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Old 01-25-2017, 10:00 PM   #1
Skoolie
 
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Join Date: Jan 2017
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I'm In Bondage to This Prison Bus

I had no intention of buying a 40' prison bus, but I did ... and now I'm working to bring it up to "skoolie" standards! I've posted a few videos about my meager progress at http://youtube.com/metaspencer ... I'll post more as the project comes together.

Tonight I was out in the bus tearing out the floors ... and found fuel had been spilled under the subfloor. So there are clearly some surprises to be had on the prison bus!

I'm appreciative of these forums. Tons of great stuff here ... so thanks!

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Old 01-26-2017, 04:42 PM   #2
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Welcome! I was looking at those bus they look like nobody can break in Nice! Have Fun
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Old 01-26-2017, 05:05 PM   #3
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Sweet Bus.

Noticed MD3060 trans- nice choice.

Can't wait to watch the build. It's nice to have a vehicle that doubles as a 'playroom' for the kids.
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Old 01-26-2017, 06:33 PM   #4
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Great video, ya gotta keep some of the prison stuff and incorporate it in the build. Small pet cage? Frame some of the paper work?

How bad is the washroom area? ...hazmat bad.
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Old 01-26-2017, 07:02 PM   #5
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Regarding the washroom area, it's a bit of a mix: stainless toilet, black tank that holds water, and a water source for flushing. Interestingly enough, the toilet was only flushed by a flip of a switch ... that the driver controlled. Regarding the aim, urinarilly, of the prisoners while urinating in transport while cuffed: I'd say they missed a lot, given the rust around the toilet.
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Old 01-26-2017, 07:25 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by REDD View Post

How bad is the washroom area? ...hazmat bad.
Not bad, wanna make a cool $20 ?
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Old 01-26-2017, 10:19 PM   #7
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My first bus was a prison transport bus. It made me super sad. Sold it back to the guy i bought it from.

Good luck!
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Old 01-27-2017, 04:42 AM   #8
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The Mystery of the Prison Bus Toilet

Figured out how to flush the toilet finally! Prison bus has some secrets

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Old 01-27-2017, 03:47 PM   #9
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Interesting stuff and history, cool!
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Old 01-27-2017, 04:30 PM   #10
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How in the heck did you get your rv plates in illinois without an inspection?
I assume they didn't inspect you because that bus doesn't meet the conversion requirements for rv plates.
Did you get lucky? I didn't, they wont plate me before a conversion inspection...
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Old 01-27-2017, 06:13 PM   #11
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I'm assuming you're converting to RV from another title ... well, you'll get there!

Quote:
Originally Posted by wunderhut View Post
How in the heck did you get your rv plates in illinois without an inspection?
I assume they didn't inspect you because that bus doesn't meet the conversion requirements for rv plates.
Did you get lucky? I didn't, they wont plate me before a conversion inspection...
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Old 01-27-2017, 06:51 PM   #12
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Dang....

I gotta say- your video production skills are spot-on. Captivating. Love the music. Smart to document, helps remind you what's underneath and where.

Illinois RV requirements:
https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/p...sos_dop247.pdf

I have yet to title mine in wonderful, functional Illinoisis.

Keep the videos coming and don't forget to get that tetanus shot.
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Old 01-27-2017, 07:17 PM   #13
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Thanks for the encouragement ... yes, lots of rusty cuts!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rusty View Post
I gotta say- your video production skills are spot-on. Captivating. Love the music. Smart to document, helps remind you what's underneath and where.

Illinois RV requirements:
https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/p...sos_dop247.pdf

I have yet to title mine in wonderful, functional Illinoisis.

Keep the videos coming and don't forget to get that tetanus shot.
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Old 01-27-2017, 10:37 PM   #14
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I would definitely make the wall and door my bedroom wall.

-Thomas
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Old 02-05-2017, 07:44 PM   #15
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Heaters Out ... In the Middle of Winter

Here, in list form, is my most resent update on the Prison Bus.

1. Sold most of the bus seats via eBay. I'm always surprised to see people getting rid of their seats. I pulled in a few hundred bones on the deal, enough to pay for refilling the bus with coolant (see #2)
2. Drained the coolant (seems like lifeblood this time of year) from the bus, u-turned the lines under the driver's seat that used to go back to the keep the prisoners warm, and pulled all the heaters
3. Got all the plywood flooring out (very wet and icy)
4. But was stymied by the prison bus toilet. It's very securely attached to the bus floor, black tank, etc. So I'll have to work on that this week.
5. Oh, and I had some AC guys out and they couldn't drain the refrigerant from the AC units. So more on that in a future post

And then here is my latest video of the project:



Take care all and keep skooling!
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Old 02-06-2017, 12:46 AM   #16
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Great videos!

Another great video... I wish you'd stop raising the bar. I'm so impressed when I just remember to take a phone pic while working on the bus!

Best line from the video: " While working on your OWN prison bus.." Lol.

Am in same boat in Illinois, subject to weather. It was nice today, so underneath I was.

When relocating AC, remember why they hung them high initially: cool air settles, warm rises. Would be ton easier to enclose them in cabinet up where they sit.

The U-turn heater hose connection concerns me as a point of failure. I'd hate to see you loose coolant, overheat and roast the diesel motor before you knew it. Looks like bulge flare on one end only, other smooth...pressure, heat, vibration...pop.

Heater bypass hose are cheap- $8 or so

U-Hose amazon
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Old 02-06-2017, 06:43 AM   #17
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Redo

You're right Rusty .... I've gotta redo that hose. Pulled a proper copper U off the rear heater that I'll use ... thanks!
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Old 02-27-2017, 11:06 PM   #18
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Knee deep in rust ... but learning to weld! So that's fun.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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Old 02-28-2017, 02:34 PM   #19
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As y'all can see, I'm still working on the floors ... welding and patching and welding some more. It's a long job that gives you time to think about ... the plan!

So I've been thinking a bit about keeping my toilet in the back of the bus (where my existing prison-blackwater tank is). That would put, in my mind, the kitchen back behind the wheel humps.

This would mean, as I see it, that no real "bedroom" would take shape ... instead, it would be more of an open floor plan up in front of the kitchen, then bathroom in the back.

But nothing is set in stone just yet, as there is plenty of floor work left to do.
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Old 02-28-2017, 02:59 PM   #20
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Looking Good !

All that welding is great practice. Welding cart turned-out great ! Nothing like taking electricity and melting some steel and sticking-it together !

I worry about that nusance dust mask you are wearing- especially when welding now. Get a real 3M canister organic face respirator. Open some/all windows might help with changing air flow.

Sucks about the rust dust in garage- that is like little rust seeds that will grow on any metal they settle on. Some sanders have holes in the sandpaper and attachments that attach to shop vac to keep air-borne dust down, you know, for your next prison bus....

Found a pricey one


cheaper refurb


Keep-on keepin ! No turning back now !
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