| Author |
Message |
David Clark (Dclark) (24.197.82.121)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2004 - 1:12 pm: | |
Assume MCI MC-9.
1. Is insulating and covering floor a MUST?
2. If so, what is best way?
3. What is estimated cost?
4. What is estimated timeframe to do?
David Clark |
CoryDane RTSII (66.155.188.80)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2004 - 4:02 pm: | |
1. Is insulating and covering floor a MUST?
No.
Again, you have not told us what you want to convert or the life style your bus will be used for. It all depends on the weather you plan to visit.
2. If so, what is best way?
See question 1.
3. What is estimated cost?
You will be using normal floor materials so figure the space you will cover in flooring costs.
If you insulate, the addiotional cost is not overbearing.
4. What is estimated timeframe to do?
Same as doing a floor in a home.
Again, you need to give us more info so we can make an intelligent thought.
"Imagine Your Dreams"
cd |
David Clark (Dclark) (24.197.82.121)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2004 - 4:18 pm: | |
Cory,
Thank you for the response.
I detailed what I was trying to do in my earlier post "some thoughts and the process."
Thanks.
David Clark |
CoryDane RTSII (66.155.188.54)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2004 - 11:18 pm: | |
DC
I tried to be as political correct without giving bad answeres. A bad answer is worse than no answer because on these boards, some will assume the answer correct and will base some important building strategies on them. And if that answer does not work out, whos fault is it?
Go for the good answers
"Imagine"
cd |
John G Root Jr (Johnroot) (66.82.9.70)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2004 - 11:25 pm: | |
Hi David,
I read and appreciated your post on some thoughts and the process, and think you need to do more planning.
I spent a lot of time with graph paper making floorplans and plumbing diagrams and electrical diagrams. I bought the conversion books, Myers are good for specifics (Epic Conversion Support http://www.busnut.com/seecs.html ). I was too quick in buying my bus, but that is another story. From my experience with my 4106 get an MCI 9 Spend the money to get a good one. Subscribe to Bus Conversion Magazine, and do the course they offer. I found it very helpful in getting myself organized to do the conversion. I have seen a really nice looking, very simple conversion done with cheap pine cabinets and furniture from Home Depot. You have developed a philosophy about your conversion, i.e. cheap, reliable, etc. so put in a bath tub, and spend the time researching how much water you need to carry, how you will heat it (with the engine while driving), big well insulated tank! 12 volt systems only, no inverter, no generator. Charge the battery bank while you drive, or plug in a really good battery charger while you are at the show, etc.
Mine is viable for six people (4 people with mental disabilities and 2 staff) for two weeks at a time staying at State and National Parks. So, for example I have a big bathroom and shower, lots of closet and drawer space and a big kitchen. Very tastefully done with all the mod cons and ultraleather (tough and easy to clean) furniture; laminate floor, etc. Quiet generator exhausted through the roof, 2500 watt inverter 6 AGM house batteries, etc.
Make sure the bus you buy is in good mechanical condition and get all the manuals -- you'll need them. You might consider leaving the heating and airconditioning systems in the bus operational since you do a lot of driving.
I am almost 50% over budget (not including new engine and transmission) because of things that cost more by the time they were working right than I budgeted and I was using what I thought were high figures!
Have fun!
John G Root Jr
Rocinante
PD 4106 1638 |
David Clark (Dclark) (151.213.4.16)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2004 - 11:52 pm: | |
Cory,
My two cents on political correctness in the context of a deep-minded (and I'm serious) discussion board is that it's a waste of time.
This is not to say I think folks should be rude, mean, etc...
And of course, your idea of PC and mine might be different, but in my experience, political correctness is just another term for not saying anything.
i.e. bad answer!
Also, in a good discussion board like this one, I don't think a bad answer stands a chance of living very long.
Each user bears the responsibility of taking your opinion, Fred's opinion, my opinion, with a big fat grain of salt.
I have posed my "specific" questions, with the underlying ideas behind my questions being addressed in the earlier message.
I asking real questions to real people who are really doing this stuff in the real world.
