Car Hauler 40ft FE

[Geo Jeff]

I'm looking into building a enclosed car hauler. Front engine flat nosed bus.
I'm just a few weeks into the research but ready to get started on a solid plan if i can fit everything I need.

I need room to live in obliviously while on the road. The shop or car area is what I'm truly wanting to work well for me. From videos and pictures I have seen it looks like a clean rear doubled hinged door can be made in the bus for a ramp to get away from the car scraping
.
Where this gets side ways for me is I can squeak by with 18ft from the back door to the front wall. 20ft would be even better. I need a bus with the 6.5ft tall roof. I build a small gantry lift in the ceiling that allows me to lift the engine and transmission in and out and i have small scissor lift for under the car to adjust its height during work that lays virtually flat when down.
I currently have a set up like this that has a taller roof and is a bit wider that I'm trying to copy or model from. I don't use tool boxes as I put a peg board on the walls and strap/hang my tools to it.
What I could use is some help with laying out a living area with a 14 row flat nose FE Thomas or Blue bird with the remaining space.

In the living quarters I don't plan to install a stove top or oven. I'll use new wave and install a convention microwave and plan on BBQ'ing out side every chance i get. What i would like is a full size fridge a large stand up shower and toilet. clothes closet of some type or dresser. I'm not sure about a bathroom sink yet if it takes space for anything else. I'm hoping some one is really creative with space savings. I see lots of tiny stuff being built.

 

[cadillackid]

I'm looking into building a enclosed car hauler. Front engine flat nosed bus.
I'm just a few weeks into the research but ready to get started on a solid plan if i can fit everything I need.

I need room to live in obliviously while on the road. The shop or car area is what I'm truly wanting to work well for me. From videos and pictures I have seen it looks like a clean rear doubled hinged door can be made in the bus for a ramp to get away from the car scraping
.
Where this gets side ways for me is I can squeak by with 18ft from the back door to the front wall. 20ft would be even better. I need a bus with the 6.5ft tall roof. I build a small gantry lift in the ceiling that allows me to lift the engine and transmission in and out and i have small scissor lift for under the car to adjust its height during work that lays virtually flat when down.
I currently have a set up like this that has a taller roof and is a bit wider that I'm trying to copy or model from. I don't use tool boxes as I put a peg board on the walls and strap/hang my tools to it.
What I could use is some help with laying out a living area with a 14 row flat nose FE Thomas or Blue bird with the remaining space.

In the living quarters I don't plan to install a stove top or oven. I'll use new wave and install a convention microwave and plan on BBQ'ing out side every chance i get. What i would like is a full size fridge a large stand up shower and toilet. clothes closet of some type or dresser. I'm not sure about a bathroom sink yet if it takes space for anything else. I'm hoping some one is really creative with space savings. I see lots of tiny stuff being built.

I thinbk the first thing to start with would be how much length you need for the garage portion then that gives you your available space to turn into travel / living space.. a 14 row FE will definitely be what id choose.. standard RV;'s used to always have a combo toilet / shower in a pretty small space.. as for a sink, I know i saw somewhere that soneone had made a fold up type device which was a sink.. or perhaps You could make a sink slightly recesses into a top and double it as a table?

-Christopher

 

[Tall Grass]

Getting greasy in the garage means you need a good clean up area. A little sink will be a pain to use and lots of water on the floor during a good hand washing.

 

[gizmoq]

I'm looking into building a enclosed car hauler. Front engine flat nosed bus.
I'm just a few weeks into the research but ready to get started on a solid plan if i can fit everything I need.

I need room to live in obliviously while on the road. The shop or car area is what I'm truly wanting to work well for me. From videos and pictures I have seen it looks like a clean rear doubled hinged door can be made in the bus for a ramp to get away from the car scraping
.
Where this gets side ways for me is I can squeak by with 18ft from the back door to the front wall. 20ft would be even better. I need a bus with the 6.5ft tall roof. I build a small gantry lift in the ceiling that allows me to lift the engine and transmission in and out and i have small scissor lift for under the car to adjust its height during work that lays virtually flat when down.
I currently have a set up like this that has a taller roof and is a bit wider that I'm trying to copy or model from. I don't use tool boxes as I put a peg board on the walls and strap/hang my tools to it.
What I could use is some help with laying out a living area with a 14 row flat nose FE Thomas or Blue bird with the remaining space.

