Show me your Loft?

[leadsled01]

I'm using a futon in my shuttle bus. They are steel framed with a bunk bed on top. I have slept with my 16 yo son on the bottom and an adult on the top bunk. Basically you can get 3 people to sleep on one futon bunk bed.

[gobygoby]

I am building two lofts in my bus. The one in the front is mostly done already and it sits on the roof of the bus above the drivers seat. It is about 37 inches high, 7.5ft wide and 6ft deep.
This loft will be used for storage mostly, but if we ever do a road trip or invite guests over, this is where they would sleep.

I am currently working on the rear loft. It is designed to be flush with the height of the bus (13'6") while driving and then pop up another 4 or 5 ft when parked. This be the bedroom and allow us to have 7 ft ceilings and a lot more space.

You can see photo's of the build on my blog:
TheBigBusTheory.wordpress.com

[Robin97396]

Still waiting for the birth video here!

[dgorila1]

Originally Posted by gobygoby

I am building two lofts in my bus. The one in the front is mostly done already and it sits on the roof of the bus above the drivers seat. It is about 37 inches high, 7.5ft wide and 6ft deep.
This loft will be used for storage mostly, but if we ever do a road trip or invite guests over, this is where they would sleep.

I am currently working on the rear loft. It is designed to be flush with the height of the bus (13'6") while driving and then pop up another 4 or 5 ft when parked. This be the bedroom and allow us to have 7 ft ceilings and a lot more space.

You can see photo's of the build on my blog:
TheBigBusTheory.wordpress.com

What's the final height going to be of your bus? You should have just welded a couple of VW Vans to the roof to make a true vintage hippie loft!

[Robin97396]

That's a great idea, but have you seen how expensive VW vans are now days?

[Stu & Filo. T]

Originally Posted by dgorila1

What's the final height going to be of your bus? You should have just welded a couple of VW Vans to the roof to make a true vintage hippie loft!

Many many years ago I saw a Skoolie that had two VW vans mounted to the top,
looked but way to high in my opinion.

[dgorila1]

Originally Posted by Robin97396

That's a great idea, but have you seen how expensive VW vans are now days?

Maybe update it for the modern day.....use the top sections of 2 mini-vans! You could have the rear hatch of each one open for ventilation when needed!

[leadsled01]

Neil Young concert 10 or 15 years ago, his tour bus which was totally awesome by the way, had 2 old car roofs mounted up top to conceal the A/C units.

[Robin97396]

It seems those additions tend to leak. I can remember hearing complaints about that back in the early sixties.

[Mark_In_MA]

I'd think the key today would be to find a good flexible caulking or sealant. It probably won't be cheap, but I'm sure 3M or somebody out there makes a fairly purpose-made sealant out there. (The joint is going to flex - it's a vehicle rattling and vibrating down the road.)

Worse comes to worse, welded drip edge inside- admit its going to leak, and prepare accordingly for any water when it does.

[Tango]

About the best material anywhere for such tasks is automotive "Seam Sealer". The OEM variety is the same as what is used at the factories and available through most auto paint & body supply houses. Not silicone, but polyurethane. Tough, flexible and painntable, it is often used to bond panels as well as seal joints. Awesome stuff.

[Robin97396]

Originally Posted by Mark_In_MA

Worse comes to worse, welded drip edge inside- admit its going to leak, and prepare accordingly for any water when it does.

Is that called indoor gutters? I'm not finding those on amazon.

[Mark_In_MA]

Originally Posted by Robin97396

Is that called indoor gutters? I'm not finding those on amazon.

I was thinking more along the lines of the outer seal is gonna leak, so make sure there's an inner seal to trap the water when it does.

Maybe there's a gasket on the part of the roof that raises, but make sure that if it leaks, it doesn't find some hole in the roof to collect in, or a way to get to the insulation/wiring. The best way I can think of would be a solid metal L-channel on the roof so that the water can't run down and in to the bus.

[Robin97396]

I'm in the "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" crowd. I'd absolutely love to have a skylight to see the stars but I don't want any additional holes in my ceiling for the sake of simplicity and staying dry. Not that it rains much in the NW.

[MudMaverick]

These have been successfully done in the past.

[Peach Camp]

I'm already taking branches off of trees with a regular height bus.

It looks wonderful if you're staying in one place though!