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Old 03-11-2022, 11:59 PM   #1
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: WA State
Posts: 164
Year: 2005
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American
Engine: Cat C7
Rated Cap: 36,000
B.O.B the 2005 All American superbuild

Hi there. Been busy working on this off grid Skoolie. Calling it BOB. Bug Out Bus. Mythical Unicorn trany... Aka 6th gear. 89 mph is smooth.

Build goals were off grid full functionality, winter proof, lots of storage, redundant systems, way more complicated than necessary.

Hopefully wrapping up the build in next couple of months. Been working on it off and on for last year. I took pics along the way, maybe we can learn a little something from each other.

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Old 03-12-2022, 12:12 AM   #2
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: WA State
Posts: 164
Year: 2005
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American
Engine: Cat C7
Rated Cap: 36,000
Not your typical roof raise

Got my design in CAD and went straight to complete destruction mode. Air chisel is rivet killer #1. I'm 6'1" and a ceiling of 5' 11" after insulation in no bueno. My design is central isle layout... So I'm never gonna walk by edges... Just like a jet liner. So I went with my aviation background for solutions.

Measure, cut, cut, cut.
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Old 03-12-2022, 12:15 AM   #3
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: WA State
Posts: 164
Year: 2005
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American
Engine: Cat C7
Rated Cap: 36,000
More than a Raise

Overhead storage space on inside and outside was goal. Plus I wanted a little different look to BOB. Yes, I did this on purpose.
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Old 03-12-2022, 12:22 AM   #4
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: WA State
Posts: 164
Year: 2005
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American
Engine: Cat C7
Rated Cap: 36,000
Oops.

See that last 2" self tapping screw there? Well I didn't. Smashed up on roof to knock loose... Went right through my hand. My kid says I Jesus'd myself.
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Old 03-12-2022, 07:22 AM   #5
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: WA State
Posts: 164
Year: 2005
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American
Engine: Cat C7
Rated Cap: 36,000
Building the ultimate roof rack

So I mentioned storage was a big goal.... And I don't need head room under countertops... Here's the framework.
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Old 03-12-2022, 07:28 AM   #6
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: WA State
Posts: 164
Year: 2005
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American
Engine: Cat C7
Rated Cap: 36,000
Rivet 78 of...

Finally get to start some sheet metal work. Cat help but think of something cool to put where those flashers used to be... Jeep headlights with orange halo flashers? A little measuring, CAD time, and some 3D printing and I like!
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Old 03-12-2022, 07:36 AM   #7
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: WA State
Posts: 164
Year: 2005
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American
Engine: Cat C7
Rated Cap: 36,000
Walt Disney

Walt saw stuff completed and functional all in his imagination.... Just by staring out into open fields and swamps.

Brooke, my wife had many "you did what?" moments up till now... I could see it finished... She saw more destruction.

Well here she started seeing the shape come together... That's our shower window here taking shape. I wanted a spot where rain sheets could drip off, icicles could grow... With cool windows.
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Old 03-12-2022, 07:58 AM   #8
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: WA State
Posts: 164
Year: 2005
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American
Engine: Cat C7
Rated Cap: 36,000
A nod to Edison

Winter got heavy and cold so did more stuff inside for a bit. Designed a primary and backup electric system. My 8 roof panels are 72v. Picked up a brand new lithium polymer battery from a Chevy Volt... Split into 48v cell banks... Using 12v step-down transformers off that. System 120 inverting is with a Quattro. Gives me auto switching from generator, solar, and shore. 2 Mppt units charge lithium pack and also bus batteries. Volt battery can charge off solar, shore, generator, and bus aux alternator. 6 120v circuits. 6 12v 20amp circuits. Plus a few special high amp 12v circuits for the subwoofer and winch.
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Old 03-12-2022, 08:38 AM   #9
Bus Crazy
 
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Andrews,Indiana
Posts: 2,430
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: AARE
Engine: 3116 Cat 250hp
Rated Cap: Just the two of us.
Looking good. You have some serious skills. Curious, what's your background?
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Old 03-12-2022, 08:56 AM   #10
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: WA State
Posts: 164
Year: 2005
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American
Engine: Cat C7
Rated Cap: 36,000
DWB graduate. STS campus. Working on my doctorate. I've been fortunate to have found a way to make $ doing something that I enjoy.

(DWB= Dumb White Boy)
(STS= Self Taught ****)

LOL, I've done a lot of things... Medical, Defense, and aerospace somehow croosed and pulled me in. Commonality is that I've always looked for a reason to do or make something myself rather than buy it... Pick up tools and skills along the way.
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Old 03-12-2022, 10:12 AM   #11
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: WA State
Posts: 164
Year: 2005
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American
Engine: Cat C7
Rated Cap: 36,000
Getting warmer

Winter function takes a little more work. We foamed in between all the bus formers with rigid extruded sheet. Then added the 2x2 framework. We're doing professional 2 part expanded foam in this after walls are almost complete. I hate sanding foam... So gonna do it later. Procrastination is a tool for success if used properly!

I made files for the roof ribs and laser cut 1/2" plywood to carry the ceiling and give me some wire routing options. I'm deviating from the norm with the sectional roof raise... Outside storage areas leave me with lots of unused space topside for insulation. Makes light wiring easy inside.
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Old 03-12-2022, 10:26 AM   #12
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: WA State
Posts: 164
Year: 2005
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American
Engine: Cat C7
Rated Cap: 36,000
Keeping it clean

My wife loves her hot tub... I said no to one in the bus... But did manage to impress her with the size of my shower. Conveniently used the rear engine bay cover as a shower bench. She asked my to sound proof the walls good... 😏😉😎.

