Mesa AZ build

[Bus'n it]

I received my plates yesterday. Yay! Class A motorhome. So with an aching back I started late on the bus today. Managed to cut the wiring for all the emergency windows and hatches with no issues on the bus starting. I moved the wiring for the clearance lights, speakers, overhead lighting and side marker lights in preparation for the roof raise. Removed the front inside cap cover and found all the rivets just awaiting for me to chisel off right above the window. I decided to do a cap to cap lift rather than deal with a transition. Hope it will work out as easy as it looks. Removed some trim around the front doors, pulled the wiring away from the inside of the hat channels for the lower body turn signal lights. Father in Law came over and helped sweep up the hundreds of rivet heads laying about. I have such a long way to go. I can see why people don't bother to raise the roof regardless of cost.

[BeNimble]

Originally Posted by Bus'n it

The AC’s were already destroyed and the linesets had screw holes in them.

And for the previous poster, the pic I put up was a bus conversion not a luxury motorhome and it did not have slides. Please try not to be negative to people on this forum. I personally do not need to be attacked or harassed. I can get that from my clients during the day.

This video only has 3,000 views...instead of the 3,000,000 views on those fancy builds you see with staged pics, product placements, bus dealer sponsorships... I prefer reality vs fantasy and sales pitches and hope to prevent disappointments.
If you bought a shuttle bus, your roof raise would have been done already..
And as this video starts with, all their problems solved if they got an RV to begin with.. In any case, I wish you the best on your build!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2uU15M6Xzg

[Bus'n it]

Appreciate your wise words, but in my case, it's only money and I am going for it. I've had nothing but regrets in my life for not doing everything I should have because people told me its too risky, dangerous or such. Worst case, I can have the hulk of bus towed out and scrapped if I screw up. Today I am going full force shaving the backsides of the buck rivets as I continue my foolish thoughts of raising the roof. I could have bought a nice coach but thats too boring for me. Incidentally, I shy away from anything negative even if it is for my own good. My final thoughts are life is too short. If you have the means to do or dream of something, then by all means, I say go for it. I will support you is my motto.

[Bus'n it]

So almost all rivets aside from the removal of the rub rail below the windows are removed. Both front and rear caps have been separated from the lower body sections. I need to cut four welded supports and the caps are free. Once thats done i can make the threaded rod supports and weld them to the hat channels. I plan on using 6 supports spread out. Of course, I need to removed the doors. Wiring is pulled from hat channels, tagged and bagged.
Coco my Classic Old Frills Satinette pigeon had to come out and supervise. We raise this breed in a loft out back and hand feed the babies indoors. They are amazing intelligent birds that stay with you wherever you go. (only if hand raised)
Either way it was a beautiful day for Bus'n it today.

[Native]

You are making GREAT progress.


Reminder: Do all you need to do to the ceiling BEFORE you raise it and make it move further away.

[JamesKS]

Originally Posted by Bus'n it

Appreciate your wise words, but in my case, it's only money and I am going for it. I've had nothing but regrets in my life for not doing everything I should have because people told me its too risky, dangerous or such. Worst case, I can have the hulk of bus towed out and scrapped if I screw up. Today I am going full force shaving the backsides of the buck rivets as I continue my foolish thoughts of raising the roof. I could have bought a nice coach but thats too boring for me. Incidentally, I shy away from anything negative even if it is for my own good. My final thoughts are life is too short. If you have the means to do or dream of something, then by all means, I say go for it. I will support you is my motto.

:like:

This is the spirit that makes this place great. I do have to disagree with your choice of calling those wise words, those are words from someone who is pessimistic and scared to get into a real project. I am actually uncertain why they continue to bring up how easy it is to just buy a junk RV. Either way, keep up the good work and thanks for posting!

[BeNimble]

Originally Posted by JamesKS

:like:

This is the spirit that makes this place great. I do have to disagree with your choice of calling those wise words, those are words from someone who is pessimistic and scared to get into a real project. I am actually uncertain why they continue to bring up how easy it is to just buy a junk RV. Either way, keep up the good work and thanks for posting!

You have not seen my project?? lol

[JackE]

Simon, you wouldn't happen to be raising the roof this weekend are you?

[JamesKS]

Originally Posted by BeNimble

You have not seen my project?? lol

I stand corrected, you are really good at amassing stuff. You and my dad would be best friends. I am excited to see what you come up with.

I just cant understand the constant RV praise though, have you ever owned one? Ever fixed a floor or peaked behind the panels to see the junk work and junk products? Watched panels delaminate with a slight leak?

[JackE]

Originally Posted by JamesKS

I just cant understand the constant RV praise though, have you ever owned one? Ever fixed a floor or peaked behind the panels to see the junk work and junk products? Watched panels delaminate with a slight leak?

I sure have! Owned and decommissioned. All the usable stuff, tanks, wiring, A/C, windows, is now in my bus! That's about all a used RV is good for.

[BeNimble]

Originally Posted by JamesKS

I stand corrected, you are really good at amassing stuff. You and my dad would be best friends. I am excited to see what you come up with.

I just cant understand the constant RV praise though, have you ever owned one? Ever fixed a floor or peaked behind the panels to see the junk work and junk products? Watched panels delaminate with a slight leak?

I've always gone camping using a tent, but i did live in rented motorhome for two months. So after you watch all the work on these buses, you think fixing an RV is a lot of work??? Having to cut off the roof!!! and rebuild the walls entirely, replace all the windows? no big deal right?????

