| Author | Message | ||
| Bill Holstein (Billmoocow)
Registered Member Username: Billmoocow Post Number: 18 Registered: 5-2009 Posted From: 98.232.218.68 Rating: N/A |
Sometimes i see a gorgous bus that looks good from the outside. All decked out, you would think it looks like a million dollars on the inside. What do you do? Start on the outside and then start on the inside? Or get the job done on the inside and operational, then worry about what the outside looks like? Just a thought! | ||
| Peter River (Whitebus)
Registered Member Username: Whitebus Post Number: 56 Registered: 4-2009 Posted From: 24.234.166.174  Rating: N/A |
mine looks crappy on the outside and a lot worse inside  I think it's going to be a long, long time for me to get everything right on my bus, and I will probably worry about the little paint blemishes on the outside.. maybe several years from now... | ||
| Glenn F Campbell (Gfcgfc1)
Registered Member Username: Gfcgfc1 Post Number: 12 Registered: 12-2008 Posted From: 63.214.229.55  Rating: N/A |
Hello,Iam Re-converting a coach right now. I'm primarily focusing on interior but some other things may require attention from time to time.I am doing it myself on a budget so it is a slow process . Glenn | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 776 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 76.194.80.204 Rating: N/A |
You LIVE inside so unless you are from California the inside should be second. The chasis breaks , shocks , steering ,tires need to be FIRST by a mile!!. On some coaches the amount of never done maint is so high (fixing rusty chassis) that its far better to find out before anything else is contemplated. In California , where you "Are" your ride , the paint job is first. FF | ||
| John MC9 (John_mc9)
Registered Member Username: John_mc9 Post Number: 897 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 74.162.73.221  Rating: N/A |
Bill - I started on the outside first and got it looking like a typical motorhome. I wanted to make sure that if we needed the bus for evacuation, we wouldn't be turned away at some distant campground..... or be denied access someplace, because it looks like a commercial bus, rather than a camper. Things have changed thanks to the economy, and even the high-brow places will probably accept a daisy painted "schoolie" these days... I never got the chance to finish the inside, but from the outside, it looked like any other modestly finished rig. Then, no-one blinked when I didn't stop at R/R crossings.... Whatever works for you! | ||
| Paul Lawry (Dreamscape)
Registered Member Username: Dreamscape Post Number: 495 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 64.40.216.17  Rating: N/A |
I wanted the outside and mechanical working good, the wife wants the inside finished, guess who's wining? We actually compromised, I work on the mechanical and I work on the interior and she tells me what to do next! ;) | ||
| Greg Roberts (Eagle 20) (Gregeagle20)
Registered Member Username: Gregeagle20 Post Number: 266 Registered: 4-2002 Posted From: 66.18.167.76 Rating: N/A |
I started with the drive train then, by default, I did the outside just after the roof raise and because of the roof raise. And then I started on the inside phase 1 (will keep this floor plan 10 or so years total). The bays are functional but are actually last for final completion. Works for me! | ||
| Wec4104 (Wec4104)
Registered Member Username: Wec4104 Post Number: 35 Registered: 7-2008 Posted From: 68.80.242.72 Rating: N/A |
I think this really boils down to a three part question, not two. Outside appearance is outside appearance. But "inside" can be interpreted two ways. There is the living quarters and the extent to which it is habitable by the occupants. An entirely separate area is the bus mechanicals. Will the bus get you from point A to point B reliably and safely? Simply asking inside or outside doesn't ask the real question | ||
| Glenn Williams (Glenn)
Registered Member Username: Glenn Post Number: 218 Registered: 6-2006 Posted From: 216.163.56.194  Rating: N/A |
Well, I started on the outside, because there were no bumpers, bumperettes on the rear, some skin was missing around the rear, the door was de-skinned, one gutter was missing after the re-skinning job. Had to have those things back together. No paint on the bus, and it still doesn't I didn't take the bus very far during this time, less than 100 miles probably. Then I moved to mechanicals and the interior. Fortunatley, most things were in good mechanical shape. Brakes needed adjusting, needed a new DD3 can after a while. Tore into the interior with a spray foam insulation job, got my walls up, plumbing designed and located. From purchase in Sept 07, I had it useable with plumbing and rudimetary electrical by May 08. Since then, genset, inverter, more interior (cabinets, drawers go in this week and maybe a new kitchen cabinet), battery bank all new airbags, new alternator (with another one coming). I think the best way to look at your situation is to best figure out how to use it as soon as possible. Too many people start these projects and never finish because they think it has to be finished to be used. Skip the fancy resorts, hit the state/county campgrounds, attend bus rallys. Many people like to see them while they are works in progress because they can learn from what you did. Just make sure it is a safe vehicle before you hit the road! FWIW Glenn | ||
| Ray Drummond (Ray_d)
Registered Member Username: Ray_d Post Number: 52 Registered: 4-2006 Posted From: 68.124.102.126 Rating: N/A |
I did it Calif. Freds way by doing the outside first, thought I would fly through the project. If I knew it would take 4 yrs plus, I would have started the inside first and important outside items, so we could have been roughing it on the road lots sooner. Ya, Fred got me, I'm from Ca. and just turned 60. Done everything practical my whole life. I am not being very practical on my bus, have to watch my penny's, but my labor is damned cheap, but only trying to impress me. My wife just said it beats an 18 year old secretary. Darn, now I got to think this out again. Ray D (Message edited by ray_d on May 17, 2009) | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Registered Member Username: Buswarrior Post Number: 1599 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 76.68.133.14  Rating: N/A |
Like everything busnut, it all depends... Functional and reliable come first, but if it looks like hell outside, you can be sure you will be pulled over by the authorities before a "nice" looking one, for whatever reason they are thinking about pulling something over... Ok for the tough guy, but SHE won't like it.... happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Registered Member Username: Buswarrior Post Number: 1600 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 76.68.133.14 Rating: N/A |
And I'm really PO'd, the paint is peeling off mine all over the place... Only a matter of time, I know what happened to it in its previous lives... Gotta clean that up or budget the time for at least one pull over per jurisdiction. happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| Moe Hollow (Moehollow)
Registered Member Username: Moehollow Post Number: 94 Registered: 12-2007 Posted From: 71.102.27.164 Rating: N/A |
I am from CA.(thanks for the silly stereotype) and I would say first priority is the mechanicals. Although the interior is second, it would be good to be working on that at the same time to make the coach usable. The exterior cosmetics are the least important, but I never wash my cars so what do I know? We have not yet been pulled over or refused entry to a campground. | ||
| Don Evans (Doninwa)
Registered Member Username: Doninwa Post Number: 205 Registered: 1-2007 Posted From: 208.81.157.90  Rating: N/A |
My thoughts are to get the new bus interior to the point that it is usable first. Then when we are ready to hit the road, new tires, air bags, hoses, brakes, wheel bearings seals, batteries ect so they are all fresh and should never have to deal with them again. Why buy new rubber ect just to sit. We have the advantage of good exterior as is. Keeping the old bus is a definite distraction and now a new home has pretty well shot the summer down getting moved and setting up the old place to rent. Don 4107 |