Planning a 'Skoolie' build (Page 1/2)
XgovernmentAgent SEP 19, 04:34 AM
HI, I am planning to build a Skoolie. I want to be able to tow my Fiero behind it and travel the country or live in the woods/mountains if[when] stuff hits the fan. Of all the forums that are bus conversion related, none seem to be active much or hardly at all. I have come here to ask all of you fellow PFF'ers of your opinions, ideas, knowledge, and help.

Thinking way ahead to the end of the project, I will paint it black and 5% tint the living space windows.

I know as a bus driver, you need a CDL. If the total GVW is 26,001 lbs or more, you need a CDL. If the GVWC is 26,001 lbs or more, you need a CDL. It looks like I will need a CDL since my Fiero will be hanging out on back I went a looked at one place (the only one I know of) that sells retired school buses. The person I spoke with said that most cities retire their buses once they reach 100k miles. The ones I looked at were a '94 and some '96's. They looked to be taken care of as well. One was from Mustang, OK and some from somewhere in Kansas. Would a '96 be better because that would be OBD II?

Now for living out of it, it needs to be comfy to stay in for more than a day’s road trip right?

INSULATION
The only thing I have found for insulation was using some of this stuff, LOWES: Rmax 1/2-in x 4-ft x 8-ft Polyisocyanurate Insulated Sheathing, Item #: 15328
I can't go look at more info about it since the Lowes site is down for construction. I want to keep heat in, and cold out and vice-versa.

INTERIOR MATERIALS
A lot of the ones I have seen, the builders tend to use heavy duty wood and too much of it. Yes it looks nice, very nice, but that would be way too heavy IMO. For fuel economy reasons, weight should be kept to a minimum. I am thinking of doing the floors in the wood pattern laminate flooring material stuff. My rent house has been redone with hardwood 'look-alike" flooring and it is pretty nice looking. I do not know too much about this type of flooring, but it looks pretty nice to me. And looks real.

ROOMS
The Bedroom
Will be big enough for a queen bed and have a closet and drawers at the front entrance of the bedroom. It will be at the back of the bus. The back bus door will be welded shut. This just came to me, maybe I should leave it be so in case of fire, and I can escape.
The Bathroom
An RV stand up shower, toilet, and bathroom sink will be used. I have not seen one of these in person in many, many years, so I cannot recall if the sink or toilet will be good enough for daily use. I did read that someone used a large stainless steel salad bowl.
The Kitchen
A two or three burner is planned. I have never used all four burners at the same time. Hardly ever used three at the same time now that I think about it. These will be gas powered of course. I want an oven for baking. I have seen ovens used in many of the Bus > RV conversions, so finding an oven shouldn’t be all that difficult. I have also seen wood stoves being used. That is a possibility. Controlling the heat temp for cooking purposes would be difficult, to me and my zero experience with that type. Refrigeration will be an RV unit as well, unsure about size currently. A Normal stainless steel sink will probably be used. Having a small dining room table will be included as part of the kitchen. Maybe a bar will be included.
The Living Room
A small sofa with small end tables on each end will be used. Across from that will be my 47” tv. Maybe. That might be a bit too big. Just a basic living room area. I have seen wood burning fireplaces being used in some, that is a possibility
Drivers Seat / Entrance
Nothing fancy, just a comfortable seat for the long road trips and instrumentation like speedo, tach, engine temp, oil temp, oil psi, trans temp, tire pressure and fuel gauge. Securing the swing-open style bus doors will need some researching so I can make sure it is lockable.

Doorways will be between the bedroom and the bathroom and the living room and drivers seat area. I don’t need the pets wandering around the drivers feet.

PLUMBING
Grey water, black water and potable water tanks will be used. The sizes will be calculated once the bus is acquired. For the correct pump, that will also take some researching.

ELECTRICITY
The biggest and most desirable concern! Lighting will be done all from LEDs. I want to make everything run off of a 12v system so I can use solar panels, at the same time, I would like to use 115v system for other appliances and tools. This will take some thinking. I do plan on running a generator, but not constantly. That would eat fuel up rather fast. I do not know the fuel consumption of the diesel generators.

carnut122 SEP 19, 09:52 AM
I would think the level of insulation would depend where you're planning on taking it. Will you be covering the windows with insulation? If not, insulating the rest of it may not be all that beneficial. Maybe you could just insulate the "sleeping" quarters to a decent level). If the floor of the bus is not flat, the fake wood laminate floor will drive you crazy(don't ask). LED's combined with solar and a couple of deep cycle batteries should provide plenty of lighting and juice for a small fan, etc. I agree with you to keep the weight of everything to a minimum. I hope you post up your build thread.
twofatguys SEP 19, 10:46 AM
What state do you live in?

