BusBuilding

After an elapsed time of months of preparation, the rooftops finally go up. Of course the actual preparation didn’t take months, but interleaving the job with all the other projects, it took that long to build everything, do the wiring, prepare it meticulously, and get ‘em up there.

Although Fast Fred would call them ugly carbunckles, I don’t think they take too much away from the “bussness” of the MC9.

I had quite ordeal deciding which units to get and if I ever become a better writer I’ll elaborate, but bottom line, chose Carrier AirV 15,000 BTU Heat Pumps. They had the highest CFM, highest BTU, and the heat pump decision I think is one I will appreciate mightily. Although I originally really wanted the low-profile units, they just didn’t have the output or combinations of options that I could get with the standard units. So tall and ugly they will stand!

Again and again, the question, “What oil should I use?”

I have pages and pages of information on this, but as Grant says,

The magic oil words for Detroit engines:

• - 40 wt.
• - CF2 spec
• - Low Ash
• - Formulated for use in Detroit 2 stroke diesel engines.

[mci-bus-nuts yahoo board]

If that leaves you wanting, a much more thorough explanation from Tejas Coach Works, with decades of experience.

And the final authority, straight from the factory:

Detroit Diesel - Lubricating Oil, Fuel and Filters - 48 Page PDF Document

This month’s electricity bill in the sticks and bricks.

As expensive as a monthly rental in a halfway decent RV Park.

I’m ready.

Inquiring about why he sees so few conversions on the road compared to factory RVs, NCBob wonders about the ratio of bus conversions to Class A RVs cruising around America…

For a moment I thought I was the only one out there on the road. So you don’t misunderstand, there are a great number of folks driving our great highways who are wonderful RV’er’s and I’ll tip my hat to them. We, wonderfully enough, are a sort of a maverick group who want to take the hobby one step further. We want to not just enjoy the hobby….we want to build a better way to travel.

I welcome the camaraderie of every blessed soul who enjoys the joys of open highways and the solitude of quiet campgrounds.

There’s always room at my campfire for all who enjoy the RV lifestyle and a special spot in my heart for those who toil for perfection.

Could but that we could achieve it……………..

Nicely said, NCBob.

[Bus Conversions Magazine Forum]

In discussing his wallcovering, Zin describes on the skoolie.net forum that what can be done can be undone.

The walls went up very easy, as the carpet is so very light. The ceiling was a little more tricky and i ended up cutting the carpet in 28″ strips to go in between the ceiling seams.

As for removal, I already took one piece off one of the walls to get inside the plywood for adding some electrical wiring. (Planning is for sissies) It was pretty tenacious, but it came off in one piece and didn’t require much in the way of preparation to hang the replacement piece.

Phew, that’s a relief!

(I know the photo isn’t of his wallcovering, but I liked the light on the floor.)

Mark calls himself the DIYGuy, and he appears to be entirely justified using this moniker.

Take a look at the incredible inlaid flooring job he’s doing in advance of delivery of his new Spacecraft 5er.