Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   School Bus Conversion Resources > Search Forums
Reload this Page Search Results
Skoolie Google
Click Here to Login

Page 1 of 2 1 2
Showing results 1 to 25 of 43
Search took 0.01 seconds. Search: Posts Made By: vanaguy
Forum: Skoolie Conversion Projects 05-16-2022, 03:47 PM
Replies: 40
Views: 2,966
Posted By vanaguy
Water Heater

I went with a tankless water heater, for flexibility and because it would take up somewhat less space. I got a Gasland BE158L off Amazon, as one does.

I installed it in the wall between the...
Forum: Skoolie Conversion Projects 05-13-2022, 05:46 PM
Replies: 40
Views: 2,966
Posted By vanaguy
Heating and Ventilation

The bus came with a permanent vent- a little louvered box on the roof, covering a straight-up hole in the ceiling. I decided to keep it; fresh air is always desirable, and it's too small to be a...
Forum: Skoolie Conversion Projects 05-09-2022, 04:28 PM
Replies: 40
Views: 2,966
Posted By vanaguy
The End of 2020

That brings us to late December 2020.
At this point Bus 49 is an insulated plywood box. There are some walls up, but there is no actual plumbing, and the only complete AC circuit is the 20 amp one....
Forum: Skoolie Conversion Projects 05-09-2022, 04:11 PM
Replies: 40
Views: 2,966
Posted By vanaguy
Some Interior Walls

Almost all of the walls are at the back, around the bathroom and bedroom.

This is the "hall" closet, over the left rear wheels. The snazzy expand-o-file is towards the front of the bus:...
Forum: Skoolie Conversion Projects 05-09-2022, 03:51 PM
Replies: 40
Views: 2,966
Posted By vanaguy
Finishing the Kitchen Cabinets

First some shelves-

Under the sink area:
https://i.ibb.co/1fJy3qV/IMG-20201224-143239.jpg

And under the stove:
https://i.ibb.co/M8B5m8Q/IMG-20201224-153132.jpg
Forum: Skoolie Conversion Projects 05-09-2022, 03:43 PM
Replies: 40
Views: 2,966
Posted By vanaguy
Fresh Water Tank

The water tank is the first thing I really had to compromise on.
While I feel like about 80-ish gallons would be a good amount to have on hand, the reality is that for at least the first year or two...
Forum: Skoolie Conversion Projects 05-07-2022, 11:43 PM
Replies: 40
Views: 2,966
Posted By vanaguy
The house battery box is sealed and vented to the...

The house battery box is sealed and vented to the outside, at the rear of the belly storage. That's as high as it's going to get; no need to run a duct back inside the bus and back out again to gain...
Forum: Skoolie Conversion Projects 05-07-2022, 04:56 PM
Replies: 40
Views: 2,966
Posted By vanaguy
In Which I Rationalize My Electrical Plan

I really ought to upload a diagram, but let me give you a quick AC circuit overview.
30 amp service comes into the WFCO power center and gets distributed to three main circuits- A, B, and C....
Forum: Skoolie Conversion Projects 05-07-2022, 04:42 PM
Replies: 40
Views: 2,966
Posted By vanaguy
Main Electrical Panel

I wanted all of the RV electrical stuff (besides outlets & such) to be located in one place. It's easier to manage, modify, or replace components, it cuts down on wiring needed for controls or...
Forum: Skoolie Conversion Projects 05-07-2022, 04:22 PM
Replies: 40
Views: 2,966
Posted By vanaguy
Starting on the Electrical

Backing up to late September 2020 now.
The interior side of the bus walls were finished and the fridge enclosure was in place. It was time to start moving towards a world free of extension cords all...
Forum: Skoolie Conversion Projects 05-07-2022, 02:50 PM
Replies: 40
Views: 2,966
Posted By vanaguy
Thanks! I'm just glad nothing has disintegrated. ...

Thanks! I'm just glad nothing has disintegrated.

