Wow this makeover idea I had has gotten out of control! To sum it up, I started out by making a cabinet for my electric fireplace insert that will go in the corner. In that cabinet will be my flat screen tv that comes up and out from the top via an actuator which by the way I worked on all day yesterday and finally got it working correctly. Took a lot of adjustments to get it just right! I should be able to post pics by the weekend! Now I have decided to change the window valance's that I originally have to something with a little color! Thinking on the lines of maybe an upholstered fabric over the windows! Then... thinking about changing the BR. Right now we use a full size bed. That was ok before Bud came on board! Sharing a full size bed with a 50 lb Bud is not comfy! Nope, there's NO moving him out! When I go to bed, Bud goes to bed! He's somewhat spoiled! Anyway, might turn the bed a different direction and install a queen size and then make a corner TV cabinet which has NEVER been done to date!
Oh well, isn't bus converting fun? You do it once, then do it over! Ahh the things you learn you need when you use it more and more! ::)
Ace
Ace,
If you stopped working on yours you would have nothing left to do! ;D
Aint this busin fun, even if you want to do something differant! That is the beauty of this crazy hobby, you can do anything you like.
Can't wait to see the pics!
Paul
Hey Ace
As they say planning is for sissies
Keep on working
I know I will
Melbo
When we were young, we put together model cars, we were carefull to get just the right amount of glue so they looked good, we puzzled over paint schemes and then carefully painted them, then we got bikes, had to have the baddest one in town, then it was the car that we worked on all week so that we could cruise around town on friday night and look cool, now it's buses, has anything changed? lol Ain't it great? Expiring minds want to know.
Hey Ace
what are you complaining about? I dont even have a floor in mine yet. man I long for the days I have to remodel something. I would be happy with something that needs remodeling. I would be really happy to have something in the bus that doesnt look like a jungle jim.
good luck and happy bussing.
I am going out to look and my giant lawn ornament.
steve
I'm with you, Steve. Maybe worse; the flooring has been removed, the framing has been cut and I removed the dash so I could remove the driver's A/C, heater and defroster unit. The bus is 11' 6" and my shop has 12' doors so I may lower the floor 7" rather than raise the roof. There was a little musty odor from the a/c heater unit so it seemed like a good time to pull and clean it. Maybe it will move again by spring.
Make over by error
My wife thought it would be great to quilt a new spread for the bed. When it was finished I had to change the wall paper because it didn't look good with the quilt. Then the wonder cornece didn't look good so that had to be changed. This all lead to the bathroom, now it didn't look good. New wall paper, new everything else. Sure an glad it stoped there. Now the next trip is comming up in 3 weeks. Going to be close getting all put back together.
Jack
Ace, my good friend, I've been through 3 wives and at least 3 dogs. And the old adage that "if you want a friend"...get a dog...won't quite fly.
Put some serious thought into what you're planning and without question GET SOME INPUT FROM YOUR BELOVED!
Trust me when I advise you that it's a helluva lot easier to retrain a dog than it is a woman! The average
loyal canine quadriped has a life span of, perhaps, 12-14 years if you're lucky. Most of us would rather spend a few more years with She who will not be Disobeyed. ;)
As always, my advice is 'tongue-in-cheek'.
NCbob
Hey it would be different if it was Susan's ideas but its mine. Heck she keeps saying leave it alone, it looks alright! To me, there's always room for improvement!
The main thing I really got tired of doing was taking fown the tv and all the cables just to go down the road. This way, it stays mounted, hidden, and out of the way. Can't wait until its done! :)
Ace
Quote from: cody
When we were young, we put together model cars, we were carefull to get just the right amount of glue so they looked good, we puzzled over paint schemes and then carefully painted them, then we got bikes, had to have the baddest one in town, then it was the car that we worked on all week so that we could cruise around town on friday night and look cool, now it's buses, has anything changed? lol Ain't it great? Expiring minds want to know.
Ya, now it takes all week to save up the $ to cruise Friday night looking cool! LOL! ;D BK ;DQuote from: NCbob link
Ace, my good friend, I've been through 3 wives and at least 3 dogs. And the old adage that "if you want a friend"...get a dog...won't quite fly.
Put some serious thought into what you're planning and without question GET SOME INPUT FROM YOUR BELOVED!
Trust me when I advise you that it's a helluva lot easier to retrain a dog than it is a woman! The average
loyal canine quadriped has a life span of, perhaps, 12-14 years if you're lucky. Most of us would rather spend a few more years with She who will not be Disobeyed. ;)
As always, my advice is 'tongue-in-cheek'.
NCbob
Bob yer probably right...... But the dog is easier to keep happy, quits whining after six months or so, and is always willing to forgive you unconditionally! LOL! ;D BK ;D
Quote from: Blacksheep on September 18, 2008, 01:45:21 PM
Hey it would be different if it was Susan's ideas but its mine. Heck she keeps saying leave it alone, it looks alright! To me, there's always room for improvement!
