Roll your own

[EastCoastCB]

Heading out to the bus in a bit. Gona take out some windows, and cut a rib section out to test fit some tubing into, and maybe get some channel made. Maybe.

[sojourner]

These guys also have good deals if you can work with stock sizes:
https://www.cleervision.com/
As far as installation, look at the different manufacturer websites and you can download installation manuals.

[BurlKing]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Almost forgot to order clecos!
Got some of those and the cleco pliers ordered this am.

Its all coming together, at long last!

this is one tool i didnt have when i did it, wouldnt do it again without. good choice.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by BurlKing

this is one tool i didnt have when i did it, wouldnt do it again without. good choice.

Got 50 in 1/4" and the pliers for $70 delivered.

[EastCoastCB]

Does this look like too much gap?
Closest square tubing size I could find on-hand.
Gaps look a wee bit worse in person than in the pics. About an eighth or so.





what yall think?

[EastCoastCB]

I may just get some C channel made that fits over the factory hat, then weld 14 ga angle onto it to make the hat and have the flange to rivet the skin to.
Like Mudda earth's but with the c channel instead of square tube.
IDK if its a Ward/AmTran thing, or what but I can't find anyone that will make this hat channel and I can't find square tubing that fits very snug. Quite a bit of gap and wiggle in the closest size I've found yet.
I'm gonna go to another fab shop tomorrow if I don't get any good news from my step dad today.

[EastCoastCB]

If I could find some magical supply of 1 1/8" square tubing my life would be SO much easier right now.
My step dad called to tell me it isn't 1 1/8 just as I found a supply.

[oricha1984]

Whish I could help you dude, but this is like organic chemistry. I'm clueless.

Anyhow, I'll be there Saturday.
I'll bring Rum, Beer, maybe some food, have some new torches that I never used, anything else ?




Sent from my BLU LIFE ONE X using Tapatalk

[BurlKing]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Does this look like too much gap?
Closest square tubing size I could find on-hand.
Gaps look a wee bit worse in person than in the pics. About an eighth or so.



what yall think?

in my opinion it would work if you were in a pinch and couldn't get ahold of anything else before your raise party. possibly use shims to make it as even as possible inside the gap there so that you still have a flush outside to rivet your sheet metal to. then once its even in the gap, use the c-clamp, tack weld it, take shims and clamps off, then weld it from every angle you can get it at from.

it's a bigger gap than some would like, but sometimes you just gotta make do with what you got!

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by BurlKing

in my opinion it would work if you were in a pinch and couldn't get ahold of anything else before your raise party. possibly use shims to make it as even as possible inside the gap there so that you still have a flush outside to rivet your sheet metal to. then once its even in the gap, use the c-clamp, tack weld it, take shims and clamps off, then weld it from every angle you can get it at from.

it's a bigger gap than some would like, but sometimes you just gotta make do with what you got!

I'm probably gona go with some good fitting, custom bent C channel. Then some 4 ga angles welded on afterward to rivet to. Should look close to factory once skinned.
THe C channel won't have that nasty gap, and the tighter, better fit will make keeping it all lined up easier, at least in my mind.
With C channel instead of tube, I COULD even rivet it all together if I HAD to. But I much prefer welds.
Thanks a TON, I value your input a LOT. You guys are awesome!

[Tango]

Good call. Unless the fit is right (snug)...the loads will not be properly transmitted throughout the structure. Trying to shim it would only create weak points around them.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Tango

Good call. Unless the fit is right (snug)...the loads will not be properly transmitted throughout the structure. Trying to shim it would only create weak points around them.

Yep, I want a snug fit. Ideally, I'd like to have it fit just a wee snug to where it would seat nicely with a couple taps from a rubber mallet.
I have a lot of experience in steel tubing and was bummed when I finally got a rib section to size/sample,
1 1/4 fit so perfectly in MuddaEarth's Bluebird!!! I wish I were so fortunate, it would make this so simple.

[Tango]

Ya...the 1-1/4 is a perfect fit for the BB's. Used it on my old rig. Should not be all that expensive to get some channel folded to the size you need. Shop around.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Tango

Ya...the 1-1/4 is a perfect fit for the BB's. Used it on my old rig. Should not be all that expensive to get some channel folded to the size you need. Shop around.

Yeah, I'm doin that. Sent inquiries all around Orlando and Tampa today. I got a guy in Otown that says he can *probably* make it for me.
Thing thats SO FRUSTRATING is knowing 50++ people who work at the largest steel fab shop in the county, maybe the whole area, and getting ZERO help even for money. i ran a press brake for a year or so at that shop myself. I coulda made it in my spare time on a few lunch breaks or something. Doesn't seem like it would be such a big deal. Till ya don't work there or have the tools/equipment.
In almost three years of owning this bus, I have yet to get one of my steel fab buddies out to the bus to even look at it. Apparently life at $12 an hour and 55 hours a week leaves little energy for side projects.

[EastCoastCB]

I had a new, unwanted tenant in my bus.
I HATE these vile, evil little suckers.



Another one had take up residence in the housing around the service door workings.

[EastCoastCB]

[Stewzer55]

Fume them out?

[BurlKing]

now thats why i dont live in florida. freeze em and kill em up here!

[EastCoastCB]

I've found three species of venomous spider in my bus now.
One thing I don't like about FL.

[BurlKing]

thats some scary ****...is that a black widow in the picture? looks like it might be female and having babies. i had tons of spiders in mine before the remodel and wow....i can say i'd take 1000 spiders of what i had over that ONE there. id be walking on egg shells in my bus if i were you! not fun.