Hi,
When i purchased this bus for months ago, i had some plans to install a wood floor, but after driving it back to the lot and removing the seats i decided to spend a little time in it first. Although it was my dream, i wasn't quite sure how it would all play out or if i would even want to be in the bus full time.
So as many of you know i simply filled the bus with my belongings, installed a solar setup, and began hanging out.
In many ways this approach has really worked in my favor; For starters i needed time to feel out the setup, and i moved a few major things around in the past five months. For instance; Originally i set the bed across the wheelwells and either climbed over it or used the back entrance to reach the shop area. This was fine for two months, but then it became a real pain.
I knew my minimalist style was not going to pull the walls apart or pull the old floor, for me it was good enough and i enjoyed the "school bus" smell and feel. My grandfather had motorhomes that were like small houses, and while those were neat, they just were not for me.
I enjoy all the windows of a bus. It helps keep away the blues.
So now winter is pulling into the harbor and the bus is cold. As cold as outside. I was fortunate to have already purchased a propane fireplace from Craigslist, which thus far has been adequate in keeping it warm enough, especially since i sectioned off the bedroom space with blankets.
I was also fortunate that all the leather sheets i had listed on craigslist for only $5 did not sell in the five months they had been up there. I often "harvest" the leather off discarded couches after they have sat a full week in the alley. I wait a little so i am sure no one is going to give it a home. The back of a couch is almost always perfect condition leather. So this leather came in handy for lining the bed and a layer on top of the covers. Wow what a difference that made. At 31 degrees i was in bed with two coats and two pairs of pants and still chilly, but after the leather i can be warm in bed in jammies while it is freezing outside. The fireplace keeps the air warm but can not compete with the non insulated floors and walls. They feel like open windows there is so much cold flowing through.
So now i have more information; one is that the bus is a good fit for me. Two is that some insulation would be nice.
I am sharing this mostly because it often helps me to think out loud. There is a guy selling sheets of 3inch rigid foam for about $6 per board. Superb price compared to about $50 retail. His are in roughee shape and do not have any paper faces, just the foam, which for me should be adequate.
But all my stuff is already inside now so it will be a bit stressful and some work to unload a 35' bus, do the floor, and reload it. Might work in my favor to rearrange somethings while i am at it. Not sure yet, and frankly still not sure if i will insulate. So far the fireplace and bedding make the bus bearable in freezing weather. It is a bit like camping in that when hanging out i must wear a few coats and winter hat, but i enjoy the challenge and figure an insulated floor wont make much off a difference without insulated walls or windows, but insulation would make a big difference for a bedroom that would be at least 75 percent insulated; floor, walls, covering windows. Probably not the celing though, just not feeling it. Seems good enough for my style.
Sometimes it helps me to think outloud to find clarity. Not always that way with emotional stuff, sometimes i do better to just leave emotional stuff alone until it either simmers down or becomes clear. Often talking about it seems to feed the fires. lol
Ok im heading off track.
Thanks for reading