1998 VanHool 45' coach conversion

[Offgr1d]

Starting the thread for my coach buildout.

The day I got the bus!!!

 

[Offgr1d]

Had lots of seats to go at this point.

 

[Offgr1d]

Working on seats!! Took in all about 2 days to get them all unbolted and out of bus.

When I just about finished the main part of seat removal (57 seats!!!) and was about to start on the parcel racks - that was ridiculous to remove!!!

 

[EastCoastCB]

Way to go! Keep up the good work and the pics!

 

[Offgr1d]

Thanks!
I'm much further along though - I'm pulling my old pics and trying to get the timeline of my build going and wanted to document it somewhere.

I know it's not exactly a skoolie, but I figured we got bus lovers here ��

 

[M1031A1]

I drive an MCI J4500 on Sundays going to get vacationers from Galveston to Hobby airport and return to Galveston with others. The company has three VanHools. I LOVE the set-up. Never driven one. But the drivers say it's like the MCI, riding on glass! She's a BEAUTY!!!! I'll be following this build with interest! AND you already have a bathroom toilet installed (jealousy now ensues:baconflag!

 

[EastCoastCB]

Thanks!
I'm much further along though - I'm pulling my old pics and trying to get the timeline of my build going and wanted to document it somewhere.

I know it's not exactly a skoolie, but I figured we got bus lovers here ��

I definitely love buses.

 

[bansil]

Sweet looking forward to story and pictures

 

[Offgr1d]

This is taking the parcel racks down - huge projects as they were literally installed as one long unit - had to cut them with sawzall as I unbolted sections from roof.

 

[Offgr1d]

Process of removing seat tracks and entire floor (as around old barroom had some damaged wood.
In the process I added new reflectix radiant barrier insulation and new MLV (mass loaded vinyl) it's 1lb per SF!! Old MLV was in bus over engine area but was damaged when we pulled up floor. So now New MLV is through entire bus floor and the 1/2 wood changed to 3/4 exterior grade and sealed plywood.

Reflectix
new MLV
New 3/4 plywood
New laminate

And now the sweet new plywood gets laid down...
Added a foam sound strip between any metal frame and where the plywood gets screwed to floor frame. So basically no metal to wood contact anywhere.

 

[Offgr1d]

Cut huge hole in new floor!!! For the "drop down" shower pan and linear drain. Lots of welding fun was here. The entire pan will be get plywood, vapor barrier, wet board then tile..

 

[Offgr1d]

Shower coming together:

 

[nat_ster]

Welcome.

It's nice to see some different construction in a different kind of bus.

Keep the pics coming.

Nat

 

[Offgr1d]

Linear shower drain and tile grout getting finished up.

 

[Offgr1d]

Yay for a toilet!!!
For real on the porcelain too. - pretty nice model by dometic.

Wall tile worked up, and the dark laminate wall cover going on (still not finished with the fine detail work - goal was a functioning bath ASAP as I live in it full time while doing the rest of conversion.

 

[Offgr1d]

I wanted to be outrageous and crazy and decided to mold a polished concrete counter almost 6' wide for the bathroom

Wet polishing the concrete.

Actually getting shiny! Mad smooth...

Here is a ready to install shot of the counter.

 

[Offgr1d]

Counter frame welded and placed in bathroom:

Now let’s place the counter on...It was a little heavy

 

[nat_ster]

Wow, this is the best pics and creativity I have seen on this site in a long time.

I'm loving all the stone. Good thing for that tag axle.

Nat

 

[Offgr1d]

Time to secure my home with RFID keyless entry on the (always) air powered door. I use a silent compressor and detached the door air from bus air tanks.

 

[Offgr1d]

Taking a nap... The bus dog Gigi...