My Short bus build... - Page 11

Frochevy · 01-18-2020, 02:04 PM

Ha! After two apps- removing metadata and converting to png the pictures came out right.. lol thanks for all of the tips.

Frochevy · 01-20-2020, 11:20 PM

I was able to get all of my window sheets tacked in on Saturday. All but one anyhow... I made a sheet metal box for the driver rear window that will house my Excel hot water heater. I had to pick up another 4 x 8' sheet to make the box. It was supposed to be 18ga but I think it's 16 ga. My sheet metal brake didnt like it but I got it bent into submission and welded together this evening. (The sides are 18 ga)

I also took an old king sized bed frame and turned it into a bunk bed frame for a 75" x 38" matress. It originally had a vertical post in the center to the floor so I had to stiffen it up to support weight across the 75" span. I used the other side and made the side about 5" tall overall. (At first it was about 8" tall and I didn't like it. So I chopped it down to about 5" tall overall for the 4" mattress I have) It is pretty stiff now and still very light. I had to turn my welder all the way down to lowest setting! (14 v and around 145 wire speed)

I plan to add a few more pieces to it including a stiffener piece along the wall, hinge and locking pins, and maybe some wood trim to make it look nice as well as stiffen it up more.

musigenesis · 01-21-2020, 04:36 AM

Very nice-looking box and frame. What kind of sheet metal break do you have? I got a 30" one from Harbor Freight which is serviceable but really can't handle anything thicker than 22ga.

Frochevy · 01-21-2020, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musigenesis

Very nice-looking box and frame. What kind of sheet metal break do you have? I got a 30" one from Harbor Freight which is serviceable but really can't handle anything thicker than 22ga.

Thanks! I had to clamp the main part to my welding table and bend the corners over with a hammer. So they are a little rougher than the other bends.

I bought a used 36" (I think it's 36") harbor freight brake off of Craigslist. After some adjustments and tightening everything up it works decent. I've seen some modifications on you tube you can do to get better performance out of them, but I haven't modified it at all.. yet... For the most part it does what I need to do.

Frochevy · 03-22-2020, 09:52 PM

Few pictures from a couple weeks ago... Sheet metal in place of windows. Bunk bed hung, got the box at the rest of the bus to house GFCI outlet and HDMI for outside tv...

Frochevy · 03-22-2020, 10:02 PM

I had some help from my father in law this weekend so we got a few more things done. Got insulation put up inside before and after some furring strips. Then got some wall paneling put up. We were able to get the Windows put in place but I will need to get some more screws for them. We also got a good start on the bathroom. The toilet is not set yet. The black water tank fits my mounts and it is bolted in place underneath! I ordered some cabinets and they should be in first week of April. So excited to get some momentum going again on this thing! I still have one driver rear window that isn't fixed yet. I built a box to install in it but now sure I'm still going that route..

One bummer of the day- my freshwater tank was set on the back of the bus and it fell off and completely broke the I let tube out and cracked the plastic around it also .. not sure what to do there...

dan-fox · 03-22-2020, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frochevy

One bummer of the day- my freshwater tank was set on the back of the bus and it fell off and completely broke the I let tube out and cracked the plastic around it also .. not sure what to do there...

I assume that's plain ol' white polyethelyne? (HDPE - recycle icon #2 - feels slick like a milk jug) If so, you might be just the person to pick up one of those $75 Harbor Fright hot-air plastic welder setups and give us a first-person review......

Phatman · 03-23-2020, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frochevy

Ha! After two apps- removing metadata and converting to png the pictures came out right.. lol thanks for all of the tips.

How do you convert over to png ? Asking for a friend !!

musigenesis · 03-23-2020, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phatman

How do you convert over to png ? Asking for a friend !!

You on Windows or Mac?

musigenesis · 03-23-2020, 07:10 AM

Is your bunkbed setup like a Murphy bed? Looks very cool.

besterfe · 03-23-2020, 08:22 AM

like the door idea. this is a pic of what I have now. one of the panes is broke. an easy fix with pexaglass but, I want a door that will swing out and fold flat against the bus. thoughts? dimensions ?

