'93 E350 Goshen - Adventure bus build...

[Frochevy]

Looking great! What kind of paint did you use and how did you apply it?

[Mr4btTahoe]

Originally Posted by Frochevy

Looking great! What kind of paint did you use and how did you apply it?

Oil based Valspar Armor with a 4" foam roller and a brush.

[Mr4btTahoe]

Roof top AC is going up tonight... and my first cabinet will finally be done tomorrow. About time! They were only supposed to be done last winter... only ~8 months late considering they've been paid for since last fall.

[Mr4btTahoe]

Heaved the AC unit up on the roof tonight...


IMG_20180803_182703151 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr


Marked out the hole and got it cut...
IMG_20180803_182636804 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr


IMG_20180803_184935181 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr


New gasket and leveling blocks on the unit...


IMG_20180803_190241445 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr


In position...
IMG_20180803_190847913 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr


And anchored down...
IMG_20180803_195324124 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr


Wired up a male plug on the wiring to test run the unit. Gets ice cold and is fairly quiet... moves a LOT of air even on low. I don't think it'll have any trouble keeping the bus comfortable.


I also tested it on a 15a circuit on a 100' 12awg cord. It started easy and didn't trip the breaker or GFCI it was plugged into. Makes me wonder if the 15a output on my 2kw onan generator would start it up....


Anyways... one of my cabinets should be done tomorrow so maybe some real progress will start back up. The AC was a big step... now to just get a bed and some little things buttoned up.. and then we hit the road for our shake down trip to a local state park camp area.

[Mr4btTahoe]

Co-pilot seat mount finally anchored down...


IMG_20180812_193253288 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr


Here are the seating positions...
IMG_20180811_213338782 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr


IMG_20180811_213415597 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr


IMG_20180811_213352821 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr


IMG_20180811_213318484 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr


Engine cover back in place (hopefully for the last time for a while)..
IMG_20180812_193237323 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr


And a night time gauge shot... cause why not.
IMG_20180811_213708978 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr


Got the bus cleaned out tonight... Will hopefully get the boy's seat mounted this week and change out some steering components.. Then our first trip.

[Mr4btTahoe]

Finally... one of the main cabinets is in place! Still needs trimmed out and such but the fit is perfect. Refrigerator is in position and fits snug. This cabinet will also house the LP furnace and main power distribution panel that came from the truck camper.


IMG_20180816_181029051 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr


IMG_20180816_180941149 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr


IMG_20180816_180952438 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr


IMG_20180816_181033463 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr


I've got to run the power feed for the roof mount AC unit tonight and then he'll start on the other 3 cabinets which will be built off of this one.


I'm also going to be changing the face of the fridge... not a big fan of the old school wood grain... not sure what we'll change it to yet though.


Anyways.. more to come soon hopefully!

[Harold 1951]

Nice build! What did you use for the co-pilot seat? I'm getting ready to find one for my 96 cutaway project....

[Mr4btTahoe]

Swivel quick release seat base from a conversion van (junkyard find) modified to work on a sienna seat. Works great and was basically free.


Could always just use the seat from the conversion van.. but I liked that this one folds flat.

[Frochevy]

Looks great! I like the cabinet! I've been thinking about doing a seat like your passenger seat.

[BlackJohn]

Not sure where you live but if that propane heater gets used much, the fridge will have to work extra hard in that configuration. Not sure I would put a panel so low either and alongside a propane unit..the spark factor.


John

[Mr4btTahoe]

Originally Posted by BlackJohn

Not sure where you live but if that propane heater gets used much, the fridge will have to work extra hard in that configuration. Not sure I would put a panel so low either and alongside a propane unit..the spark factor.


John

It's installed very similar to how it was in the truck camper. I honestly doubt we'll ever use it... but I wanted it (since I had it) just in case. It surpasses all of the "clearance to combustibles" listed on the unit as well.


It will be mounted in the bottom right small square hole. I'd think there is plenty of isolation between the furnace and the bottom of the stove to prevent any issues.


Again, I doubt we'll ever actually use it... but if we ever do, we'll take precautions (such as move the driver's seat all the way forward, etc...) to prevent any issues.

The electrical distribution panel will be on the left side of the large opening directly under the fridge set 3/4 the way back and covered by an access panel. It will be completely sectioned off other then grommets for wiring pass-through.



If there is something I'm overlooking, feel free to point it out. Better safe then sorry.

