My Short bus build... - Page 9

Frochevy · 06-24-2019, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plfking

FWIW.....I never felt any air-flow through mine, and skinned over it just to eliminate the potential for a later leak.

Hope you have a totally boring and uneventful trip (bus-wise).

Thanks for the follow-up! I think I'll just cap it from the roof!! I hope I have a boring drive as well!!! We're installing the rooftop AC right now... Having to do some custom work as the AC I bought was for ducted system and I'm modifying to make it have a register...

HazMatt · 06-24-2019, 08:43 PM

OK, I see how ya're!
Got me all paranoid about condensation up there, and now you're gonna do what I originally stated my intent to be!
Some people's kids...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frochevy

Thanks for the follow-up! I think I'll just cap it from the roof!! I hope I have a boring drive as well!!! We're installing the rooftop AC right now... Having to do some custom work as the AC I bought was for ducted system and I'm modifying to make it have a register...

For a wonderment, I actually knew which tote full of pending supplies they were in!
So I lied... Forgot theres actually 4 blocks of LEDs per string...
Picked 'em up on a whim at an auto parts store, buying replacement bulbs for the bus' B/U lights. Think they'll work fine with my minimalistic mind-set on my mods.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sleddgracer

thanks - l'll look into that

Click image for larger version

Name: 20190624_202814.jpeg
Views: 10
Size: 95.3 KB
ID: 34930

Click image for larger version

Name: 20190624_200344.jpeg
Views: 8
Size: 72.6 KB
ID: 34931

Frochevy · 06-24-2019, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HazMatt

OK, I see how ya're!
Got me all paranoid about condensation up there, and now you're gonna do what I originally stated my intent to be!
Some people's kids...For a wonderment, I actually knew which tote full of pending supplies they were in!
So I lied... Forgot theres actually 4 blocks of LEDs per string...
Picked 'em up on a whim at an auto parts store, buying replacement bulbs for the bus' B/U lights. Think they'll work fine with my minimalistic mind-set on my mods.Attachment 34930 Attachment 34931

Lol sorry! Didnt mean to get you all riled up!

I got the crap around the bus all cleaned up so I could pull it out of the shop this evening. It's only been in there a month or so and had stuff all around it!

I used the skid steer to raise the AC up to my father in law and he slid it off the forks onto the roof. It worked pretty slick. We got it bolted on! I might be wiring it up down at the lake with my dad's help... probably won't have time tomorrow...

HazMatt · 06-25-2019, 05:36 AM

Alright... I'll let it slide... THIS time! [emoji41]
Using a skid steer to hoist the A/C roofside is an awesome engineering control! I had to rig a rope sling, and pull it up, sliding along my ladders rails, riding on a cardboard sheet. Good times...
BTW, sure hope you didn't slide the unit around on it's foam gasket. That'll screw it up in a hot NY minute!

Frochevy · 06-25-2019, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HazMatt

Alright... I'll let it slide... THIS time! [emoji41]
Using a skid steer to hoist the A/C roofside is an awesome engineering control! I had to rig a rope sling, and pull it up, sliding along my ladders rails, riding on a cardboard sheet. Good times...
BTW, sure hope you didn't slide the unit around on it's foam gasket. That'll screw it up in a hot NY minute!

Good point! The gasket was in a great shape! Very thick foam rubber type of material. So we set the AC on a board on the forks. Then he slid the board and ac over along with the board. Then just tipped the AC up and we pulled the board out.

HazMatt · 06-25-2019, 07:58 AM

Well done, sir. That's just what I did with mine and it's cardboard slide- no harm, no foul.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frochevy

Good point! The gasket was in a great shape! Very thick foam rubber type of material. So we set the AC on a board on the forks. Then he slid the board and ac over along with the board. Then just tipped the AC up and we pulled the board out.

The gasket is amazing stuff, nary a leak to be seen.
But it has incredible braking qualities, so sliding it unprotected'll break it...

Frochevy · 06-25-2019, 10:53 PM

I didn't use the boat seat swivels. I decided I needed the bed to slide as well in order to maximize my space. With no slide would mean around an 18" deep counter top. With the slide I should be able to go over 24".

So a few chicken scratches on a piece of insulation later I had an idea... Some 1" sq tubing is the frame and a small tab to bolt to the chair rail for support. I ended up putting some 1/4" plywood in the base of the bed frame as well. For now I just have a few tie downs to hold in place. I'll make a locking mechanism later.

Frochevy · 06-25-2019, 11:02 PM

A few more details on the bus done today. I welded a receiver hitch on the back of the platform.. I also made some flashing for the rear door. I used the rubber seal from the top hatch on the bottom. Of the door. I used some 3m adhesive to glue it to the door.

I bought some press on rubber seal from Amazon. I used it on the sides and top. I believe it is 5/8 or 3/4" but on the hinge side it isn't quite thick enough. I'll have to get some thicker for that side.

The AC I bought was for a ducted camper. So I modified the bracket with 4" holes and used my round vents I had planned to use for my heater. Ill get more for that later...

