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05-13-2021, 09:49 AM
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#1
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Prescott
Posts: 19
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Chevrolet
Chassis: CT3
Engine: 6.5L diesel
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Under chassis storage
Hello, tried looking for threads about underneath storages for Skoolie but can’t find any. I had the condenser fans removed when the rear AC and floor heaters were removed. Now, I have this empty space (black rectangle on the photo) behind the driver side about L: 60”, W: 16”, D: 13”. Any ideas how to build a storage without welding access? Thank you.
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05-13-2021, 04:05 PM
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#2
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Swansboro,NC
Posts: 2,988
Year: 86
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Ford B700
Engine: 8.2
Rated Cap: 60 bodies
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double check me on this?
but on my 2004 express with collins/midbus body (identical to yours) the underskirt condensor also handled the dash A/C?
so without it the dash air only moves air but no A/C.
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05-13-2021, 04:18 PM
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#3
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Prescott
Posts: 19
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Chevrolet
Chassis: CT3
Engine: 6.5L diesel
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Jolly Roger bus 223... front AC is working without the rear AC. The folks in A-Z Bus sales out of Colton CA did the removal of rear AC and floor heater ($600). All I did was make an appt and they did all the work as it’s a tedious process. To me, it’s worth the money as I don’t have a garage or special tools for the job. Thank you.
__________________
Peace,
Stephen
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05-13-2021, 04:26 PM
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#4
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Northern California (Sacramento)
Posts: 1,434
Year: 1999
Coachwork: El Dorado Fiberglass
Chassis: Ford E450
Engine: V10 Gas
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ArmyRunner
Hello, tried looking for threads about underneath storages for Skoolie but can’t find any. I had the condenser fans removed when the rear AC and floor heaters were removed. Now, I have this empty space (black rectangle on the photo) behind the driver side about L: 60”, W: 16”, D: 13”. Any ideas how to build a storage without welding access? Thank you.
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The space is almost cavernous, but I've not had any luck finding off the shelf doors or flanges to mount them on.
On my bus the unistrut rails that hold the condensor etc can be repurposed to hang almost anything from. Not sure yet how to cut into the fiberglass skirt and mount a door/hatch/cover like the battery shelf.
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05-13-2021, 04:32 PM
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#5
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Swansboro,NC
Posts: 2,988
Year: 86
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Ford B700
Engine: 8.2
Rated Cap: 60 bodies
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cool deal.
you got lucky.
my dash A/C and rear A/c share the same condensor so mine has to stay.
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05-13-2021, 04:48 PM
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#6
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: NM USA KD6WJG
Posts: 1,325
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE 40 FEET
Engine: Cummins 8.3
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Check with a truck outfitter that has tool boxes that mount to truck beds. May end up being a drill and bolt operation.
__________________
Why can't I get Ivermectin for my horses?
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05-13-2021, 04:50 PM
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#7
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 2,831
Year: 2007
Coachwork: Thomas Built
Chassis: Minotour
Engine: Chevy Express 3500 6.6l
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Here’s what I did
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05-13-2021, 04:53 PM
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#8
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: NM USA KD6WJG
Posts: 1,325
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE 40 FEET
Engine: Cummins 8.3
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That looks good, real good. Did you use the whole box?
__________________
Why can't I get Ivermectin for my horses?
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05-13-2021, 05:30 PM
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#9
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: New England
Posts: 26
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC2000 Bookmobile
Engine: Cummins 5.9L ISB
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The other day I saw some nice-looking lockable steel storage boxes at tractor supply in all sorts of sizes and shapes. I think they were intended to be bolted under the flatbed of a truck or something. They are not as nice as some of the custom boxes I've seen but something like that might be a relatively easy solution if you can't or aren't interested in fabricating something.
I did a quick internet search and didn't find it at tractor supply but here's a pic and search term to give the basic idea: "Black Steel Underbody Drop Door Toolbox"
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05-13-2021, 07:51 PM
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#10
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Georgia
Posts: 2,264
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: IH
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 14
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Correct me if I'm mistaken, but the opening is roughly 2-window lengths long, less than 60". Regardless, you basically have 3 choices.
1. Get a stock size pre-made toolbox and cut the opening to fit
2. Order a pre-made toolbox to your specific size (not cheap).
2. Build your own box. If you can't weld, use bolts or pop rivets. You could also cut down a factory made box to save effort.
Many boxes have drop-down doors, some have lift up doors (with gas struts to support the door when open). The flatbed I pull has double swing doors which would be my preference if ordering a box for myself.
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05-14-2021, 05:31 AM
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#11
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 2,831
Year: 2007
Coachwork: Thomas Built
Chassis: Minotour
Engine: Chevy Express 3500 6.6l
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Quote:
Originally Posted by s2mikon
That looks good, real good. Did you use the whole box?
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Yes. Its installed in the back and at one point I considered adding some more metal and making it a pass-through to the same box on the other side.
Buyers Products were the least expensive new boxes I found.
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05-14-2021, 05:43 AM
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#12
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 2,831
Year: 2007
Coachwork: Thomas Built
Chassis: Minotour
Engine: Chevy Express 3500 6.6l
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brad_SwiftFur
Correct me if I'm mistaken, but the opening is roughly 2-window lengths long, less than 60". Regardless, you basically have 3 choices.
1. Get a stock size pre-made toolbox and cut the opening to fit
2. Order a pre-made toolbox to your specific size (not cheap).
2. Build your own box. If you can't weld, use bolts or pop rivets. You could also cut down a factory made box to save effort.
Many boxes have drop-down doors, some have lift up doors (with gas struts to support the door when open). The flatbed I pull has double swing doors which would be my preference if ordering a box for myself.
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I like the double door style also. There weren’t as many sizes of them. Mine drop down and I like that for having a place to set small things.
Fabrication cost I think is prohibitive. At least I wouldn’t do it.
One more option, though a little less desirable, is to get a slightly smaller box and fill whatever gap is left with sheet metal. After it’s painted it wouldn’t be noticeable.
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05-14-2021, 05:48 AM
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#13
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 2,831
Year: 2007
Coachwork: Thomas Built
Chassis: Minotour
Engine: Chevy Express 3500 6.6l
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Oh, if you get Buyers Products, they come with minimal packaging and the fine folks at the shipper and the loading dock like to drop them so always unbox and inspect on-site before accepting the shipment. It’s also good to bring a carpenters square because sometimes it’s hard to see it was dropped on a front corner and it’s a 1/4” out.
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05-14-2021, 05:53 AM
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#14
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 2,831
Year: 2007
Coachwork: Thomas Built
Chassis: Minotour
Engine: Chevy Express 3500 6.6l
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Here’s how I supported them
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05-17-2021, 10:34 PM
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#15
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Bus Nut
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Wamego Ks
Posts: 617
Year: 2007
Chassis: Collins
Engine: 6.6L LMM Duramax
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Danjo
Here’s what I did
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That looks really good! I need to make a couple more storage spots under my bus.
As far as no welding, it would be tough, but could do like someone said with rivets. Alot of buses are held together with rivets. Rivets and seam sealer would work.
I plan to make close to a 48" long storage box on passenger side of my bus right behind the battery box on my bus. Extra storage is always needed!
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01-19-2022, 11:20 AM
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#16
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Indiana
Posts: 45
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: TC2000
Engine: 5.9 Cummins
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Danjo
Here’s how I supported them
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Digging this up, but i'm about to do something similar. How big is this box and how has it held up? How much weight is it carrying?
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