| Author | Message | ||
| ChuckMC9 (Chucks)
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If it only had trees, a pit and was half the cost... $1900 / 3750ft² - Hanger/Apartment for lease | ||
| Cliff (Floridacracker)
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Chuck, Ok, Here's my plan: Honey, When I retire I am going to build you a new 3750 sqft home, It wont be too big for just the two of us, as a matter of fact it will actually brings us closer together(I will be working on the Bus, in the house), Let me go ahead and build it and surprise you. Several months later, Ad in paper: For Sale Bus Please call Widow at xxx-xxxx Always good to think out a plan first. Cliff | ||
| Brian Brown (Blue_velvet)
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FMCA mag. had an article a few months back about a couple that built one of those giant metal buildings on their property (Butler, et al). You know, big roll up doors, the works. Probably <$40/s.f. to rough-in... Less than half of the footprint was finished out as living space. The rest was a drive-thru MH barn with hookups, multi-car garage, shop, a loft over the living space for storage, etc. even an indoor hot tub. Talk about a bus-converter's fantasy! bb | ||
| Cliff (Floridacracker)
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Brian, I have actually thought about designing something similar that would incorporate the bus into the useable living space. Of course in my "Dream" you would need auxillary a/c connections and and some sort of sleeve(airplane style) that would provide a seal to the bus. Anyway, I know from some of your pictures that we both have young kids and plenty of years to dream about our "pad" for just two. Cliff | ||
| ChuckMC9 (Chucks)
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Cliff, your plan is a HOOT!  Guess one should be as careful about picking out a wife as a bus, eh? I've also had that aircraft passenger ramp seal idea and one of these days will look into it. BB, I saw that FMCA article but had forgotten all about it. Great place. Similar, but not big enough: RV Chalet | ||
| charlesseaton Rating: N/A |
A few years back, a buddy took me to a suburb of Philadelphia to visit a friend of his. After a pleasant cup of coffee, my buddy's fried said come on out to the garage, I've got somnething to show you. Now bear in mind this was on a suburban street and the lot was nicely sized, but not HUGE. The garage appeared to be a little wider than a normal two-car but again, not that big. We get inside and what does the guy have: a 1950s-era GM transit bus. Since that day I've been thinking about doing the same thing. | ||
| Doug Dickinson (Dougd470)
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I just built a 3000 sq ft metal sided building on a small lot (commericial) in a nearby buy rural area and I will have about $30 sq ft invested when complete (including land). It has a restroom and Airconditioning/heat, ceiling fans, HID lights, etc. I would have built it in my neighborhood, but we have CCRs that prohibit. It's about 30 minutes away from the house - not a bad drive. Actually, it looks kinds nice. I will post a picture of someone can tell me how. The idea is that I can sell the "man barn" as we call it and it is usable for commercial purposes. I should make a few bucks also, so it is an investment that appreciates. Doug St Louis MC9 | ||
| Brian Brown (Blue_velvet)
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Doug, would love to see your building. I'm assuming the bus fits in it. Where I live, the $90k wouldn't even buy the lot, much less the bldg. Un-lucky me. I'm stuck with off-site, outdoor storage and no elec. until I can move to a house that will allow a bus parked on-site. A bus barn would be a pipe dream... sigh. To post pics, make sure they're under 30k in size and just add following syntax to your post:  bb | ||
| FAST FRED Rating: N/A |
MOVE! The electric can be overcome with a cheapo house job , but the hassle of removing (or risking) tools , uninstalled stuff and all the rest is just too high. Can you rent someones "back yard" to get juice and a bit of security? FAST FRED | ||
| Mike (Busone)
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I like the way you think Fred. I always tell my wife when we move it has to be a state/county that is bus friednly. I aint going to buy a place with a bunch of zoning deed restriction crap. | ||
| FAST FRED Rating: N/A |
Unfortanutly you may need to keep moving. In FL we are over 55 miles out in the sticks , and new folks moving in to our community are always dreaming of imposing DEED RESTRICTIONS on the existing residents!! Doesn't get too far ,(thankfully), but if the neighborhood "flips" and we get lots of big buck creeps it can happen. FAST FRED | ||
