| Author | Message | ||
| Michael Lewis (Puffbus)
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Thanks to TwoDogs and Ian for the photos of his round holding tanks. We have two round 55 gal food grade tanks awaiting installation in the rear bay of our MC9. The fresh water may taste a little like Mountain Dew for awhile, (the alternative was root beer) but a good soak with clorox will probably clear that up. We did a lengthy search and debate regarding these tanks and the $14.00 cost for both tanks finally persuaded is to go ahead, at least on a trial basis. The biggest debate was whether 55 gallons will be enough. That's 440 pounds of weight concentrated in the rear of the bus. A 20 gallon 110v HW tank and a 11 gallon marine style tank with the engine heat option will round out our install for another 200 or so pounds. All will fit in the rear bay with the water pump, filters, various hoses and controls, etc and still leave the curb side with some space for tools. I guess my point here is that the actual weight carried will change very little, as what goes out will generally equal what goes in. I'm astounded at those who routinely install 200+ gallon tanks, some greater. How do they calculate to reach this gallonage? I'm not condemning, just asking. A look at some of the high end sticks pushers show much smaller tanks almost straight across. Our two previous sticks homes, a Bounder and a Dynamax had considerably smaller tanks (47 gal). A 40' Fleetwood today carries 95 fresh, 70 grey and a remarkable 40 black. I'll try to post some photos when these are installed, but could still change my mind. I really would rather put money into some other things like additional batteries, etc. Michael | ||
| MCI Larry (Eurof3)
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For sure 55 gallons of fresh is not enough. We have had the 50 gallon fresh tank in my bus this summer from the Dutchman trailer we parted out for use in our bus. But my waste tank is 100 gallons because, I knew and was told we would need and want more fresh. Everyone was right I need 100 fresh. I can sqweek by 3 days befor needing to get more water. It just goes fast. Even if you shower where you stay. I have my second tank and plan to add the 50 more gallons to my system. I have a big enough waste tank it will be just right. For sure more than once I wished I had more water this summer. But money talks and I have see a lot of 55`s working just fine for many folks. A person will use what they have to get started. And you can get water most easy any place your camped. Quality Farm and fleet had white plastic 100 gallon tanks for $165 each. I almost did it that way. Till I found the semi fuel tank for my waste. The weight of water is no problem on any side at that small amount 50 gals. Its only when you get up over 150 to 200 gallons of fresh water that start changing any balance of the bus side to side. Most tanks are side by side and weight shift evenly. Have fun don`t let 55 gallons stop you now. UpGrades are just as much fun as building. I like being at the upgrade level. "Build on Micheal" Larry | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
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all these 'gallons' depend on your useage...wheather you camp/boondock...or go from power pole to power pole like me...the most I stay 'out' is three days..any longer than that & I rent a r.v. spot for the night ...different people have different usage...you learn to conserve,::navy showers,no running water as you brush your teeth,no running water while washing the dishes...after three days...I rent a spot & take a 30 minute shower,after dumping the blackwater & getting new freshwater...depends on how you are going to use the bus.. | ||
| Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat)
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I've got three "ronthebsnut" 50 gallon water tanks under my bed at the rear of the bus, and just below them on the underside Iv'e got the same capacity in black and grey tanks. Here's my experience: Some trips we only take 50 gallons with us, where we'll be staying with friends part of the time, etc. Quite often at the end of a four day trip in situatuions like that we'll have 25 gallons left at the end of the trip, 'cause we poo and shower in the house more often than the bus. (OH that felt good, to not have the "filters" censor me!!!) Other trips I take the full 150 gallons of water and stay in the desert with three other people for 1-2 weeks with ZERO utilities avaliable anywhere but da bus. Half the time I still come with 50 gallons, sometimes only 25, once 75. I never notice a difference when driving, between totally empty tanks (ie just hit the dumpstation on the way home) and totally full tanks, which weigh about 1,200 pounds. SO for me, if I were doing it again, I'd do it exactly the same. 100 gallons is minimum, 200 is too much, at least for me. Let me add that in my prior bus I had a 65 gallon tank and I was always running out.... | ||
| Henry R. Bergman, Jr. (Henryofcj)
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Neat thing about doing your own conversion is that you can do it your way. Our plans include lots of boondocking for extended periods of time without a chance of resupply of anything. Even beer. This implys/means lots of diesel fuel, water and holding capacity. Diesel electric coach with no propane. In our case, 200 gallons of each (except beer!) as a MINIMUM amount. We will still run out. If a coach is going to experience frequent hook ups at a RV park, then obviously one can get by with less. The engineering compromises always will demand a upper practical limit... ...the coach chassis can physical bear. The more weight the less the performance and the more fuel one will use going down the road. However, for setting in one place for 30 days with two ... ..aboard, the extra capacity makes such an easier endeavor. We enjoy our hot showers and heater thermostats and of course the AC units in the summer. Enjoy.  | ||
| Niles Rating: N/A |
Henry- 200 gallons of beer = 400 gallon black tank LOL - niles | ||
| Henry R. Bergman, Jr. (Henryofcj)
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I just knew there was something wrong with the calculations. THAT is what we forgot. AUUGGHHHHH! CROWNS FOREVER!!! | ||