I'm not going to rush out and buy X or Y because of what any one person says.
I'm trying to take advantage of the group mind -- to sit at the round table, so to speak.
I'm asking for info.
What I do with the info is my responsibility.
Thanks.
David Clark |
David Clark (Dclark) (151.213.4.16)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 12:05 am: | |
John,
Thank you for your post.
Planning is what I'm doing. That's why I'm here.
I've spent 3 years in the F-100 (if you read 'thoughts and process' you know what I'm talking about), and have gotten very efficient use out of every nook and cranny.
At the same time, I've spent an awful lot of time thinking of how to travel, and live while doing so, in a better way. I drive a lot of hours, and I don't have a music radio (only CB) so I spend that time in thought.
All that to say, I've been thinking a long time about WHAT I want to do.
In the past 6 months, that thinking has turned towards first an RV and now to a bus. The common thread there is space and systems.
I have another pretty good while to go before I'm ready to get any bus, simply because at this time I don't have the money to get any bus.
So I've got more time yet to think.
AND pose questions and get the best of the experience from you guys.
Re: which bus... the more I've thought about it and looked into it, the more an MC-9 makes sense over a 4104 or equivalent. The 04 has a lot of pluses in terms of size, but so does the 9.
Having read all of Phred's poop sheets, the solar thing really appeals to me, with the option of being able to plug in when I feel like it.
The whole thing is freedom to choose, I think.
Most theatres I go to, I have the option of running a heavy cable to the bus and charge, as I will be there some number of hours.
On the other hand, I won't have that option in some places, so don't want to be dead in the water accordingly.
In your setup lasting 6 people 2 weeks, how often to you dump and fill your tanks?
And what size tanks are they?
I am a firm believer in manuals. I have all the shop manuals for my F-100 and use them frequently. I also have an old Ford 8N tractor (my Dad's) and I have the shop manuals on that.
I made a living as a mechanic for a number of years, so I understand the value of manuals. And will have them for whatever bus I get, as soon or sooner than the bus is in my yard.
Thank you again --
David Clark |
John G Root Jr (Johnroot) (66.82.9.14)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 6:15 pm: | |
With six people on board I generally manage two days before I need to dump and fill with 80 gallons fresh, 80 gal black and 65 gray (shower and bathroom sink) Kitchen sink goes into the black water so it doesn't get too thick and doesn't smell with no chemical. I can go much longer if we are all careful in our water use. You need more waste water gallons than fresh water gallons, but maybe not as extreme as I did.
The MCI 9 was my original choice, but I decided it is too big and tag axle makes it harder to turn so I got the 35' 4106. Many state parks have only one spot that will accomocate a big bus, but 35' should be easier to deal with. I also can't wait to get it in shape and go on trips so I'll know if my theories are practical.
I have never seen a solar set up that sucessfully did more than help a little with battery charging, but I havn't seen much.
Does anyone have a windmill for those breezy days?
John
Rocinante
PD 4106 1638 the baby bus |
David Clark (Dclark) (24.197.82.121)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 6:59 pm: | |
John,
Thank you for the good info.
Does anyone in this group use solar on the order described in Phred's poop sheets? i.e. extensively so that no generator is used other than engine running?
David Clark |
Phil Dumpster (24.16.243.37)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 11:41 pm: | |
While I do have plans for solar I don't have money for it, so that kind of rules it out for me, at least for now. Now, if in the next 5 years some miracle breakthrough in design and manufacturing comes about and 24x48 80 watt panels come on the market at $20 each, you better believe I'm going to cover my roof with them!
Wind power seems like a good idea for an RV. A wind generator can be made to fold up into a compact unit for travel. If your travels take you to the beach or the mountains, well I've never been to the coast or the mountains out here in the west without some wind blowing. A wind generator can run 24 hours a day as long as there is a strong enough breeze, whereas to get 24 hour performance out of solar panels you'd have to go to one of the earth's poles.
You might be able to use one to power an air conditioner if you're in a hurricane, but otherwise it would probably work well for charging batteries. |
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