Estimate of costs for infrastructure, energy conversion, plbg, wiring, engine...

[Nel]

Good Luck, the handier you are as an diesel mechanic, carpenter, plumber, electrician,hvac,general contractor, etc. the less it will cost you.

PS  buy a real nice tool box.

[Geoff]

"Infrastructure" is generally streets, bridges, and underground utilities.  I've never heard it used for bus conversions​.  Anyway, installing the basic systems can vary in cost depending on the materials used.  I used boat wiring which costs more than house wiring.  Some people want conduit pipe which is more labor intensive.  Pex water lines cost more than PVC, sewer hose costs more than ABS piping and fittings.  I never kept track of my expenses or time spent installing the basics, but I can add that you need a floor plan of some sort to start as well as making a decision on where to put the tanks and wiring center. 

Since the bus you are considering already has been converted, you may be limited to the existing floor plan or some redo's.

--Geoff

[daddysgirl]

Welcome to the most infecting hobby ever!
In all seriousness, if you find a coach you love...as long as the engine and "bones" are sound...don't sweat it. Plumbing and electricity are easy. You'll need to be mindful if you buy a previously converted coach of what the prior owner or owners have done.
No matter the coach...GET THE BOOKS for it. You'll need them to trace wiring and determine the best way to fix something.

The things I believe have been the most valuable are the wonderful advice you'll get here...and the feeling of finishing a project you didn't think you could do. You can...trust me.

The only other mindset you need is one of patience. My dad had a little statue of Yosemite Sam. The caption under it said... "Patience my a**, I'm going out to kill something". But after converting three buses, even he learned that it takes time...and patience

[Zephod]

My costs... I'm not 100% sure but this is what I think I spent....

Interior lighting... several $10 LED lanterns run off D cell batteries. The batteries are $2 a set from the dollar store the batteries last a good long time.

Waste water... two 15 gallon u-line drums slung under the bus. Those cost $8 each. The pipe work cost about $3. What cost more were the angles etc. I've used Pex for venting the barrels but the Pex was salvage.

Fresh water - several $14 jerry cans

The 120v system. 3 sockets, a main breaker and a sub panel plus wiring so about $150. No generator. I just plug in when needed.

Solar. I have 2 x 10W panels that cost $30 each that produce maybe 5W between them. Solar imho is oversold BS. The panels go via a $10 charge controller to a $10 5AH battery and run two $2 CPU fans for ventilation.

Cooking... a $20 all in one cooktop and $3 butane cylinders.

Refrigeration - a $30 cooler powered by.... ice.

Shower base - a plastic feed tray from Tractor Supply fir $20

Shower unit - a $20 battery powered pump and shower head and a $15 cooler to hold warm water for showering.

Toilet - a $2.50 bucket from Walmart with a $2.50 lid, enclosed in a wooden structure I built.

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[Bobi]

You all are fabulous - thank you!

We're still new enough to the adventure so still all over the map on things.  I'm presently smitten with transit buses with all those lovely windows and less inclined to a vintage bus unless someone has already upgraded the whole bloomin' thing.  Except the Buffalo bus.  I do love the look of those. 

When the time comes, if we have a good, solid layout planned where would we look to have the plumbing/wiring/etc put in?  Ideally, I'd like to work with a person who knows this stuff and learn by being the grunt/helper.

[eagle19952]

You all are fabulous - thank you!

We're still new enough to the adventure so still all over the map on things.  I'm presently smitten with transit buses with all those lovely windows and less inclined to a vintage bus unless someone has already upgraded the whole bloomin' thing.  Except the Buffalo bus.  I do love the look of those.  

When the time comes, if we have a good, solid layout planned where would we look to have the plumbing/wiring/etc put in?  Ideally, I'd like to work with a person who knows this stuff and learn by being the grunt/helper.

too many windows are much harder to keep comfortably cool...

[Dave5Cs]

Here's a link to Holding tanks. Pex is a good fresh water pipe that can be cut easily and they make fittings you just put on a ring push in the fitting and sqweeze the ring with the pex tool. You will need a water pump to get it to the faucets etc. There your starter.
The internet will be your friend. Put in RV holding tanks, RV/ Marine water pumps, RV electric systems etc.....

http://www.plastic-mart.com/category/4700/ronco-tanks-tustin

Dave5Cs

[Zephod]

Here's a link to Holding tanks. Pex is a good fresh water pipe that can be cut easily and they make fittings you just put on a ring push in the fitting and sqweeze the ring with the pex tool. You will need a water pump to get it to the faucets etc. There your starter.
The internet will be your friend. Put in RV holding tanks, RV/ Marine water pumps, RV electric systems etc.....

http://www.plastic-mart.com/category/4700/ronco-tanks-tustin

Dave5Cs

Water pump? Not if you carry your water in jerry cans and have a jug fir ready to use water.


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[B_K]

Zephod your cave man style bus works well for you. But many of us prefer a little more domestication in our coaches (especially the wifey types)
  BK 

[windtrader]

What's cool about the community is the vast range of what is defined as a bus conversion.

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[Zephod]

Zephod your cave man style bus works well for you. But many of us prefer a little more domestication in our coaches (especially the wifey types)
  BK 

I'm working on an air intake right now for part 2 of my ventilation system. That's taking forever as I'm having so many problems with my welding helmet which is too dark. I just bought a variable darkness auto darkening helmet to resolve that.

My goal is to get the bus livable during the summer months. It's already livable the rest of the year. Once that's achieved, plumbing from an external supply is possible as is a gas cooktop plumbed into a gas cylinder set on the ground outside. I'm not a great fan of putting stuff underneath or on top of the bus. I might put a solar plugin so that I can plug in extra panels placed wherever (not permanently attached).


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[Geoff]

I'm working on an air intake right now for part 2 of my ventilation system. That's taking forever as I'm having so many problems with my welding helmet which is too dark. I just bought a variable darkness auto darkening helmet to resolve that.

My goal is to get the bus livable during the summer months. It's already livable the rest of the year. Once that's achieved, plumbing from an external supply is possible as is a gas cooktop plumbed into a gas cylinder set on the ground outside. I'm not a great fan of putting stuff underneath or on top of the bus. I might put a solar plugin so that I can plug in extra panels placed wherever (not permanently attached).


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Zephod--. What kind of welder are you using?

--Geoff

[Zephod]

Zephod--. What kind of welder are you using?

--Geoff

Harbor Freight $90 stuck welder. It's been good so far. If it hangs on for me to complete the project I'll be happy. Otherwise I'll have to silver solder everything.


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[Geoff]

Harbor Freight $90 stuck welder. It's been good so far. If it hangs on for me to complete the project I'll be happy. Otherwise I'll have to silver solder everything.


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I didn't know you had power!  With 120ac you could pickup a good, used A/C roof top unit to cool your bus down. Maybe a TV set, etc....

--Geoff

[Zephod]

I didn't know you had power!  With 120ac you could pickup a good, used A/C roof top unit to cool your bus down. Maybe a TV set, etc....

--Geoff

It's shore power. I put in a 30A line into the main panel.

While AC would be nice, I'm working with what I have. I'm running a minimal solar setup to power extraction fans and an induction fan... when I complete my air intake box (shown)


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