| John that newguy Rating: N/A |
Why have extra large holding tanks? If you've ever stayed at state, county, Corps of Engineer, or other Government park, you'd be carting the waste to their dumpsite frequently if all you had was a small tank. All of those parks give you water and electric connections, but no sewer. For that, you need to go to wherever their waste receptacle is. And when you can run the "city" water to your heart's content (just like home), your waste tank's going to fill a whole lot quicker than if you were using your own fresh water....and the awareness that goes with it. We boondock and stay at anyplace that's free (or as inexpensive as possible), while travelling. With fuel costs soaring, some corners have to be cut if we're going to continue to travel. Having tanks large enough to contain all the water we need for a week (or more), is near mandatory. No-one should fill any tank to the top. I would doubt they're ever knowingly filled to over 80%, since overfilling can be disastrous. Finding that your waste tank's full and not having a place to dump, is a camper's worse nightmare... or at least, it's mine. | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
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It has been my observation: Rarely does anyone complain about having left overs. Regularly will folks comment about running out. So, I'm planning to err on the side of big enough. whatever that means! Oh, for those planners out there: Scotch takes up less space than beer, and has more bang per unit weight too. Seeking self-medication in each of our own ways... happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| Niles Rating: N/A |
BW - it isn't the scotch that fills the tank - but no self respecting malt drinker is without their 'perrier' - ergo the need for the 'big black tank'- self medicate on - NIles | ||
| J.B.Phillips (Jbp)
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Gary, Where and how do I get ahold of Ron the bus nut to find out more about those tanks? I am going to place my fresh water tank(s) under my bed also. What are your tank measurements? Thanks, J.B.P. | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
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Niles I do hope you aren't suggesting, in public, cutting a fine Scotch with expensive, French, bubbly, piss water, are you? If it works for the taste of some, well, in the spirit of "do it my way" and "whatever turns your crank", I'll support the private defiling, and the more Scotch drinkers the better, but it kind of blows the whole cultural purity of the thing, if you know what I mean... Forgive me, I prefer my Scotch on the rocks just long enough to make it cold, and the ice cubes find themselves naked and lonely, shortly there-after. I'm only the first generation born on this continent... my granny baked scones by the hundreds...thousands, for church and friends... so the blood is strong... I'm trying to be supportive... of everyone... happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| Niles Rating: N/A |
BW- Sorry - >>>>NILES<<<< not a connoisseur of fine malt beverages - I definitely think "your way" is the most desirable - pleaz be kind to this humbled Tanqueray afficianado , tonic (sweet piss water) inclusive , with a wedge - not a twist - but our 'cubes' have something in common - TOAST - Niles | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
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Niles, we are obviously both humble gentlemen. Will I see you in Florida at New Years's at Busin '05? I would be honoured to meet you and spend some time. happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| Robert Wood (Bobwoodsocal)
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HEY JB try www.ronthebusnut.com. HTH, Bob | ||
| Niles Rating: N/A |
BW - the honor , sir , will be all mine - look forward to seeing you there - I'll be in the H3 named "rosie" (can't miss the 'puerto rican' paint job) - I'll have plenty of 'cubes' - maybe even some of those malted beverages for visitors - Niles | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
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Niles, My MC8 has red sides, with black trim and white roof, and the stainless is all painted in silver/gray paint. Destination sign still in there. We'll set it show "Toronto", once we are onsite. Came that way. Doesn't look that great up close. I claim this is part of my security strategy... Just have to get the radiators back in, with the weather heading for winter.... and I'm ready to win the "loudest generator" prize again! That Onan quiet diesel has to wait for next year... see you there! happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| Niles Rating: N/A |
BW - looking forward to it - if your from Toronto - I'll enjoy talking about your trips to the Georgian Bay area - or we'll just try to see who can melt their 'cubes' the fastest - drive safely - Niles | ||
| FAST FRED Rating: N/A |
There are many ways of handeling the water "problem". Sure 1000 gal of everything will work great for a wild month in the woods, but few folks ACTUALLY find sitting in the same spot , looking at the same tree that interesting. (A New Yorker's observation). The simplest is to REALIZE a camper is NOT a house (home yes, house no) and simply adjust your life style a bit while in the boondocks. AS sailors we get along fine on 55g for 7 days , and could probably get 10 days if we really tried hard. A coach has only so much volume , if you want it for usually empty tanks , thats all the LESS goodies you get to carry. Weight is seldome the hassle (less you really HAVE 1000 g of everything) , but bay space for toys IS limited. 55G of FW and Black ,works for me, NONE waisting bay space. FAST FRED | ||
| John that newguy Rating: N/A |
