40ft w/roof raise, how many windows would you install?

[Brewerbob]

My current floor plans look something like this tho I did forget to draw in bedroom windows. Driver's window, windshield, E-Door and rear E-Hatch is the only glass left in the bus at the moment. I do need to redraw it. Good project for tomorrow.


Do you have any windows wider than your hat channels?

 

[Native-SKO]

What did you use for making the drawing?

 

[Sehnsucht-SKO]

I like those wagon wheel style rims!!

 

[Brewerbob]

What did you use for making the drawing?

Visio as that's all that I have at work.

I like those wagon wheel style rims!!

There are a few furniture/office things in Visio. Not a lot of automobile. Funniest (I thought) was the toilet paper holder.

 

[EastCoastCB]

Put as many as you can. If you wana cut a rib or two no worries, Bob.

 

[Rochey6957]

We cut a few ribs to have some nice big windows(left and right) in the front of the bus.

Check out our instagram page you can see how we framed in the windows before doing new skin.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnR5DTDnTcC/

 

[PNW_Steve]

Put as many as you can. If you wana cut a rib or two no worries, Bob.

Within reason

When I built my first bus I wanted lots of light so I looked about for big windows.

I found some that were 36"x54" and put three of them in the living room. Also two fairly large windows in the bedroom and one small window in the kitchen.

We hit the road and just loved the wonderful views out of our big windows.

Then the weather got cold..... I wound up in the Home Depot parking lot cutting foam insulation inserts for all of my big windows. There went my view

Hot weather brought out the window inserts again.

I loved the light and the view but it was not ideal in hot or cold weather.

I will be a bit more conservative on my current build and I am hoping to score double pane windows.

Windows are good but there can be too much of a good thing

 

[Brewerbob]

Put as many as you can. If you wana cut a rib or two no worries, Bob.

Not sure how much cutting and hacking I want to do because hacking and cutting not structural concerns. I can build a window header or two. Wouldn't want two oversized windows near each other tho.

 

[Brewerbob]

We cut a few ribs to have some nice big windows(left and right) in the front of the bus.

Check out our instagram page you can see how we framed in the windows before doing new skin.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnR5DTDnTcC/

Oops too late. Already reskinned but I will go check out your link in a bit.

I found some that were 36"x54" and put three of them in the living room. Also two fairly large windows in the bedroom and one small window in the kitchen.


...



Windows are good but there can be too much of a good thing

36 wide by 54 tall? That would NOT require cutting of ribs tho I think there is only one 36 rib section in my bus that won't be kitchen or bathroom. Cabinets in the way and who needs a window that big in the shitter?

 

[o1marc]

Your rib spacing is 36"? Normally it's 25-1/2".
You could still add windows after skinning by carefully cutting the rib, welding in some horizontal and vertical supports for the window. Cut the opening and install the window. You can add the windows before skiingi as the hole needs to be cut through both interior and exterior skins.

 

[PNW_Steve]

Oops too late. Already reskinned but I will go check out your link in a bit.




36 wide by 54 tall? That would NOT require cutting of ribs tho I think there is only one 36 rib section in my bus that won't be kitchen or bathroom. Cabinets in the way and who needs a window that big in the shitter?

Nope. 54 wide x 36 tall.

 

[Brewerbob]

Your rib spacing is 36"? Normally it's 25-1/2".
You could still add windows after skinning by carefully cutting the rib, welding in some horizontal and vertical supports for the window. Cut the opening and install the window. You can add the windows before skiingi as the hole needs to be cut through both interior and exterior skins.

24" and 36" for the window frames that came out. They put an E-door in a 24" rib section when the ones on either side of it are 36".

Yep that was the plan. Skin the entire bus then cut holes for windows. If I had a crew or it was parked under something I could have left it open.

 

[Rochey6957]

Brewer, you'll be fine if you didn't frame your windows before installing the skins. You just won't be able to weld the one edge to you ribs.

We used 1 x 1 box tube. Set the bottom horizontal. Get your window and rest it on the horizontal. Then clamp, or tack weld the top tube in snug to the window. Position window horizontally in the space and weld your verticals. Pretty easy if you have the windows already. No need to measure just make it for around the window your using. ��

 

[EastCoastCB]

Your rib spacing is 36"? Normally it's 25-1/2".
You could still add windows after skinning by carefully cutting the rib, welding in some horizontal and vertical supports for the window. Cut the opening and install the window. You can add the windows before skiingi as the hole needs to be cut through both interior and exterior skins.

