My new (used) shuttle bus! (SC)

[m00py]

m00py

check out roach motel a lot of good info in his post

Roach's bus is a HUGE inspiration, in fact I just went through nearly every picture he had up last night. One major difference between our coaches however is that his walls are straight while mine are curved - a huge structural detail that may give me problems later on (e.g. my windows are curved because of that and if I want to replace them - which I do - I need to figure out how I'm going to do that). I have no experience with carpentry or car work so I'm starting from scratch. Thankfully I have friends 'round these parts that have experience in these fields and are willing to help me figure things out and work on this with me.

EDIT: Actually after just looking at some of the interior I see that the curve is actually very slight and I think that windows can actually just give a little to a bend like that, depending on what they're made of I imagine. Can anyone confirm this for me that has had experience with installing windows on a curved body? My first thought was that they were calculated to fit the bend and installed that way. I hope I'm wrong about that.

 

[sdwarf36]

The windows in it ARE curved-I had one out. To remove just undo the screws on the inside trim piece + pry away the sealer on the outside. The bus sides do have some flex-but I doubt its enough to just bolt flat windows in there.

 

[nat_ster]

Flexing windows into a flat opening is a bad idea.

Even if it doesn't break installing it, the window will shatter when yo hit a bump.

Just frame the openings out flat. Not that hard.

Nat

 

[m00py]

Flexing windows into a flat opening is a bad idea.

Even if it doesn't break installing it, the window will shatter when yo hit a bump.

Just frame the openings out flat. Not that hard.

Nat

No the windows currently are curved but it doesn't matter anymore. What I had planned isn't happening. I'm gonna leave them in as they are, the ones I want anyway.

Potentially just found a really, really great spot to park and work on this baby. New spot'll be just down the street, about 8 miles closer to home. Will know by tomorrow.

 

[roach711]

Trying to convert passenger numbers to square foot expectations is not a readily formula that I have found yet!

Generally you can figure 2 1/2' per window or row of seats. My 24' Aerotech has 16 1/2' of floor space behind the drivers seat and is about 7 1/2' wide which gives 124 square feet.

 

[m00py]

I got the spot! I'll be moving the bus there later this afternoon.

 

[nat_ster]

I got the spot! I'll be moving the bus there later this afternoon.

Great news.

Sometimes finding the spot to park is the hardest part of the conversion.

Nat

 

[m00py]

Great news.

Sometimes finding the spot to park is the hardest part of the conversion.

Nat

**** yeah. Dude's leasing the spot to me for $80 a month. Feels good man.

Generally you can figure 2 1/2' per window or row of seats. My 24' Aerotech has 16 1/2' of floor space behind the drivers seat and is about 7 1/2' wide which gives 124 square feet.

I measured my interior today. To the frame I've 17 1/2' from behind the driver's seat, 16' from the stairs, and 7 1/2' wide. Feels good man.

 

[m00py]

Just an update for y'all: Not much has been happening due to all this rain we're getting from Joaquin. Our backyard is a pond. It's up to about 1 1/2'. This is the most persistent and brutal rain I've ever experienced in my life. Some friends of mine woke up this morning to about a foot of water covering the entire downstairs floor of their home. They had to call a rescue team to come help them. $hit's nasty here and my bus sure as **** isn't liking it very much either. Multiple leaks from several screws penetrating through the metal skin on top. There's leakage where the escape hatch and vent fan are as well. This really, really sucks. I'm more upset about the time being wasted than I am about any water damage since I've hardly started renovating.

 

[nat_ster]

Sorry to hear.

As long as your bus is not floating, you can recover.

Nat

 

[roach711]

Much better to find the leaks now than later when they will do some real damage. Those are pretty easy to fix.

 

[m00py]

So not much irl progress with the bus but I spent the last few days learning SketchUp and I drafted my floor plan. This is a rough draft despite it's near full conception due to the measurements being taken while the bus is still stripped. I will lose a couple of inches on each side all around at MOST and that still works theoretically so the dimensions of the furniture and stuff inside are probably going to remain as pictured below. Also, my bus has a curve that I didn't put in because I don't have measurements but it's not really gonna affect much more than the shower and closet spaces. Pictures:

Here's a top view with x-ray on with everything labeled:

Also the furniture and stuff inside were taken from 3D Warehouse so they are not accurate representations of exactly what's going to be put inside, merely they are there to convey the idea of the floor plan three-dimensionally.

 

[m00py]

Can't edit the above post. Some shots with the bathroom installed (not exact, just a representation of the basic idea):

 

[roach711]

If you're using a standard toilet there won't be space for a drain where you've placed it. A porta-potti will fit just fine. Plumbing in holding tanks and drains is the most difficult part of a bus conversion.

 

[Tango-SKO]

Yep...any standard RV potty need to drop straight down and directly into the holding tank. But a good location for a composting unit.

 

[m00py]

Nah it's not gonna be a standard toilet. That's just a placeholder showing where the toilets going to be placed and positioned. I plan on elevating it a bit by building a box basically that goes underneath between the wheel well and the toilet. Wasn't exactly sure what to do from there, whether to compost or plumb to black water tank. Will also be building a step up to the toilet over where the wheel well 45 degrees to the floor.

EDIT: Okay I see what y'all are saying about not being able to plumb it. Gonna go with a composting toilet then, and I may switch up the arrangement. Gotta figure out a way to waterproof it..

 

[roach711]

There's not a lot of space under the cutaway buses for tanks. I had to put my gray tank back behind the gas tank and there was only one spot where I could run the drain line from the shower. Had to run the drain back to the bumper to find a spot to cross the frame rail and back to the tank. I had to plan my tanks and drains first then design the rest around them.

 

[nat_ster]

5 gallon pail with a good toilet seat is hard to beat.

Nat

 

[Fnelson71]

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bath on the left bedroom on the right

 

[Fnelson71]

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using a full size bed