Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 07-28-2019, 09:26 PM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 18
Insulation and subfloor

Hi, everyone!

I have a bus. YAY!!!! Our plan is to turn the bus into a nonprofit children's bookstore. My number one priority is waterproofing the roof and windows in order to protect books. Based on what I've read, I plan to use a 3M polyurethane seam sealer on the roof then cauking windows with Dynatron 550. Please let me know if I'm overlooking something.

My question tonight is about insulation and subfloor. The book bus will be out and about town 3-4 days a week, setting up shop for no more then 6 hours tops. If it's terribly cold or terribly hot, the bus won't be out. Also, we will be using generator to run ac/heater when "store" is open.

Because no one is living on ths bus, how much do we need to worry about the subfloor and wall/ceiling insulation? Is what the bus came with good enough (2003 Chevy Express 3500)? Oo should I follow the standard advice given for liveable skoolies?

Thanks so much!

BookBusVA is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-30-2019, 05:45 PM   #2
Bus Geek
 
o1marc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
Posts: 10,482
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
Rated Cap: 77
Since no one is really spending any time on the bus, insualtion is much less critcal than if it were lived in. This will save you a bunch of extra work if you have an alternate source for heat or AC..
o1marc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-30-2019, 06:50 PM   #3
Bus Crazy
 
HazMatt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: E Central Tejas
Posts: 2,089
Year: 1998
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: IH 3800, 8 window
Engine: T444E w/ Spicer 5-speed MT
Rated Cap: I prefer broad-brims hats
Howeva... If an alternative perspective may be injected...
As I recollect; yours will be a non-profit endeavor, so unlikely to be recipient to any fat subsidies.
Regardless of the season, making an effort to improve upon the floor and ceiling insulations seems a worthwhile investment.
Either you'll be running your genny at full-tilt boogie while parked, or you'll be running off customers because either their feet are becoming blocks of ice, or their huevos are hard-boiling in the sac...
Mi dos centavos.
__________________
Those who say that it cannot be done should not interrupt the people doing it.
HazMatt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-30-2019, 08:23 PM   #4
Bus Geek
 
musigenesis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 7,030
Year: 2003
Coachwork: International
Chassis: CE 300
Engine: DT466e
Rated Cap: 65C-43A
Quote:
Originally Posted by HazMatt View Post
Howeva... If an alternative perspective may be injected...
As I recollect; yours will be a non-profit endeavor, so unlikely to be recipient to any fat subsidies.
Regardless of the season, making an effort to improve upon the floor and ceiling insulations seems a worthwhile investment.
Either you'll be running your genny at full-tilt boogie while parked, or you'll be running off customers because either their feet are becoming blocks of ice, or their huevos are hard-boiling in the sac...
Mi dos centavos.
The insulation may also be moldy if there has been a leak at some point, presumably not something you want to expose children to. My insulation looked brand new when I removed it but YMMV.
__________________
Rusty 87 build thread
musigenesis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-30-2019, 09:07 PM   #5
Bus Crazy
 
HazMatt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: E Central Tejas
Posts: 2,089
Year: 1998
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: IH 3800, 8 window
Engine: T444E w/ Spicer 5-speed MT
Rated Cap: I prefer broad-brims hats
Hence my suggestion to, "improve upon"
__________________
Those who say that it cannot be done should not interrupt the people doing it.
HazMatt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-30-2019, 09:23 PM   #6
Bus Crazy
 
Johnny Mullet's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Ashtabula, Ohio
Posts: 1,494
Year: 1996
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: International
Engine: T444E 7.3L
I used 1/4" insulation on my subfloor and even though the "R" factor is low, it made a huge difference in road noise. I prepped the bare floor, laid tar paper down, laid the 1//4" insulation, and then the 5/8" plywood...........
Attached Thumbnails
IMG_20171203_115846384.jpg   IMG_20171203_142754975_HDR.jpg  
Johnny Mullet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-30-2019, 09:42 PM   #7
Bus Crazy
 
HazMatt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: E Central Tejas
Posts: 2,089
Year: 1998
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: IH 3800, 8 window
Engine: T444E w/ Spicer 5-speed MT
Rated Cap: I prefer broad-brims hats
Did you clad the wheel wells, or is that paint?
__________________
Those who say that it cannot be done should not interrupt the people doing it.
HazMatt is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:29 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.