???The right book with the right stuff??

[Singing Land Cruiser]

I got a head scracher here and I need your help. My wife have been looking for the right book for a reference while converting our 1987 MCI 102a3. So I put it to you. If you could have 1 book to help you convert a bus, which one would you pick and why??? Thank you, M&C

[paulcjhastings]

FAA advisory circular 43.13 

It has info on materials, hardware, structure, wire loading, corrosion, pneumatic and hydraulic systems, etc

I don't know if it would be the be all end all for bus conversions, but I refer to mine quite a bit.
If its good enough for aircraft, it should be good enough for a bus

[grantgoold]

Anything by Dave Galley and of course the Gumpy website. Probably not a bad thing to get as many back issues of Bus Conversion Magazine as possible.

Good luck!


Grant

[Sean]

... If you could have 1 book to help you convert a bus, which one would you pick and why???

If I could have only one book, I could not convert a bus.  And I say that knowing that (a) I've already done one bus and (b) I'm a pretty handy guy.

We must have used two dozen reference books during the course of both the design and build phases of our bus.

Some must-haves:

ANSI/NFPA 1192, available for download for about $30.  This is the definitive standard for all house systems in a coach except for the electrical systems.  It includes detailed safe practice for LPG systems, combustion appliances, sanitation and fresh water systems, emergency exit requirements, smoke and CO detectors, "toy" compartments (such as the one we use for our gas-powered scooters), ventilation requirements, etc.

NFPA 70, also known as the National Electric Code.  Available for download in PDF format for about $70, but you can find it at almost any library to look up the relevant sections (the Code is huge, and you only need, really, two sections and the tables).  Provides detailed requirements for RV electrical systems, including shore power, generators, main panelboards, ground safety, etc.

Any book on floor planning.  There are several out there.  In addition to written guidance, which will provide suggested dimensions for certain areas, I suggest you get some floor-planning software so you can experiment with layouts without having to hand-draw fifteen different versions.  I also suggest (as do some authors) that you "construct" your proposed interior with, at minimum, blue painters' tape or chalk, but better still, using cardboard mockups and/or free-standing furniture to simulate the planned interior.  We made several changes to our floor plan after "testing" it in a parking lot with tape, boxes, tables, and chairs.

Any one of a number of treatises on RV electrical systems.  If you intend to do any solar or other off-grid technologies, get one that slants in that direction.  Ample Power and RV Solar Electric both have guides.

Lastly, familiarize yourself with the Search functions on this board and BNO.  Almost everything you will want to do or try has been discussed here before, often in great detail.

Hope this helps.

-Sean
http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com

[FloridaCliff]

Michael,

I also don't think "One Book" will do it.

Just too much depends on what skills and knowledge you already posses.

As Sean already stated, I also used many reference books, web sites, etc to clarify individual items or codes that I wasn't 100% familiar with.

To add to what has already been suggested above, I would spend some time looking at various motorhomes and fifth wheels.  These guys are the masters of squeezing lots of stuff into a small space.  Bring your camera and check out how they put it all together.  You will look like a crazy customer, but learn tons and the photo's will jog the memory later.

I would also attend every rally I could.  You will see most of your ideas in use and will get a feel for what works and also what doesn't.

HTH,

Cliff