7 grand-how to not raise a roof

[ewo1]

SO I found this bus for sale on Marketplace... only 7 grand and...no fuel tank installed!

Listing details...

Seller's description​

● 6 CYL Diesel● Cummings Engine
● VIN: 1T88N3B2621115671
● Length: 34ft
● Ran great in 2022, haven’t run it since we took the fuel tank out, just haven’t installed one yet.
● Less than 100 miles on new tires (2022).
● Needs new fuel tank.
● Needs metal installed: Back end, Front door, Driver’s Window area
● Bus roof raised 2ft with steel beam tubing welded to frame protruding through roof for storage rack on top. Extends above roof ~2.5 feet.
● Replaced all sides of bus new sheet metal and riveted.
● 7 under carriage storage boxes 80% completed. Needs doors and hangers installed. Handles and locks included.
● Has one primer coat of paint on one side of bus, but bus needs to be painted.
● Bus is designed and started cutting out for custom windows, which will be included. Windows are double-paned, tempered glass. Steel frame for windows done.
● Bus floor has been patched, welded, and painted with rust prevention.
● All interior side walls have tabs installed for wood framing.
● Included: ~6 sheets of 4x8 16 or 18g metal sheets.

○ Custom Windows
○ Driver’s RV Window
○ New Microwave
○ Mini washer/dryer
○ Dwarf 4kw wood stove from Tiny Wood Stove.com

2 foot raise and 2.5 feet of tubes on top of that for a roof deck... Think she will be top heavy?
And quite a bit of oil canning to go with it too!

​

 

[Mr P]

I don't trust anyone who puts a G in Cummins. lol

 

[TheHubbardBus]

 

[s2mikon]

He needs to drag that across the scales and take what they give him.

 

[nikitis]

I mean it's definitely fixable. Let's break it down.

A roof raised bus for 7k is a good price.
+$1000 for extra panels to panel up the lower sides, and passenger window area.
+$500 in rivets
+$600 for a new fuel tank
+$700 for materials to build the roof deck (Mounts already included and installed, just need frame)

So for $9800 and some elbow grease you could have an already roof raised bus which is cheaper than most builds to get to that point. (Assuming the drivetrain is in good shape and working as advertised).

Once painted it could look really nice.

 

[Rucker]

That is the weirdest, scariest, most troublesome looking bus for sale I have ever seen. And I get the impression the seller didn't finish a single thing he/she started.

One way to put a value to this rig is start with the scrap value of the bus, then add to that the Facebook Marketplace value of the contents you want to keep. This is the bus' nominal value. Then you'd add or subtract value for any mechanical or architectural modifications already done that you'd want to keep/delete.

And that roof raise is horrifying.

 

[TheHubbardBus]

LOL

That is the weirdest, scariest, most troublesome looking bus for sale I have ever seen. And I get the impression the seller didn't finish a single thing he/she started.

One way to put a value to this rig is start with the scrap value of the bus, then add to that the Facebook Marketplace value of the contents you want to keep. This is the bus' nominal value. Then you'd add or subtract value for any mechanical or architectural modifications already done that you'd want to keep/delete.

And that roof raise is horrifying.

LOL. You forgot to add in whatever it costs to airlift that thing out to the purchaser's property. As well as the cleanup expenses for the rust it would drop from whatever path that may traverse.

And WHY exactly was the fuel tank removed? More LOL at the new tires - apparently including the left-front which is now property of terra not-so-firma.

 

[FawnaFox]

I strongly advise against roof raises, for the fact that they are much harder to get insurance for, and converted bus insurance (at least in my state) is very hard to get. They do have the advantage of being taller and having more headroom.. for me that would take away from the experience of a school bus. I bought bus.. not a Winnebago.

 

[nikitis]

For me to buy it I'd have to look at the roof raise welds, and the undercarriage. I don't judge a book by it's cover nor the outside of a bus by it's viability.

If it runs okay, not rusted to the core, anything else can be saved. ****, even the roof raise welds could be redone properly if they were bad. A single roll of weld wire is like $9?

I can understand y'all's mentality of it's a lot of work but it's more work likely to do the raise from start to finish.

Having done a raise now, I would take it on if the engine was sound and body not rusted underneath

 

[Mr P]

Remodeling is more difficult than a "new build". My guess is remodeling a shoddy remodel is even worse.

And there is no G in Cummins...lol

 

[s2mikon]

There is no telling what the PO fubared.

 

[ewo1]

For me to buy it I'd have to look at the roof raise welds, and the undercarriage. I don't judge a book by it's cover nor the outside of a bus by it's viability.

If it runs okay, not rusted to the core, anything else can be saved. ****, even the roof raise welds could be redone properly if they were bad. A single roll of weld wire is like $9?

I can understand y'all's mentality of it's a lot of work but it's more work likely to do the raise from start to finish.

Having done a raise now, I would take it on if the engine was sound and body not rusted underneath

Did you take notice of how he raised it ???