| Doug Dickinson (Dougd470)
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You know - if deed restrictions are what you want, then go for it. If it's not, then go for that also. My "barn" is a 30 minute drive from the house. It's a nice drive - going from the fringe of suburbia to a very rural town. That's the price of living in a CCR neighborhood. I like my neighborhood since I don't want my neighbors to park abandoned cars in their yards, keep livestock, or erect dog kennels in their back yards. That's my thing. I could choose to live elsewhere if that is not what I wanted. CCRs have their place and it is getting to be the rule rather than the exception. There is a reason for that. On the other hand, I wanted to build a place where I could build my bus - my way. Working in a storage lot just didn't work for me. I couldn't keep things in motion with all the setting up and knockdown at the end of the day. The price, is a 30 minute drive. BTW - for the hams out there - Missouri passed a law that invalidates CCRs on ham radio antennas that are more restrictive than the FCC rules. It's not carte blanche - it's about being reasonable. It's my way. Your way may be different. That's cool! Whatever works for you. Doug St Louis MC9 | ||
| Doug Dickinson (Dougd470)
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Here is the "Man Barn" - a place where men can go and play with their toys - Outside - Here is how it looks from the road.  Here are 2 interior shots while we were building the inside part. \image(inside1.jpg} and Doug St Louis MC9 | ||
| Doug Dickinson (Dougd470)
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Here is the "Man Barn" - a place where men can go and play with their toys - Outside - Here is how it looks from the road.  And Inside  and more inside  Doug St Louis MC9 | ||
| Brian Brown (Blue_velvet)
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That just rocks, Doug! Super sweet "man barn". Looks nicer than the typical metal bldg. too. The higher-pitched roof and two-tone finish really helps with the aesthetics, IMHO. Eatin' my heart out, bb | ||
| niles steckbauer (Niles500)
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Swwwweeeeeeeet - But where's the pool table and beer meister? | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
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Do you know how many busnuts would kill for a place like that.............. | ||
| ChuckMC9 (Chucks)
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You noticed how he only put in one bus-sized door so all his busnut buds won't come over and mooch space, huh??? Man, come wintertime you'll be lovin it, Doug. Thanks for the trouble to put the photos up. | ||
| Doug Dickinson (Dougd470)
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Brian, Niles, 2D, Chuck and all The building is called a "pole barn" but instead of poles, it is cured dimension lumber. They are set 4 ft deep into a concrete bed and then tied together with a 5" 6-sack reinforced concrete floor. The siding is metal and there is board insulation sandwiched in between the frame and the outer panels for insulation. It does really work out well. We had to forego the pool table in order to park the camper inside, but there is a beer meister that will be in there in a couple of weeks. It is sitting in my garage waiting at the moment. No kidding. Nothing like beer and power tools! Other little appointments include a shower in the bathroom, and a FM stereo with XM satellite feed. While this all sounds extravagent and expensive, it really isn't. The stereo is old but it works, the beer meister is in a 1950s refrigerator etc. Shop couch will be from Goodwill probably. As for not letting other busnuts stop by and work on things - anything is negotable! I am working on a 50 amp outlet and a sewer dump in front of the bus door for visitors and people in need. This has been a dream for a couple of years. I tried the low budget "work in the storage yard" idea, and it just didn't work out. Besides, I should be able to recoup my investment in this facility - or just hang on to it for parking and subsequest re-fit or modification work - and who knows what the next project will bring - maybe an airplane? Doug St Louis MC9 P.S. - The price for the shell is just under $20/sq ft including concrete floor. You can pay more, but this style is what I wanted. This particular manufacturer specializes in buildings that fit in anywhere. This design is a take-off from one designed for back yards in very nice neighborhoods (CCR types). If interested, the URL is www.mortonbuildings.com. I am not connected with the company in any way - this is just FYI. Your milage may vary. I found them to be very cooperative in working out the right combination of I-do-it v.s. they-do-it work. |