Alaskan living in MC9 while doing conversion.

[Hukfin]

The bus initially seemed like a quick solution to a need for shelter while building a home and a cool long term project. Plans changed and the bus became my home. Initially I cleared it out threw down some linoleum and carpet and furnished it like a dry cabin. At 40 below last winter this was miserable. I honestly thought I could strip the old insulation and reinsulate in a couple of weeks (are you laughing yet). And I kept putting it off as our unseasonably warm fall progressed. As you can imagine week two after starting not a single piece of factory insulation had been removed yet, there remained hundreds of rivets to remove before even that could happen. Long story short I've got one wall completely stripped with 2inch blue foam fitted to all the cavity's I am ready to begin framing the rear wall which I will then work forward from. The basic plan is two inch blue foam fitted to cavity's, 1/2 furring strips to all the steel tubing, then One layer of Mylar bubble wrap followed by sheathing material. I question my sanity daily and I've come to find this forum as a source of encouragement without you guys I wouldn't be as far a long as I am and I would of done a lot of things the wrong way. Why didn't I start checking before I started. So the bus is an 83 MC9. I heat with a toyo oil stove and supplement with electric. Runs like a top 6V92, she was a transit bus, with just over 300,000 miles, I'm removing and walling off 5 windows 2 are done on one side. Going with a pretty standard floor plan rear bedroom mid kitchen forward lounge, no roof raise.
This sure seems like a long winded way of introducing myself, yet I thought it would be worth the effort to do so, because I could surely use some sage advice as I continue this journey. I'm Tim and that's the story behind my bus. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and solutions as I continue on. Thank you.

[PP]

Welcome aboard Tim. You might want to add your bus model and location in the signature line so people get an idea of what you have and where you are for referencing. I'm not one of the smart ones here, but there are lots of nuts that have a ton of knowledge in every aspect of bus maint to conversion. Ask a question and receive lots of advice from them that have gone before you. Good luck with your project and hope you're staying warm. 
Will and Wife

[windtrader]

Hi Tim,

There is tremendous information and bus experts here who are more than happy to help out new busnuts. Hope you stay warm up there, sounds pretty darn cold. I'll quit whining about getting below 40 (+40 that is) and putting an extra blanket on the bed to keep the dog and me warm at night. lol. Don

[chessie4905]

I'm waiting for rust issues to crop up, but maybe that has stainless steel framing. We'll, at those temps, there isn't much else to do but keep warm. Good luck!

[gumpy]

I'm waiting for rust issues to crop up, but maybe that has stainless steel framing. We'll, at those temps, there isn't much else to do but keep warm. Good luck!

Only stainless below the floor. Everything above can and will rust, especially at the floor line where the side members meet the stainless, and maybe on the upper lengthwise member near the side marker lights. However if his mileage is true, it may not yet have rust issues.

I have a friend in Palmer who has an MC9. I installed a Webasto for him a few years ago, and a few other things. He winters in South Dakota now!

I can't imagine trying to convert a bus while living in it at -40° in the dark! 

[Hukfin]

Fortunately we haven't seen temps that low this winter. It's dipped to -10 a few times and that makes for a cold night and an even colder trip to the outhouse. It's an interesting experience, living like this it has me more attuned to the weather than I ever have been.
Grumpy hello, your page has been a great help to me thank you. Funny I'm just outside Palmer. There have been some rust issues none I haven't been able to resolve yet in all reality pretty minimal.
Thanks guys.

[Scott & Heather]

Once converted they make great winter homes. I've seen -28°F in my bus more than once. Tomorrow night it will be -13°F. We are toasty with a few space heaters.


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[luvrbus]

- 13 and I don't even go out of the house till the temperature is above 60 and rising 

[Jim Eh.]

My bus is inside ... at -44 (with the wind chill) that is where it is just going to stay, along with my butt thank you very much. Good luck with the b-b-b-b-b-build.

[oldmansax]

- 13 and I don't even go out of the house till the temperature is above 60 and rising 

Exactly!!!     

[dtcerrato]

That's why we live in Florida, soon we just would like to winter here & spend summers at our new place in Tok AK. Hukfin gotta give you credit for converting in an AK winter. We monitor temps in Tok & see it's been running milder (& of coarse colder than Palmer) this winter but we all know the first day of winter just past us! Stay warm.

[luvrbus]

That is why I love Az if I want to snow ski 3 hours and I am in the cold county same with the heat in July and Aug only 3 hours and I am in the mountains at 7000+ ft no bugs or humidity to deal with either

[windtrader]

Clifford - how's the drive to the surf for a bit of surfing?   Is it fairly safe to hit the Mexico beaches?

[PP]

Scott, that's just a testament to the great converting job you've done. 
Will

[Scott & Heather]

Thanks will. Still, at the end of the day, a metal bus with thin roof and walls just can't contain heat like a well insulated house. We are running a $210 a month electric bill to keep the coach warm and hot water heater hot. We have heavy drapery that seals off the driving area of the coach from the rest of the living area. This is indeed thick frost/ice on the INSIDE of the windshield and salon door glass. But it's about 73 inside the living area. Toasty. Here's another frozen shot:


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