"The Bondo Condo" - 15-passenger E350 Shorty

[Steve]

Have you tried putting the bike in with the lift yet? I'd like to see some pictures of it being loaded.

[sdwarf36]

Nice shortie! Towing a boat will be no problem. I towed my race car + trailer (about 2k lbs combo) and never felt it back there. (That was with a diesel-but still..)

[Jarlaxle]

You don't want to paint the bus black...it will be an oven in the summer even with the A/C!

Also, does that have 2 separate compressors on the engine?

[dentedvw]

I thought the paint looked pretty good from here as is. Is it rusty, bubbling, or what?
FWIW, I borrowed a sprayer, and it's hands down one hundred times better than rolling. I attempted the rolling method on one area as a trial a few weeks ago, and it was not so good. Then again, you have no huge ribbed areas on your bus.
You could rent a sprayer, or buy an inexpensive wagner type. Coverage, especially in the nooks and cracks and tight spaces is sooooo much better.
Cool bus. It's pretty clean, as far as I can tell. Good find.

[jkindt]

I think the brake rotor on your bike is bigger than the ones on your bus!!! Nice toys!!!

[Redbear]

I think that batteries rated in Cold Cranking Amps are starting batteries, designed to give a quick high-current shot to get the alternator turning. More plates, but thinner plates, less acid.

I think that batteries designed for deep cycle use are rated in Ampere Hours, and have fewer, thicker plates with more acid.

Since you do not have a big battery bank, a couple of tips:

If you have not yet bought a microwave, look for a 'cheap' one with a rotating dial for the cook time. Ones with keypads and digital displays use a little current all the time to keep the computer actively looking for key presses. Alternately, unplug a keypad microwave when not in use, or put a switch on the outlet to kill the power when you are not cooking.

The same goes for a TV that you can 'turn on' with a remote control. If it can accept instructions from the remote, part of it is already 'on.'

[sdwarf36]

My kinda guy! "where can I find something to make into something ? I need raw materials over here!"
I can't find the link right now-but found a place online that made doors for the body for just what your doing. Looked just like (and I'm sure are) whats used in motorhomes.

[jkindt]

If that is for your LPG tanks, don't forget to vent it properly. Propane is heavier than air and will settle in the bottom if there is a leak, even a slow one. Most sticks-n-staples units have expanded metal for the floor of the LPG tank storage bay.

[Jarlaxle]

So, is the plan to carry that little car as a spare in case of breakdown?

[sdwarf36]

Man! How many hours in a day you got out there? I can't beieve how quick you're moving.
Heres a spare tire idea I had on my cube van. Works easy.
There is a fair amount of space from the between the fuel tank and the back bumper-just enuff for the tire. I bought a cheap crank winch-like on the front of a boat trailer. I welded the winch sideways to a frame piece near the back on the right side (would want to be lying out in traffic getting your spare out ) I cut the hook off the end of the cable-and fed it thru a couple of pulleys I mounted-one of them right over where I wanted the tire to end up. I made up an "H" out of 1" sq. tubing-large enuff to hold the rim up but sized so you can fit it thru the hole (10"X 4" from memory?) in the center of the rim and tied the cable off on the middle of the H. Slide the spare under the van-dish side up. Set the corner of the tire on a 2x4 or something so you can feed the "H" thru-and crank it up to the frame. I put a rachet strap on it hold it up-also a small safety chain. So the winch is more for lifting the tire rather than holding it up.(but it's still snugged up) 30k miles and it hasn't budged.

[M1031]

I'm saving pics and taking notes..........

[crazycal]

Originally Posted by Smitty

Looks great! Buy that dude in the pic a couple cheeseburgers

Smitty

.........and a tanning bed.

[crazycal]

Way to go, Mr. Wheeler Dealer. Nice seats.

[putterspitt]

what did the seats come out of? any idea?

[roach711]

I am also planning to convert a shuttle bus. I'd like a medium length skoolie better but I live in a "pinky's out" neighborhood and they'd have an absolute heart attack if I parked a big, yellow school bus in the driveway. LOL

Would you have interior measurements handy? I'd be interested in knowing:

1) floor length behind driver's seat
2) floor width
3) headroom
4) distance from floor to window bottoms

Any light you could shed would be greatly appreciated.

[M1031]

Originally Posted by DarrenDriven

The bike lift is complete! Head to the other topic to read the details and watch a video of the bike being loaded.

viewtopic.php?f=44&t=5934

WOW!! Is that clean looking! Great job!

[Stuff]

great read! nice ideas on the bed and food station.

[Jarlaxle]

You're LIVING in the bus? Is this by choice...I hope?

[M1031]

Originally Posted by DarrenDriven

One more thing, my bus has a name!

The Gus.

It's short for Humungus, who is Mad Max's nemesis in The Road Warrior. It also rhymes with bus, haha.

I just may have to modify Big Mac's name to BIG MAX!!!!!

[Stuff]

pulling a trailer could slip stream you a bit to. might not be too hard on fuel or even make it better. jeep guys do this all the time with the batam trailers behind them on the highway.