The main thing I really got tired of doing was taking fown the tv and all the cables just to go down the road. This way, it stays mounted, hidden, and out of the way. Can't wait until its done! :)
Ace
Ace you go man go! By the way I hope you replaced that faulty TV that kept screwing up on you at "Bussin' 2008" (seems I heard something about that thru the grapevine...... er was that thru the fence?)
By the way I am officially now a true busnut! My SETRA from ID has arrived! To coin a phrase "the
Eagle SETRA has landed!" It arrived on Monday AM at aprox 9 O'clock! And except for the thieving scoundrels out there where it came from stealing a "new" O5G A/C compressor, a Vanner equalizer, a huge Vanner 24V inverter with built in battery charger, 3 different systems computers (DDEC, ATEC, and WABCO) from it, it's all there just like it was when we purchased the other 2.
So Cody (and anyone else looking for something to do!) I know have that platform to start on! It'll take lot's of time, $, and many many many repeated questions from me, but someday I'll be able to say I'm "one too"! LOL! ;D BK ;D
(by the way if
ANY of ya got any extra parts, time, or $ to donate you can send them to me @ 4884 Claude Tucker Rd, Union City, TN 38261. Any and all donations will be accepted, & appreciated!)
WOW BK, there must be a lot of people that know more about what goes on in and around my bus than I do but to be honestly frank, I think you were talking to the wrong grapevine or thru the wrong fence! I have never had a TV problem of any kind. I once had a problem getting reception with the King Dome sat dish but that was in Timmonsville right after I installed it and that was installer (ME) error! In fact I still have the same TV I had then, AND at bussin 05, 06, 07,! In fact I even have another tv similar in size to the one I have that a friend gave me so I could have one in the BR. Add em up! I now have TWO that work VERY WELL! ;D
Ace
By the way... good luck with the new to you bus! Maybe you and Brian will have some notes to share! ;)
Quote from: Blacksheep on September 18, 2008, 02:48:25 PM
WOW BK, there must be a lot of people that know more about what goes on in and around my bus than I do but to be honestly frank, I think you were talking to the wrong grapevine or thru the wrong fence! I have never had a TV problem of any kind. I once had a problem getting reception with the King Dome sat dish but that was in Timmonsville right after I installed it and that was installer (ME) error! In fact I still have the same TV I had then, AND at bussin 05, 06, 07,! In fact I even have another tv similar in size to the one I have that a friend gave me so I could have one in the BR. Add em up! I now have TWO that work VERY WELL! ;D
Ace
By the way... good luck with the new to you bus! Maybe you and Brian will have some notes to share! ;)
Hmm maybe I got mixed up, but I swore I heard that you kept having trouble watching TV at Bussin' 2008. Seems to me I heard you'd just get sat back relax'n and have to get up and check it for power loss or something like that! Opps if it wasn't so sorry my bad, just thought that I had a reliable
grapevine source of info!
And just what would Brian know about the best bus built? He has a Dina! (not that theres anything wrong with that, if that's what ya want.) And it has also successfully completed several cross country trips with out problems for him, which is what he built it for!
I'm guessing that it was Brian Elfert you were refering too! But if not it's OK because Brian Diehl has done some awesome stuff with his bus that I wouldn't mind copying either! ;D BK ;D
Quote from: Blacksheep on September 18, 2008, 01:45:21 PM
Hey it would be different if it was Susan's ideas but its mine. Heck she keeps saying leave it alone, it looks alright! To me, there's always room for improvement!
Ace
seems to me the only improvement to be made is you paying more attention to Susan. Sounds like she wants to use the bed instead of re-adjusting. :D :D ;)
Tom nah she just wants/needs a little more room since there are 3 of us sharing the bed!
What is good news is I have my fireplace/hidden tv cabinet done and IN the bus! It looks so good! I'm really excited about hooking up all the wires and cables to see if it will work! I know the tv goes up and out for viewing and I know it goes back down for hiding but today I will see if it actually works with satellite! I will take some pics of þhe finished product later today! 4 days of sweat! Goes to show how much can get done when Susan goes off to Atlanta for a business trip! LOL
Ace
Alright! Everything works as I had hoped! I didn't take any pics yet. I've been too busy playing, watchin the tv go up and then down and listening to some bluegrass junction too! I WILL take some pics maybe after I eat. Almost forgot about that! :)
Ace
Ps it wasn't near as difficult as I originally thought nor as expensive!
