Buying bus Tomorrow!! Roof raise (I've searched)

[mmoore6856]

on my bluebird i staggered the cuts at the windows so all my seams were not in line

[GWRider]

I did a 16 inch raise on my Crown and the cant is similar to a Thomas.
Dealing with the cant will be more work but I did not think it was as bad as some make it out to be. I guess it depends on your skill set and what you are comfortable with.

I made my cuts within the windows (staggered). I used square tubing in the center and c-channel slightly angled from the top of the window opening to the bottom of the window opening (flush with side rib). This requires more metal, cuts, welding etc. but matches the cant and eliminates the 1/2 protrusion of the side rib on a Crown. Anyway, good luck.

[kidharris]

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

I wish that I could remember where I saw pictures of a Thomas that was raised below the windows. I think that I improve the view through the bus windows. It was pretty slick.

If you must raise the roof on a Thomas, I would definitely recommend you consider the below the windows raise

I wish you could remember too

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by plfking

Agreed....moving the windows up to a more user-friendly and privacy-enhancing height would be worth the extra effort. This guy did it right.

That does look really good. I wonder if he eventually added another line of rub rail over his new seam.

That second pic gives me hives. I briefly had two of my windows out and lying on the floor, and of course I managed to step on one and break it.

[asquarecan]

Thanks for all the info guys! I finally got a leased space for her and going to start demo tomorrow! I am going to do the roof raise before the window. It is already 6'4" after insulation and floor and finished roof it would be about 6'1" so 12" will put it at 7'1". I am only 5'7 so I feel like that will be more than enough headroom and not so high that it affects driving too much!

[musigenesis]

You found an indoor space to do the conversion in? That's fantastic. I found one early on that was 15'x40' with electric and a little bathroom, but found out at the last minute it was only 10' high with a 9' door.

[asquarecan]

Originally Posted by musigenesis

You found an indoor space to do the conversion in? That's fantastic. I found one early on that was 15'x40' with electric and a little bathroom, but found out at the last minute it was only 10' high with a 9' door.

I did! I am splitting the space with a friend. The unit is $1400 plus utilities. So it's not cheap, but it is going to be so nice to work inside!

[kidharris]

Originally Posted by musigenesis

You found an indoor space to do the conversion in? That's fantastic. I found one early on that was 15'x40' with electric and a little bathroom, but found out at the last minute it was only 10' high with a 9' door.

I tried but could not find one that I could afford that had a tall enough door to drive back out of after I finished. I just gave up. HOA (in a trailer park?) prevented me from doing it at home.

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by kidharris

I tried but could not find one that I could afford that had a tall enough door to drive back out of after I finished. I just gave up. HOA (in a trailer park?) prevented me from doing it at home.

Ha, if I ever write my skoolie movie, there will be a scene where the protagonists raise their roof inside and then have to smash their way out of the makerspace in the middle of the night.

[JDSquared]

Originally Posted by musigenesis

Ha, if I ever write my skoolie movie, there will be a scene where the protagonists raise their roof inside and then have to smash their way out of the makerspace in the middle of the night.

I can't wait to watch this. And I can't tell if it's a comedy or a horror film.

[kidharris]

Originally Posted by musigenesis

Ha, if I ever write my skoolie movie, there will be a scene where the protagonists raise their roof inside and then have to smash their way out of the makerspace in the middle of the night.

When I was a kid, I knew a man who built a huge diesel powered boat in a barn, then tore the barn down to get the boat out. I always wondered how he got it the 300 miles to the ocean, but I never saw him again.

[kidharris]

Originally Posted by musigenesis

Ha, if I ever write my skoolie movie, there will be a scene where the protagonists raise their roof inside and then have to smash their way out of the makerspace in the middle of the night.

I think it would be better if they tunneled out, more time, intensity, and drama. Better yet, take the roof off and get a buddy, who is a local Army reservist chopper pilot, to airlift it out and .... the rest is up to ....???

[GWRider]

Originally Posted by asquarecan

Thanks for all the info guys! I finally got a leased space for her and going to start demo tomorrow! I am going to do the roof raise before the window. It is already 6'4" after insulation and floor and finished roof it would be about 6'1" so 12" will put it at 7'1". I am only 5'7 so I feel like that will be more than enough headroom and not so high that it affects driving too much!

Nice shop. Seems to be the going rate around my area also. Tough to find a place to do that kind of work and out of the elements.