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The old saying...."How do you eat an Elephant? One bite at a time."&nbsp;<br>This. Do this.
 
&nbsp;You might want to look into those interlocking closed cell foam tiles, which can generally be purchased at near any hardware store. They 'soften' your floor, don't hold water, come in many colours, have a decent R-value, and are easily replaceable.&nbsp; ..Willy.
 
Hi Willy and others ... I was given some wood flooring with some kind of blue underlayment padding. I will take a look and see if I can get some information on the R-Value of it. I was not aware we were talking about just a half inch pad of some kind. I thought floor insulation meant literally stuffing any and all open areas under the floor with gobs of some sort of insulation. <br><br>Also, I thought of some more information which may be helpful to forum members when they are kindly giving advice to us .... <br><br>We are not planning on having separate rooms in our bus. It is such a HUGE transition for us, we figure it will probably easier with a completely open architecture interior, which will seem larger. We plan on using simple bead curtains to be able to separate the bedroom, and seal off the front of the bus, behind the drivers seat. The engine is in the rear of the bus, so that is where our King sized mattress will go. This allows us to maximize the use of this awkward space over the engine.<br><br>Forward of this will be a fold down table attached to the passenger wall, for eating and crafts. On the opposite side will be a shelf for our microwave, espresso machine, and kitchen wares, with cabinets underneath. A water cooler sits next to this cabinet. No sink ... I plan on washing in wash basins under a canopy outside. This saves us room, which is the second most important value to us after interior temp/humidity climate.<br><br>Forward of this will be our living area. We will have a couch on one wall, and two leather recliners ( small office sized recliners take up very little room ).<br>And forward of the living area will be the drivers seat and entrance. Over the couch and chairs, I plan on having simple shelves running down the side over the windows. This will most likely continue down the length of the bus, or in just certain chosen areas.<br><br>We plan on doing this, and living more simple than most bus conversions probably do. A bit more harsh I guess, but preferred over living with walls and cabinets making the buss seem closed in on us .... you see, I am mildly claustrophobic. And we love an open look anyway. This will be a negative when it comes to keeping it warm ; with the entire bus of windows being left without covering. <br><br>As far as interior decorating plans ... we are painting the ceiling. Installing wood slats between the windows vertically. Adding an 8" wide valance down both sides, which will cover the LED rope lights and black out shade curtain rods. Below the windows will be most likely suede covered foam board insulation panels. If we can find suede at a low enough cost.&nbsp; We already have a 10' Moroccan rug, but will need more rugs. We have cats, so I will be installing screens if I can figure out how to so this. <br><br>I assume we will be using as many 12v devices as we can until we one day get the solar panels. This means LED lighting for sure. We are thinking of using 12v to 120 volt power inverters for the microwave, coffee maker, phone charging, laptops, etc ... I hope this will work !<br><br>Our awning will be a bus length by 20 ft blue tarp, which will be simply duct taped to the side, with amazing 400mph duct tape, which WILL hold through a hurricane ! LOL&nbsp; Poles at angles will have to hold it up I guess.<br><br>Now these are our plans at this time .... but please do not hesitate to call us down on ANY bad ideas we may be thinking ! We are sponges, and in just two days we already feel at peace on this site.
 
And after that lengthy post, I figure I will use this post to ask direct questions, and just keep adding them to this post, via the edit button. <br><br>#1 Can skylights be used very easily in a bus that will be driven ?<br><br>#2 Are there any expanding foam products that are NOT as expensive as the Great Stuff, and possibly even close to the price of using foam board insulation in the walls ?<br><br>#3 Are there any websites that a normal person CAN understand, about how I need to wire the bus for future Solar Panels on the top of the bus ?<br><br># Is it safe to assume using sheet metal screws which do not protrude any further than 1/2" into the interior metal skin, will never have a chance of going through the exterior layer of metal skin ? I would think the gap would be greater than 1/2"<br><br>#4 Are there any problems with using the large LED panel lights which put out up to 3000 lumens ?
 
