Hello everyone! I said I'd start a build thread and here it is!
Quick intro, we are a family of 5 +2 dogs. 3 daughters. I'm out numbered. But that's ok! We are taking the leap to build out a skoolie with the intention of moving into it full time to be able to increase the quality of our life. We want to travel, spend more time together, teach our children that value isn't just a dollar amount.
So the bus! It's a 2001 international 72 pax bus, 74" ceiling (thank God, my wife and I are both 6 foot tall so the height was a necessity). Dt466, newer tires, and runs like a top! It was in service Dec 2019.
Floorplan is still a little in flux but we'll get there.
We picked it up Feb 6, and set today and ripped all the seats out. 2 hours after buying a cheap angle grinder, we have a pile of vinyl and steel in the yard!
We had every intention of using the factory a/c and moving the inside units to better areas, but when I went to look at it and check pressure, there wasn't any. The compressor belt was removed (which we knew when we bought it), but the seller didn't know why. I pulled the shroud off the interior unit behind the door and found the return (?) line was unusually crusty and there were clear signs that the PAG oil had been dripping from it. I'm all about maintaining what is already in the bus, but due to the size, the unknown quantity of internal damage to any and all components (just based on the lack of pressure and potential that the system was open), we decided to pull it. Bad choice? Probably on some level, but we'll adapt. May use the AC compressor bracket to hang an auxiliary alternator and put a roof mount ac right over the front seating area for on the road. We'll have to see.