My Bus, AKA a "Skoolie" Options

[Neon Moon]

1993 International DTA360 with a 545 Allison, under 70,000 miles, Carpenter body, 65 pass. I'll give the quick tour I am planning to boondock just as much as I possibly can (which was why I chose the additional ground clearance of a school bus). I have health issues, and need to get out of these Indiana winters. I'm looking forward to experiencing Quartzite.

As bought



Roof raised 18"



New cap & skins (20 ga)



1-piece front door



Extended rear door height (which will lead to a small deck)



3-layers of 3/4" polystyrene in walls



Trusses for ceiling vault going in



Battery bank storage (have one for firewood also, with inside doors to access wood to feed the stove. This means no carrying wood into the bus., load from outside, access from inside directly below the stove)



Fast-forward a bit to the interior

75 gal FW tank under the couch, there will be an additional 108 gal on the roof. I have a 75 gallon gray tank under the bed.



My stainless steel salad bowl sink & bar faucets





32" 1-piece shower stall. Trusses intruded a bit into the shower, so they were trimmed, which is why the angles ceiling. I'm 6'2-3" and the shower head is 6'5" off the shower floor.



20" gas range (with vented range hood) & 7 cu ft chest freezer which will be adapted for 'fridge use. The freezer is setting on top of the PV battery bank.



Area for wood stove, access doors underneath go straight through to outside access door



Flat screen TV to mount over drivers area. I've been trying to buy some old barn siding for 3 weeks now, 2 deals have fallen through, so I guess I'll replicate as best I can with new wood. Oh, ceiling will be corrugated tin barn panels. I have about a 6'9" ceiling.



Table & seat (It's just me, so plenty of room) Freezer sets directly behind bench, on platform, all of which is over area for battery bank




Smitty

This post has been edited by Neon Moon: Apr 5 2010, 06:41 AM

[Seeria]

OMG you didn't! OMG you did! Smitty, I am burning those darn towels lol Horrible, just horrible. Bad man.

[Dj Co2]

Wow.. I mean just wow! Living in a bus!

[David & Lorn...]

... most of the ladies accuse me of having some sort of man-cave....personally, I just don't see it ...

You need to get around some more "enlightened" women!

[Neon Moon]

OMG you didn't! OMG you did! Smitty, I am burning those darn towels lol Horrible, just horrible. Bad man.

Geesh, darned if I use my sleeves, darned if I use the curtains

You need to get around some more "enlightened" women!

Lorna.....don't you know by now not to set me up like that

Not a whole lot to update regarding the bus as I haven't been up to doing much lately. I'm still working on "organization" of things, since I still have some things I need to stow in the bus (and many times more to get rid of). Drove the bus yesterday (mostly just to drive it) to Menards for a couple small items, had a couple standing outside the door ready to talk before I got unbuckled. I gave them a walk through, and we talked for 15-20 minutes, nice couple.

Smitty

[HJ]

Geesh, darned if I use my sleeves, darned if I use the curtains




Drove the bus yesterday (mostly just to drive it) to Menards for a couple small items, had a couple standing outside the door ready to talk before I got unbuckled. I gave them a walk through, and we talked for 15-20 minutes, nice couple.

Smitty

Better get use to it Smitty, it's going to happen a lot !

[Neon Moon]

Better get use to it Smitty, it's going to happen a lot !

lol....I just gotta come-up with a better story than the SWAT team one (and not laugh while telling it)

Plans for the winter are....taking a friend (who lives in PR) to TN in November to do a little metal detecting, then I'm going on down to GA to meet-up with a skoolie buddy, then on to Q 'til the ice & snow is gone in Indiana.

Smitty

[David & Lorn...]

...then on to Q 'til the ice & snow is gone in Indiana.

Smitty

Let us know when you are passing thru NM and we will try to meet up.

[Neon Moon]

Let us know when you are passing thru NM and we will try to meet up.

Will do Lorna!

