A Bus Named Eternity

[musigenesis]

Some nice carpentry right there.

[T-Bolt]

Yesterday I got the walls installed in the shower. For the waterproofing the walls were covered with vinyl sheet flooring because I wanted something seemless. Getting that accomplished was really tricky. The stainless steel brackets on the wall are for a folding seat to allow people with hair to wash it without touching the ceiling.

[tobeamiss]

Your work is top notch!

[RamRod4]

Thanks for the comment and subscription on our YouTube channel!

Edite: I also just realized how similar our buses are. I'm wondering where your factory AC condensers are located with the undercarriage storage. We dont have the storage bays like you and our condensers are on the driver side with louvers in the skirting so I can't install any storage in that area.

Additionally, I noticed we took the exact same approach to the air scoops at the rear. I made intake panels for my engine compartment doors. Wondering how yours is doing without any vents. I'm guessing it pull enough air from underneath?

[T-Bolt]

Originally Posted by RamRod4

Thanks for the comment and subscription on our YouTube channel!

Edite: I also just realized how similar our buses are. I'm wondering where your factory AC condensers are located with the undercarriage storage. We dont have the storage bays like you and our condensers are on the driver side with louvers in the skirting so I can't install any storage in that area.

Additionally, I noticed we took the exact same approach to the air scoops at the rear. I made intake panels for my engine compartment doors. Wondering how yours is doing without any vents. I'm guessing it pull enough air from underneath?

Mine are located on the passenger side right behind the front wheel. Here is an older picture. The evaporators were not located in the most ideal spots so I am moving them. One will be installed above the entrance door and will better serve us while driving. The other one will go above the master bed and blow the air down the hall. The rear bunks are adjustable and can be converted into dual couches facing each other with seat belts so the rear AC will also serve that.

My basement storage was completely rusted out and actually collapsed on a joy ride one day. Rebuilding it was much easier than I thought it would be. I posed on it earlier but have additional pictures if you are interested.

As for engine air intake the one on the left remains because I didn't want to deal with moving the air filter and such. Also the solid fold up floor on either side of the engine compartment will be replaced with grates to pull air in from below. Originally I planned on doing the intakes like yours but haven't decided if I am still going to.

[T-Bolt]

Here are some pictures of water and electric systems. The fresh water pulls from four 33 gallon tanks mounted between the frame rails that total 132 gallons. (I will post pictures ot the tank setup later.) Those feed the pump and then to the various fixtures.

For the electrical system I did something a little different. The Aims inverter has a built-in transfer switch but it's only rated at 30 amps. That will not allow me to run 2 air-conditioners. I want to take advantage of 50 Amp service when available but I did not want the expense of the large transfer switch and other complications. My solution was to basically make a 50a power strip. On the right side of the last picture is a 50a box where one 120v leg powers a 30a outlet to plug the inverter into. The other 120v leg feeds 2 20a outlets. The breaker box for the bus has 3 short plug leads that are connected to the high demand appliances. I can choose to feed them from the inverter or the 50a box. Not installed yet but there will be a 30a outlet that will run to the generator. This will allow me to plug the inverter into shore power 30a, the 50a "power strip", or the generator.

[T-Bolt]

It has been a very busy week with tons of things getting done on the bus. The biggest accomplishment was the front door. I have been putting this off because I just did want to deal with it. We decided to reuse the original door because we are embracing the the fact that it was a school bus. For that reason we used aluminum plates to connect the 2 doors and trim it out. The lower windows have been replaced with some Duraplate. A little over 175 rivets were used and we are really happy with the final results. For the latch we used one for a screen door that had a deadbolt. I know there is lots of conversations about door construction so I took tons of pictures if anyone is in need.

My oldest son installed the track for the seatbelts for the couch. Early in the construction I bolted and welded unistrut to 1/4" angle iron then to the bus. He installed the L-track that will allow us to move or add belts as we need.

More posts coming with additional projects completed.

[T-Bolt]

The water heater vent was installed and run through the roof. We used a portable on-demand propane water heater like is used for camping. The instructions stated that it was not intended for indoor use or to be ducted exhaust. I couldn't see any reason why so I contacted manufacture. I was told that it could be installed as I wanted as long as the vent did not exceed 6' and two 90 degree turns.

Also got the tank vent finished and run through the roof.

The tanks monitoring system was installed as well. In hind sight it really should have been done much earlier and would have saved lots of struggle.

[T-Bolt]

This week the kitchen drawers were made and installed with the help of my two girls. We also made all the cabinet and closet doors.

[musigenesis]

Your door looks great, I'd like to see more pictures of the process. I need to do the same sort of thing with my door, although I think at this point it's so trashed out that I need to just build something new to replace it. I would make it look just like the original - I'm on board with your philosophy about embracing the bus' bus-ness. I like the fact that my door still operates pneumatically, but that's not really important and it seems like making the two folding doors waterproof is a losing game.

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by T-Bolt

The water heater vent was installed and run through the roof. We used a portable on-demand propane water heater like is used for camping. The instructions stated that it was not intended for indoor use or to be ducted exhaust. I couldn't see any reason why so I contacted manufacture. I was told that it could be installed as I wanted as long as the vent did not exceed 6' and two 90 degree turns.

Is that vent going to be watertight when driving? I'm wondering if a static vent like the kind normally on the forward roof of a school bus would work for an on-demand heater. I say "normally" because I deleted mine on the (unfounded) suspicion that it was leaking water inside; I took mine apart afterwards and it's actually a really good design that allows airflow while ensuring that no water can get through the hole even with horizontal rain.

[T-Bolt]

Originally Posted by musigenesis

Is that vent going to be watertight when driving? I'm wondering if a static vent like the kind normally on the forward roof of a school bus would work for an on-demand heater. I say "normally" because I deleted mine on the (unfounded) suspicion that it was leaking water inside; I took mine apart afterwards and it's actually a really good design that allows airflow while ensuring that no water can get through the hole even with horizontal rain.

I'm sure that it will be water proof as long as I'm not doing 70 in reverse during a rain storm.

[T-Bolt]

Here is the finished door installed. Just needs a final coat of paint.

[T-Bolt]

We had our first night out in the bus! No problems with any of the systems. Lots of little things that are not done I thought wouldn't bother me but they do so thay are now a priority.

[T-Bolt]

We are off on our first big trip in our bus! We are heading south in search of warmer weather.

[Oscar1]

Fantastic looking bus you got there.
Safe travels

Oscar

[tobeamiss]

Happy and Safe Travels!! Looks great!

[musigenesis]

"To Infinity and Beyond"? Your bus is looking fantastic, very much not like a school bus any more. Time to change your avatar?

[T-Bolt]

We have put about 10,000 miles on our bus this year taking family trips. Each trip we have done little improvements as we have discovered issues. I'm going to be posting some of them.

Originally we had the Predator 3500 generator mounted in the engine compartment. The install was nice but we soon realized that the generator would overheat and fault out. Sadly we found this out on a trip from Indiana to Florida. The quick fix was to move it to a hitch platform temporarily. But being a RE bus this also would cause the generator to overheat.

Last week my oldest son and and I decided to drive to Hammond, LA and help with hurricane cleanup. We were towing my truck so the generator needed a permanent home. The only space available was under the bus behind the front right wheel.

I started by carefully cutting out the skirt so it could be used as the door. I fabricated a steel cradle that was bolted to some existing holes in the frame. The cradle would have some angle iron that the wheels would roll on. This was necessary to be able to refuel it. I wanted to be able to refuel without unplugging so there is a track that folds down so it can roll out. With it rolled in the ramp folds up and straps to the generator with Velcro to keep it from moving around. The exhaust was routed under and out from the bus. When the generator pulls out the exhaust moves with it. The skin was reinstalled with a continuous hinge and a truck box latch.

Very happy with how well it turned out.

[cruizinbiker]

Do you have pics of the engine bay doors with screen and towing hitch? We have the same bus and I'm gathering ideas for both.