In the living quarters I don't plan to install a stove top or oven. I'll use new wave and install a convention microwave and plan on BBQ'ing out side every chance i get. What i would like is a full size fridge a large stand up shower and toilet. clothes closet of some type or dresser. I'm not sure about a bathroom sink yet if it takes space for anything else. I'm hoping some one is really creative with space savings. I see lots of tiny stuff being built.

Wow! you're not asking for much. Sounds a lot like my build, bit I only have 16' up front of my dog-nose 69pax Wayne. Here is my layout.

The stovetop is actually induction and hides under the countertop in a drawer. The convection/microwave oven is above the sink. The entertainment center is in the cabinet between the dinette and bathroom. The bathroom is currently being converted to also serve as a shower. The dinette makes a single bed. The couch jack-knifes into a full bed. I have overhead cabinets above everything I can. The fresh water tank is under the couch. there's also storage under the dinette seats. I put my closet in the garage on the other side of the wall from the refrigerator.



There's not a lot of living space up front, so I intend to setup my garage as a man-cave with a 40" TV, surround sound, cushion my ramps for couches, drop-down mosquito netting to screen it in with the back door open, and use the ramp as a back porch.

 

[Geo Jeff]

I May go with a short flat nose bus. Ive been researching the heck out of this. The bus with it not being 102 inches wide like a enclosed car trailers just gives up the extra room I need. If I go short on the bus and build that into living quarters a 30 or 32 ft trailer would work just fine. The bus I wanted just because you can buy such heavy duty drive train for so little. Its just not ever going to be long enough or wide enough. The I keep seeing wanderlodge for sale at decent prices. Makes wonder if its worth converting when they do such a nice job laying the bus out and it has awning gen set etc.
Does any one have any issue with there converted buses in places like thousand trails. Assuming there painted up nice and clean build.
I'm going to look into what it takes to do a slide out next. If I could slide out and pick up that extra walk around space I think it would still work for me. My roommate has a 40ft alfa see ya rv with 4ft slide outs and it just makes it completely different. Being a single guy I can get away with some small quarters to make it work and to be Able to go out on the road and get a season in it. I really don't want to haul a trailer that is just as long. I can envision cutting the walls from the floor and roof and welding the to a frame work. As well as the open hole that is cut out so that the walls could be pushed a couple feet back to add some floor space on both sides.
Probably run the 4 ways going down the highway, but then i probably should already when i put on the cruise control on and go to the bathroom.
If you could make it look clean and just actually cut the walls out and then build plat forms that were hinged that could be flipped by hand or automated to go from vert to horzt so that you would have a couple two or 4 feet of floor space. for the wall use that canvas they put on semi trucks or marine canvas to create the wall. the have some type of tent box ? that you assembled out to the edge of your new floor space? Its not like it would be new technology pop up tents and awnings are every where. I read some where taht the canvas the semi trucks used was ripp stopped to the point where a knife would not cut it open so the load was safe. But boats have marine canvas and they stay warm and dry using it on cheap boats as well as yachts. any one tried canvas and the wall that is cut out folding down to create a floor to wrap into a room extension Side tent) or open deck with bug netting in some areas. Just spit balling here to try and not buy a trailer. Just that money saved could pay for this project or close to it.

 

[gizmoq]

A roof raise that can support an engine hoist is asking for a lot of added structure. To have that structure open frame so you can drop the side walls....

I've seen container house designs that have walls that fold out/up and around. Don't think any have actually been built. I don't doubt that you could do it,but it'll close to max GVW.

 

[Geo Jeff]

I only lift about 90lbs max. With the lift spread over four points I can't imagine it being more load on the roof than a factory grab handle. In fact I saw some chrome grab handles on a bus and they looked like they would make a excellent forward to rear rail to roll on.
I'm not looking to raise the roof. I am going to install a gantry sliding chain lift that will let me lift the engine and slide it up to the front bench engine stand. I do use a hoist but its a scissor hoist that only raises the vehicle 30" i think. Normally it would be for brakes and tires.
We've been sitting around tonight talking about cutting out the side wall of the bus and framing in hole with steel from the floor to the top of the wall just under the roof.
Then build a steel tube wall that is hinged at the floor to fit inside the cutaway. Possibly use a cable on each side to hold this hinged wall level when its laying down as the floor. Depending on how heavy it is maybe small hand cranked boat winch to raise and lower it? The some simple frame work and marine style canvas to snap in place to create walls and roof. Hand rails when its not so hot the air conditioning would not be is use the sides could roll up? An extra 6ft or 12 ft would make it amazing. I see some of the buses with the back cut away fro hauling cars and some with the roofs off as well as just ramp trucks. Stiffening and bracing the shell doesn't seem to me to be a big issue? I'm not a engineer but it fixes my issue in such a way that it may make a bus the ticket on my new transporter.
Of course I'm thinking the same thing in the living quarters with separate door frames. This sounds easier and less money than building tip outs. Plus it might look pretty dam neat all set up. This way I can tow my TOAD as well instead of having to find room in a trailer or leave it home.

