We haven't settled on a name, but ours is Lee, so this SkooLee was clever. Maybe it will stick.
So I've wanted to convert a bus forever, and now I have a legitimate excuse. A handful of kids, 1 profoundly disabled. Traveling is arduous - this will make it easier.
So, here's our
- 28' Blue Bird TC2000
- Cummins 5.9
- Allison AT545
- Highway gears
- New tires
- with a wheelchair lift uniquely in the middle vs the rear.
The seats were already out since the previous owner used it bare bones to sleep in while pulling his 30' trailer up and down the East Coast. It has some stuff I've gotta troubleshoot:
- Left front wheel wobbles. You can feel it in the steering wheel and it's visible to a driver beside me while on the highway. Hoping it's just a balance issue. The bearings are supposed to be new.
- Oil is leaking somewhere that makes the top of the engine and doghouse cover wet on the underside. Hoping it's just a valve cover gasket.
Stuff I'm doing to start:
- pulling up rubber floor cover. Seriously debating pulling up the floor. It has 1" plywood and if have to remove the lift, which is not something I want to mess with.
- debating floor insulation plan. If I did go the trouble of removing the factory flooring I'd build up the floor as is typical. If I don't pull it up I don't want to add a lot of height.
- remove walls and ceiling to insulate
- figure out electrical plan before insulating. My disabled daughter has crucial power needs, so that will be done right, whereas if corners are cut it will be elsewhere.
This rough drawing is fraught with issues I am sure, but this is generally my approach. I'd like kids beds in the back and the front sofas will double as master. My disabled daughter needs to be on a raised bed (to save our backs) and have room around for medical equipment and supply storage. Figured her bed will not be a bunk. Also the walkway has to be wide enough to carry her through when moving to the rear.
SkooLee and our 4x4 diesel wheelchair accessible van
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