FF.... You commented the following and it's a theme I read repeatedly here. "A coach has only so much volume , if you want it for usually empty tanks , that's all the LESS goodies you get to carry. Weight is seldome the hassle (less you really HAVE 1000 g of everything) , but bay space for toys IS limited. " After full-timing for two years and making fairly heavy use of an RV since we first bought our first in 1996, that comment and general theme puzzles me. What kind of "toys" are more important than the comforts of life? In our small 34' Winnegarbage, I had ham radio equipment, all my tools (electric and otherwise), all my clothes, 25" TV set, all my paperwork for the biz, a table-top PC with monitor, Printer, scanner, etc. My wife paints and brought ALL her paints, brushes, materials to paint on, paint books, clothes, sets of small crafting tools, etc. We carried bottled water to drink. Oh yes... and we never travel without our Parrot (plus cage(s), etc), and our Rabbit (plus cage(s), etc) All that (well, 80%), was inside the 34' Winnebago, since it had no "basement". It was an '85 El'Andan series. My one wish was to have larger holding tanks, since finding places to dump, and running out of water to wash with, was our only problem. Our 36' Georgie-Boy had some extra cargo space underneath, and provided a bit more elbow room, but any available space can quickly become occupied with more items...most of what are not something of necessity... Plants, stacks of papers that should have been thrown out.. My hopes to have a bus. with cargo space enough to take along all the items we sell on our web site, may now become reality. Looking inside the bays and bus, and doing some measuring, I cannot imagine not being able to carry all that we've carried before, plus the addition of 12 cartons of merchandise, and plus two 120+gal holding tanks. What kind of "toys" do other people have, that take up so much room and weight, that the necessities of life must be set aside? An inquiring mind wants to know.... | ||
| FAST FRED Rating: N/A |
Varies with where we go , but a 600cc BMW or a Tukan ultralight Trike (flies 2)takes a bit of room. So does a 13ft Zodiac and 18hp Evinrude , and a couple of 6 gal gas tanks. We also go antiquing (yes , a coach to tag sales and estate auctions) and find Empty bays very usefull. Far more fun to go exploring than carry an extra 300g of black water. Our way to justify the RV, besides the BLAST it is to drive : "The Sportscar of Coaches", FAST FRED | ||
| Henry R. Bergman, Jr. (Henryofcj)
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Right now my '74 Crown 10-wheeler is parked on a client/friend's private 800+ acres. The nearest paved road is 2 miles away and the nearest power nearly 4. Very interesting getting in. Anyway, the particular function of a coach usually determines how it will be laid out. In our situation, things are rather extreme, thus the large planned capacities. | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
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Buswarrior - Do you use the Scotch as a chaser after having a Guinness?? Oh, wait, that's the Irish who use Guinness as a chaser for their whiskey. . . never mind. RJ PD4106-2784 Fresno CA | ||
| Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary)
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I'm Scots/Irish, I use Guinness to chase my single-malt, taken neat. It's fun to watch the faces of those that drink with me for the first time. Gary | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
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Hello self-lubricators! Good catch, RJ! Almost a cultural faux pas. Bushmills Irish Whiskey and Guiness are a worthy pair. I like to briefly savour a blended Scotch, cold from the 'cubes. No belting back, or washing down, just sip it and then pour a bit more in to return the 'cubes to a modicum of modesty... keep the taste lingering... Just so long as folks drink Scotch some way that they like, that's support enough for an oppressed people! Perhaps George jr would liberate Scotland from the English next? I'd bet the locals would be more appreciative of his efforts than the current campaign... park before you lubricate! happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary)
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"Perhaps George jr would liberate Scotland from the English next?" If so, hed have the support of the McFarlane Clan, We're Scot's nationals and never accepted English rule (This is why there are so many McFarlanes in Ireland and America) Gary | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
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my people used to leval your peoples villiages & steal your women....ha ha | ||
| Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary)
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Sort of...maybe....most Scot/Irish have Vikings in their roots, where do you think redhead irishmen came from? Ever hear of a guy by the name of Brian Boru? Besides the Scots invented the world as we know it And god invented Whikey to keep the Irish from ruling the world. Serously, the image of Vikings (Oh, My grandma was from Norway) terrorizing the Scot/Irish coastline, makes for good drama, but it wasn't entirely that way, the Vikings were settlers and traders even more than invaders. The Vikings were the first traders, that's why scandinavians are such coffee drinkers--your beloved Folgers, Mrs Olsen (That was my Grandma's maiden name). I grew up drinking coffee, yes, folgers as part of a semi-norwegian upbringing. Of course Frazetta would never have gotten famous for painting pictures of little old ladies sipping coffee. Gary | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
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he did have a way to paint a woman didn't he his wife was his model | ||
| Bob Oakman (Bobsbus)
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Larry just gave me an idea with his fuel tanks converted to black water tank. I have two 100 gallon aux. fuel tanks in my 3rd bay. I was thinking of taking them out to make space, but why not keep one for black water? after all, they are mounted so well and everything. | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
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I was trying to talk a guy into that just three days ago.... | ||
| Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary)
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I've been thinkinig about doing that, with the square step tanks. Just coat the tank first. Gary |