Emergency Roof Hatch

[Brokentravler]

Hey guys I have a 94 Blue Bird T/C 2000 and my roof hatched just broke. Its winter and I need to fix them. Was wondering if anybody had any pointers on where to buy them cheap. Thank you guys!

 

[Robin97396]

Welccome

The quickest route, is there a bus junkyard near you? Sometimes on ebay.

Most here would recommend getting some sheet metal and riveting a cover where the hatch was. Later you can cut a smaller hole in the patch to install a vent fan if desired.

 

[Brokentravler]

I was really trying to find new ones just for the looks and because I don’t want to have to deal with the old ones breaking upon removal. I would like to keep the hatch to work as a skylight type of deal. But might have to figure somthing out. Thank you!

 

[EastCoastCB]

Hey guys I have a 94 Blue Bird T/C 2000 and my roof hatched just broke. Its winter and I need to fix them. Was wondering if anybody had any pointers on where to buy them cheap. Thank you guys!

You can have mine when I pull it off and seal it for good.

 

[EastCoastCB]

Welccome

The quickest route, is there a bus junkyard near you? Sometimes on ebay.

Most here would recommend getting some sheet metal and riveting a cover where the hatch was. Later you can cut a smaller hole in the patch to install a vent fan if desired.

What I'd do!!!

 

[Robin97396]

I'd exactly follow your path CB. If mine broke that would be the first thing I'd do. Rip it out and tin over the hole.

I don't go outside that way, so honestly it would solve my biggest security issue to skin over the hole. Yeah, I'd probably end up getting a vent fan to install where the hatch was too. The vent fans look pretty fragile to me too though.

Well first I'd struggle with duct tape and plastic sheeting until I was all rain soaked to the skin and tired of that, then I'd see if I had enough rivets to rip out the plastic hatch so I could pop rivet some sheeting over the hole. I'm pretty sure I don't have enough rivets to do that without going to town, and naturally it's raining with predictions of more rain. I've been known to fall off the roof during dry conditions, so I'm thinking a tarp stretched across the bus with milk jugs or something to weight it down until the rain stops would be good, or at least stop water entry.

I'm getting choosy about how I injure myself these days. I guess the point is if I'm going to fall off my bus, I'd rather do it during nice weather.

I've seen a brand new hatch for sale once several years ago. Hatches are to big of a security risk anyway because they can easily be used to break into your bus. As you're becoming aware of they're also pretty expensive to replace. Unless you're putting a sun deck on top of your bus you probably won't use that hatch much. Also many of us like the powered vent rather than just passive air exchange.

 

[EastCoastCB]

My fantastic vent has held up well so far.
Its been on my van since I first got the van. I've got an even nicer model for my new shorty.

 

[Robin97396]

I could have taken out my hatch this last summer when I was seam sealing and painting. I have several pieces of sheet metal that could easily cover the hatch hole. Since my break in several years ago I've kind of been kicking myself for not simply plating over the hole.

As it is, now my insulation and interior ceiling are cut to match the hatch hole. It's not that big of a deal in my maxivan since I didn't exactly finish this out like a motorhome. (visualize subfloor extending up the walls and onto the ceiling) I've kept all my window, but during extreme temps they all have fitted insulation panels several layers deep that block the heat/cold.

I like my hatch. It doesn't leak. The thing I can't get past is it's such an easy way to break into the bus. If I'm going to travel with my motorcycle in the back of the bus so I can ride in new places I'm going to have to feel secure that my bus isn't going to be broken into while I'm away on a motorcycle ride for a few hours. The hatch has got to go. I also took off all the extra mirrors that were used to gain access to my roof during the break in. The only thing I haven't done is rig a shotgun to the hatch as a welcome for the first person that opens it from the exterior, but that would likely make my hatch leak.

 

[84chevyguyid]

Did someone break in to your bus through the roof hatch?

 

[Robin97396]

Yes, I was broken into. Every high school kid knows that the easiest way to get into a bus is through the hatch. I've found I can tie my hatch shut from the inside to prevent someone from opening it from the exterior.

So now every time someone has an interlock problem, due to the hatch that is suddenly disconnected, I suspect they were broken into.

 

[golfersmurf57]

Hey guys I have a 94 Blue Bird T/C 2000 and my roof hatched just broke. Its winter and I need to fix them. Was wondering if anybody had any pointers on where to buy them cheap. Thank you guys!

I'll have at least one once I buy a roof A/C it's from a 92 but you'll probably find one sooner. If one unit cools the bus enough I may remove and cover the other one. But that's on next year's skoolie budget.

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