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Old 09-11-2019, 09:43 PM   #21
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Cars have convertible tops; Why not a skoolie? Any Ideas how this could be done? I would love to lie in bed and look at a winter's night sky.

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Old 09-11-2019, 09:55 PM   #22
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Originally Posted by TheRollingBones View Post
Love open air and blue sky? Just want to know if you have ever considered taking the pillars and roof totally off and replacing the roof with a thick canvas cover or awning? Yes, a convertible bus. . .
I would not be surprised if someone has done a convertible bus in the USA.
I’ve been scheming up ideas for shepherder wagon types of roofs.
The hippie buses had big roofs back in the day. Not hip these days it seems.
Pop ups make a lot of sense. Have you checked them out?
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Old 09-11-2019, 10:04 PM   #23
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Cars have convertible tops; Why not a skoolie? Any Ideas how this could be done? I would love to lie in bed and look at a winter's night sky.
I think the biggest issue would be properly insulating a bus with a canvas roof. But if you're gonna have the thing open in winter, that might not be relevant.

I think a roof deck with an air mattress would be easier than a convertible top.
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Old 09-11-2019, 10:21 PM   #24
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A Giat popup rooftop tent would be a great idea. Maybe the best of both worlds.
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Old 09-11-2019, 11:07 PM   #25
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I thought of replacing 3 or 4 roof panels with full Lexan sheets, but the heat coming through would be atrocious. I'll have to think of an insulated plug for each section.
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Old 09-12-2019, 10:16 AM   #26
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Fantastical ideas! Clear plastic tops can be trick. There’s a custom RV builder near me who does amazing curved plastic on the front cabover bedrooms of his campers.
A large heavy welded aluminum hatch from a boat deck is what I got. I’m not that great with compound curves. Flat building and simple curves I can do lol. It’s 30”x53” and flat. I need to decide if I’m installing it today. I want to be able to create a “small loft” for my binoculars and spotting scope out this hole.
Some advantages might be: emergency exit, huge ventilation, easier roof access, observation of sky, wildlife, sound (I enjoy nature sounds) etc., light (only if open).
Some disadvantages might be: extra framing for strength, potential leaks, heavy to open, bugs!, too much light (when open), rain (if left open).
I just realized that this big hinged lid might be fabricated and improved into a pop-up later when more time and energy is available. So I’m thinking of going ahead cutting in the lid. The vehicle is in a barn already. All the tools, epoxy, rivets, are there. Then I’m done wore out rebuilding the entire roof and may not do any more until next year. I’ll focus on making the inside useable this next.
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Old 09-12-2019, 12:44 PM   #27
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This isn't quite what was proposed with a boat, but... in March of this year in Salt Lake City I spotted this Blue Bird with a boat set onto/into the roof:
Click image for larger version

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Hopefully they removed the lower part of the hull; otherwise that would be a net loss of headroom to the interior.
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Old 09-13-2019, 02:22 PM   #28
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Originally Posted by TheRollingBones View Post
Cars have convertible tops; Why not a skoolie? Any Ideas how this could be done? I would love to lie in bed and look at a winter's night sky.



Maybe a sliding roof section. Slides front to rear or visa versa.
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Old 09-13-2019, 02:29 PM   #29
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I raise my roof on a 36 foot 97 Thomas rear engine and the guy showed me how to do it it was like really simple
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Old 09-13-2019, 02:30 PM   #30
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I wish I could find some advice on some good backup cameras I want to be able to see backwards forward and right and left anybody got any suggestions of some good quality that ain't too high-priced
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Old 09-13-2019, 02:41 PM   #31
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I wish I could find some advice on some good backup cameras I want to be able to see backwards forward and right and left anybody got any suggestions of some good quality that ain't too high-priced



How about this:


https://www.amazon.com/LeeKooLuu-Mon...3640&s=gateway
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Old 09-13-2019, 02:43 PM   #32
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I raise my roof on a 36 foot 97 Thomas rear engine and the guy showed me how to do it it was like really simple

How about doing a write up on it? That would help a lot of people.
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Old 09-13-2019, 03:47 PM   #33
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I wish I could find some advice on some good backup cameras I want to be able to see backwards forward and right and left anybody got any suggestions of some good quality that ain't too high-priced
Do asearch here for backup cameras. There's an outfit selling cameras that will send you a free one as soon as you send a review of the first one. It's the first instruction in their manual.
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Old 09-13-2019, 07:17 PM   #34
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TheRollingBones View Post
Cars have convertible tops; Why not a skoolie? Any Ideas how this could be done? I would love to lie in bed and look at a winter's night sky.
convertible cars are designed from the ground up and still suffer from reduced structural rigidity.
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Old 09-14-2019, 04:02 AM   #35
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Rather than using Lexan plexiglass, Lexane poly carbonate multiwall material gives more strength and more UV protection than plexiglass. The "cardboard box" design of the material also adds some insulating qualities. Just as an aside, the best way to attach polycarbonate sheeting is with 3M double stick tape. Entire greenhouses are so constructed.

Having used poly carbonate sheeting in my pop top, and after 5 years use I am still sold. I bought a 4 seasons down comforter and sewed it up to match the contours of my pop up securing it with snaps..Granted this took up a little head room but the instant 10 degree F increase in cabin temp (at the same heat setting) made it all worth while.

I've posted this picture before but we all know how hard it is to access info on old posts so here goes---again
Jack

.

If I could find a place to store it, this is the bus I'd like to have.

.

.

.

You are confusing me, I thought Lexan was a brand name (GE?) for polycarbonate and Plexiglas was a brand name for acrylic sheet (another well known brand of acrylic sheet is Lucite), 2 similar looking, but totally different transparent thermoplastic materials. Polycarbonate is extremely tough (hammer/bullet proof if thick enough) and takes the sun well, where acrylic sheet is brittle, weak in comparison, much cheaper, and yellows in the sun. Polycarbonate is the way to go if you can afford it.


Thanks for the tip on the "3M double stick tape".



I like the roof overhang on the back, with or without the porch.
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Old 09-14-2019, 04:16 AM   #36
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TheRollingBones
Cars have convertible tops; Why not a skoolie? Any Ideas how this could be done? I would love to lie in bed and look at a winter's night sky.
[/QUOTE]




Maybe a sliding section on side rails, slide back and lock? Convertibles suck in the rain, just go up and sleep on the roof.
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Old 09-14-2019, 05:22 AM   #37
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Quote:
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TheRollingBones
Cars have convertible tops; Why not a skoolie? Any Ideas how this could be done? I would love to lie in bed and look at a winter's night sky.

Maybe a sliding section on side rails, slide back and lock? Convertibles suck in the rain, just go up and sleep on the roof.

Ooooh, I like this idea!
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Old 09-24-2019, 08:25 PM   #38
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Those convertibles with structural issues are “unibody” not body on frame like a bus.

Not that I endorse the concept.
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Old 09-24-2019, 10:39 PM   #39
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Oh. My current bus is a 1996 G30 cut away van with a unibody. It’s fairly beefy for a bloated van but I’m wondering if I cut a big whole in the roof for a big opening skylight what will happen to the structural integrity of the bus ?
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Old 09-25-2019, 12:11 AM   #40
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G30’s aren’t unibody they use full frames.
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