2001' 6 window project

[tradertim54@gmail]

Primer's on. Soon to be gloss white urethane. You can see my donor trailer behind "Roosevelt".

[tradertim54@gmail]

Bus went from high end of 64mph to over 80mph.

[cadillackid]

injteresting... i looked for 8 lug 22.5's for my little red bus and didnt have much luck.. i ended up swapping in an overdrive transmission and solved the issue. but im interested to know about those 8 lug 22.5s.. and if you swapped in largewr breaks to account fore the larger wheels..

[tradertim54@gmail]

I had an old travel trailer that the roof to wall seams had leaked. Such a common problem with that style it became a donor... First the kidneys... no the propane stove then the fridge ... but it didn't work any longer so we bought an apartment size 7.4 cu.ft 120 volt. More details to follow.

[tradertim54@gmail]

No I have the same brakes..mine has massive disc bakes on all four wheels they aren't air they are electric assist hydraulic. No trouble stopping at all

[tradertim54@gmail]

I did have to scrounge for those puppies . I could find the steel wheels easily enough but as luck would have it I got the aluminum. They are pretty old Alcoa brand and were off of an old dump truck and were NASTY. I spent two days cleaning them up and two more days polishing them. They really do make a truck look better than the old steel standards that were on there.

[cadillackid]

yeah I love the alcoas.. i ended up putting wheel sims on my steelies.. not as nice as a real alcoa but better than the old..



my bus has disc hydraulic brakes too.. when you go to bigger wheels you lose the lever advantage of the smaller wheel.. the smaller discs made for the 19.5" wheel will get hot quicker than a larger one. if the bus isnt going to be towing a car. or laoded heavily with lots of tanks full of water and a heavy conversion. you likely wont have any issues..

[tradertim54@gmail]

I live in the mountain in New Mexico.. I've already had a chance to over use the brakes (I still have the AT545). and being it doesn't lock out it can get hairy in the mountains. No trouble so far.

[tradertim54@gmail]

I used Speedokote from Amazon everything including sandpaper, tape, thinners... the list goes on, overall cost $428.

[tradertim54@gmail]

Originally I didn't want the side lift door. But I'm ok with it now. This bus came equipped with air ride suspension and the reason was that it was a handicap equipped bus. I'm building out the inside now. I'm going for a full-on rustic cabin interior. I had to replace all the outdated school bus lights with LED's and boy are they nice. Also, it's hard to tell but I've eliminated the dual wheels. Because it is registered as a privately owned RV the DOT commercial requirement doesn't apply. The oversize tires and wheels can more than accommodate the 18,000 GRVW. Getting ready to install solar panels. I've got six 260 watt panels that their main function is to run a 6000 BTU air conditioner. I sure like the way it rolls now that I've done the firewall engine noise and heat insulation. It makes a major difference, along with the RV style doors and windows. The bus windows and door's wind and road noise is GONE!

[tradertim54@gmail]

I'm loving the agility of this size bus. It's just four to five feet longer than my pickup. This size ( six windows) will allow me to have virtually everything a larger bus has. I have a full kitchen double sink, three burner propane, counters and cabinets, stove/oven, apartment size with freezer 7.4 cu.ft..fridge. A complete bath( shower and toilet), a dinette, a comfortable jump seat for the honey. So she'll ride upfront with me when we travel. A queen-size bed that converts into a loveseat lounger, 28 in. wide hall, galley kitchen. Tons of storage in overhead cabinets. A loft (sleeps two average-size adults snugly) area over the cab, a rear deck that stows underneath when traveling. Plus A/C and diesel heater, 1560 watts of solar (for the A/C). Plus it's 6'5'' inside so I don't have to hunch over, I'm 6'3". Wifi equipped, and a complete computer and entertainment system.

[tradertim54@gmail]

Here you can tell that I have deleted the inside tire on the original rear duals. The original wheels were 19.5's. These are 22.5's and they have made a major difference.

[CHEESE_WAGON]

Originally Posted by tradertim54@gmail

Here you can tell that I have deleted the inside tire on the original rear duals. The original wheels were 19.5's. These are 22.5's and they have made a major difference.

Nice-looking rig. May be too much stress on your rear axle bearings though. If you want a single tire look, look at Super Singles, but they are pricey. Duals are duals for a reason, namely stability, axle longevity, and traction.

[Ronnie]

Yea this does load the bearings a good bit. In effect twisting them to have only one dual on. With both wheels on the load is centered on the bearings, with one wheel only it is offset. You may be light enough to get away with it, but would inspect the bearing regularly.


You have done a nice job, neat rig I like it. Interior pics?

[tradertim54@gmail]

6-260 watt solar panels. The first solar charger reading was 90 volts and 180 watts in the shade. I've been working my tail off on the interior.... photos to follow in a few days.