| Author |
Message |
lost in the woods (67.233.187.232)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 21, 2003 - 10:13 pm: | |
Well here goes Im new at this.Heres the plan bought 150 acres in northern Ontario cant afford a house, goin to make the bus into a home. got the seats out ceilings gone. Working on the metal on the walls that the seats were mounted to[sure there is a name for them but I dont know it].Going to heat and cook with a small woodstove[anyone done this any info apprec]. Looking at insulation anyone used thermal coat or supertherm? Did you have to to use insulation in the walls or was the coating enough.Now for the question we have all been waiting for has anyone drooped the floor to the dropped aisle height instead of raising the roof?
Thanx Lost in the woods |
Peter Broadribb (Madbrit) (65.37.89.213)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, August 22, 2003 - 7:51 am: | |
LitW,
You will find that most of these insulating coatings and bubble wrap type products only work with an air-gap of 1/2" to 1". Check the product info before you buy/install.
I think you will find that a good quality foam board or spray on foam (messy) will afford you the best bang for your buck.
To drop the floors would be a major reconstruction of structural integrity of the coach and not advisable unless you are an engineer totally familiar with MCI's plans. Bearing in mind that if you have enough money that anything is almost possible, I don't even think it is feasible to lower the floor as the floor is one of the main parts of the shell and the strength of the shell is formed by the bays below and the roof above all connecting to the floor. Far easier to raise the roof.
Peter. |
Stan (216.95.238.116)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, August 22, 2003 - 8:44 am: | |
If you are planning on doing this in the winter in Northern Ontario you will chnage your description from 'live in' to 'exist in'. When the temperature gets below 0 F you will have major condensation problems inside and a bus is very difficult to heat. The metal structure has a high heat loss and the surface area in proportion to volume of heated air inside just makes it hard to keep warm. I have lived in the artic in a tent in -65 F, but I was paid to do it, and I can tell you that a good double wall tent is easier to heat than a bus.
I have also converted a MC-7 and Peter is correct about lowering the floor. Sprayed foam insulation is the best you can get and also the most expensive. You have to insulate the floor and that is easiest to do by laying foam sheets on top of the existing floor. It is almost impossible to access the entire floor from underneath and insulate with something that will stand up to travel.
In your situation, I would buy a chain saw and build a quick log cabin before winter arrives.
Stan |
lost in the woods (67.233.187.247)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, August 22, 2003 - 11:53 am: | |
Well thanks for the comeback At present I have a 78 chev schoolie that I heat with a ventless garage heater I work in northern Iowa and southern Minnesota.the heat keeps the bus warm and I have no insulation in it at all,but I do get a lot of condensation.Can you give me a idea how much it is to raise a roof. I am not very mechanically inclined so this is a major project for me. How do put the floor in? Do you use 2by2s or 2by 4s? is there a certain order I should be doing this in? ie walls wiring etc.I plan on using solar power for electricty and a wood stove for heat. Any suggestions for either would help.
Thankx Terry Mac |
Jim Ashworth (Jimnh) (172.163.235.166)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, August 22, 2003 - 8:09 pm: | |
Busses are made for travelling. What you need is a mobile home. A lot better idea than trying to exist in a bus. Probably not much more expensive by the time you finish with the MC-7.
Jim |
lost inthe woods (67.233.187.229)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, August 23, 2003 - 11:56 pm: | |
well after reading the positive comeback I have still decided to go thru with this project I am ready to take up the floor do i have yo take out the piece of metal that is rived down the center aisle or can i get the floor out from the wall?does anyone know if supertherm is a heat shield or will it keep the cold out? any help would be appreciated
Terry Mac |