Question for Self Converters

[belfert]

If I did it again I would raise the roof.  I would also have installed the vinyl tiles around the walls instead of putting the walls on top.  The tiles have all shifted enough to look like crap due to screws and bolts going through the tiles and the plywood floor.

[cody]

What I did on my summer vacation, oops sorry wrong report.  Actually, I wouldn't change a thing, except maybe for buying one further along.  I bought mine, did a very basic conversion and then loaned it out, I got it back almost a year later and then worked to finish the basic conversion before I redid it the way I wanted it.  A good friend of mine, my best friend, in 2002 was given a death sentence with a terminal problem, his dream was to travel and we had talked about that for at least a year, then came the death sentence, I bought the bus to allow him to have his dream, I converted it slightly but enough and gave him the keys with a full tank, he left, I got Post cards from the grand canyon and from hoover dam, all over, then he came home, too sick to drive, it was over, he passed 6 weeks later, he had traveled for 10 months, now it was my turn, I redid the conversion and we enjoyed it and still do, what would I do differently? nothing except maybe hand over the keys a couple years earlier.  Without the faith and help of Jim Schiek in Oshkosh, it would never have been possible to do that for john and I'll always be thankful to him for all he did to help me help john.

[David Anderson]

This question pops up about once a year and is always good to read the replies.  On mine I would have never attempted to install wallpaper.  You guys told me not to back in 2002, and I should have listened.  It all looked bad after 20k miles of flexing and bending, so it all had to come out.  

I love everything else the way it is. I like my walnut cabinets.  I like my household refer.  I can go about 18 hours between battery charges.  My wife loves the dishwasher.  I love my Trace SW2512 inverter.  My gray water tanks that dump to the black for flushing have never disappointed me.  My wife loves the 38"x38" Home Depot shower.  I'm glad I raised my roof 7" and ducted my Coleman rooftops.  I'm 12'6" tall to the tops of the AC's.  I'm glad I removed the bus air and ducted the Colemans over the driver.  I can make it really cold in the cockpit area.   I really like the fresh air vents I installed in the coach front that are controlled by using 3" sewer valves on each side of the coach.  The 2 twin beds that slide together via linear actuators to make a queen fascinates everyone that sees them and gave us much more upper storage in the bedroom than most coaches have.  I really like my Peninsula windows.  

Though I don't care for carpet in the bathroom I'm glad it is there because I've had to get into that floor hatch several times in 9 years.   I love the webasto heating system.   Though I've had Eagle purists poo poo my DOT bumpers, I like them because 1.   it is easy to climb them and clean my windshield.  2.  I backed into a rock wall mountain at a NF campground once and really hit it hard.  It did no damage to the coach at all.  A stainlesss blade would have looked like a wrinkled aluminum can.  (I don't plan on backing into things, but can't guarantee it.)

I made all my wiring and plumbing accessable with removable cabinet bottoms and such, so trouble shooting is generally easy.  

Things that are becoming dated:  the electronics.  We are using digital converters and still use VCR tapes often.  As this stuff becomes obsolete I may have to make some big changes up front for my television and such.

[luvrbus]

 I would never do a electric coach , stone floors ,carpet or a trash compactor again,David I have wallpaper and it has never wrinkled so the wife wants new this year  


good luck

[jmblake]

I would have gotten a 102" wide coach and one with a silver 92 with a automatic trany, other than that we are very pleased with the layout and the material we picked. The other thing if I would have known is to do more of the body work and cleanup before taking it for paint, We were a little mislead by starjet on the bodywork part of the paint job. Jason

[Melbo]

I don't know how to think of doing things different. I did what was right at the time.

Having said that I like the adventure as much as the destination -- maybe even more.

Unknown to me the bus I bought had been wrecked and windshields would not fit the frames. The engine was worn out and would over heat. It had the crash box spicer transmission. The previous owner cut some corners and left me some mysteries. Some things were done right and some were left undone or not done the way I would have liked -- ( hey it wasn't my bus yet ).

The price was right -- the adventure has been fun -- and I would not trade one minute or hour curled up in the engine compartment replacing the air compressor on the worn out 8V71 or under the bus adjusting the brakes ( for the first time ). Planning the electric system and being surprised when it worked right and bummed out when the 50 amp GFI disconnect kept tripping ( and it wasn't on LSD ).

What would I have done differently --- NOT A THING -- What have I learned that I can pass along PLENTY and will do so anytime I am asked.

All the problems and mysteries and things that worked and things that didn't is what makes it my bus -- not some off the lot sticks and staples wanna be-- or liberty coach look alike.

If you want a bus conversion do the research listen to who will talk to you and jump in with both feet and enjoy the adventure

I sure have.

Melbo

[Dreamscape]

What great answers and participation from you guys!

One more thing I would add to my list is this, we did not raise the roof. I know many of you did for the reasons you chose. I just like the looks of a non-raised roof on a bus. Also, keeps the roof warts from being potentially getting knocked off. We are not tall, so that thought was not considered. Now some may say, what about resale? I don't plan to sell our coach, they can just bury me in it and close the door! 

That is one thing we would not do differently!

Some we would like to change, move the bed to the center of the bus. I built it that way because I was single at the time, and it gave me a wider isle on one side and easy engine access. This we will change! By order of the CEO and CFO!

Build all walls from 3/4" plywood, we did not, I used 2x2's and plywood over. Only use material for a deeper wall in areas that might need it, plumbing for example.

Everything else we are very happy with, expect the layout in the bays. I left it the same from the PO's and really would like to modify them to add more storage down under. Another project for another day and time!

Are having fun yet?

Paul

[cody]

Paul, all our walls are 3/4 inch plywood, even the outerwalls that are screwed to the metal, we didn't do a roof raise either cause I cleared everything as I walked thru it and at 12/6 it was tall enogh in my opinion.

[Dreamscape]

cody, I agree with your reasoning on the raised roof, but that's why we have the "Do It Your Way" approach!  Some don't have that option, unless they want to duck all the time! Or have those fancy overhead mirrors!