Shuttle Stealth?

[highpsiguy]

Its been a ling time since I posted. I've been busy on my shuttle conversion rv. I didnt take lots of pics as I was going. Actually, this is my second attempt as first fidnt work. I gutted it and started over. Its a 99 e350 Goshen church shuttle. V10 with 170k. Its designed to be a work truck, bug out vehicle, rv, stealth rv all in one. I do not full time it, but I could.
All thats left is interior paint, hooking up solar, sink, stove and ordering rear cushions for rear bench bed. Would appreciate you guys critiquing my ideas
Trying to figure out how to post my pics.

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Interior pics

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Full size bed in back made with 4 cushions. Bench is twin size bed. 300ma battety bank underneath with storage. Mattress lays against windows for toilet access. Portable room ac vents thru floor in clothes closet.

 

[rvwandering]

Very nice job! You'll have a lot of fun camping in it.

 

[AltTransBikes]

Sweet! Big fan of shuttles since I'm building one out as we speak. (pic from last spring)


2003 Dodge B3500 1 ton, 5.9L with 75K miles.

From the pics looks like you did a heck of a job on the interior, I could only hope mine turns out as nice. I am concerned about not adding too much weight with the interior build. As of right now I'm still working on the exterior and underneath as a couple of minor looking bubbling rust spots turned out to be worse that I thought so I'm fixing that first: cut n' weld.

 

[highpsiguy]

Mine was designed for 15 adults and all of their gear. All I have are about 8 sheets of half inch plywood and 10 2x6 ripped for framing. I got cabinet doors used at habitat. My battery bank probably weighs 200lbs. In my estimation that cant be over 2 peoples weight.
Water food and cushions propane clothes...maybe another adult weight? I believe that leaves plenty of cushion from being overloaded. Mine also is a dually.
The ceiling was already done from factory. I did ad fantastic fan with thermostat. The floor is already rubber with styrofoam sprayed underneath. The walls are mostly windows, using black out curtains velcro ed to window frame with another set on curtain rods will be my insulation. The walls underneath windows may or may not be insulated but they are all covered with cabinets. I insulated and built ceiling walls and floor on my 88 e350 camping van. What a pain. Nice not having to do any of that this time.

 

[highdesertranger]

looking good. highdesertranger

 

[bigsallysmom]

What are you going to do with the space above the air conditioner?

 

[highpsiguy]

Hanging clothes above ac. Large deep shelf for foldable clothes above. Now I have doors

 

[ToyotaEscaper]

Ohhh I like that. I would do it too instead of a 25 foot rv but i suck at that kind of handy work

 

[headinthetrees]

Nice job, I'm going to be doing a shuttle bus in the future, a little different from yours though. I plan to keep mine fairly modular. So a double bed will drop down from the ceiling near the rear, but be stowed away during the daytime. Aside from that, everything else will be modular and removable. In the rear wall I plan to cut a door to make the bus function as a toyhauler. This will fold up, and a ramp will fold down. When not in use, the ramp can be propped up on jackstands and function as a patio floor. A snap in bug net between the two pieces and you're set.

I'll also make furniture that can bolt into place if I'm using it as just an RV without the need to get anything in the ramp. Surfaces will fold out of the walls as much as possible, and any guest sleeping will probably be in hammocks. And the best part, when I get to it, is I'm planning to convert it to 4x4. I've got a donor vehicle with a transmission, transfer case, and front end that will match up with a e450. This won't be a trivial conversion, but its very doable.

 

[LowTech]

Here's mine



Build thread Here

 

[masterplumber]

I love it, especially the hidden toilet! Very nice work.

 

[highpsiguy]

Good job LowTech! Cushions IN

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Back seat cushions make a 55x80 bed.

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I kept the design with a open hallway. I often carry ladders on my other van and equipment. In case I needed to carry one here I left it open like this. Rear bench bed can be down and ladders can still stand on edge. I like this design much better than my first one as I have tons and tons of storage everywhere.

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I love it, especially the hidden toilet! Very nice work.

I didnt feel the need for a seperate toilet room in here. Too little of space to try and be all private about it. When I camp with wife, and we dont have neighbors close I simply take porta potti out and sit behind bus or most private place I can find. Works great. When its just me I leave it where its at. I simply set mattress up on edge and do my business. When finished put mattress back down. I work out of this vehicle too. It sees lots of use. I REALLY like a compost toilet and have had great success with it. I may make another spot to left of my red batteries under bench/bed to put 5 gallon compost toilet. Number 2 for it and Number 1 in the porta potti Just playing with the idea. Its not that big a deal for me to empty porta potti as is, but for long term use and not many places to dump the compost toilet is the way to go.

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Named the Bus! I have always had female names for my vehicle so I am breaking with tradition. The new name is B.O.B short for Bug Out Bus!

 

[LowTech]

Thanks. Pixs aren't showing.

 

[LucyImHome]

Well, dog gone it. Here I thought I'd finally decided I'd go with a step van. Now I may have to reconsider!
One big advantage for shuttles would be availability. Most of the steps in Seattle/Portland are more expensive, with the popularity of food trucks. I see lots of shuttles that look pretty decent for an affordable price.
You've done a really nice job on your build out.

 

[headinthetrees]

Two very nice shuttle builds. And I like the direction you're going with the trailer/deuce. Flexibility is very important to me, and that's about the epitome of that.

I've been on the fence between a shuttle bus and a m931 (or similar) since I found out these ex-military trucks were within my price range. As cool as they are though, I think I can stay under the radar much easier in a shuttle bus. If I keep it looking pretty stock on the outside it will just look like another senior citizen's van and blend in just about anywhere. I don't plan to do a lot of stealth camping except when in between places, but it would be nice not to be bothered too much.