Phatman · 03-23-2020, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musigenesis

You on Windows or Mac?

I’m on a Mac

musigenesis · 03-23-2020, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phatman

I’m on a Mac

I use Paint 2, which is just a simple image editor. I also have GIMP, which is an open source Photoshop knockoff, lot more complicated UI though. Both are free.

With Paint 2 you open the image, rotate it as necessary ([Image | Rotate Left] or [Image | Rotate Right]), [File | Save As] and change the file type to PNG.

farok · 03-23-2020, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musigenesis

I use Paint 2, which is just a simple image editor. I also have GIMP, which is an open source Photoshop knockoff, lot more complicated UI though. Both are free.

With Paint 2 you open the image, rotate it as necessary ([Image | Rotate Left] or [Image | Rotate Right]), [File | Save As] and change the file type to PNG.

You can also use Preview, which is built-in. Open the image, then use the File ... Duplicate option. Then, you can use File ... Save As... and save as a PNG file (as well as rotate if needed).

That said, I've used GIMP for many things - it's a great, powerful editor if you take some time to learn how to use it!

Chris

musigenesis · 03-23-2020, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farok

You can also use Preview, which is built-in. Open the image, then use the File ... Duplicate option. Then, you can use File ... Save As... and save as a PNG file (as well as rotate if needed).

That said, I've used GIMP for many things - it's a great, powerful editor if you take some time to learn how to use it!

Chris

Huh, I always thought Preview couldn't do that.

Frochevy · 03-23-2020, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phatman

How do you convert over to png ? Asking for a friend !!

I downloaded a PNG convertor from play store.. so I use a metadata remover first. Then run the pics through the photo convertor.

Frochevy · 03-23-2020, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musigenesis

Is your bunkbed setup like a Murphy bed? Looks very cool.

So there is a queen bed that folds down.

Then the bunk bed has two locations. At the high point (where it hangs vertically stowed out of the way) and the low point which it goes when it is being used. This allows me to have a queen bed and a twin bunk bed fold up flat against the wall and still have space for people on both beds.

It is basically a hook it hangs on then you pick up and push allowing it to go down as you swing the bed up into place. I still need to make the latch points to hold it in place for sleeping. I haven't got that far yet. Will post more pics when I have that figured out!!

Frochevy · 03-23-2020, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by besterfe

like the door idea. this is a pic of what I have now. one of the panes is broke. an easy fix with pexaglass but, I want a door that will swing out and fold flat against the bus. thoughts? dimensions ?

I installed a camper door on mine that I bought used. This gives you a screen door as well. I bought a used door setup (including frame and all) that was a width that would fit in between my original space. I had to Fab a piece for the top are of the door and I also changed my stairs and created a battery box down there to gain the right height for the camper down. I have pics of all of that earlier in this thread... Let me know if you want me to get door size for you.

Frochevy · 03-23-2020, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dan-fox

I assume that's plain ol' white polyethelyne? (HDPE - recycle icon #2 - feels slick like a milk jug) If so, you might be just the person to pick up one of those $75 Harbor Fright hot-air plastic welder setups and give us a first-person review......

The tank itself was about $75... So not sure if buy one to try it out!! Lol I'm contemplating going with a smaller fresh water tank to conserve space. That one was 21 gallon...

Frochevy · 03-23-2020, 12:00 PM

I have some more pics of the bunk bed I can add. I built a tube that goes from the roof to floor that will catch the bunk bed at the front of the bus. I still need to build one at the rear.

The last picture shows me holding it up in place where it will latch. Notice when stowed it hangs from the high points. Then I'm able to pick up and go around the hook to let it down. I used spring loaded latches so the bed frame can be easily removed. I'm still working out the best way to latch the bed in place for sleeping...

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