Frochevy · 06-28-2019, 03:16 PM

Well we made it.... My wife and kids followed me in the truck. No seats in the bus yet... The 4 hrs 15 min trip took about 6 hrs. We had to stop and feed the 4 month old once and I had some issues with the bus. I had the P0087 code show up on me again and went into limp mode a couple times. I also had some transmission problems. It ran great until it got warm (92 degrees or so) Wednesday afternoon. So far, we've had a blast. The bus gives us a cool place to sleep! The two oldest kids are in memaw and pepaws camper and the little one with us.

We pulled in around 9pm Wednesday and spent the next couple of hours wiring the RV AC up with the help of my dad and brother in law. We got it going and it works great! We also wired up the fridge but it's not working. Hmmm maybe a circuit board? Any who quick update... The BOATs maiden voyage!! We made it and enjoying our own space!

Doktari · 06-28-2019, 09:10 PM

Hey, my Chevy short bus is giving me code 87 and in limo mode, limp mode, not limo mode lol. I’m not sure what’s causing it yet??
Thanks for sharing your adventure and best wishes for the road.

HazMatt · 06-28-2019, 09:34 PM

I like how the bed flagrantly violates the instructions above the door... [emoji106]

Frochevy · 06-28-2019, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doktari

Hey, my Chevy short bus is giving me code 87 and in limo mode, limp mode, not limo mode lol. I’m not sure what’s causing it yet??
Thanks for sharing your adventure and best wishes for the road.

Is it a Duramax as well? What year? Is it an LMM like mine? Mine is low fuel rail pressure. I've done a lift pump and a tune now. It appears I might need injectors. Not super happy as it will be over $3k...

Frochevy · 06-28-2019, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HazMatt

I like how the bed flagrantly violates the instructions above the door... [emoji106]

Haha! I noticed that. I always think I need to take that sign down then forget about it.. lol

Then again... I usually don't read instructions... Lol

Frochevy · 07-02-2019, 06:05 PM

Well the bus went almost a 500 mile round trip. We made it back without too many issues. I have some transmission problems I need to line out. Most of the way home it was in 3rd gear and no overdrive. We had a cool place and comfy bed and privacy. I think my wife is all about the bus now.

I hooked up our Excel hot water heater for our outdoor shower and it worked great! Everyone in my family used it. A few bumps in the road, but all in all an amazing trip and a first for the bus!!!

I should receive an upgraded control board for my fridge today. I hope it fixes my issue.

EastCoastCB · 07-02-2019, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frochevy

Well the bus went almost a 500 mile round trip. We made it back without too many issues. I have some transmission problems I need to line out. Most of the way home it was in 3rd gear and no overdrive. We had a cool place and comfy bed and privacy. I think my wife is all about the bus now.

I hooked up our Excel hot water heater for our outdoor shower and it worked great! Everyone in my family used it. A few bumps in the road, but all in all an amazing trip and a first for the bus!!!

I should receive an upgraded control board for my fridge today. I hope it fixes my issue.

My chevy work truck has a bad shift solenoid and no OD.

Frochevy · 07-02-2019, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

My chevy work truck has a bad shift solenoid and no OD.

Thanks for the tip. I'll do some research and might try switching that out!

Frochevy · 09-08-2019, 10:58 PM

I haven't been on here for awhile... We made a few more camping trips and have now brought it to 2 home games to tailgate at K State football games. I mounted a TV inside and made a few mounts on the back platform for an outside tv during tailgates. I also made a mount to throw the dish up easier. I made a mount to bolt the dish tailgater to and used conduit to hold it up. So far it's working great. The fridge inside works great for tailgates! I haven't had to bring a cooler! The little 2200 watt generator runs the fridge, TV's, Wally and a crock pot on low.. plans to buy a bigger one next season that will power the AC as well.

Frochevy · 10-01-2019, 10:14 PM

Well not a lot new on the bus. I don't want to dig into it too deep during football season. I did run another HDMI cable and set up a blue ray player to the front tv in the bus. This will allow my kids to watch a DVD inside the bus in the future...

I built a step for the rear platform this evening. I used all stainless other than the tube that goes in the receiver hitch. I was going to make in fold up in case I forget to take it out, but I decided to get it done tonight. The stainless powercat tacked on was the finishing touch!

Frochevy · 10-13-2019, 08:47 PM

I had some time this weekend to cut another hole in the side of the bus. This time was for the heater. It is a heater out of a camper. I got it roughed in. I'll still need to pull the cover back off and seal up the shroud with some rope caulk or some sort of sealer. I drilled a small pilot hole for the propane line before I installed the heater. I'll need to run propane line and 12v wiring and wires to my thermostat. Good news is, the hard part is done.

I built a "stand" out of 2x3s and lined with 1/2" polyiso insulation. In the camper the intake was in the floor. So I just raised the base of the heater up to make the intake. I set it up for temporary right now. Eventually when I build the cabinets, the intake will be at the bottom face of the cabinet.

Frochevy · 10-26-2019, 09:35 PM

Well no pictures... But what a game!! Had the ol bus tailgating this morning. Was 33 degrees F here in Wamego KS this morning when I fired her up. I had it plugged in overnight and then plugged in an electric heater inside for an hour before we headed for Manhattan for the KState game against OU. It took the chill off inside the bus. I haven't got propane lines ran to the heater. I'm hoping to have that operational in the next few weeks! More to come...

You may also like: