Keep It Simple Stupid in response to a recent request from a new builder for advice-which I can only give thru mistakes I have made- the simple way is the easiest ' poo runs down hill: for your waste water mainly; but also for your fresh water plumbing it will make it simple to drain for the freezing time of the year. If you use pex tubing use two colors helps getting confused which is hot and which is cold. Try to locate all your plumbing in a central area. Easiest to locale toilet over black tank. Plastic best for fresh water tank. Add as much insulation as you go as possible. again add as much insulation as you go as possible. Try not to design your total electric load for more than 50amps.Why? That's the maximum you will get at most camp grounds and many will just have 30 amps. Keep fumes from gen sets out of living quarters. I personally avoid the construction type gen sets (high speed ) Note many differant way to skin cat just do it safe and enjoy. Separate your grounds. Start a thread as you go and ask specific questions and others building will progress as you do. First step: with tape lay out floor plan on floor of bus and see if it works. Will toilet be over holding tank? etc can you make bed? remember wall thickness. Bob
Bob just curious since you brought up keeping it simple.
How's that flex pipe drain working out for your slide out butt hut? ;D
;) BK ;D
Ill second the tape on floor layout... Our original layout had lots of issues. We did a few trips with the tape and made some good changes !
BK even so slight It managed to gravity drain to rear baggage bay from rear bath and but hut both. Took a little head scratching but I maintained simple instead of pumps and mechanical. Black tank is actually located in evaporator compartment on the 45 xle-that is no longer in use. No it was not a direct drop. First three builds were!!! Trying to keep it simple here. Anything can be done with time and goof ups and trade-offs.[ Very short explanation 45 ft coach ,raised roof 3 slides: raised bedroom floor 7 inches (for slide mech) rear bath, plumbing under floor - to tanks in rear baggage bay.When coach is level (electronic leveling)all is good.
Cardboard mock up is my way takes a little time but once the wife signs her name on it is a done deal I would never build another without doing the same my wife and the tape was not a good deal for me LOL I still have a piece of the cardboard with her signature on it no signature no build
good luck
Clifford, you sound like someone that has learned from experience.
One complaint I hear a lot from the new sticks and staples owners is the fact that they are always having issues with systems that are generally way to complex for something that is running up and down the road and getting beat around. Having all those neat dimmers and fancy heat systems, tank monitors, 2 bathrooms and such are good selling points but keeping them in working order can be a problem. You got the KISS correct Bob!
I'm 66, and my wife tells me i still dont know how to make the bed right....
Heh! LOL! This past weekend down at the lake there was a couple from Tenn that had problems with slides. after getting it sorted out for them, they suddenly took interest in how stout our bus was, with particular interest in how much elbow room we have. Who knows maybe another couple on the verge of Busnutdom ! ;D He also complained about the systems being to complex in the SS's. And as always I was trying to be a good ambassador of our beloved Hobby, never know! ;)
My first build was a MCI 8. Was simple design. Rear bedroom-walk thru bath. pocket doors small shower. Toilet located over black tank. All plumbing was located in a small area.. Gen set was in old MCI Condenser Bay.7 .5 kohler . 2 roof top ac units.non ducted. stock insulation(big mistake). Noise and marginal on 95 degree day because of no insulation. Ozite ceiling material.glued up with contact cement(you can get a real buzz off it) get ventilation or die!.looks great but ac can discolor where it blows out air. rope lighting easy and cheap around cabinets. apartment type refridge from Lowe's $300 if it goes bad just get another one anywhere. (never replaced) stays cold (icecream) 6 to 8 hrs without power. fuller the better. elect hot water heater 6 gal -20 minutes hot water stays hot hrs warm up to 20 hrs..used dorm fridge for drinks while under way to keep from opening main box(and sandwitch meat). Perigo flooring.Sank shower into bay 3 inches to avoid cutting down and for extra height under shower head.Just built sud floor to support base and bolted to roof of bay .I used flex conduit to run elect runs so I could replace wires if needed or add runs. never did so could have skipped that.Put hot water heater under kitchen sink and on a separate switch so I could power manage when on 30 amp power.Carpet with heavy pad in bed room to cut down on noise and heat. Day nite shades from RV Surplus.$10 each. This was before I knew of the bus board!!!! by the way it's 95 here to day and I have 89 plugged in with one ac running sitting in sun and it is 72 inside and cycling on and off (3rd build)
Van--Friends we winter with in Fla left the same time we did 1st week of April headed by factory Phaeton in Alabama . With a few problems to get fixed. We were home next day. They arrived home May 14Th. They live 5 hrs North of us. Their rig is 2 yrs old. It cost 6 times what we have in ours. :o