And this probably needs a post of it's own. My disability comes from a horribly bad right ankle, which no amount of Dr.s or specialists have been able to find anything wrong with, even though it has badly misformed by now. And the driving position of my body, legs, and ankle is KILLING me while driving this bus. I am going to either need to be able to install cruise control ( if they make it that is ) , or devise a mechanical device which allows me to operate the throttle with my right hand. And ideas here ?&nbsp;&nbsp; Thanks !
 
I see I am still using waaaay too long descriptions when I google !&nbsp; I tried for over an hour, and did not get these results. I must get better at computers LOL. And no I am not joking ... I am really bad with computer research. A dinosaur in modern times.
 
YO CLAN DO NOT BE TOO ANAL ABOUT INSULATION AS YOU WILL NOT BE SNOWBOUND I THINK YOU BIGGEST CONCERN IS MOISTURE
 
Ah hah !&nbsp; Thanks Wagoneer. The reason it seems so cold there, is indeed due to the ever present moisture. It gets down to about 38 - 40 at the coldest in my experiences. And when it is moist, that will seem like 20 degrees !&nbsp; LOL<br><br>So I am not at all sure exactly what I will need ... I guess if I can find one of those convection heaters that was suggested, it will be taken care of.
 
I am talking wool blankets and wool sweaters, gee i wear wool underwear air them in the sun wash em once a year get used to the smell of your body, it's what your mate identifies you to you. It's not rocket science or the "victoria secret" body lotion. It's called chemistry. Do not buy into the chemical world.
 
Clan...you didn't mention where you're living right now (geographically)...but if there's any kind of decient library nearby, I'd look for...<BR><BR>"Some Turtles have Nice Shells" by Roger Beck. (Outstanding bus building information)<BR><BR>"Rolling Homes" by Jane Lidz (predecessor to STHNS ^^^) also another great eye candy book of bus/truck living<BR><BR>"Select and Convert your Bus into a Motorhome on a Shoestring" by Ben Roseander (already mentioned above)<BR><BR>(I'm sure there's a TON more, but these are the first to jump into my mind)<BR><BR><BR>websites that'll offer great ideas:<BR><BR><A href="http://www.bobsokol.com/bus.html" rel=nofollow target=_blank>http://www.bobsokol.com/bus.html</A><BR><A href="http://skewly.com/" rel=nofollow target=_blank>http://skewly.com/</A><BR><A href="http://www.doityourselfrv.com/school-bus-rv-conversion/" rel=nofollow target=_blank>http://www.doityourselfrv.com/school-bus-rv-conversion/</A><BR><A href="http://webecoist.momtastic.com/2010/05/10/urban-gypsies-wild-wacky-housetrucks-converted-buses/" rel=nofollow target=_blank>http://webecoist.momtastic.com/2010/05/10/urban-gypsies-wild-wacky-housetrucks-converted-buses/</A><BR><A href="http://www.vonslatt.com/bus-main.shtml" rel=nofollow target=_blank>http://www.vonslatt.com/bus-main.shtml</A><BR>here's a nice little one...<BR><A href="http://glitterandgritgirl.com/category/our-house-bus/" rel=nofollow target=_blank>http://glitterandgritgirl.com/category/our-house-bus/</A><BR><BR>oh, and don't forget You-Tube...<BR><BR><A href="" rel=nofollow target=_blank></A>&nbsp;lotsa great videos on there and links to many more (once you get tired of all that reading!!!)<BR><BR><BR><BR>actually, this post makes me think we autta post up a board with resourses of books, website links, and videos.<BR>Either for builders, or just for folks who'd like to spend an evening on You Tube watching how other's have done their conversions. <IMG class="emoticon bbc_img" src="/images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif">
 