● Bus roof raised 2ft with steel beam tubing welded to frame protruding through roof for storage rack on top. Extends above roof ~2.5 feet.

Round tubing attached to what, hat channel? NO, it is welded to the frame? What frame?

Have you ever tried drilling a rivet into a round pipe? You gotta hit that pipe dead center! Hit it on the side and you WILL crease the sheet metal. as the rivet will not seat at a true 90 degrees to the pipe or sheet metal. Maybe that's why there is so much oil canning?

The only way I would take on a "redo" of that project is either I got the bus for free or I was being paid well to do the "redo" work.

 

[Slapdash]

I think I need a tetanus shot just looking at this thing.

 

[Bjorkinman]

I've seen worse on marketplace around here. In all honesty, that could have been me too lol. Once you commit to the raise there ain't no going back, so you better finish it or end up like this fella. There is no way i would take that bus even if it were given to me. It would be way easier to start from scratch then try to rehab that rust bucket.
I'm happy I did a raise on mine, it's added a tremendous value to our living experience overall, we are insured, and the additional insulation we've had room to add has been worth the effort.

 

[Mr P]

"steel beam tubing" = ?

Tubing can be "square" or round. Beams...I think...are "I" or "H"...often sold by the lb/ft.

EWO, obviously in the interest of accuracy, you need to go inspect it. Take some cash, just in case. lol

 

[PorchDog]

Reminds me of KILLDOZER. It would make a good hearse....

 

[ewo1]

"steel beam tubing" = ?

Tubing can be "square" or round. Beams...I think...are "I" or "H"...often sold by the lb/ft.

EWO, obviously in the interest of accuracy, you need to go inspect it. Take some cash, just in case. lol

LMAO....

 

[Ozbozz57]

SO I found this bus for sale on Marketplace... only 7 grand and...no fuel tank installed!

Listing details...

Seller's description​

● 6 CYL Diesel● Cummings Engine
● VIN: 1T88N3B2621115671
● Length: 34ft
● Ran great in 2022, haven’t run it since we took the fuel tank out, just haven’t installed one yet.
● Less than 100 miles on new tires (2022).
● Needs new fuel tank.
● Needs metal installed: Back end, Front door, Driver’s Window area
● Bus roof raised 2ft with steel beam tubing welded to frame protruding through roof for storage rack on top. Extends above roof ~2.5 feet.
● Replaced all sides of bus new sheet metal and riveted.
● 7 under carriage storage boxes 80% completed. Needs doors and hangers installed. Handles and locks included.
● Has one primer coat of paint on one side of bus, but bus needs to be painted.
● Bus is designed and started cutting out for custom windows, which will be included. Windows are double-paned, tempered glass. Steel frame for windows done.
● Bus floor has been patched, welded, and painted with rust prevention.
● All interior side walls have tabs installed for wood framing.
● Included: ~6 sheets of 4x8 16 or 18g metal sheets.

○ Custom Windows
○ Driver’s RV Window
○ New Microwave
○ Mini washer/dryer
○ Dwarf 4kw wood stove from Tiny Wood Stove.com

2 foot raise and 2.5 feet of tubes on top of that for a roof deck... Think she will be top heavy?
And quite a bit of oil canning to go with it too!

​

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What are you waiting for?

 

[Hooker-SKO]

I strongly advise against roof raises, for the fact that they are much harder to get insurance for, and converted bus insurance (at least in my state) is very hard to get. They do have the advantage of being taller and having more headroom.. for me that would take away from the experience of a school bus. I bought bus.. not a Winnebago.

This is why I found me a bus with a 78 in ceiling. That difference from a 74 to 78 is huge when you want to put some foamboard in the floor. I'm going with 2in Forumular and at 6'1 I should be fine. I also hate seeing people doing roof raises on 78 in ceiling buses. Save those ones for those who don't want to do a roof raise. There's plenty of 74in ceiling buses if you're going to do a roof raise.

I don't want a roof raise for the added expenses in all materials, added weight, added height and wind drag. I mean, they're nice but it seems people also get the idea of go big or not at all. If you have to do one, I see 8 inches or so, maybe even 12 since, yes, if you're doing it, go big, but 12in would be my max. I see several 16 and 20 in roof raises. Just nut IMO. But hey, this is why we do buses right? We make it our own and do what we want. However, when it comes to insurance, we all pay for those who make the mistakes and have claims. So far roof raise, rooftop decks and wood stoves seem to be a No No. I've heard next is going to be solar panles because aren't attaching them right and they fly off the bus, hit cars and cause accidents. I can see that being a fact. So yes, i do think we all have the right to bish and moan for those who are doing crappy work having avoidable claims that we all pay for as a whole.

 

[nikitis]

I had a 72 inch roof, raised it 12 inches, 84 inches works now for 4in XPS flooring which I did, and 3in of PolyISO on walls and ceiling. I still have 5 inches over my head. 12 inches is a perfect roof raise for those 6ft or less. (I'm 5'11).