Some buses have wider sections in the skeleton. My Ward did.
You can tell by the extra wide windows in those sections.

 

[Brewerbob]

Brewer, you'll be fine if you didn't frame your windows before installing the skins. You just won't be able to weld the one edge to you ribs.

We used 1 x 1 box tube. Set the bottom horizontal. Get your window and rest it on the horizontal. Then clamp, or tack weld the top tube in snug to the window. Position window horizontally in the space and weld your verticals. Pretty easy if you have the windows already. No need to measure just make it for around the window your using. ��

That's been the plan all along is to frame after skin. Question tho on the square tubing... I'm out of it. I do have a boatload of 1 1/2 angle iron. Think that would work AS GOOD? I'm fairly sure it would work but will it work as good? Would it be too wide? I plan to weld it in all the ribs to replace the tinfoil (sheet metal) window sills that were OEM. I don't think the ribs are going anywhere with all the rivets thru the sheet metal as is but I already have them and they are cut to length so why not?

I have a few (half a dozen or so) 10 foot lengths left over that aren't currently doing anything or slated for any projects.

Some buses have wider sections in the skeleton. My Ward did.
You can tell by the extra wide windows in those sections.

It's pretty amazing how customizable these buses are. How many exits, where, widths, etc. I still can't believe Blue Bird would allow you to order a 24" exit IN BETWEEN two 36" ribs. The fat kid is the one that has a lawyer dad.

 

[Brewerbob]

Added bedroom windows and moved passenger window so it's next to co-pilot seat. 8 windows seems a lot especially price wise.

 

[musigenesis]

That's been the plan all along is to frame after skin. Question tho on the square tubing... I'm out of it. I do have a boatload of 1 1/2 angle iron. Think that would work AS GOOD? I'm fairly sure it would work but will it work as good? Would it be too wide? I plan to weld it in all the ribs to replace the tinfoil (sheet metal) window sills that were OEM. I don't think the ribs are going anywhere with all the rivets thru the sheet metal as is but I already have them and they are cut to length so why not?

I have a few (half a dozen or so) 10 foot lengths left over that aren't currently doing anything or slated for any projects.

It's pretty amazing how customizable these buses are. How many exits, where, widths, etc. I still can't believe Blue Bird would allow you to order a 24" exit IN BETWEEN two 36" ribs. The fat kid is the one that has a lawyer dad.

The main advantage of tube over angle iron is in its resistance to twisting, which isn't really important for framing. Tube is also more convenient if you want to attach both an outer surface and an inner surface to it, which I think you would need to do.

BTW I'm hurt you said you had no "crew".

 

[Brewerbob]

The main advantage of tube over angle iron is in its resistance to twisting, which isn't really important for framing. Tube is also more convenient if you want to attach both an outer surface and an inner surface to it, which I think you would need to do.

BTW I'm hurt you said you had no "crew".

What do I need to attach to the inside? I need to attach a window sill. If I use 1" square tubing, it'll be buried in the wall unless I mask below it. If I use 1"x2" or 1"x3" they will be some damn cold window sills come winter time. 1" square and I can attach wood or whatever to it. I could attach the same to angle iron and drill vertically which would be easier than drilling horizontally thru whatever window sill material I use. I need to go watch some bus build videos and see how people are installing windows.



Last time I looked at window prices, they were about $480 each. How hard do you think it would be to make windows instead? Go to a windshield place and ask them to cut the glass to size and then frame and gasket them myself. Obviously I'd only be doing single pane.


A part time crew of 2; better? Speaking of, what are you doing Aug 16-18th? I'll be girlfriendless and as of now have no plans. I could come up and crew your bus if you need any help with anything.

 

[PNW_Steve]

$480 windows?

Ouch! I would be considering a roadtrip to Elkhart and visit the RV surplus yards. Or hitting eBay for windows.

 

[Brewerbob]

$480 windows?

Ouch! I would be considering a roadtrip to Elkhart and visit the RV surplus yards. Or hitting eBay for windows.

My problem is me. I don't like the radius corner RV windows. I like mitered corner windows. Only thing I found on E-bay last time were horse trailer windows with bars. If I was building a zombie bus... It's been a long while since I checked last so I'll look again but I'm not holding my breath on finding any bargains. Maybe if I hold my breath long enough, the brain damage will let me get over the rounded corners. Might be cheaper even with the medical.