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11-19-2017, 12:48 PM
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#1
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 24
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The Swamp Thang
Well, we've lurked on this site and posed a few questions, so it's time to reveal the fruits of our labor. This is a 1992 Chevy G30 short bus, 6.3 liter diesel with only 135,000 miles. Mechanically, we had a few transmission issues, now addressed, and put in new starter and alternator, and front steering components. It could still stand to have the front suspension air assist bladders replaced, but it doesn't do too badly. It has 320 watts of solar panels on the roof and a LiFePo battery for storage, all led lighting, Fantastic Vent, a dual-voltage Engle fridge, Ramblewood cooktop, a full-size Ikea sink, on-board tank and 12volt pump. The only thing requiring shore power is the 5,000 Btu a/c unit. We opted not to sacrifice space for a bathroom. The couch is also a short queen-size bed with rear access storage underneath, and oodles of storage above and below. Paint is hand-done by Artie Barksdale, a muralist in Durham, NC, who loves to camouflage anything that doesn't move.
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11-19-2017, 01:18 PM
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#2
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Owasso, OK
Posts: 2,627
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner MVP ER
Engine: Cummins 6CTA8.3 Mechanical MD3060
Rated Cap: 46 Coach Seats, 40 foot
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One of the best I've seen .... except I can't see the bus in the first two pics
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11-19-2017, 01:50 PM
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#3
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Swansboro,NC
Posts: 2,987
Year: 86
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Ford B700
Engine: 8.2
Rated Cap: 60 bodies
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Cool, are you from Durham or is that just where the paint job was done?
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11-19-2017, 01:58 PM
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#4
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: pa
Posts: 2,502
Year: 98
Coachwork: 1. Corbeil & 2. Thomas
Chassis: 1 ford 1998 e350 4x4 7.3 2 mercedes 2004
Engine: 7.3 powerstroke & MBE906
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nice job,
I like the offset skylight. Did you put the solar panel on top of the original escape hatch? That cover would help with ventilation during rain.
What capacity and voltage is your battery bank. Do you have a BMS ?
Can your solar panel support the engel 24/7
Later J
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11-19-2017, 02:28 PM
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#5
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: SW New Hampshire
Posts: 1,334
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Nice looking bus!
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11-19-2017, 03:32 PM
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#6
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Traveling
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Midwest
Posts: 2,573
Year: 2003
Coachwork: BlueBird
Chassis: TC2000
Engine: 5.9L Cummins
Rated Cap: '00
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Newbies
Paint is hand-done by Artie Barksdale, a muralist in Durham, NC, who loves to camouflage anything that doesn't move.
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...and a few that DO move.
Wonderful mobile hunting lodge ! Very nicely done. Hope you get the mechanicals ironed-out and enjoy using it.
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11-19-2017, 03:53 PM
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#7
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Spring Valley AZ
Posts: 1,343
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Bluebird
Engine: 5.9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 2 elderly children, 1 cat
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Well done!
__________________
Don, Mary and Spooky the cat.
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11-19-2017, 05:48 PM
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#8
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 24
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Twigg, it can be a problem when we camp in places like the Okefenokee!
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11-19-2017, 05:50 PM
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#9
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 24
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Jolly Roger, we live south of Chapel Hill.
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11-19-2017, 06:00 PM
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#10
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 24
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Quote:
Originally Posted by joeblack5
nice job,
I like the offset skylight. Did you put the solar panel on top of the original escape hatch? That cover would help with ventilation during rain.
What capacity and voltage is your battery bank. Do you have a BMS ?
Can your solar panel support the engel 24/7
Later J
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Thanks! In no particular order, one panel is in front of the emergency hatch/vent and the other is offset along side the Fantastic Vent. My wife made mosquito net coverings with magnets for the stock escape hatch/vent, as well as for the side windows. The fridge only draws 2.7 amps, so yes, the panels will power the fridge 24/7, as well as the lights, fan, and water pump. The battery is a 12-volt 100 amp-hour, but that is the equivalent of a 200 ah marine deep cycle because you can use 85-100% of capacity, whereas the deep-cycle can only be drawn down to 50% to avoid damage to the battery. So far, there have been no issues, but I left space for a second battery if it's needed. I typically see the battery brought up to full charge by around midday, though we haven't done any late-night binges or wild parties. The BMS is built into the battery (from Bioenno). One of the considerations in offsetting the skylight/Fantastic Vent was to keep it closer to the cooking area for more effective exhaust. All in all, I have to say the various folks we have worked with on this project have been great, even when we have had difficulties on the road (transmission and alternator), so it's been a wonderful experience overall.
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11-19-2017, 07:10 PM
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#11
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Owasso, OK
Posts: 2,627
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner MVP ER
Engine: Cummins 6CTA8.3 Mechanical MD3060
Rated Cap: 46 Coach Seats, 40 foot
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Newbies
Twigg, it can be a problem when we camp in places like the Okefenokee!
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Yep ... I'm sure we left it around here somewhere
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11-20-2017, 06:55 PM
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#12
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: ...little north of Toronto Ontario
Posts: 606
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Thomsass
Chassis: FreightShaker
Engine: 5.9 Cummins 5 speed
Rated Cap: 2 ATV's and friends
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Awesome paint job!
Does the passenger side and rear look the same?
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