Is this a good plan?

[richardkillmon]

Please bear with me; I say this due to the length of the pre-briefing and then the questions for the experts to answer at the end or any warning flags that they see. I'm a "Wanna-Be" bus converter and have done some research (fantasying) about how I can afford to get my dream. I have read all the "back issues" of BCM, ($$$ and time), current subscriptions to BCM, Bus Trader, and 2 RV magazines, and bought many books from the experts. I have gone to Arcadia, FL. for 4 straight years to met Jack and company at New Years Eve bus rally. I pay for a bus spot for the whole week each year even thou I don't have a bus and only visit for one day. On that day I arrive in the morning and tour any bus that will let me in (all), and leave that night late and drive home.

On a side note, there should be a warning about those people I met there and the rallies. I mean with all the products on the market that have warnings, even stupid ones like don't eat Preparation H.  I think there should be a flyer given out that states, " Warning – this is not the normal world we live in, these people are real, they are not wanted to sell you anything, they have big hearts, they care, they've honest - beware." I think it is a master plan or conspiracy you bus nuts have – convince the world to become "Bus nuts." The first time I met you all, you all were so friendly, encouraging, and knowledgeable. My 15 year son was with me that day and said, "Dad, they all know you."   This was not the case. When I left there I thought that converting a bus was simple, a lot of time and money but I had a support team that was incredible. There was not one person there who was not smiling. I can do this. These are the folks I want to hang with. I drove 6 hours home and ran into the house filled with so much energy and hope, that my wife asked my son if I had been drinking. After a few days from the herd, I calmed down and started to have withdrawal symptoms. Now after the rallies, I repeat to myself, "slow down, no bus today," and I dream again. Now back to the main issue.

I have a plan, I think. I have a simple floor plan with regulations from the boss (my best friend). I must be able to keep the living area so cold so as to be able to store meat there during the summers in south Florida and conversely wear a T-shirt in the living area while in Canada during the winter. In addition, all windows are operational, even a glass rear window. This is so while driving we can see the world. No slide outs. All electric appliances must be in the bus. The bus must have an automatic transmission and a toad the same; this is in case of an emergency (Boss doesn't want be stuck). The bus must have enough horsepower to pull the toad and not slow down on hills or should I say I must be able to maintain the speed limit on hills. Finally, this probably will be handled under insulation but no noise from engine/generator to be heard. There I got the main restrictions.

I want a 102 inch wide bus with roof a/c units for easy repair or replacement.

Now to address how or if I can do this, this way. Some of the work I can do and some I need experts to do. After I purchase a bus and strip it, can I send it to a bus company to set up the electrical system (generator) and the plumbing systems? Can I work with a company so that they do some parts of the conversion and I the others. This is almost like being a contractor but sub leasing some work.  This is to save money, small bills instead of one big one (space them out), and stress management for me. They put in all the conduit, outlet boxes, and generator and then I can do the insulation work.

From all that I read and asked, insulation is the main thing for climate control. You must do it right from the beginning because you don't get a second chance unless you rip apart the bus again. What I have learned from my limited restoration projects is do it right the first time. This means don't say this is OK for now. Do the best job on the basics and insulation is one of the basics to climate control. If you do it right the first time, you never have to redo it. And what I have learned from the experts is that a lot of bus-nuts would like to change something in the floor plan after living in their bus so I want to set up my conversion so that after a few years I can change the floor plan with ease.

I want to spray the bus with foam but before I do this I want to make sure of some things.
I want to add a half inch of wood to the cords/supports of the inside of the bus and then spray. I have heard that the support bracing will cause some heat/cold transfer from the outside. By adding the wood and then foaming, seals better. I want to make sure every inch and crack is filled with insulation. I would sacrifice space for 100% insulation. I would then take the bus to a foam company and spray it.

The engine is another area of heat and I would take the following steps to resolve this.
First of all I would improve the cooling system by either adding a radiator with more coils or air scoops added or both. I would wrap the exhaust system with insulation to prevent heat transfer into the living area. I would build an access system (trap door) from the top of the motor for easy repairs. This doorway/hatchway would be hidden by the master bed/bench seats being mounted above it. The engine compartment would be sprayed with insulation a long with the access doors.

After I cleaned the foam up I would send the bus back to the company to put in the floors and cabinets. My floor plan is very simple, bench seats all around the bus except where the bathroom and kitchen is. In the rear, the three sided bench seats would have a system of a board being placed over the isle to convert to one giant bed. The bathroom and kitchen would separate the front from the rear of the bus. The bathroom is where I would spend some extra money, full size shower and closets. The kitchen would have a regular full sized refrigerator and stove tops. There would be TVs, computers, and sound systems front and back. I want to set up systems and appliances so later I can replace or upgrade with ease.

At first the bus would be used for traveling from motel to motel but as my boss converts to be a bus-nut, we could change the insides to handle our needs.

My questions are these:

1.   Will a company do this?
2.   Is this a good plan?
3.   What problems do you see?
4.   What did I forget?
5.   Should I just have them do it all?

[robertglines1]

I'll be the first to say its really going to cost to have a conversion done by someone else.Maybe better to buy one already done in this depressed market..orrrrrr let some of people on this board guide you thru steps...don't know your background..bus building is not hard..Bob

[belfert]

Remember that almost all coaches cooled fine when delivered from the factory.  Cooling issues are usually caused by problems with the radiator itself or with the seals around the radiator causing air to bypass the radiator.  Sometimes the blowers will go bad. 

Adding air scoops generally haven't helped much and are mostly a bandaid for the real problem.  Often you can get newer technology in a radiator that will cool better.  If you still have the same engine rating as new it doesn't usually make sense to go to the work of installing a physically larger radiator.  A new radiator the same size with solid fins, no leaks, and not plugged up should cool just fine.

If you install a new radiator you'll probably never need another one unless you rack up huge miles.

[Chopper Scott]

I think almost to a T that everyone will advise you to watch for already converted coaches, have them inspected by someone knowlegeable and then make it your bus. They are not for those without mechanical skills even after being converted. I got lucky with my purchase but have done a lot and spent alot since. But owning a bus is something else! If you do think you need to build your own, as I once did, add up the cost of the comonents alone and see how that compares. You can always get your feet wet with something already converted and then figure out what you want down the road.

[Melbo]

Converted buses are available for less than the parts and upgrades will cost.

The "PERFECT" bus can be bought from Marathon or other similar companies

Match your dollars and desires and get something that will work for she who must be obeyed

If bought right it can be sold and you get a do over

Everyone here will have an opinion --- this is mine

Melbo

[Sam 4106]

I agree with others that an already converted bus is the cheapest approach.
As far as an engine powerful enough to go up hills at the speed limit, that  MAY be doable, but not going up MOUNTAINS. I doubt that there is a bus engine available that will get you up any and all true mountains at the speed limit. At least I don't know of any.
Good luck with your search, Sam MC8  (8V92TA DDEC II 450 HP with HT740 automatic that goes up some mountains quite slow)