Who has cut the most out of there bus and had issues or good luck. Curious to hear about it and see some pictures.

Also I'm not planning on additional flooring unless its fixing the floor that's there. I plan on paining it all white inside and bunch of good lights every where. I don't expect i could add 5k lbs to the shop area. car ways 1650.00 lbs, hoist is about 400.00 I would guess. cutting out and rebuilding the walls and rails should not add more than 250.00lbs.
There will be the wall between the living quarters and shop.
I need to put a ramp in the rear door unless i can find a gate lift that would fold all up back there.
I could have a 20 x 20 work area. This is more like it. shoot some holes in this for me any one? of course were talking about a front engine as long as they come.
Also I wonder if I could have one of the rear shop walls when its lowered down flat have another section of it lower down as ramp to the ground or stairs to get in or out. I kinda have idea formulating for this entry.

 

[gizmoq]

We've been sitting around tonight talking about cutting out the side wall of the bus and framing in hole with steel from the floor to the top of the wall just under the roof.
Then build a steel tube wall that is hinged at the floor to fit inside the cutaway. Possibly use a cable on each side to hold this hinged wall level when its laying down as the floor. Depending on how heavy it is maybe small hand cranked boat winch to raise and lower it? The some simple frame work and marine style canvas to snap in place to create walls and roof. Hand rails when its not so hot the air conditioning would not be is use the sides could roll up? An extra 6ft or 12 ft would make it amazing.

Seen something like this on Tiny House Nation TV that's full height of the wall and drops down to make their porch.

Who has cut the most out of there bus and had issues or good luck. Curious to hear about it and see some pictures.

Mine's not cut out much except for the reinforced back wall/ramp. Its 7 1/2' x 7 1/2'. I currently has elevated ramps mounted, but I intend to transform my garage (when the car is out) into a screened in man-cave with big screen, surround sound, mini-keg, etc. while the "ramp/door" serves as a porch.

 

[Geo Jeff]

I use to race a 1996 STS street rally. Fast car no brakes after 110 MPH. But who was using the brakes.

 

[Geo Jeff]

semi trailer

Has any one ever done a semi trailer for a car hauler on school bus? I see there are a lot or trailers out there with those 5500 to 12000lb lift gates.
I'm taking about shortening the bus and setting the trailer right on the frame. Then either blending them together or what ever you need. Living quarters up front hauler in the rear. Or maybe the trailer right to the drivers compartment and you have huge box to build in?

You get 102 inches and a raised roof plus with some mods you could just drive your vehicle up to the rear lift and raise it up and drive in with no ramps. Give yourself 45ft bus maybe a smidgen more? must be fairly close on weight. Probably have to do a epdm roof or coat it with some thing since its flat?

Just a thought. I was just looking at a old trailer for 3k$ and i know the lift alone was worth $12k new. Probably already done i just couldn't find it on google. Easy to cut windows in where you need them.

 

[Geo Jeff]

I started my tear out today. Hired a guy to help me for a extra set of hands. Who installed these seats! They must be put in before the body is installed on the chassis. Lucky there is no rust all on this Bus so it comes apart quickly and easy. On the seat bolts over the air tanks and fuel tank rear end etc that are not accessible. Were grinding a slot in the head of the bolt and just using a chisel to know both sides of the bolt head off and that seems to be working well.

what does one do with a theater room size of chairs. Its looking like the dump to me.

I'm only going back on this bus it looks like about 11ft fro the living quarters so its more like short bus than a full size. I just opened a account for pictures so i'll sketch up a drawing of what i have on paper here for my lay out so I can start getting some ideas if I'm headed in a do able design.

the back 24 ft will be my work shop, bench and parts room. Its so tight I have measured and re measured and I think I can make it all happen the way I want.

I still need to design my rear garage door slash ramp to drive in. Plus i like the idea of the door or ramp being open parked at the edge of the lake with my chair out there on the ramp vertical just casting away on my own private dock.

 

[Carytowncat]

The best ggift i have given myself in years was to keep the rear ten feet as shop space. it is a sanctuary. Your dream sounds delightful.