Anyway, good job again to both of you, you've definitely given me some ideas.

 

[LowTech]

I don't want to derail this thread but,
being that people are interested in building out shuttle/metro buses I want to point out some pros and cons (IMHO).

Con -
1) In my experience they are poorly insulated (prob do to never being designed to be used while NOT running)
2) They have loads of windows at sit-down height. Not good to see out of while standing and they restrict interior building, as well as being a major heat loss.
3) Mostly they all seem to have curved walls (vertically), which makes building harder.
4) Designed w/o passenger seat or passenger side door/window
5) Low hanging entrance step.

Pro -
1) They can be stripped and moved into pretty easily.
2) Can be unnoticed (stealth)
3) Very available and affordable.

The same chassis and power train can also be found under ambulances and box vans.
Which have straight walls,
No (or min) windows,
A real passenger set up,
And higher clearance.

They do require more build time in the beginning and can be harder to strip out (ambo) but do allow for a more custom designed interior.

Just my opinion

 

[highpsiguy]

Id say one of my most favorite things is that the walls, floor and ceiling are already done. I limo tinted the already dark windows. I have great visablilty during the day. I put up insulated black out curtains at night. I am really tall- over 6ft 4 and I have headroom to stand up straight. Are they insulated great-nope. Still more insulation than most can put in a cargo van- at least the roof. With all my bottom cabinets I can add tons of insulation to the floor if I wanted to. Its at least dead air space right now. I can put down padding and carpet during the winter if I need to. The floor IS cold thats for sure. Maintenance is usually pretty good on these units.

 

[headinthetrees]

I don't want to derail this thread but,
being that people are interested in building out shuttle/metro buses I want to point out some pros and cons (IMHO).

Con -
1) In my experience they are poorly insulated (prob do to never being designed to be used while NOT running)
2) They have loads of windows at sit-down height. Not good to see out of while standing and they restrict interior building, as well as being a major heat loss.
3) Mostly they all seem to have curved walls (vertically), which makes building harder.
4) Designed w/o passenger seat or passenger side door/window
5) Low hanging entrance step.

Pro -
1) They can be stripped and moved into pretty easily.
2) Can be unnoticed (stealth)
3) Very available and affordable.

I respect and agree with the points you raised. I'm still in the planning phase of my build, and there are definitely some tough choices to make. Let me explain why I'm leaning towards a shuttle van for my purposes.

While I really like the idea of a step van or ambo build, I also like windows, and feel claustrophobic in a small space without them. Sure I could cut them into whatever I want, but along with that comes extra expense, and completely eliminating any sort of stealth. You simply don't see stepvans or ambos in everyday travels with side windows. They are surely going to stick out. This begs for attention from anti-busdwellers and thieves alike. Given the fact I'll likely have a good portion of my worldly possessions in the bus at any given time, I'd like to stay under the radar even if I'm obeying all laws (something with which even the best meaning citizens still struggle.)

I realize insulating a shuttlebus will be challenging, but its doable. I'm planning hydronic floorheating in my build, which should go a long way to increase the comfort and efficiency of heating. As for the windows heat loss, I'll mitigate that by blocking off and insulating at least a few of the rear windows. The rest will have thick, velcro equipped curtains as was stated above. And at the end of the day, I can still heat even a poorly insulated bus for far less than your average home.

In terms of building, the curved walls don't scare me much. If anything you can just fur them out with a straight 2x4 and fill the curve with insulation. These buses are so wide that losing an extra inch or two and gaining more insulation value is worth it to me.

As for the low clearance door, I'm definitely going to modify that. I'll be needing any clearance I can get, and I'm not against having to step up a little higher to get in (or worse case install a retractable rv style step.) I'll probably use the opportunity to modify the door and make it fold upward so it serves as a awning of sorts. I'm sure my finished product will seal up much tighter than whatever I started with too. In the summertime I can leave it up and have a magnetic bug net covering the door.

As I said, I'm still making decisions and tossing around ideas in my head, but I'm definitely leaning towards a shuttle bus. The cost factor is pretty big, there's virtually zero market for used shuttle buses, they're practically giving them away when you consider the value of the diesel motor/trans in them. Whereas step vans and box trucks are in high demand, both for the food truck industry and businesses in general who need to move stuff around. The difference in initial price can buy me a lot of amenities.

Seems most of the people in the business of moving around people in shuttlebus don't want to run their fleet to very high mileage, and rightfully so. Its a lot worse to have a bus full of stranded angry customers than it is to have a box truck full of delayed freight.

 

[LowTech]

Great counter points

That low hanging step is pretty easy to cut up higher and I found that a nice set of electric steps will tuck right up in there. Those can be set to come out w/ the door opening, or be left unaffected,
We also had the two pieces that make up the door welded together to make a one piece door.

I've often thought that our lift doors would be great made to hinge upward like that.

They also have great “emergency exits”. Unlike some other rigs, there are multiple ways of getting out. We have a large roof vent that opens, and 4 windows that will swing out at the bottom. We moved them around so that 2 were, 1 at each end of the bed, and 2 were next to the chairs that we use. Nice to have them propped open during the summer.


I think we are far off thread and should be told to “Hold it down” by the OP.
Sorry, this is really your thread about your build, . . . I'll be quite now. :blush:

 

[BrowneyedKat3]

Nice job! I'm leaning toward a shuttle bus after I looked at a few vans for sale. I just need more space~ I'm a foot shorter than you, but I just like the ease to walk right in, stand up, move around and still remain in stealth mode

Once my capable craftsman converts my shuttle, I'll have my perfect little Kat Cave.

Thanks for sharing your pics, points and the counterpoints expressed by Headinthetrees

Happy New Year Y'all