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School bus conversion
By Homebrewed12vdc, Section Remote Living Posted on Wed Jan 28, 2004 at 08:30:05 PM MST
I know this is out of place, but

I am looking to build a bus into a home,and besdies the normal AE stuff that goes into it, I was wondering if anybody new of a good web site on conversion of school buses. I tried google but couldnt find anyhting real good. Also does anybody now where I can get a old school bus for cheap in Nh area.

School bus conversion | 7 comments (7 topical)

Re: School bus conversion (none / 0) (#1)
by zbotrobot on Wed Jan 28, 2004 at 10:09:28 PM MST

A comment about what to keep out, Block holes from mice, they will hide in and stink up the walls, and use an insulation barrier (plasic sheet) so that mold will not form on the inside of the wall where the cooler metal will condense moisture - Definately insulate, also noise barrier if road worthy. And a couple tips, make your own solar pannels by bying the individual cell crystals and soldering them togeather and under plexiglass for hail work nice on a fold up pannel on top. Plan on adding more of the same ones to a small array if its too expensive. Forget about all the fancy addons and just use a diode, FUSES and recycled batteries.Use wood heat that has an long angled chimney get all the heat out of a tiny stove. What would also work if on the road is a wood stove that burns smokeless because of a clean strait forwards exit flue and a fast and complete ignition. Check for Cmonoxide (get an alarm)until ur'e absolutly certain of the airfoil effect/back suction of bus/wind directions and so forth, burn off all zinc galvanization on do-it-your-self pipes used (make red hot) as it is toxic later. Control air in/out with pipes to stove and or heat fresh air with stove (called pressurising, warm air is pushed out, not cold sucked in through cracks)Keep pipes clean of soot or burn them out when you are watching with THE fire extingusher handy. Use white-silver paint to keep it from becoming an oven in the summer. Figgure out what can go wrong like this and anything else you create will work great. Have fun.

Re: School bus conversion (none / 0) (#2)
by Gordy on Thu Jan 29, 2004 at 12:46:31 AM MST

Hi,

Try another search with "school bus + rv + conversion" or something on that order. That should keep you busy for awhile. As the bus will get crowded pretty quick you will probably want to use compact RV cook tops, fridge, ect. These can be pretty spendy (new), so you might want to look for used pcs at junk/ scrap yards , garage sales , auctions ect... I picked up a 20,000 btu LP forced air RV furnace at a garage sale for $10, works great in the fish house.

As for the bus use the yellow pages on the net for your state. Or check with the local bus companies to see what they do with their retired buss's. You might be able to buy one from them or from where they traded them in at.If you not in a hurry just watch the road side for one setting in some bodies yard with a for sale sing on it. Just thought of another source, around here (MN) almost every gas station sell these bi weekly mags, like auto, truck, boat, cycle trader.

Happy hunting,
Gordy

Re: School bus conversion (none / 0) (#3)
by bigdan on Thu Jan 29, 2004 at 07:03:14 AM MST

Check out the state surplus places in your state, local school boards, and others nearby, also GSA(General Services Admin.)These places sell everything A-Z. I do alot of business with them.

[ Parent ]

Re: School bus conversion (none / 0) (#4)
by BrianK on Thu Jan 29, 2004 at 07:16:26 AM MST

My neighbor has a old bus as a home it isnt real roomy He heats with a small wood stove that does a real good jod. The only thing that is bad is the fact that the old bus isnt insulated well (gets hot by the celing freeze your feet off on the floor).He doesnt drive it but it does run and move.He is facinated by all the ideas about the other ways to get electric that i keep blowing by him. He has a very limited budget. I think its because he is a slave to the power company as am I but I am slowly working to change this for me. I will try to get you some pix if I can.

Re: School bus conversion (none / 0) (#5)
by JB on Thu Jan 29, 2004 at 08:20:53 AM MST

I use a 35 footer as a garage.I cut the front off and built some doors. I keep my 56 mga in the front part in the winter. I got work benches in the back It is lacking a little head height. I might bury it some day. I think 12vdc might be able to help you out. JB

Re: School bus conversion (none / 0) (#6)
by TomW on Thu Jan 29, 2004 at 11:21:02 AM MST

homebrew;

[Shameless Plug]

Why not just find a vintage motor home relatively cheap?

I happen to have a 1969 or 1970 [not exactly sure] Winnebago Brave complete with propane fridge, sink, cabinets, original furnace, water tanks, toilet shower, factory insulated walls. Very few miles on the 318 dodge chassis. Its for sale at any reasonable price. We used it for camping for years but just don't seem to get out to do that much anymore. Plenty of headroom and built for the purpose of living in. Have been considering passing it on for awhile now.

Its not perfect at all but it is intact and runs.

If interested contact me via my contact link at the bottom.

Cheers.

TomW

The Truth is the Truth, even if no one believes it; and a lie is a lie even if everyone believes it

Re: School bus conversion (none / 0) (#7)
by converseur on Fri Jan 30, 2004 at 08:25:42 PM MST

You are not far the the canadian border, check with girardin, in drummondville if this is what you want. These are no longer popular down here because they are to expensive to convert. l look for an old RV that needs fix ups and they are quite few around but htey are still quite expensive.

Richard

School bus conversion | 7 comments (7 topical)

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