fulltimin
Home is where we Park It.
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Joined: 12/14/2003
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The answer is yes, there will be more surprises as this build progresses.
If you want to do something, you will find a way.
If you don't, you will find an excuse.
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Good judgement comes from experience.
A lot of experience, comes from bad judgement.
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fulltimin
Home is where we Park It.
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Joined: 12/14/2003
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Someone asked a while back, how much I think this will cost.
While I don't have an exact figure, I have seen owner converted buses, that spent between $10,000 and $30,000 including the price of the bus.
Some of those, were build from off the shelf components from the box stores.
As you can tell, I plan on doing things differently, so we'll see where I end up. I am hoping to end up on the lower end of that scale, rather than the upper end. We'll see.
This conversion is more about what it will look like when I am done, and will suit our traveling lifestyle, instead of being stuck with what some engineer thinks, who probably never camped in an rv to begin with.
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Bruce Brown
Northern NY
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Joined: 06/01/2001
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fulltimin wrote:Ah ha. I knew it. You added steel! Just a sec there.
Look at the following picture.
Remember the bottom of the wall. The red line indicates a piece of wall steel, that is connected to the floor framing.
The red arrow indicates a second piece of steel, about 4 inches above the bottom one, which runs the entire length of the coach area, which is 19 feet long, plus a couple inches.
![[image]](http://paddleupstream.com/mohorebuild/leftframe4.jpg)
So, looking at the new wall framing, you can see that, the original piece of steel which was above the bottom one, is not there. (yellow line). Nor will it be added.
![[image]](http://paddleupstream.com/mohorebuild/leftframe7.jpg)
So, that means we have an additional 19 feet of steel, with which to make 2 more studs, and have enough left over, to cover the partial studs above and below the window.
So, we have 9 studs, plus extra, of original steel, in the wall.
From a standpoint of the lengths of steel we now have in the wall is about identical to what was there originally, but is just arranged in a different shape.
Just a thought on removing the second full length lower cross; depending on what you're using for sheeting, you may consider adding cross members between the studs for some additional strength. Or maybe weld in some 45s where they join. I'd just be a little concerned with the potential of some wall rocking with the leverage possible with the overall height. Overkill? Maybe. Possible? Maybe. Worth a little extra weight for reinforcement? IMO yes.
There are 24 hours in every day - it all depends on how you choose to use them.
Bruce & Jill Brown
2008 Kountry Star Pusher 3910
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cm2785
So Cal
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Joined: 10/07/2017
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Sounds great!
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fulltimin
Home is where we Park It.
Senior Member
Joined: 12/14/2003
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Bruce Brown wrote:fulltimin wrote:Ah ha. I knew it. You added steel! Just a sec there.
Look at the following picture.
Remember the bottom of the wall. The red line indicates a piece of wall steel, that is connected to the floor framing.
The red arrow indicates a second piece of steel, about 4 inches above the bottom one, which runs the entire length of the coach area, which is 19 feet long, plus a couple inches.
So, looking at the new wall framing, you can see that, the original piece of steel which was above the bottom one, is not there. (yellow line). Nor will it be added.
So, that means we have an additional 19 feet of steel, with which to make 2 more studs, and have enough left over, to cover the partial studs above and below the window.
So, we have 9 studs, plus extra, of original steel, in the wall.
From a standpoint of the lengths of steel we now have in the wall is about identical to what was there originally, but is just arranged in a different shape.
Just a thought on removing the second full length lower cross; depending on what you're using for sheeting, you may consider adding cross members between the studs for some additional strength. Or maybe weld in some 45s where they join. I'd just be a little concerned with the potential of some wall rocking with the leverage possible with the overall height. Overkill? Maybe. Possible? Maybe. Worth a little extra weight for reinforcement? IMO yes.
I have been considering adding an x bracing system, similar to the one below, to the walls. This would keep them from racking from front to rear.
The inside cabinets will allow reinforcing on the inside to keep the walls from racking from side to side.
![[image]](http://paddleupstream.com/mohorebuild/bracing.jpg)
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fulltimin
Home is where we Park It.
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Joined: 12/14/2003
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The wait is over - It's finally here!!!!!!
The wait is over - It's finally here!!!!!!
The wait is over - It's finally here!!!!!!
![[image]](http://paddleupstream.com/mohorebuild/nogloves.jpg)
I blew some holes in my gloves from welding...!!!
Just joking. This is the same picture I posted months ago... Lol...
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fulltimin
Home is where we Park It.
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Joined: 12/14/2003
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The wait really is over. Finally posting pics of the drivers side framing weld in.
Here is the final fitting of the framework, including the aluminum and Por 15 covering everything.
In the yellow circle, you can see the clamp helping to hold this in place while making sure things fit properly.
You can see, in the green circle, the jack at the bottom, also helping to hold this up.
A word of caution here - since I put this up in one piece, it would have been better to have help to put this in place.
A little too much pressure with the jack, and it pulls the unit towards the front, and not enough pressure, and the top piece doesn't fully fit at the top of the wall.
2nd thing - if you are not paying attention, the end of a clamp can put a nice nick in your forehead. Lol...
![[image]](http://paddleupstream.com/mohorebuild/driverssidefront31.jpg)
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fulltimin
Home is where we Park It.
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Joined: 12/14/2003
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With the bottom 3 pieces welded in and the top piece welded in - I needed to add a short piece here.
If you remember, I added an inch to the bottom 3, so I knew this would need to be extended, but decided to wait and cut it after getting a good measurement, after getting this in place. That way, it will fit properly.
![[image]](http://paddleupstream.com/mohorebuild/driverssidefront32.jpg)
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fulltimin
Home is where we Park It.
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Joined: 12/14/2003
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Here ya go Jim, fire retardant cardboard covering the drivers seat getting ready to weld.
Also have some ocean front property for sale in Kansas... Lol.
![[image]](http://paddleupstream.com/mohorebuild/driverssidefront33.jpg)
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fulltimin
Home is where we Park It.
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Joined: 12/14/2003
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After welding this in place, here you can see the welds on the left with the red circles.
The green circle is also welded, but the pic is poor enough, that you can't see that one.
![[image]](http://paddleupstream.com/mohorebuild/driverssidefront35.jpg)
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