I have followed Ace's conversion through his posts and photos and have always thought that what he was doing was very practical, and I feel that words like elegant, and tasteful, describe the conversion. I finally got to meet him and Susan at Fort Wilderness and he gave me a tour of their H3. My response for what they have done: WOW! I think his bus looks better than many factory conversions out there. Usually photos make a bus look nicer than they really are but there are exceptions, and I feel that Ace's is one of those that looks good on film but even better in person. If anyone gets a chance to see it I think you would also be just as impressed. It is beautiful and I can only dream of having something similar. Ace is also very generous with his time and willingness to tell you how he did it. I would like to publicly thank Ace for his contribution to the conversion community. If I could only influence one decision you make Ace, it would be to not to graphic the sides. I know you mentioned that you were pondering the idea. I think what you have now looks better than anything I have seen, and it would only serve to cheapen what is currently a very classy look, to something that would more resemble a S&S. I hope I can camp with the three of you one day.
Laryn
Laryn, thanks for the kind words! It was a pleasure on our end to meet you and your wife as well. Just wish we could have spent more time together doing things instead of touring buses! :)
As for my bus? It's a bus, just like any other bus! We took our time and as you can see, we are STILL doing things as we can! It gets done out of pocket WHEN "I" can afford it! My problem is, I'm never satisfied and I change things too often which cost $$$! I really have to quit researching what others have done. That just gives me fuel for ideas which turn into changes or additions which turns into more $$$!
If you remember my latest project that was under construction when you saw my bus, you will see that it is finally finished! It's a neat little toy that I felt I just HAD to have!
Next thing we will do is change the window valances! Bought the material today which will add some color that we took from the LR carpet and put it up near the ceiling on the larger valances! We bought enough material to make a couple of pillows and also add a little design of some sorts to the entrance door WHEN we get to it!
Here is a link to the finished TV/Fireplace cabinet pics! http://picasaweb.google.com/acerossi357/TVFireplaceCabinetPics#
Anyone have any ideas as to what I can change from what they see, feel free to let me know! I'm always open for ideas! LOL
Ace
Ace,
Looks VERY NICE!
Never would have thought of adding such a feature as a fireplace!
Any pics of the mechanism for raising and lowering?
Paul
Paul it was really pretty simple once I saw what it was that is used! It's an actuator. Found it on Ebay for 85 bucks. Since I used a small TV (12 inches high) I got away with using a 12 inch stroke actuator! It's run by 12 volt and has auto stops at full up or full down! In other words, push the toggle to up and it goes up until it stops! Push the toggle down, and it goes until it's fully down! Simply putting the toggle in the middle at any point while the tv is moving, stops the tv at that point! It was very easy to wire because the only thing you have to do to reverse the motor is reverse the polarity!
Not sure if I took pics but I will look and if I did I will pass them on. If not, I will slide out the cabinet and take some. Might be hard to see now that all the wires and cables are stuffed in! LOL
Now I'm thinking of using an actuator for a slide out for a passenger's foot rest! The ideas are endless. They even make air actuators. Hmm now that I think about it, since I have a pocket door at the bathroom, maybe I could incorporate an air actuator to open and close that door! I would have to have an auxillary air tank for sure since I dump all my air when parked!
Thanks...
Ace
nothing new about air or electric pocket doors they been around for years my 1997 Blue Bird had air pocket doors with a compressor for emergency use. Featherlite and all Prevost converters use it along with the foot rest check with one in your area my save you time trying to make 1 work.If you need any kind of lift or opener this is the outfit the converters use I have a few in my coach www.lifeport.com made for aircraft
Two stroke I knew that they have been around for a long while but never being able to see behind the scenes never allowed me to understand exactly how they worked. Now I know and as I said, it's not all that difficult!
I think before I went to one of the high buck converters for a slide or lift, I would attempt to find the pieces myself and do it again! It would be a whole lot cheaper and the end result would be the same if not better IMHO!
I already have too many re-do bus projects on the fire that I have to finish up before I even think about starting another! One main item is replacing the entry door glass. Then there's the BR that needs to be enlarged SOMEHOW! I haven't figured that one out yet!
Ace
Paul,
I had a chance to look for some under construction pics and found two that might show what I did!
One is the mechanism (actuator) that is mounted inside my cabinet and the other is the lid or door that is above the TV. Notice the corners are cut off? That's because the cabinet was built as a Fireplace and no TV. Then I got the bright idea to add the TV. Room was a big factor at that point but I made it work.
Total cost of the lift was $85.00 for the 12v 12 inch actuator, and $15.00 for the on-off switch, wire, inline fuses, and bottom mounting bracket. The upper mount was fabricated here at home to match the tv mounting holes using odds and ends such as bolt, metal sleeve that went thru the mounting board, flat washer and nut! Pretty simple. Oh and $10.00 bucks or so for a pair of full extension drawer slides or guides to keep everything sturdy and straight during movement up and down! Scrap 3/4 inch white pine for everything else.
Hope this helps and if I can help with anything else, let me know!
Ace
Picture sizing is a hassle but here is the other one!
Ace
Ace,
Thanks for taking the time to post the pics and providing more information.
I'm thinking of doing that for a differant application, a slide out pantry using an actuator and slides. Gave me some ideas for use elsewhere too. ;)
Job well done my friend,
Paul