 

[Geo Jeff]

These are the drawings very close to scale. If the good News bus Hauls 9 then this one is the Bad News bus with room for 1 plus. Though it hauls two Toads. Is there a plural for toads.

I could have come up a with a smidgen more storage with a small RV fridge and a RV washing machine and dryer or not have one at all. I should have done a wet bath toilet but I just like a nice hot shower with lots of room. I'm afraid of alarm clocks and my ass touching a cold shower wall or curtain that is to close. Both I believe can and will stop your heart.

There are also some over head cabinets going in every where they fit and maybe down the inside for the shop on both sides if my parts room is to full. I just happen to have a huge quantity of new torch hoses and I'm thinking I might mount my oxygen tank on under neath and i use propane instead of acetylene. Get enough hose to get all the way around the bus to work in it and then I'll have plenty in the shop area. Also I'll mount the wire feed bottle under neath as well and I hope mount the welder under my bench so its easy to maintain. The bench is for welding or tear downs of engines transmission's. I have restaurant style stainless sink prep station. My goal is to cut it down and have one of the two sinks used for a parts washer. I use Castrol super clean so no ire issue or spill issue since its citrus based and bio degradable.
I will make a steel cover to go over the sinks that fit the sink tops very well. So it can be a tear down table. the second sink will be hot cold water for cleaning up and rinsing parts, hands etc. parts washer sink will just run a pond pump like most solvent tanks do and use the sink drain into a 5 gallon bucket fro re circulation. I like small amounts of cleaner as it can be changed often and not be a big heavy burden.
There is so much detail and systems to add like teh back door ramp system and the car winch for pulling a non running car up the ramp and inside.
I'm going to try and run every thing direct from 12 volt that i can. Led's pumps, computers etc. The i have big inventor i can use for the washer and dryer (apartment model stacked unit with propane for heating).

But my goal is to build as little as possible. the shop will not get a sub floor though it will probably get marine ply wood with a a flooring of some type on it. I have even though about just a nice ply wood floor painted or sealed and make it so it of gets looking shabby just un screw install a new sheet in its place. A lot of race cars trailer have this because jacks and tools cut linoleum. But it cant be slippery? wood is hard to beat fro price and ease of replacment.

<iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://s50.photobucket.com/user/GeoJeff/embed/slideshow/"></iframe>

<div style="width:480px;text-align:right;"><embed width="480" height="360" src="http://pic2.pbsrc.com/flash/rss_slideshow.swf" flashvars="rssFeed=http%3A%2F%2Ffeed50.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ff342%2FGeoJeff%2Ffeed.rss" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" /><a href="javascript:void(0);" target="_blank"><img src="http://pic.photobucket.com/share/icons/embed/btn_geturs.gif" style="border:none;" /></a><a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/user/GeoJeff/library/" target="_blank"><img src="http://pic.photobucket.com/share/icons/embed/btn_viewall.gif" style="border:none;" alt="GeoJeff's album on Photobucket" /></a></div>

 

[Geo Jeff]

 

[Geo Jeff]

 

[Geo Jeff]

These ones have labels and a little more detail. Does any one have my bus es under carriage already drawn up. For setting up tanks etc.
This is really a short design it looks like. I go back to the 5th window i believe this is based on 11ft of living space.

 

[Geo Jeff]

The best ggift i have given myself in years was to keep the rear ten feet as shop space. it is a sanctuary. Your dream sounds delightful.

Thank you very much i cant wait to get out there. I have other friends doing this with there business and they look like they might be close to free souls.

 

[Geo Jeff]

 

[cadillackid]

now thats my kind of layout.. more garage than house!!!
-Christopher

 

[gizmoq]

You can't walk through to the garage inside the bus??? I'm kinda paranoid about my tie down skills so I keep my internal garage door open for the first leg of every trip so I can see and hear if anything is shifting/falling/spilling/breaking.

Will there be a wall and a door separating the driver seat from the house section? Just an opinion from a fellow car hauler, I left it wide open. It makes the space feel bigger and more open. It also allows me to look around the house section (I always forget to stow something and it goes flying at the first turn. I also have a navigator seat for my gal who likes to walk around the house section while I drive. (I appreciate she's O.K. using the bathroom while the bus is in motion; I hate stopping for potty breaks!!!)

Does your bus already have an emergency door mid-ship? If I ever decide to have my bus professionally rebuilt, I would love to have a side door where yours is. That's the main thing I'd like to have that I know is completely outside my skillset.