Leveling the bus before roof raise

[BusT]

Ok so I started lifting tonight and I felt it snagging on the back of the drivers side ... looks like i missed a few pieces of frame work or something ... it got dark and I’m just over it for tonight . Tomorrow’s a new day ...
I also picked up some 1x2 rectangular tubing and some 16 g sheets that will be broke at the shop while I’m out in the field sometime this week.... one sheet will get My 22 that I need and have a pretty big peice left over .... I’ll get pics tomorrow

 

[BusT]

or do it like a commercial motorhome and add a bit of styrofoam where the hat channel is missing - I think school buses are over built compared to regular buses, transport trucks, and compared to commercial motorhomes and holiday trailers, school buses may reach the realm of extremism - I really think that people worry unnecessarily about the strength of a roof raise - the skin integrity in conjunction with multiple fasteners into the roman arches of hat channel makes a bus stronger/safer/heavier than any competing vehicle of it's size - as long as what you do isn't going to loosen up and fall off or cause a fire, you're likely good to go

Yeah it’s definitely over building . I would probalay be good with just the hat but now will cut the laps they made and get some twice the size of whatever length I decide to raise ... well that’s the plan for now... I just think going twenty might handle funny

 

[Sleddgracer]

Yeah it’s definitely over building . I would probalay be good with just the hat but now will cut the laps they made and get some twice the size of whatever length I decide to raise ... well that’s the plan for now... I just think going twenty might handle funny

I think that a 20" roof raise would make me a bit apprehensive too, especially after entering a sharp corner a bit too fast when I was bringing my my bus home - buses are certainly not sports cars - although I wasn't really in trouble, it made me take a breath and wonder what the bus would have done with a 20 or 24" roof raise - it certainly made me remember about loading the heavy stuff as low as possible and save the cornflakes for the top cupboards - I think I'll keep my roof raise to about 12 - 14"

 

[BusT]

I think that a 20" roof raise would make me a bit apprehensive too, especially after entering a sharp corner a bit too fast when I was bringing my my bus home - buses are certainly not sports cars - although I wasn't really in trouble, it made me take a breath and wonder what the bus would have done with a 20 or 24" roof raise - it certainly made me remember about loading the heavy stuff as low as possible and save the cornflakes for the top cupboards - I think I'll keep my roof raise to about 12 - 14"

I’m at 11 1/2 right now and just kind of chilling around there... I might slowly bring it up to 14 and see if that’s where I want to stop or not . Which should be plenty with insulation and everything ... even 16 in is looking kind of high now

 

[Sleddgracer]

I’m at 11 1/2 right now and just kind of chilling around there... I might slowly bring it up to 14 and see if that’s where I want to stop or not . Which should be plenty with insulation and everything ... even 16 in is looking kind of high now

best to get it right the first time

 

[BusT]

best to get it right the first time

Yeah it would be kinda hard to go back and change this... lol
I should’ve just made one build thread but had to ask so many questions ...

So here I am at 14 now and my hands barley scrap the hat channel... even if I insulate 3in tip and bottom and sides I will probalay only be able to palm my ceiling ....
Feels pretty right ... might go maybe and inch higher but will see

 

[Sleddgracer]

Yeah it would be kinda hard to go back and change this... lol
I should’ve just made one build thread but had to ask so many questions ...

So here I am at 14 now and my hands barley scrap the hat channel... even if I insulate 3in tip and bottom and sides I will probalay only be able to palm my ceiling ....
Feels pretty right ... might go maybe and inch higher but will see

...................................

 

[EastCoastCB]

I’m at 11 1/2 right now and just kind of chilling around there... I might slowly bring it up to 14 and see if that’s where I want to stop or not . Which should be plenty with insulation and everything ... even 16 in is looking kind of high now

A little goes a long way!

 

[MacC-SKO]

watching this thread like a hawk!!

 

[PNW_Steve]

I raised my first bus 8" and I was happy with it but thought a bit more would be nice. On my Bluebird we were prepared to go as high as 12". We went up 8" and looked it over.. A little more... We went up 1/2" at a time from there until we hit 10". That was plenty unless Shaq comes to dinner

I don't get the appeal of mega roof raises but that's OK. We each get to build what suits us personally. That is what skoolie is about. Sharing ideas and knowledge to help each of us reach our dream.

 

[BusT]

I raised my first bus 8" and I was happy with it but thought a bit more would be nice. On my Bluebird we were prepared to go as high as 12". We went up 8" and looked it over.. A little more... We went up 1/2" at a time from there until we hit 10". That was plenty unless Shaq comes to dinner

I don't get the appeal of mega roof raises but that's OK. We each get to build what suits us personally. That is what skoolie is about. Sharing ideas and knowledge to help each of us reach our dream.

I thought 11 was good . Then I went up to 14 And thought that would be plenty once I added insulation and everything . Then I bumped it up another inch. And now it’s sitting at 15 ...
Which I actually think it looks better at 11 but would like to stretch my hands up and really feel the open space ... overall it’s sitting over the road11ft maybe 2in

I might bring it down then up again once more just to check out the look difference but as of now I’m pretty sure max will be 15 I have enough hat channel to still go 16 if I want but most likely not....
It’s tough making these executive decisions and thinking , looks, handeling , weight distribution , winds, and low bridges/ trees, also practicality

 

[BusT]

So I’m getting stuck again and there’s a few things I should’ve took scooting for regarding the transition ... also I’m thinking of taking the bus completely off jacks and letting it sit on the unlevel ground for supporting the transition and then get it aligned and welded ...
the way it’s sitting now isn’t level .... the ground is t level ... so either way it all comes down to measurements ... I measured the panel I cut for the transition and got 44 1/2 ....
I used a 8th inch cutting wheel I believe then sawzall...
So let’s say 44 3/4
The raise was 14 1/2
A2 + b2 = c2
So I can find a close to precise number for what my slope should be and see if I got the windshield Leung in or out ....
i should’ve measured that distance first .... but as it sits right now I would not weld that up because it looks extremely off and I know it could be a better fit ...