shuttle bus conversion, part 2, more questions

[dictum]

Looking at this one. What's a reasonable price to offer? asking price 33K.
A similar one sold on Ebay for 20K.

Some questions. Assuming I get it.
Should I do something with some of the windows? At the very least, reflecting coating. But would not the heat retention properties of so many windows be terrible.

How do I install a discreet wood stove pipe? So it does not obviously stick out, signaling that it's a full-timing machine.

In general, what are the highest priorities when doing the conversion?
And how do I install furniture in it, like bed and a desk and secure them so they do not move around?

I think the big and most complicated item is the water tank and heater and a shower. Is it possible to install a full size bath? I get that I would be limited to shore water only as the onboard tank would not carry that much water.


https://www.smartchevrolet.com/inven...af5gy8ceb10292

[rffffffff]

Not trying to be a jerk or discouraging, but the questions you have about the conversion kind of need to be 'self solved' as you go or you have to make sure you have a really solid budget to hire competent help to get everything installed. Watch a million videos on YouTube and look at all kinds of Skoolie content everywhere that you can.

In general most people start with busses that are farrr cheaper (mine is a 35' school bus that I got for $2000) and then put $10K (general minimum?) to $50k into the conversion. (just making up relatively random numbers but it's a ballpark)

If you're full timing the kitchen and bathroom matter a lot, as does insulation and solar and batteries, depending on how much you'll be boondocking or with hookups or in good weather or bad weather and moving a lot or mostly stationary. It takes a good deal of planning and thought before you build to decide your needs and the best way to get a handle of all of that is to get massively educated via content that's been posted. build threads on this site are great (check out musigenesis' thread to get an idea) but if you're asking how to bolt down furniture you're really not quite ready to start.

It's okay to lean on the community but youre not going to get people to walk you through each step, it's a very independent and difficult process to build your first bus and you have to be prepared to make a bunch of mistakes and learn throughout.

I hope that helps and isn't discouraging... keep learning before you buy!

[LargeMargeInBaja]

Before anybody can offer rational suggestions, I need to see your RequirementsStatement.
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What experiences do you bring into a conversion?
We owned busses, we converted Class 8 semi-trucks and -trailers, we built an ExpeditionVehicle.
We mostly full-time live-aboard since the mid-1970s.
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What will be your use?
We are converting a 40' semi-trailer for our extended family if they need to evacuate California fires... because California.
Our ExpeditionVehicle was converted from a commercial truck in less than a week... while selling everything.
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One point to tattoo on your forehead:
* avoid believing 'this rig is my forever rig'
Each of your series of rigs is a refinement of YOUR needs.
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Could you begin by tossing in some car-camping gear to test the concept (a 'POC', aka 'Proof Of Concept')?
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I concur with our esteemed colleague in New Mexico.
By asking about my method of securing my bunk in my rig, you sound as though you are the ideal candidate to apprentice at the feet of somebody with at least one conversion under their belt.
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Presuming, of course, you are not a pre-pubescent initiating a thread merely because you are lonely.
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As to 'the asking price', anybody can ask any amount.
The purchase price may be vastly different.
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Any comparison between similar vehicles is plain-n-simple nincompoopery.
One might need tires, the other might have a new tranny, another might have the seats stripped, another might be held together by a fresh paint-job over rust.
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Are you in love with that particular bus?

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by LargeMargeInBaja

a pre-pubescent

Man, when did this become the insult du jour around here?

[DeMac]

Originally Posted by musigenesis

Man, when did this become the insult du jour around here?

Remote communications side effect? Not enough human interaction. We lost many of our better members over the years. Though some have quietly returned under new aliases.

OP: dictum:
All of that is possible, circumstances will dictate how you achieve some of your requirements. Long wheelbase skoolies and 8ft wide shuttles, for instance, can have a full size (5'x7') bath.
Priorities vary wildly between builders. Same with the How-Tos.

[LargeMargeInBaja]

re -- "...not a pre-pubescient..." versus ""...a pre-pubescient...""
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My Dear Hard-Working Moderators,
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What are the ethics of editing or mis-quoting a post?
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For example:
* if somebody writes "...not a pre-pubescient...", but a reply edits that to "...a pre-pubescient...", would this mis-quote tend to give readers the opposite impression from the intent of the originating post?
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I wish I knew!

[ewo1]

Originally Posted by musigenesis

Man, when did this become the insult du jour around here?

Yeah….

How about we concentrate on talking about busses and how much fun this journey can be!

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by LargeMargeInBaja

re -- "...not a pre-pubescient..." versus ""...a pre-pubescient...""
.
My Dear Hard-Working Moderators,
.
What are the ethics of editing or mis-quoting a post?
.
For example:
* if somebody writes "...not a pre-pubescient...", but a reply edits that to "...a pre-pubescient...", would this mis-quote tend to give readers the opposite impression from the intent of the originating post?
.
I wish I knew!

It might give readers the impression that you forgot how to spell "pre-pubescent" after originally spelling it correctly!