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Old 04-26-2018, 12:57 PM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 20
Strongly considering living in a bus!

After getting severely ill again from toxic mold in cheap apartments, I'm considering all the alternatives. Including great big yellow ones. Life's too short to spend 50% of my income on a fancy new apartment in the hope I can avoid the black shmoo of doom.

I have zero experience with carpentry or heavy diesels, but I'm pretty handy with mechanical stuff and my craigslist-fu is strong. I've already learned a lot from reading the forums, and will be spending the rest of 2018 living in a garage to save some cash. I'm hoping $10,000 - $5,000 for a decent bus and $5,000 for conversion - will get me a well-insulated shell with HVAC, and I can install the conveniences of life as I go.

If you have any input on minimizing mildew or are travelling through south-central WI, let me know!

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Old 04-26-2018, 01:22 PM   #2
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Location: Wisconsin N.E.
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Year: 2000
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I'm in wi as well the busses around here have big rust problems.

Just depends what you are looking for
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Old 04-26-2018, 01:30 PM   #3
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Location: Weeki Wachee, FL
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Year: 1997
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Chassis: TC2000 FE
Engine: Cummins 5.9
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Concerns about mold in a skoolie built are very common. Most buses leak a little bit, bus windows never really seal up, roof hatches are notorious places for water to come in. Insulation in walls and ceilings soaks up water and molds. Many of us (not most of us) tear out the walls and ceiling and floor and remove everything inside, seal it up good fro the outside, and add new insulation and paneling. This is not a quick job, and not what I'd call a cheap job.
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Old 04-26-2018, 01:46 PM   #4
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Location: Wisconsin N.E.
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Year: 2000
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Chassis: Thomas
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You can get alot more done in the Midwest for the same cash, prices are nice here.

Restore I got a stainless double basin sink for $5 and decorative tile panels for a back splash for $1 a square foot

All the cabinets out of a kitchen are like $50-100

And there is tons of rv stuff on Craigslist because RVs die early deaths in this climate
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Old 04-26-2018, 01:54 PM   #5
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Whatthefak View Post
I'm in wi as well the busses around here have big rust problems.
Currently saving up to buy the bus and do the work somewhere the tinworm is less prevalent it's not so dang cold.


Quote:
Originally Posted by brokedown View Post
Most buses leak a little bit, bus windows never really seal up, roof hatches are notorious places for water to come in...Many of us (not most of us) tear out the walls and ceiling and floor and remove everything inside, seal it up good fro the outside, and add new insulation and paneling.
That's the plan. I was figuring on plating over roughly half the windows, and epoxying shut (or replacing) much of the rest. Removing the interior skin and fiberglass is definitely a necessity - I was thinking blown-in closed cell foam under wood skins, as I've seen in other extreme-weather builds - though I'd failed to consider the roof hatch.



Quote:
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And there is tons of rv stuff on Craigslist because RVs die early deaths in this climate
Why am I not surprised?

Might drive back down south with a car full of RV bits. :P
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Old 04-26-2018, 01:56 PM   #6
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Year: 2000
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I'm picking up a bus down south next week.

I'll be working on it here, more people to help me and I can get a bit more for my money parts wise up here
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Old 04-26-2018, 02:00 PM   #7
Mini-Skoolie
 
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I'm picking up a bus down south next week.

I'll be working on it here, more people to help me and I can get a bit more for my money parts wise up here
Any chance you're passing through Madison?
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Old 04-26-2018, 06:58 PM   #8
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Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Wisconsin N.E.
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Year: 2000
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Chassis: Thomas
Engine: 5.9
Rated Cap: 72
It's possible, I'm trying to avoid Chicago, at least until I get plates
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