Brad
XgovernmentAgent SEP 19, 01:10 PM

quote
Originally posted by carnut122:

I would think the level of insulation would depend where you're planning on taking it. Will you be covering the windows with insulation? If not, insulating the rest of it may not be all that beneficial. Maybe you could just insulate the "sleeping" quarters to a decent level). If the floor of the bus is not flat, the fake wood laminate floor will drive you crazy(don't ask). LED's combined with solar and a couple of deep cycle batteries should provide plenty of lighting and juice for a small fan, etc. I agree with you to keep the weight of everything to a minimum. I hope you post up your build thread.



Most windows will be insulated. Bedroom, Living room, Kitchen and maybe a bathroom window will be left un-insulated so you can see out them. The bus floor should be flat, they generally are. Only the rear wheel humps will be an uneven surface. I am planning this for long term living, i.e. a year or longer. There will definitely be a build thread for this.



quote
Originally posted by twofatguys:

What state do you live in?

Brad




Oklahoma. Im sick of this state. Ive seen many nicer and relaxing places to live in my travels that do not take the temperatures to the extreme the way this state and surrounding states do.

[This message has been edited by XgovernmentAgent (edited 09-19-2012).]

Monkeyman SEP 20, 12:54 PM
Unless the rules have changed in the past few years, you don't need a CDL for a private vehicle. I've never heard of needing one for an RV (unless you're the driver of someone elses RV i.e. a chauffer). Doesn't matter if you're pulling your Fiero or not. I can't get a CDL anymore because I'm a diabetic but I could drive my own RV (if I had one) anywhere I want with just a regular drivers license. I sort of wish they'd at least make drivers of RVs get some sort of special endorsement but they'd lose too many voters drivers.
pontiackid86 SEP 21, 09:52 PM

quote
Originally posted by Monkeyman:

Unless the rules have changed in the past few years, you don't need a CDL for a private vehicle. I've never heard of needing one for an RV (unless you're the driver of someone elses RV i.e. a chauffer). Doesn't matter if you're pulling your Fiero or not. I can't get a CDL anymore because I'm a diabetic but I could drive my own RV (if I had one) anywhere I want with just a regular drivers license. I sort of wish they'd at least make drivers of RVs get some sort of special endorsement but they'd lose too many voters drivers.




It depends on the state and also the weight of the vehicle.. If the bust has air brakes than he would need to get his air brake endorsement lifted.. Most of the time though with school buses you need a CDL because you also need to have your passenger cert..
Khw SEP 21, 11:03 PM
On the insulation, rather then going with the foam sheeting you might consider sparyed on expansion foam like "Great Stuff". One of the homes I've been working on out here had that done to the walls in the home rather then fiberglass batting. Did a quick search and found this website: http://www.sprayfoamdirect.com/ . Something like that will insulate and seal better then foam panels cut to fit. You could frame up the rooms, spray the exterior walls and ceiling then finish it.
Monkeyman SEP 22, 02:16 PM

quote
Originally posted by pontiackid86:

It depends on the state and also the weight of the vehicle.. If the bust has air brakes than he would need to get his air brake endorsement lifted.. Most of the time though with school buses you need a CDL because you also need to have your passenger cert..



Not if it's a personal vehicle. A CDL is for commercial vehicles, hence the Commercial Drivers LIcense.
XgovernmentAgent OCT 01, 11:53 PM

quote
Originally posted by Monkeyman:


Not if it's a personal vehicle. A CDL is for commercial vehicles, hence the Commercial Drivers LIcense.



Good point. It will not longer be a commercial vehicle once I get my hands on it. Nor will it be escorting kids. The only passengers will be RV occupants.
Gokart Mozart OCT 02, 06:28 AM

quote
Originally posted by pontiackid86:
It depends on the state and also the weight of the vehicle.. If the bust has air brakes than he would need to get his air brake endorsement lifted.. Most of the time though with school buses you need a CDL because you also need to have your passenger cert..




Each state might have different wording but it's federally guided. An RV needs a bathroom, sleeping area, cooking fixtures, water tanks, and needs to have less than 10 seats.

http://www.tax.ok.gov/rules/rules.html
Chapter 60
Motor Vehicles
(4) Recreational vehicles. "Recreational vehicle" means every vehicle which is built on or permanently attached to a self-propelled motor chassis or chassis cab which becomes an integral part of the completed vehicle and is capable of being operated on the highways. In order to qualify as a recreational vehicle pursuant to this subsection such vehicle shall be permanently constructed and equipped for human habitation, having its own sleeping and kitchen facilities, including permanently affixed cooking facilities, water tanks and holding tank with permanent toilet facilities. Recreational vehicle shall not include manufactured homes or any vehicle with portable sleeping, toilet and kitchen facilities which are designed to be removed from such vehicle.