PD-4106 Conversion Pictures? ......Please Help!!!

[mountain goat]

I recently purchased a 1965 PD-4106. I was suppose to be "all good". It was 60 miles from my house. I was able to drive it 30 miles before the engine overheated and had to have it towed the rest of the way home. Thankfully I only had to tow it 30 miles! Then came, "Do I scrap it or rebuild it?" Well......I'm half way thru my "in frame" overhaul and working on the interior while waiting on parts. Well ......the interior isn't in much better shape then the engine. I had to tear out half of the bathroom and part of the kitchen to replace bad 120v wires (chewed up by mice). So This sounds like a good time to gut the interior, create a layout we like better than the existing one. Also redo ALL of the electrical! I have abandoned the idea of taking a trip with it this year. I would like to have the bus completed by next May and I have a climate controlled warehouse to work on the bus.

With that said, I would like to see interior photos and baggage areas of some 4106's for some ideas. If anyone has some drawings or layouts of a 4106, I would be interested in seeing them too

I just received my copy of The Bus Converter's Bible (by Dave Galey) and will be reading it.

I'm in Kansas City, so if you have a 4106 I could look at in person, I would drive a ways with my tape measure and camera for ideas!

Thanks Everyone,
Brian

[Barn Owl]

My feelings haven't changed much, this is from an old thread:

"I do not like the walk through bathrooms; my coach has a small bathroom with a door. There is enough room for one to do the three S's and change cloths. That leaves the back accessible; with a family of eight, that is important. One neat feature is that the door will swing open and block the front from the bath and the bedroom so that area can be blocked off if needed. Keep it functional, but where you spend the least amount of time dedicate the least amount of space.

Another feature I see that I don't like are kitchens that are too large. Plan on what you need and then cut that in half. So many builders get a grand idea that they are going to become a chef and overbuild and waste that area, never using it as planned. When we are on vacation, we don't have the time to make large complicated meals, and when we do, we like to do it outdoors. I have seen some coaches that have slide out kitchens in a bay. I like camp cooking, and we usually do it outside with Dutch ovens. My wife says she cooks enough as it is and vacation is a vacation from cooking for her. I understand that full timers might cook more, but I still think large kitchen areas are a lousy use of space that could be better used elsewhere. The kitchen is a great place to be creative with the counter tops and cabinets. Slide-out or folding counter top prep areas would be a good example of efficient use of limited space.

If you put a dinette in, I feel it should be on the passenger side. The side with the dinette usually has the most windows (I like lots of windows), and if used while you travel it's nice not to have to look out over the other lanes of traffic and the gawkers, but instead, see the scenery as it lazily passes by. As a driver, the low dinette and windows makes it easier to see an area that is difficult to see anyways. In addition, if you are at a campground, you want to see your side of the campsite, not your neighbors.

Finally, dedicate the most space to where you spend the most time and don't overdo it. Some of the nicest coaches I see are simple, elegant, and practical. Some people don't like dual use areas, but when you have a crowd like I do, it is a necessity. I am going to make the rear bed convertible, a U shaped lounge in the day would give me two living areas so as the adults visit in the front; the children can watch a movie or play games in the back.

One of my favorite features of my bus is that it still has the back window. At the beach I go to, the camping sites are directly on the dunes overlooking the water; these sites are back in sites. I love waking up to the eastern sun as it rises above the water, bathing the interior with light, and seeing it all through that big rear window. One day, unless I can find replacement rubber for it (Luke doesn't have it), it will have to come out. That will be a very sad day.

Enough rambling from me now, have fun with your project."

Came from here: Topic: This is your chance to design your dream coach

[Bill B /bus]

Your inside plan is directly related to your usage. For a couple, as in cocktails for eight /dinner for four/sleeping for two, you usage is entirely different than for a family of eight as in previous post.

If you're gutting then do the job right: insulation, windows, heat and AC.
We believe in a relatively simple(plain) interior - formica walls, day/night shades, wood trim (light in color), pocket doors work well for privacy.
In an 06 you can get two windows on the side opposite the kitchen. Agree with previous post about views. Remember you have to deal with the wheel wells. Makes it tough in the rear bedroom tp avoid them unless you go to twin beds.
If you 'borrow' somebody's Bus Conversions collection that will give you a lot of ideas.

