Need a place to work on my bus! (Sacramento/SF Bay, CA)

[roxnadz]

Greets all,

Well, I've slowly begun converting a 40' RTS into a motorhome. Still quite early in the process.



I know it takes time, patience, money and a place to work (and I have none of these, obviously. )

In all seriousness, the biggest issue I have right now is that I don't have a place to work on my bus at all. Finding an RV storage place to park it isn't a problem - until people hear that you want to finish tearing down the inside of it. Then they run screaming, usually because of insurance issues. Doesn't matter that my bus is insured, and I have the tools to do the work, and that I'm not doing any kind of outside work. Nobody wants a part of it.

What I'm looking for is a space - anywhere from San Jose to Sacramento, California (preferred) - where I can park it and take the little time I have to finish stripping it down so that I can get on with the next phase of the conversion process. It can be a storage facility, an industrial space, a lot...hell, somebody's back yard. If anybody knows anyone who'd be willing to lease me a little space anywhere in Northern California, I'd be eternally grateful!

There's no rush for it as I am currently abroad and won't be back in the country until the end of September, but I figured I would plead for assistance now.

Thanks in advance for any and all leads!

[Sean]

Malcolm,

Join the Elks.  Both the San Jose and Sunnyvale lodges have RV storage, and I would be willing to bet that neither would give you a hard time about inside-only work on site if you did not make a nuisance of yourself.  In the case of San Jose you'd work it out with Glen, the campground host, and in the case of Sunnyvale, you'd work it out with the staff lodge manager, whose name escapes me at the moment.  Both of these lodges have, in addition to storage, overnight areas with 30- or 50-amp power and water.  Sunnyvale also has a dump station, as does the Fremont lodge, which also has overnight paces with power and water (but no storage).

Your Elks membership will also stand you in good stead once you get the bus done, as there are lodges all over the country the offer overnight parking for free or for a small donation, and many of them have power and water.  Cost of membership varies by home lodge; we pay about $120 a year and consider it the best-value campground membership of all time.  Your profile does not show where you live; the bay area lodges tend to be more expensive than more rural locations.  Some lodges will accept anyone, and others are more sensitive to jurisdictional boundaries and don't want to accept members who could be claimed by a different lodge, so plan accordingly.

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com

[RJ]

Malcom -

Ex-Golden Gate Transit, eh?  Did you get one of the models set up for hauling "suits" into the City with the hi-back recliners, or a run-of-the-mill transit?

If it was one of the "suits" coaches, it's probably set up to run 70 mph, which is a good thing.  If a transit, 55 > 60 is all you're gonna get, unless you can find one of the rare 4.10 ring & pinion sets.

Grant may chime in here soon, he lives in the Sacratomato area.  He might have some good suggestions.  If my sister's sweet neighbor hadn't suddenly passed away recently, she might have allowed you to work on your coach at her house - her son converted a Crown 10-wheel pusher in her big back yard.

May have another lead for you, but will have to check first.  Plenty of room for the bus, but security might be an issue.  Will keep you posted as I find out.

FWIW & HTH. . .

[roxnadz]

@Sean Thanks. Technically my domicile is in Hayward but I'm a bit of a nomad these days - spending summers in Europe and winters in Southeast Asia. Once I get the bus converted, we'll be full-timing in it whenever we're in the States.

I'm actually an avid reader of Our Odyssey, and was going to ask you about the Elks memberships...from what I can tell, it's a great investment, but don't you have to be sponsored to join?

@RJ: That would be excellent if you could follow any leads for me. I would greatly appreciate that, and Sacramento would be good because it's cheaper and my lady has family up there (no, none of them have the space or the desire).

It is an ex-GGT unit, #1146 which does indeed have the 4.56 gears in it - I've opened her up and she goes fast enough for me, though I'm sure she could do more than 70 if she had a 4.10 in her! I'm not inclined to drop the coin to only get 7 or 8 more mph out of her, though.

Thanks in advance for your help!

-Malcolm

[Ed Hackenbruch]

 I got an all expense paid 13 & 1/2 month camping trip to Southeast Asia many years ago.

[MEverard]

I have a spot in Antioch that I park, and work, on my bus. I pay very little for storage and I am allowed to do any work I want on it. The site is about an acre and has some permanent RV residents. They not only love to see the progress, they keep an eye out for me. Let me know if you would like me to inquire if space for you is available.

Good Luck,

Mike

[Sean]

... but don't you have to be sponsored to join?

Yes, but most lodges are desperate for new members, so if you don't already know someone there, you can probably call the lodge office and ask if they can find you one.  That said, it's very likely you already know someone who is an Elk at a nearby lodge.

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com

[roxnadz]

@Ed But did you enjoy yourself?

@Mike I sent you a PM.

@Sean I have to say, none of the geeks I know knows anything about the Elks...maybe you could sponsor me! When's the next time Odyssey will be rolling through the Bay Area?

[Sean]

I'd be happy to sponsor you, but my home lodge is now in Washington.  You probably should get sponsored at one in the bay area.  Try asking at the local lodge.

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com

[MEverard]

Hey Malcolm,

I replied to your PM.

Mike

[desi arnaz]

do you have to go to meetings? is there a lot of religion going on? i would join but i don't like people that much.....

[grantgoold]

I am looking for a spot in the area. There are so many abandon homes you might just find one that has enough land and pay for the rent!

If I find something I will let you know.

Grant