#3 Are there any websites that a normal person CAN understand, about how I need to wire the bus for future Solar Panels on the top of the bus ?
Click to expand...
<br><br><a href="http://handybobsolar.wordpress.com/the-rv-battery-charging-puzzle-2/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://handybobsolar.wordpress.com/the-rv-battery-charging-puzzle-2/</a><br><br>
#4 Are there any problems with using the large LED panel lights which put out up to 3000 lumens ?
Click to expand...
<br><br>No, other than being too bright.<br><br><span id="post_message_1279195294">
I am going to either need to be able to install cruise control ( if they make it that is ) , or devise a mechanical device which allows me to operate the throttle with my right hand. And ideas here ?&nbsp;&nbsp; Thanks !
Click to expand...
<br><br></span><a href="" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"></a>
 
BTW....you also mentioned being 'vertically challanged' like I am...have you considered raising the roof???<BR><BR>It sounds like a HUGE undertaking...but like the video above, you could get another bus (for free with alittle searching), and chop the top offa that one and put it on top of yours!! (that's exactally what I'd do!)<BR><BR>Being inside so many converted housetrucks and buses like I have, (I'm a junkee for these things!)&nbsp;the room this&nbsp;creates for you&nbsp;is AWESOME!!! It opens up the floor, and you could put your sleeping areas up in a loft!<BR><BR><IMG class=bbc_img src="http://www.housetrucks.com/samsHB/img25.gif" rel="lightbox"><BR><BR><IMG class=bbc_img src="http://www.housetrucks.com/samsHB/img26.jpg" rel="lightbox"><BR><BR><IMG class=bbc_img src="http://kk.org/wp-content/archiveimages/archives/housetruck2_sm.jpg" rel="lightbox"><BR><BR>of course there's the old VolksWagon van treatment!!...<BR><IMG class=bbc_img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/971912_10153117597190078_1492426658_n.jpg" rel="lightbox"><BR><BR>don't laugh....it really makes these things nice &amp; roomy&nbsp;inside!!<BR><BR><BR>
 
Hi Patrick46 .... Man I would just LOVE to do this !&nbsp; My only concern is this : Would it still be rigid and safe for traveling ?&nbsp; I would think it would create flex for sure.
 
<p>There is even a deck up there <img class="emoticon bbc_img" src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif">&nbsp;and heater vent stack.</p>
 
Noooo! Don't cut up a good VW! They are getting rare these days! Makes me want to cry when I see those.....
 
OK ... having done a lot of reading, I do not think solar power will be practical for us. We get very little sunlight at all where we are moving to. So now I am thinking deep cell batteries, charged with a generator.
 
<TABLE class=post_body border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR id=post_date_divider_row><TD vAlign=top colSpan=2><HR class=post_date_divider SIZE=1></TD></TR><TR><TD class=post height="100%" vAlign=top colSpan=2><SPAN id=post_message_1279196842>&nbsp;"Man I would just LOVE to do this !&nbsp; My only concern is this : Would it still be rigid and safe for traveling ?&nbsp; I would think it would create flex for sure.</SPAN>"</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><BR>You'll need to use alittle engineering sense here. You don't wanna completely cut off your old roof and weld a new one on top. <BR><BR>By leaving a 1' flange all the way around the old rooftop, it creates a frame which helps with rigidity...plus you can use it for a bookshelf and also mount any cabinets you may want to it. (which also helps disguise it.)<BR><BR>Sam's bus, the brown one shown above, has covered the entire West coast. From the beaches of Southern California, and all the way up to B.C.<BR><BR><IMG class=bbc_img src="http://www.housetrucks.com/samsHB/img38.jpg" rel="lightbox"><BR><IMG class=bbc_img src="http://www.housetrucks.com/samsHB/img40.jpg" rel="lightbox"><BR><IMG class=bbc_img src="http://www.housetrucks.com/samsHB/img43.jpg" rel="lightbox"><BR><BR>oh, and you don't need to cut up a cool old Bug van...<BR><BR>you 'could' use a boat if ya want!!!<BR><IMG style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 8px; PADDING-RIGHT: 8px; PADDING-TOP: 8px" id=il_fi class=bbc_img src="http://ecomodder.com/forum/member-freebeard-albums-misc-cars-picture5156-p1010037.jpg" rel="lightbox">
 
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