Good luck
Bill

[mountain goat]

Good advice! That's so true about the kitchen size, I will take that to heart. Thank you for sharing that old post with me Barn Owl. I am planing on doing the job right. The bus already has 2 roof air units, but only chassis heat/defrost. Thank you Bill B / Bus for you post also, I like the idea of Formica walls, day/night shades etc. I'm still hoping some 4106 owners will post up some pictures for ideas. Either way I'm excited about this adventure and look forward to the project!

[Busted Knuckle]

Mountain Goat get out and attend some "rally's' or in Kyle's case"non-rally" I can guarantee you that there will be several 4104's-06's at almost all of them! Then you can check them out in person.

You also will find SOB's (some other brands) to get ideas from too!
  BK 

I don't even have a non-revenue shell to convert yet, but I have many awesome ideas from looking at what others have done for when I do.

[mountain goat]

Rally's sound great! Do they host them in the Midwest or will I need to travel farther?? Seeing them in person would really help "get the feel" of the layout. Thanks Busted Knuckle for the post

[Busted Knuckle]

well where in the mid-west ?
I have held several here in west tn, christy & larry hicks have one in sw mo, and the mn gang usually have one or more a yr.
oh yeah don't forget about the tx round up paul lawry & friends host as well as the one dallas & cat just had.


FWIW I may see if we can use the local fair grounds and start an annual one right behind our current property since we lost our nice 15 acre spot to i-69!
  BK 

[eddieboy]

There must be something about Kansas.  I also bought my 4106 from a guy in Kansas.  "Wouldn't hesitate to take it across the country".  Well, almost 2 years later, I am within a couple of months of being done with the remodel.  The guy actually had screws going through the roof to hold up walls.  Lots of mold and water damage.  The entire interior came out and has been replaced.  With some good suggestions from these folks on the BB and a few trips to Bontragers, we are well on the way.  Ed

[mountain goat]

I will definitely keep my eyes open for a rally coming up! Ed, I feel your pain. My family had several trips planned this summer in the bus and we truly thought we were getting a "good one". But it's my fault for not knowing enough about the "beast" I was purchasing. I wish I had found this site BEFORE I decided to buy. (I'm the first one to say this ....right?) Oh well, I have a good foundation to build from and picked it up at what I still believe to be a decent price. The engine block and all of the pieces are ready for reassembly. Cylinder heads have been rebuilt with all new parts and new DD pistons, liners, gaskets etc. are on their way! I can't wait to have an interior plan and start on that. My wife is totally cool with the idea of gutting and rebuilding. She is quite happy with no travels this year in order to put a full press on getting the bus done by next May. (She really like the thing!  ) I'm excited about the project, excited about seeing other buses (especially other 4106's), and REALLY excited about finding this site!

[NewbeeMC9]

use a Convection microwave instead of an oven

1 or 2 burner induction cook top.  if you do decide to cook, only heats pot and less heat into coach.,



Also Idea,  I am considering using all LED house lights when I redo my coach and let it the lighting have its own solar panel and battery and be an isolated system.

Don't try to wait until it is done to use it.  hang some sheets and steel tent it so it does not become a stagnant project.

[eddieboy]

I will also put out some pictures when I am done.  I was so ashamed of myself for not doing more checking into the bus I was buying that I refuse to take pictures in progress. I am north of Chicago, right on the Wisconsin border, so if you are ever in the neighborhood, give me a ring and stop by.  Ed

[mountain goat]

NewbeeMC9 ... Great suggestions! Thank You

Ed, Thank You for the invite. If I make it that way anytime soon, I will let you know. I would love to check out other 4106's.
I just signed up for the Bus Conversions Magazine today (print edition).

[JLL]

I have a 4106 that i get a lot of compliments on.  I have a lot photos that I took during the converstion.
If you will post an address I will send them to you.  I'm not smart enough to post them on the computor. 
Leo Lewis
Clovis, CA.

[mountain goat]

JLL, Thank You for the offer. Address sent in PM

[bigjohnkub]

E-mail pictures to Paul(dreamscape) and he will help get on board.  You must share. You also Leo.
  Big John