Smitty

[Bluenoser]

Smitty - Now that you have your bus basically completeted, I feel like my favorite novel came to an end! How about a sequel that gives a report about how the bus is working for you; some shots of what it looks like since you have settled in, etc. Don't just go cold-turkey on us!

[Neon Moon]

Smitty - Now that you have your bus basically completeted, I feel like my favorite novel came to an end! How about a sequel that gives a report about how the bus is working for you; some shots of what it looks like since you have settled in, etc. Don't just go cold-turkey on us!

Will definitely do so! I still have several odds & ends to go, but honestly have been recouping from getting the bus to this point, I had to push myself in doing so, but needed to while I could. I need to finish my elevator...I'm sure Rae thinks I've forgotten her and the rest is just cosmetics (mostly interior painting).

I'm going to give a friend a ride to TN in November, and we plan to do a little metal detecting down there, then I'm going to meet a buddy in GA before heading west to "Q".

The saga hasn't ended........it's just beginning

Smitty

[Rae]

'm sure Rae thinks I've forgotten her

I'm not THAT conceited!

But, yes, I have been checking this thread each time there's an update to see if the elevator's done.

[Neon Moon]

LOL....the thought never entered my mind. Actually I NEED to get a few loose-ends wrapped-up, and the control for the lift is at the top of the list! Been so stinking hot the past month, just sucks the life out of ya'. I'm "mentally preparing" myself to get-r-dun though

Smitty

[Neon Moon]

My sister & her boyfriend stopped by the bus today. We were shooting the breeze & I mentioned I was trying to get a hold of a guy who told me he had access to a (farmer) buddies grain scale, and he'd weigh my bus.....but he's not answering his phone. So the BF said he knew someone who also had a scale, but after a phone call, he found the scale pit was full of water, so no official weight on the bus yet.

Anyways my sister mentioned they needed to go to the store, and since I did (and they were wanting to go for a ride in the bus) we just loaded-up and went grocery shopping.

After getting everyones groceries in the bus, I made mention that this was the 1st time someone hadn't approached me to see the bus.

I spoke too soon........

Long story short, 7 "tourists" got the grand tour today

Smitty

[oRV]

SMITTY: Just as it should be . . . everyone loves a bus! As always, oRV

[jipjob]

Hello my name is Jon and I have a rear deck bird that I thought you might like to check out. I have only customized the insides and had a fresh paint job done on it. Here is a short presentation of my rear deck bird (Wanderlodge 1978) lots of room and weighs in at heafty 13 tons. Love my hobby and I really like the work you have done-Jon
http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/1942do...nt=ec8eab96.pbw

[Jim Hicks]

Jon, I love your Bird. Nicely done.

Jim

[jipjob]

Jon, I love your Bird. Nicely done.

Jim

Thanks for the comment about my old bus! I really love the work that Neon has done on his old unit. I've just got about everything done on mine except maybe a solar electrical system someday. I get about 10 mpg combination and that pretty good but then my old bus will is only happy at about 60 or so. I will post some more photos my old bird Know at the Rebel Bird. I'm at the present time restoring a 1957 Aljo 14 foot trailer and its like a toy compared to it big brother. Jon

[AC7880]

Howdy Jon.

Good to see you on Escapees. I knew you would like Neon's Schoolie. He has done a totally amazing job.

Thanks for the comment about my old bus! I really love the work that Neon has done on his old unit. I've just got about everything done on mine except maybe a solar electrical system someday. I get about 10 mpg combination and that pretty good but then my old bus will is only happy at about 60 or so. I will post some more photos my old bird Know at the Rebel Bird. I'm at the present time restoring a 1957 Aljo 14 foot trailer and its like a toy compared to it big brother. Jon

[Neon Moon]

Nice looking bus Jon! I'm not familiar with your Cosco Shelter, does it flatten-out more to provide additional shade over the side of your bus, or is it in it's fully open position in your pics? I also noticed some sketches of a rear deck....something you have plans to do? I noticed further back in your pics, you've added a smaller version. On your horizontally-mounted oil-filled electric heater, did you have to remove (bypass) a tip-switch to operate it in that position?

Thanks again all!

Smitty