The Story Begins - A long long time ago

[Raizer04]

So I have officially purchased my first skoolie.

https://ibb.co/PYgSmn2

https://ibb.co/7N2CnJL


Here are the specs:

2005 Freightliner Thomas
Miles: 144K
Engline C7 CAT
City: Colorado Springs

I fell in love with this bus first time I saw it. It has RV style windows, 3 outer compartments (Air compressor, Battery, and fuse box). Garage in the back is very roomy.

[Raizer04]

So a bit of a time skip, I got the seats removed, the underside of the bus was coated in the dark goo (protective covering). If you look in the back of the bus there is a very long bench. Under the cushioning its actually straight METAL...

What I really wanted to do was remove that medal seat...but now I am thinking of leaving it and adding my bed to it seeing as it is straight solid metal. The garage of the bus is closed off via a metal wall. Kinda limits what I can store under the bed...

https://imgur.com/vf5UGz8

https://imgur.com/vBorxko

https://imgur.com/1xNf666

https://imgur.com/rEgTmZa

Garage:

https://imgur.com/as6t40w

[ol trunt]

Great bus to start with--love the windows. What are your plans for the bus?
Jack

[Raizer04]

So Im planning on legit moving out of my house into the skoolie.

I want the following:
Bed, Kitchen area, wooden stove, and toilet/shower (perfect world).

[sambulate]

This is a great bus. I'm vacillating between a longer bus and one this size. (As do many of us.)

Where did you find this one?

[plfking]

Originally Posted by Raizer04

I fell in love with this bus first time I saw it.

I can see why. Love those garage doors.

The metal bench seat across the back would be easily removeable......but I'd still have a storage area there, to take advantage of those doors.....you could store your skis or a kayak back there.

[o1marc]

Isn't the back wall of the "garage" the front wall inside? Leave it there. When you build your bed, you will have storage inside and out under the bed.

[joeblack5]

Beautiful bus,
I know this is not a popular subject but with the barn doors and the emergency window I would say that the bench inside is structural. Before you take it out i would check how it is connected to see if my above statement holds any water.


Johan

[Raizer04]

So i do want to do the following:
-Wetbath with naturehead composting toilet
-Solar (entirely off-grid)
-Cubic Mini wood stove (grizzly)
-Small kitchen area
-TV mount in the bed area
-100 gallon water tank (with level sensor)
-Underbus storage (nothing massive)
-Paint job (not sure what colors yet....)

[Raizer04]

Some further progress on the bus:

Here is how it looked before



I took both the heater element out and looped it. I also took the AC units out and gutted the extra tubing from the bottom of the bus....that was hell...as im doing this all by myself.



I grinded all the small rust spots and treated it with Ospho (had my bus sizzling...sounded really cool haha).

I thought about it and I really wanted that back seat gone...so i actually used the grinder and chopped that thing right out....it was easier than I thought but heavier than a hippo.



All the holes I penny blocked and then put a nice coat of rustoleum rust paint on.

[Native]

I do like your garage doors and the RV windows. Now that you have removed the metal bench, what's your plan with respect to the garage doors?

[Raizer04]

So I ran into a snag. The place where I was working on my Skoolie made me move it. So I have it in storage now....but they don't allow me to work on it in there. Anyone in the Colorado Springs area know where I can store and work on my Skoolie?

[Raizer04]

The build continues!

So I found a build site finally and have been spending everyday on the build.

I have the floor framing complete, about to start with insulation. Walls and ceiling have been lined with Noico Sound Deadening.

[jonb8]

I love everything about your bus, and it's not yellow.... Not having to paint, remove lights, and decals has put you way ahead.... and the garage is a big bonus

[tmoat]

I will be moving to CO Springs soon, have you found it difficult to find a place to stay? I would like to live in my Skoolie there instead of shelling 300k+ for a subpar house

[Raizer04]

I haven't finished my build yet, i can't find a place to work on my bus....

[Raizer04]

If anyone knows of a spot on colorado springs, castle rock, or Denver where I can store/work on my bus plz plz plz let me know.

[Corbi]

I can relate to this parking issue. I answered an ad on Craig's List when I just bought Corbi-Hab, and found parking and permission to work from the space at the back fence. No power. I managed until recently with a small generator. I lost this spot in December and haven't found a new one. Making do at a state reservation. So far, I haven't been fined or ticketed. Still, it does seem like in urban areas, finding a place to work on a conversion is hard- something to consider before purchase.🙄 My parents lived in Colo. Springs for several years in the 70s and 80s.