A Bus Barn For Us!

tom120 · February 09, 2015, 05:33:21 PM

youtube.com/watch?v=itSs8SYvpbM We keep our 47 in the old Strick Trailer production floor. Its been repurposed as storage and work space.

DKO · February 09, 2015, 10:26:58 PM

That's an awesome building and a cool bus.

Davy

tom120 · February 10, 2015, 06:58:36 PM

Glad you like Dave. closest thing to riding/driving in a museum. Tom

Newbob · February 11, 2015, 07:51:51 AM

Congrats!!! What a find!!

So, had you been eying it saying "wouldn't it be nice to have that" or did you find it by chance?

- Enjoy!

DKO · February 11, 2015, 11:47:01 AM

Quote from: Newbob on February 11, 2015, 07:51:51 AM
Congrats!!! What a find!!

So, had you been eying it saying "wouldn't it be nice to have that" or did you find it by chance?

- Enjoy!

Question for me, Newbob?

If so, Yes, as in "wouldn't it be nice to have that." When we are home at Christmas or a week or two through the year, we have parked at a church near all of my family. This barn and property is right next door to the church. The first time we parked there in 2008 I noticed the barn and thought it would be a great place to have for the bus.

I contacted the owner a few times but she had no interest in selling. She was a widow and had rented it to others since the late 90's. Her last renter was there for seven years and was a great guy and used the barn as a shop for projects. It was a good situation for her. When I found out he was moving out I walked over and talked to him and walked in the barn for the first time and measured the door. I called her again and she was ready to sell. That was the end of August and we finally closed in December.

My ministry actually bought it to use as our headquarters which means storing tents, chairs, trailer and other equipment used in tent revivals as well as various items to be sent to home and foreign missions. Once the property is paid for my plan is to build a small fully handicap accessible house for my grown daughter that travels in the ministry with us. She has traveled and sang with us over 325 services a year for many, many years and I would love for her to have a place to stay at home when she wants or needs to do so.

Davy

B_K · February 11, 2015, 06:05:54 PM

Quote from: belfert on February 08, 2015, 01:42:31 PM
Congrats on such a find! I had to give up on finding a building for my bus and just bought a house in a city that will allow me to build a large garage for my bus. The bus garage I really want to build will cost about $55,000. No pole barns allowed because I don't have five acres. I was unwilling to drive another twenty miles a day to a city that allow pole barns.

** NOT MEANING TO HIJACK DAVY'S Thread! But this info could benefit others as well! **

Brian have you checked with any Amish builders?

If you have an the prices are still that high get me more info (size, doors, insulation, etc) and I'll check with some of my local Amish builders!
I have a good connection with several of them and if they can make $ doing it, and make it a "fun working trip" they sometimes travel long distance to do a week to 2 week long job!
As a matter of fact we have group leaving out @ midnight coming up to Wadena, MN! (for a funeral this trip, but it shows they have family up there!)

BK

belfert · February 14, 2015, 12:03:40 PM

Quote from: B_K on February 11, 2015, 06:05:54 PM
** NOT MEANING TO HIJACK DAVY'S Thread! But this info could benefit others as well! **

Brian have you checked with any Amish builders?

If you have an the prices are still that high get me more info (size, doors, insulation, etc) and I'll check with some of my local Amish builders!

No, I have not. I just called or visited three different garage builders and they all bid around $55,000 for the job. The contractor who renovated my house gave me a rough bid of close to $80,000! He said there is no way he could do it for $55,000, but the other guys do huge volume and he doesn't.

I'm at least four years out on the garage right now without a financial windfall so I have no plans to contact any builders for a few years at least. I've thought about doing it myself except the concrete, but the labor outside of the concrete is only 20% to 25% of the total cost. I may end up cutting the size by up to half to save money, but a 50% size cut probably wouldn't save 50%.

DKO · February 14, 2015, 05:56:02 PM

How big are you planning to build? My barn is 64' outside dimensions for a 45' bus. If it was much smaller it would be difficult to have room for storage or projects of any kind.

Davy

belfert · February 14, 2015, 10:13:48 PM

The prices I got are for 40x50 with 16 foot sidewalls. I've thought about going longer and narrower. The city allows 2000 square feet total. This also needs to be my normal garage for my car. I have thought about not demolishing my existing 2.5 car garage. That garage needs new siding and other repairs.

Building only half the garage allows me to get my bus under cover two to three years earlier than otherwise. Extra space often just ends up collecting junk that isn't worth the cost of the space to store it.

David Anderson · February 15, 2015, 06:54:56 AM

Would my project thread be of any help to anyone?

http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=24831.0

http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=19177.0

David

belfert · February 15, 2015, 09:07:38 AM

The city does not allow pole construction, nor do they allow metal siding unless the house is sided with metal. I don't think the city code allows pole barn type metal on houses anyhow. The siding on the garage has to match the style of siding on the house. Roof also has to match house.

I was told no to residential style pole barns, but I haven't pushed the issue yet. City told me the height of garage could not be taller than the house, but I couldn't find that in any city code or regulation. The city finally admitted that there is no such rule and the height limit is 45 feet. It is unclear if the pole barn restriction applies only to accessory structures, or to garages too. City code is not clear.