[JamesKS]

Originally Posted by BeNimble

I've always gone camping using a tent, but i did live in rented motorhome for two months. So after you watch all the work on these buses, you think fixing an RV is a lot of work??? Having to cut off the roof!!! and rebuild the walls entirely, replace all the windows? no big deal right?????

To me, you dont have to do any of those but all of those seem reasonable when building a heavy duty RV/house. Well, I am 5'8", so a roof raise is a bit of a luxury.

I just like building stuff and maintaining it, its all going to need some repair along the way. Its nice when you tear into something and it isnt a giant pile of sticks and staples or delaminated fiberglass. Rubber roof over wood?!?! Really?!?!?

[Bus'n it]

Well, honestly, this is a Skoolie forum where it is expected people will tear the ass out of their bus to build it their way. Sure an RV has its place for many many people. Skoolie owners are really only a handful in the grand scheme of things. I will side with Nimble on one thing. There are some newbies who come to this forum with grand dreams of building a beautiful home on wheels, get a bus and then have no idea on how to proceed. Better yet, they start and lose interest or cant afford to do it right in the first place. Looking for materials in a dumpster isn't my type of build however using said materials in an artistic way is another thing. You won't find me cobbling up together scrap wood to frame a wall but thats just me. So I can see an RV being a great solution to a mom who wants to take an engine out of a bus so her son can't drive it (That one really boggles my mind), or to a guy who wants to just leave the city 'cause he's sick of living there.
Anywho, the moral of the story here is that this IS a conversion/collectors forum and as such each person should have the right to get sound advice on how to build/maintain their bus when they ask for help. We are a community that share a passion for repurposed buses that would normally get scrapped. We need to help one another, support each others dreams, criticize when it is necessary for the safety if we see a defect in someones build. We are all here to dream. We should help each other fulfill these dreams. I swear if I had tons of discretionary funds, I would financially help those that need a bus to live in, to convert due to limited funds and even to just lend a hand.
Bottom line, I love you guys! (Sounds gay I know but $hit, we're in this together. Lets act like a big family and enjoy the good moments and help each other out during the bad!

Ok, I'm done with my friendly rant. Can't you see my smile?

[Bus'n it]

Originally Posted by JackE

Simon, you wouldn't happen to be raising the roof this weekend are you?

Honestly, I have no idea! I am just kicking ass with the demo that its almost ready to raise. Despite it being unseasonably hot (105º+), I have bypassed enjoying my pool in favor of shearing rivets out each afternoon when I come home. My next door neighbor just moved in and his wife who I haven't met was floating in her pool yesterday. I hope flying rivet heads didn't hit her! LMAO!

I need to see where the cuts need to be made just above the windshield and at the rear section. I am in confused and foggy belief that i can literally raise the entire roof and end caps as one unit. I will put in 6 threaded rod supports due to the length of this thing. I am waiting on one more 2o ton screw style jack stand to arrive tomorrow. Bus is doohickeytitywonkas angled in the dirt its half parked on!


I removed the window sills and rub rail. Just the doors remain and some engineering on where to cut the square tube above the windshield for a clean unmolested look when I weld it back under the skin. (I will add smaller square tube sections inside the larger stock square tube for added rigidity.

[Bus'n it]

So the four corner hat channels are cut, all relevant panels are de-riveted and removed, all doors and associated trims are removed, 4x6 blocks of wood purchased, threaded rod, plates and 120' square tube purchased... lets see, did I forget anything?! Both ends of the roof caps are detached from their seated positions, supports for roof caps are cut. I guess I will make it a go this weekend and raise this sucker. I removed as much as I could to not have to cut anything unnecessary regarding exterior trims. Once I pulled the front doors off, I realized just how much weight those things are. Their bearing supports had cracks from use. Thinking of going to an RV door to speed up process and save some weight.

[JackE]

Due to some unfortunate medical problems my sister in law is having, we will be in town this weekend. I won’t be much good to anybody there so if I can get away, I’ll gladly come help you with your raise. I want to get mine done before the snow flies up here and some experience helping you with yours will be extremely valuable! I’ll pm you my number and you can Text me to keep me up to date on your plans.

[Bus'n it]

Absolutely Jack. No need for help as I can get it done. Maybe I see things as being "easy" or I am overly confident! You are more than welcome to stop by and I can show you what I did so far. I need to weld up the threaded rod lifts and set them on the hat channels. Hopefully my guys won't need me on Friday so I can really prep up. Seems as if the daylight is diminishing rather quickly despite it being hot as summer still. Send me you info and I can text you during the week.

[Oscar1]

Hello Simon
That's some fantastic work you got going on there and great energy, keep it up!
Cheers
Oscar

[Bus'n it]

Thank you Oscar!
A little over a year ago, I was overweight at 230lbs, had gerd, needed a bi-pap machine to breath, fatty liver, high cholesterol and on the verge of Diabetes. I reached my breaking point and decided to change my life. I have since cut out dairy, sugar and complex (man made) carbohydrates. I lost 70 lbs and have restored my life. Worst yet, I used to dread waking up and just driving I would pass out. Nowadays I am full of energy, feel amazing and enjoy every day. I doubt this project would have gotten this far with my old self. Feels good to have my body look and feel like I'm 18 yet I am 50! I should add my wife joined me in the quest for a better life. She went from a full blown diabetic with high blood pressure pills at 164lbs to 104lbs with no meds and perfect blood sugar. She says she never can remember being just over 100 lbs in her life!

[Native]

Hey Simon! That is a wonderful testamonial of the power of proper diet! Thank you for sharing.