[Mr4btTahoe]

Originally Posted by Frochevy

Looks great! I like the cabinet! I've been thinking about doing a seat like your passenger seat.

So far, I really like how the seat landed. I'm going to be tweaking the door handle/locking system a bit to give it a bit more free space.. but it fits just right and it's small enough that it can just be unhooked from the base and sat up close to the dash to give a completely clear pathway... or folded flat and stored under the bed.

[BlackJohn]

Originally Posted by Mr4btTahoe

It's installed very similar to how it was in the truck camper. I honestly doubt we'll ever use it... but I wanted it (since I had it) just in case. It surpasses all of the "clearance to combustibles" listed on the unit as well.


It will be mounted in the bottom right small square hole. I'd think there is plenty of isolation between the furnace and the bottom of the stove to prevent any issues.


Again, I doubt we'll ever actually use it... but if we ever do, we'll take precautions (such as move the driver's seat all the way forward, etc...) to prevent any issues.

The electrical distribution panel will be on the left side of the large opening directly under the fridge set 3/4 the way back and covered by an access panel. It will be completely sectioned off other then grommets for wiring pass-through.



If there is something I'm overlooking, feel free to point it out. Better safe then sorry.

I'm thinking that fittings loosen up over time and with vibration. Propane lays low if it escapes the piping or heater and into the interior.
Every time your panel livens up or is shut off there will be an arc and same for each breaker so just sayinn, that scares the heck out of me.


John

[Mr4btTahoe]

Originally Posted by BlackJohn

I'm thinking that fittings loosen up over time and with vibration. Propane lays low if it escapes the piping or heater and into the interior.
Every time your panel livens up or is shut off there will be an arc and same for each breaker so just sayinn, that scares the heck out of me.


John

Understandable. The heater itself and cabinet will be vented to outside the bus... so perhaps a powered cabinet vent in case of line failure, etc.. would be smart.


It will be very rare that there will even be a tank hooked up.. just want it in place in case we get stuck out somewhere without hook-ups and the temps drop.


Something to keep in mind for sure.

[Mr4btTahoe]

Got the wiring ran overhead for the AC unit so my cabinet guy can get started on the rest.


IMG_20180819_222930211 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr


IMG_20180819_223514922 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr


IMG_20180819_224256097 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr


May be overkill.. but ran 10/2 with ground to the unit. Shouldn't have to worry about voltage drop.. lol


More to come soon hopefully. Planning on picking up paint and flooring this week.

[BlackJohn]

Originally Posted by Mr4btTahoe

Got the wiring ran overhead for the AC unit so my cabinet guy can get started on the rest.


IMG_20180819_222930211 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr


IMG_20180819_223514922 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr


IMG_20180819_224256097 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr


May be overkill.. but ran 10/2 with ground to the unit. Shouldn't have to worry about voltage drop.. lol


More to come soon hopefully. Planning on picking up paint and flooring this week.

"May be overkill.. but ran 10/2 with ground to the unit. Shouldn't have to worry about voltage drop.. lol"


Wise choice there, you can never go wrong oversizing cables. less resistance means less heat, more efficiency.






John



John

[joeblack5]

Wise to oversize that wire, embedded in foam it will not be able to shed its heat. So to start with less heat to begin with is a good choice.


Later j

[Mr4btTahoe]

Originally Posted by joeblack5

Wise to oversize that wire, embedded in foam it will not be able to shed its heat. So to start with less heat to begin with is a good choice.


Later j

My thoughts exactly. Also using direct burial outdoor cable so its already oversized a bit to handle not being able to shed heat. Should work out nicely.

[Mr4btTahoe]

More progress being made...


Interior colors changing...

IMG_20180825_095207867 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr


Fixing the AC...
IMG_20180825_101403405 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr


IMG_20180825_101441642 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr



IMG_20180825_103504561 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr


Waterproof click/lock vinyl flooring...
IMG_20180825_095232808 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr


Going down..
IMG_20180825_165001596 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr


IMG_20180825_172051738 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr


Hoping to finish the flooring and paint tonight. Picked up the lumber and such to frame out the bed... maybe start that tomorrow.


Also ordered the panel mount shore power receptacle, cords, and adapters we may possibly need while out... should have that stuff monday. Got the main power distribution box mounted.. have some 110 circuits to run.


We are planning for our first trip here in a couple weeks. Hoping to have the majority of the interior done by then.. but just depends on if the cabinets are done by then.


Anyways.. more to come.

[plfking]

That gray planking looks great with the white walls.