Quote:
Originally Posted by evtonb
hey everybody! I just purchased a 16 passenger shuttle bus E450 and i am starting the process of converting it to a tour bus for my band. I was wondering if you could help me out with some very basic beginners questions.
|
Welcome, I'll also try to answer your questions. However, a lot depends on how much investment in both time and resources you want to put in, and how long you plan on keeping the bus around.
Quote:
Originally Posted by evtonb
1. the bus leaks like crazy right now. When its raining out side the water is pouring in through the ceiling and puddling on the floor. Before attempting to re-seal the bus should I remove the panels and check for mold, rust, or water damage?
|
Again, if you're looking for something to just get you through a couple of shows, then no. If you plan on keeping the bus around for a while, I would get that fixed up. After you put all of the time and effort into your bus and it becomes like a part of the band, do you want to start having major rust issues and have to get rid of it? I second what Redbear said with the fiberglass insulation, it acts as a sponge and really concentrates bad rust.
Quote:
Originally Posted by evtonb
2. what kind of caulk should I use on the outside and inside?
|
I used an exterior rated paintable silicone with the intention of putting bus-kote over it. I haven't gotten around to the bus-kote yet, but the silicone is holding up well.
Quote:
Originally Posted by evtonb
3. do I have to have a minimum number of seats with seatbelts in the vehicle to adhere to regulations?
|
It depends on your state. In most states, a seat belt for the driver is required. Any more than 15 (again depends on your state) passengers and you'll need a commercial drivers license to operate it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by evtonb
4. I would like to put in some couch style seating running lengthwise in the bus. can I use any old couch and just bolt it down? or is a custom made bench the way to go?
|
Anything you throw in there will work great. Custom build can have storage underneath or be foldable / transformable a lot easier. You can always replace couches with custom as you go and your needs change.
Quote:
Originally Posted by evtonb
5. what would be ideal is if I could have normal row type seating in the bus and then be able to fold all of the seats down flat so people can sleep on top of them. my main goal is to have as much sleeping room as possible. Does anybody know of any solutions such as this or how somebody would go about acquiring seats like that?
|
A lot depends on your floor plan and your exact needs. Just off random ideas, I see it could work like a train car. You place some benches on the outer walls that people could sleep across, then the backs of those seats swing up and lock into bunk-bed style upper beds. This way, each bench can transform to sleep two (if long enough). There's always air mattresses and tent-gear too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by evtonb
thank you very much in advance for your advice. let me know if i missed somewhere on this website where questions like these are answered because i couldnt find them.
|
The people on this site don't yell at you for asking a question like a couple other skoolie-related sites out there. If there's a thread that has discussed an issue and we remember where it is, we'll link it, or sometimes just repost the information. Generally we tend to just re-answer the question. Again, a lot of what you're asking depends on your specific needs, budget, skill level, etc... so there isn't a one-all answer page for this type of stuff.