stair on the right side and just have seating for 6 adults. 9 adults is alot and there is a lack of space, might even add a 12volt powered Ice Chest or an RV 12v/120v Fridge behind the driver.

[Low594]

And a much rougher drawing of my exterior lighting plans, along with the general idea of the loading ramp folding up and 4-6 jerry cans on a Jeep style rear rack. May or may not get the PA Speakers, much further down the road if it happens!

[Low594]

[Low594]

Its been a while since i last updated....


Today, we yanked the rearward facing seats & half wall, and figured out the placement for the passenger bucket. Still need to mount notch the swivel so it will lock in different positions. And temped to put the pass seat in the drivers location and use the drivers as the pass... tomorrow we will see!

[treenail]

I followed you in here from EP!

[Low594]

Originally Posted by treenail

I followed you in here from EP!

Haha, Nice!