Rosa- 2003 E450 Girardin

[joeblack5]

Very nice looking, where is the steel stand located in the bus..I can't find a reference point..
Curious what you have for rear axle ratio.
Ours is. 4.10 and with 255/85r16 tires , very light foot, I can get 13 mpg at 60 mph. Then ours is a lower.

At good enough campground ..did you tow or have a backup vehicle or was that another camper?
Very nice build.

Johan

[peakbus]

Originally Posted by joeblack5

Very nice looking, where is the steel stand located in the bus..I can't find a reference point..
Curious what you have for rear axle ratio.
Ours is. 4.10 and with 255/85r16 tires , very light foot, I can get 13 mpg at 60 mph. Then ours is a lower.

At good enough campground ..did you tow or have a backup vehicle or was that another camper?
Very nice build.

Johan

Thanks Johan!

The water tank is located under the bed at the rear of the bus. I had to elevate it because the fuel fill pipe angles through the wall below it. The bottom of the tank sits at the chair rail so the stand is through-bolted to that. I have removable metal straps around the tank so I can remove it to fully drain and clean. Why don't tank manufacturers put a drain hole in the bottom of the tank? The way mine is designed (from Class A Customs) there's about 2" of water that I can't use. Good tanks otherwise.

Thanks for the nudge about MPG again. I'll have to look at my rear end. Would it indicate gearing on the unit or do I have to count revolutions? My tires are 225/75r16.

We didn't tow. That was just another nearby camper.

Cheers,
Chris

[joeblack5]

Wow, are you sure about the tire size.. normal would be 245 /75r16 for busses load range f or g.

Maybe check what load your tires can handle in the front.

If indeed 225/65r16 then your powerstroke revs pretty high at 65mph.

Either way nice built.

Johan

[Kentucky Dreaming]

I'm green with envy!! You are doing a great job with your bargain bus, and getting out and enjoying nature while doing it.

I hope to do the same soon. Keep on posting on your progress so I can stay inspired!!

[peakbus]

Originally Posted by Kentucky Dreaming

I'm green with envy!! You are doing a great job with your bargain bus, and getting out and enjoying nature while doing it.

I hope to do the same soon. Keep on posting on your progress so I can stay inspired!!

Thanks! That's why I keep posting. So people know there is light at the end of the tunnel

[peakbus]

Originally Posted by joeblack5

Wow, are you sure about the tire size.. normal would be 245 /75r16 for busses load range f or g.

Maybe check what load your tires can handle in the front.

If indeed 225/65r16 then your powerstroke revs pretty high at 65mph.

Either way nice built.

Johan

Hi Johan,
Interesting on tire size. The data plate on the bus lines up with the tire that are on it. LT225/75R16 Load range E
I'm going to have to look into the rear end gearing but it doesn't sound like it's revving high. I would love to squeeze out a few more MPGs though.

[Oscar1]

Originally Posted by peakbus

Thanks! That's why I keep posting. So people know there is light at the end of the tunnel

That’s the motivation we all need sometimes!
Thanks so much.
Cheers

Oscar

[svo_jon]

Rad!


Jonathan

[peakbus]

New tall cabinet by my friend Edmundson Fine Woodworking. He said I built them but I really only did some assembly, sanding & staining. He's the maestro. All the other details were my efforts. Pine T&G ceiling, Cherry cabinets, Birch counter. Reclaimed fir backsplash. Still working on details. Doors for the upper shelves? For now they'll stay open.

[peakbus]

I was researching how to make curtains when I came across a guy in my area who makes insulated curtains for van conversions. I asked if he'd do my bus curtains and they came out great! Insulated, and attached with magnets. I'd planned on trimming around the windows with wood, but I couldn't turn down the ease of magnetized curtains. They even fold down so you can open the windows. Oh, and now he does attached screens. thisvanlife.com

[Vineyardseashell]

Peakbus,


The interior looks awesome! Great job!


I am curious...how high is the bed? It looks pretty high, but still has nice clearance under the AC unit.


Thanks,


Clyn

[musigenesis]

The cabinets are beautiful, very nice job! Curtains are great, too.

This has given me some ideas. What are those lights you're using on the underside of your cabinets?

[joeblack5]

Looks beautiful. Very impressive overall quality with the floor and spray foam...read thru you whole thread again to get the overall picture again.

So, I have to ask, is your wife happy that you folks changed from the vista to the girardin?

Is it only the two of you on trips?