Went down the rabbit hole designing the shower... 3/4" pex to enjoy the 18" sq overhead rainfall head that's recessed in the ceiling... Secondary hand shower head on wall. Arched ceiling... Just because. Portal windows to pull in that aviation feel. It's got a dedicated heating system for that sauna heat after a day on the slopes...

Used Kerdi Systems for almost every thing getting tile. In floor drain was a custom build to get peetrap in and keep it all inside bus so it doesn't freeze.
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Old 03-12-2022, 10:27 AM   #13
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: WA State
Posts: 164
Year: 2005
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American
Engine: Cat C7
Rated Cap: 36,000
Sorry, pics are getting flipped back when I upload.
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Old 03-12-2022, 10:45 AM   #14
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: WA State
Posts: 164
Year: 2005
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American
Engine: Cat C7
Rated Cap: 36,000
What's up with that garage door opener?

There's a lot going on in the picture here...

Notice what's not there? The air intake box and filter for engine is usually taking up 18" in that back left corner.... I made some pretty minor changes to the intake and filter can do its in the engine bay.... You've seen the snorkel intakes on Jeeps? I've the 10" pusher version going out the back and up to the back.

The rear engine area is loud, so we sound proofed the internal and external... Then insulated it all for heat.

And yes... That's a direct drive garage door opener mounted to the rear wall. And a hole for the ac unit. Still have some work to do for the rear of the system, but that's for our bed... It retracts up to the ceiling so the rear room can be used as the TV room, study room, extra bed with it halfway up... Whatever.
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Old 03-12-2022, 11:14 AM   #15
Bus Crazy
 
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Andrews,Indiana
Posts: 2,430
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: AARE
Engine: 3116 Cat 250hp
Rated Cap: Just the two of us.
If I may make a suggestion, unless you are going to have some super good way to level. Put at least two drains in the shower. Mine slopes to the middle and many times, if not level, I end up with water standing.
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Old 03-12-2022, 12:13 PM   #16
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: WA State
Posts: 164
Year: 2005
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American
Engine: Cat C7
Rated Cap: 36,000
That's a good idea. I was forced to have drain at end of shower, nearest to the step in (from wheel well box). But it's a full width drain, so I might be ok side to side. Only 3 deg on slope forward though... I don't have a cool solution for leveling yet. I was really torn on making install easier and going through the floor...

How much slope do you have in your shower?
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Old 03-12-2022, 12:46 PM   #17
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: WA State
Posts: 164
Year: 2005
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American
Engine: Cat C7
Rated Cap: 36,000
Hiding everything

It felt like nothing was getting done for so long... At least by looking at it. Running over 1000 feet of wire and making it so you can't see it is kinda fun.

I jumped around in evenings planning all the systems and buying stuff when I was set on the install plan.

Some cool features that have gone in are...

*Air horn that plays songs... Baby shark, final countdown, happy birthday.... It's absurb and makes me smile!

*3x water ranks. 65 inside main and 2 x 4" PVC torpedo clusters with 40 gal each. Powered remote filter pump for filling up from natural water sources. RO system under sink for drinking water.

*Flushing toilet with reclaimed Grey water source on its one pump and mini pressure tank. 20 gal black tank.

*Communion system... CB radio TX. SW, aircraft, emergency RX.

*RV camera system with HD night vis cams and 24x7 DVR.

*lots of lights, outside and inside.

*Mini split heat / ac

* Dwarf Stoves 5kw wood stove with cooking oven upper.

*12,000 lb winch

* Clothes washer / dryer all in one.

Finding a place for everything to sit until it goes in got a bit crazy.
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Old 03-12-2022, 12:55 PM   #18
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: WA State
Posts: 164
Year: 2005
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American
Engine: Cat C7
Rated Cap: 36,000
Stuff everywhere...

My UPS guy is pretty cool. We see him a lot. Electronic install is about impossible without everything all set and able to be placed in the layout organized.

Lots of planning and designing....
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Old 03-12-2022, 01:04 PM   #19
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: WA State
Posts: 164
Year: 2005
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American
Engine: Cat C7
Rated Cap: 36,000
Cool Lights.... ACTION

We want to hit remote fire roads and do some mountain camping... So definitely gonna see what's in front... And behind, and on the sides....

*4 side aimed rock light sets

*4 jeep headlights on front and back. The Orange halos on front are marker lights and blinkers. Rear halos are blinkers.

*Front top light bar

*Bumper mounted fog lights

*rear backup lights replaced with fog lights and recess mounted.
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Old 03-12-2022, 01:54 PM   #20
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: WA State
Posts: 164
Year: 2005
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American
Engine: Cat C7
Rated Cap: 36,000
Light it up

First time I drove the bus with the stock lights I put new lights on my list... I did some research and tested a few different headlights to replace the mains. I didn't like that it added the second light for brights...

I ended up with these LED DOT approved replacements. They are intended to be high low in one unit... So both lights are on on low and both on with hi beam. It gives that crisp light line out in front. Easy swap with adding one wire and swapping some plug connectors.

These fog lights were a perfect fit into the foot well on front bumper. Reverse lights needed a little custom mounting but turned out great and light it up nice.
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