pocket doors and walls in MC8

[rcbeam]

The bus I bought was mostly converted inside and I'm in the middle of stripping it all out.  Going to remove everything down to the steel supports to check for rust.  Removing bus windows and skinning.  Going to have it spray insulated (I hope I can afford that).  I have been reading some posts on cabinets, kitchen stuff, etc.  I'm going to try to not tear up the kitchen cabinet, sink, etc.  The P/O screwed, glued, and riveted almost everything, so much of the demolition has been destructive.  He certainly was a fan of liquid nails.

At any rate, the issue that I am struggling with is doorways.  The door between the kit/bath and bath/bed were both 24 inches.  He had hinged doors.  I would like to use pocket doors instead.  My question is what size pocket door do any of you guys use?  I can't see 24 inches going back into the wall enough without the door being REALLY short because of the roof curve.  I'm still in the tearing out phase but I'm in the kitchen and this is the last part to go, so I'm thinking ahead here a little.

Thx for your opinions.

[JackConrad]

   If your hallway is offset to one side you might have room.  We installed 2 24" pocket doors with the hallway just slightly offset to passenger side, but we did an 8" roof raise, then lowered interior ceiling by 5" giving us a net 3" gain in interior height.  When we installed the door hardware, we only used the track and rollers, not the entire framework. This allowed us to intall the door using only about 1 1/4" of space instead of the 3 1/2" using the entire frame.  Jack

[rcbeam]

Jack:  You brought up a good point that I failed to mention.  My doorways will be in the center of the bus and I have no intention of doing a roof raise.  I'll be doing good to get done what I have to here.  I just don't see how a pocket door will work, but I've heard of others that have done it.  I never was good an imagining what things will look like, so maybe I'm missing something here.  If it was just for me I'd not fool with doors at all, but that really won't work with other people on board.   The P/O had one door on hinges and the other door was a bi-fold.  Both just seemed to really take up a lot of space and were in the way.  I want things to be open, clean and simple.

Anybody else with an opinion on pocket doors and sizes?

[JackConrad]

What about 2 1' doors that pull together? From the edge of your opening measure over 2' or 1' if you can make 2 doors work. At this point measure to the floor minus about 1 1/4" for the track. That would be the height of you door.  Jack

[robertglines1]

dual purpose door- when open one way closes off bath room swing other way closes off bedroom[ 90 degree]  :Pocket Door---- You do have about 92 inches to work with if door is centered you should have plenty of room for 24 inch door and still be 10 inches from wall.  Bob

[jjrbus]

You do not need to use a pocket door frame and standard door. 3/4" cabinet grade plywood can be used as a door. There are different types of tracks available. Do you have sliding closet doors in your house, take a look at the track and mechanism.

IF you are not good at thinking outside the box, look at what others have done and steal their ideas, that they stole from others.

Hope some willpost pic's      JIm

[Ace]

We made our pocket door and didnt se the usual track our frame. We simply used extended drawer slides  on top and bottom and a finished piece of 3/4 inch plywood for the door. If you can picture a drawer on its side, its basically the same thing. Takes up hardly any room and has never given us any problems. A small barrel latch keeps it closed while moving down the road.
Our door Is slightly off center but not even noticeable!

[luvrbus]

I have no idea what they cost or where to buy the doors but Davenport's Eagle has ceiling mounted doors beautiful cherry wood you never know they are there till he pushes the button he loves the off wall stuff and doesn't like walls of any type lol.
His bus was converted by a aircraft converter in CA pretty neat setup but I am sure you could build the system 

good luck

[BJ]

pocket door on my 8..did the cabinets in birch and the wall separating living/bath. purchased the hardware from home depot cut the door out of birch with a very nice design and hung it using all the hardware. the wall is only as wide as the door including the hardware. the plastic guide at the botton was also used. It took a while but I found a 1/2" pocket door latch installed it in the edge of the door where it latches the door closed to keep it from sliding when moving. I drilled a hole at the botton of the wall and inserted a wooden dole to lock the door open when moving. all in all it came out very nice and I do get a lot of comments and surprise that I have a sliding door....I can take a picture of it if desired and send it to you via email

[Chopper Scott]

I have an accordian type door with a track mounted to the ceiling. I have looked and can't find anything as far as a manufacturer on it. I wouldn't mind getting another one. When folded up it only sticks out a couple inchs and straps hold it in place if need be.