I got the lock idea from someone else's project. It's definitely the simplest way to deal with the side doors.
Forum: Skoolie Conversion Projects 05-06-2022, 01:16 PM
Replies: 40
Views: 2,966
Posted By vanaguy
Flashing Lights

I considered doing something cool with the stop flashers, like I've seen so many other folks do- party lights, off-road lights, security lights, etc.
But eventually I decided for a little...
Forum: Skoolie Conversion Projects 05-06-2022, 01:09 PM
Replies: 40
Views: 2,966
Posted By vanaguy
Doors and Locks

My front door was the standard air-driven, middle-opening one.
I didn't like how it needed air pressure to stay really firmly closed, and it seemed like there weren't a lot of great locking...
Forum: Skoolie Conversion Projects 05-05-2022, 05:17 PM
Replies: 40
Views: 2,966
Posted By vanaguy
Overhead Storage

I lived on an island near Seattle for 10 years and learned a lot about boats in that time. One thing that impressed me is the way living space is managed in smaller boats- a place for everything, and...
Forum: Skoolie Conversion Projects 05-05-2022, 04:49 PM
Replies: 40
Views: 2,966
Posted By vanaguy
Kitchen Cabinets

I built these to house-normal height, 36". Here's the sink side, with a full-size sink I found at Habitat for Humanity for $15:
https://i.ibb.co/c3HbqDQ/IMG-20200914-184452.jpg

And here's the...
Forum: Skoolie Conversion Projects 05-05-2022, 04:41 PM
Replies: 40
Views: 2,966
Posted By vanaguy
A Word on Wood

With the exception of furring strips and some other odds 'n ends, my framing members are 2x3s, my structural walls are 3/4" plywood, and my non-structural walls/ wall coverings are 1/4" ply.

2x3...
Forum: Skoolie Conversion Projects 05-05-2022, 04:26 PM
Replies: 40
Views: 2,966
Posted By vanaguy
Bathroom Framing

Shower goes in front of the right rear wheels:
https://i.ibb.co/Nn3B2PD/IMG-20200914-102439.jpg


And here's the other bathroom walls. The forward one doesn't go all the way to the ceiling yet:...
Forum: Skoolie Conversion Projects 05-05-2022, 04:09 PM
Replies: 40
Views: 2,966
Posted By vanaguy
Bed

With a PNW autumn coming up fast, job one was the bedroom. I started with the bed mounting:

https://i.ibb.co/7vsqz0Q/IMG-20200904-172519.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/vDGhBnJ/IMG-20200904-173422.jpg
...
Forum: Skoolie Conversion Projects 05-05-2022, 03:53 PM
Replies: 40
Views: 2,966
Posted By vanaguy
Layout

By the end of August 2020 I had my layout pretty well planned. I don't have an overview pic but I'll try to upload one later.
I can describe it, though:

Driver's side, front-to-back-
-Driver's...
Forum: Skoolie Conversion Projects 05-05-2022, 03:41 PM
Replies: 40
Views: 2,966
Posted By vanaguy
The Fridge Saga

Backing up to mid-July 2020, I found the perfect fridge on Craigslist. I'm pretty sure it was a Norcold 1210- Electric/Propane, dual doors on both fridge and freezer, etc.
It needed fresh air vents...
Forum: Skoolie Conversion Projects 05-05-2022, 03:09 PM
Replies: 40
Views: 2,966
Posted By vanaguy
Thank you! I have to admit, a lot of that is due...

Thank you! I have to admit, a lot of that is due to choice paralysis. Sometimes I would make a small change, then sit back and just live with it for a week to see what it felt like, while making...
Forum: Skoolie Conversion Projects 04-29-2022, 04:44 PM
Replies: 40
Views: 2,966
Posted By vanaguy
Vents

I went with Dometic Fan-tastic roof vents. Installation was easy, just a little extra framing.

https://i.ibb.co/DLTwK55/IMG-20200914-132752.jpg


My only complaint is that they rattle in the...
Forum: Skoolie Conversion Projects 04-29-2022, 04:38 PM
Replies: 40
Views: 2,966
Posted By vanaguy
The Roof

When I got the bus, the two skylights/ emergency exits were leaky.

https://i.ibb.co/YjM77XR/IMG-20200512-103957.jpg


I immediately put some sealing gloop around their edges, and that took care...
Forum: Skoolie Conversion Projects 04-29-2022, 04:17 PM
Replies: 40
Views: 2,966
Posted By vanaguy
Ceiling Insulation

The ceiling was a bit of a challenge. I wanted as much R-value as possible, but I couldn't sacrifice any head room.
I also wanted to run some electrical stuff through it, AND I wanted to be able to...
Forum: Skoolie Conversion Projects 04-29-2022, 03:54 PM
Replies: 40
Views: 2,966
Posted By vanaguy
Wheel Wells

I covered the wells with flexible foam and thin plywood.

https://i.ibb.co/C9rD0RG/IMG-20200805-150736.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/6snxF28/IMG-20200805-154251.jpg
Showing results 1 to 25 of 43
Page 1 of 2 1 2

 
Forum Jump

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:44 PM.

Contact Us - School Bus Conversions - Archive - Community Rules - Terms of Service - Privacy - Accessibility - RVLife - Top

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.