I noticed you finished the counter top to the top half of the window. Did you remove the lower half..take the glass out..insulate?

Some of the exit windows on our girardin are swing out.. seems to be perfect as window use.. do you have that and what is your experience with them.

Somehow must have missed the cooking part.. induction..outdoor..or propane??

The kids are painting the bus interior. I am grateful that they are involved, somewhat sad about the natural wood and happy that there is progress.

Johan

[peakbus]

Originally Posted by Vineyardseashell

Peakbus,


The interior looks awesome! Great job!


I am curious...how high is the bed? It looks pretty high, but still has nice clearance under the AC unit.


Thanks,


Clyn

Hi Clyn,
Thanks! The underside of the bed is 34" and the top is 43". Just high enough to get our bikes underneath. We have our water tank underneath the bed as well. The A/C is tolerable but I bump it if I'm not careful. We use the couch as a step to get up.

[peakbus]

Originally Posted by musigenesis

The cabinets are beautiful, very nice job! Curtains are great, too.

This has given me some ideas. What are those lights you're using on the underside of your cabinets?

Thanks MG. Funny, I thought I was going to do rustic cabinets but my friend said he had some leftover cherry ply and things just got out of hand- in a good way!
I got the lights on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/acegoo-Recess...69&sr=8-5&th=1

[peakbus]

Originally Posted by joeblack5

Looks beautiful. Very impressive overall quality with the floor and spray foam...read thru you whole thread again to get the overall picture again.

So, I have to ask, is your wife happy that you folks changed from the vista to the girardin?

Is it only the two of you on trips?

I noticed you finished the counter top to the top half of the window. Did you remove the lower half..take the glass out..insulate?

Some of the exit windows on our girardin are swing out.. seems to be perfect as window use.. do you have that and what is your experience with them.

Somehow must have missed the cooking part.. induction..outdoor..or propane??

The kids are painting the bus interior. I am grateful that they are involved, somewhat sad about the natural wood and happy that there is progress.

Johan

Thanks Johan!
This bus was a game changer! I loved the Vista style, but soo loud! I could have probably lived with the Vista if it was just me and my earbuds, but we couldn't speak to each other while driving. The noise was just tiring. Also mechanically, this is easier to deal with (not access to the engine) but basically being a large van- parts, mechanics etc are easier to find and pay for. Not to mention, we gained 10mph easy cruising speed.

My wife loves it. Our 17yo son is still travelling with us and it works well. It will be really comfy with just two of us.

The windows are still in. I installed 1/2" foam in the inside below the counters. Our bus doesn't have any exit windows. Probably because it had the wheelchair door in addition to the rear exit.

We use a portable boat cooktop, an Origo 3000 alcohol stove. Nice because it's a no pressure, no fuel tank stove, so very portable. Basically two big absorbent pads hold the fuel. Not as fast to boil water though. Right now we use it on the counter, or outside. It rides in one of the drawers at counter level and the plan is to make a fold up heat shield like a camp stove so we can leave it in the drawer to cook where is sits- below the Maxxfan.

[Vineyardseashell]

Originally Posted by peakbus

Hi Clyn,
Thanks! The underside of the bed is 34" and the top is 43". Just high enough to get our bikes underneath. We have our water tank underneath the bed as well. The A/C is tolerable but I bump it if I'm not careful. We use the couch as a step to get up.

I put the bed in my bus today- hence the question. My bed ended up providing 25 inches of space underneath and the twelve inch mattress tops out around 42 inches. I will need to get used to the height of the bed.


I am loving your cabinets!


Clyn

[Buster Junior]

Absolutely love the work that you are doing. It really looks quite outstanding. You prove to be a nice source for both ideas and motivation. Thanks for posting.

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by Vineyardseashell

I put the bed in my bus today- hence the question. My bed ended up providing 25 inches of space underneath and the twelve inch mattress tops out around 42 inches. I will need to get used to the height of the bed.

Yeah, my bed is up at the level of the bottom of the windows. It kind of freaks me out, but at least with my tinted windows I'm not really visible from the outside, especially with my windows open since that means there's two layers of tinted glass.

[peakbus]

Originally Posted by Vineyardseashell

I put the bed in my bus today- hence the question. My bed ended up providing 25 inches of space underneath and the twelve inch mattress tops out around 42 inches. I will need to get used to the height of the bed.


I am loving your cabinets!


Clyn

I really worked at finding a mattress that was as thin as possible though it is actually more comfortable than our one at home! As you are planning to live in your bus full time- you want to be comfortable!