Tag: #familyproject

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Stage 4 Interior

September 2025 – Finishing Touches

the creator of the table

Finishing touches will never be finished

This month, we focused on finishing touches and preparing the bus for our first trip. The first step was installing the Murphy table made by M. The table features pictures of different stages of our bus, a chess/checkers board, and our name, along with the year the bus was completed. It looks great and provides a nice game area inside our bus.

Underside

Underneath the bus, we installed a tank wash system and worked on the tank sensors. While doing that, we discovered some leaks, so we had to redo parts of the drain. Sometimes, PVC glue dries before you can connect it properly. It should all be in order now.

Water tank piping

Small Touches

We built a shelf for our Redneck AC in the bedroom, so it doesn’t take up valuable storage space. We also finally replaced the indicator handle that we burned or melted in the first year and added a steering wheel cover. It drives much more comfortably that way.

Then we worked on the kitchen by installing drawers where we could, worked on the cubby above the driver’s seat for extra storage, and installed the TV for longer road trips and rainy days. We also installed cup holders that fit a Stanley cup and a shower curtain in our shower.

final touches – drawer fronts

Finally have beds

We cut the under-mattress ventilation pads to size and waited.

Then the mattresses arrived! It was a challenge to get the king size in place. It came rolled up and vacuum-sealed, and was rather heavy. M and I lifted it in through the side door. We measured it and thought we had placed it correctly.

Once we had it in place, we cut the plastic. Quickly, it showed the mattress was turned the wrong way (76×80 instead of 80×76). The challenge was to try to turn it before it fully inflated. It was pretty comical (after we finished), but it is a lovely mattress that we hope will give us many years of sleeping pleasure. And if it doesn’t… well, it’s not like we can ever take it out without cutting it up.

before it was opened
trying to turn it
finally in

Then we did the same with the girls’ mattresses, which went a whole lot easier. For the girls’ mattresses, we got these mats from Amazon Amazon.com: SINWEEK Memory Foam Folding Mattress with Pillow & Storage Bag, Foldable Portable Floor Guest Bed for Camping and Sleeping 4 Inch Single Size : Home & Kitchen.

For the coming month, we have a few more finishing touches, but it’s likely to be one of those never-ending projects. We are very excited for our first road trip!

Categories
Stage 4 Interior

July update

We are slowly making progress toward being able to make the bus legal with the black water tank installation. We connected a backup camera to the bus while it was still in storage. This camera stays on when driving, so we can see who is tailgating us while we drive. 

Fitting it all underneath

We prepared a frame for the black water tank and went underneath the bus to determine the layout for the tanks and propane system. Once we finalized the design and placement of the tanks, we moved the bus to the driveway.

The black water tank installation was underneath the bus and connected to the toilet. We added a carbon filter to the system, so hopefully, we can keep most of the smells inside and outside the bus to a minimum.

Prepping for the next step

We took the supports that were initially for the evaporator and converted them into frame supports for the propane tanks.

We continued on the sides and ceiling inside the bus and pulled a new wire for the TV system.

The most important thing

While working in the driveway, we realized that not enough air from our split-unit air conditioner was reaching the back of the bus. This could be a major problem since our beds are located in the back. The most cost-effective solution was to purchase a window-mounted air conditioner for the nights when it gets too hot inside (which is most nights in Texas). However, this brought up another issue: we hadn’t installed an outlet to power this unit at the back of the bus. That meant we would need to drill another hole, this time from underneath the bus. And what are the chances of getting that right on the first try? Exactly zero.

Now we needed to repair the bathroom wall again. To simplify the process, we connected the outlet to the same fuse as the TV outlet, since it’s unlikely we would use both at the same time. Right now, it would be too complicated to run an additional wire directly to the fuse box. Additionally, we hadn’t installed the TV outlet yet, so it was easier to connect it that way.

It’s all in the details

From there we moved to finishing the ceiling above the driver’s door and window. It is looking very nice. With all that done, we had to go back to work, and so the bus went back to storage.

Meanwhile, we can order a grey water tank and the propane equipment we need to finish the propane hookup. More to come next month!

Categories
Stage 4 Interior

June Progress

At home when there was time

We had a few busy weeks at the start of June, but we eventually managed to get some work done. We made a sign with the bus name, painted it, stenciled it, and applied a clear coat, so hopefully it will not come off.

M continued working on the fold-down side table; it is starting to look very nice!

The tabletop for the big dinette was built along with the kitchen drawers.

We framed the windows to improve their appearance and built a center console, which N was excited to help paint. We were able to do all this without having the bus in the driveway.

Meanwhile at storage

With a few hours available, we decided to go to the storage to fix the back hatch. The hydraulic struts for the engine hatch had gone bad, so we had to replace those with a new pair.

New / Old

That was a lot easier than anticipated. About time something goes easy 😊. We did notice that the coolant leak is still not completely fixed, as we saw a bit more under the bus, but it is not enough to warrant immediate attention.

Once finally home

Eventually, we took the bus home again and officially mounted the name sign on the bus. We are very happy with the look!

Then we added the window frames we had prepared, and that made the bus look much more finished on the inside. Next, we removed the driver’s seat so we could clean up the driver’s cab. We moved some switches around and then added the last bit of flooring. It took a bit of effort to put the seat back, but R is always ready to get under the bus and get dirty, so in the end it all got put back safely.

We added a prebuilt center console that now holds a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a road hazard sign, so we have all these essentials close by. Then we finished some more of the ceiling before it was time to go to work again.

Meanwhile, the black water tank and fittings have been ordered, so that will be next on the list.

Categories
Stage 4 Interior

April/May: A/C and Kitchen Installation

Kitchen taking form

With spring comes weekends full of soccer, martial arts, and camping. Although we had limited time to work on the bus, we managed to make significant progress, including completing the kitchen.

Stationary A/C

April was spent building a frame to hold the AC condenser under the bus. We used U-channel from the depot and leftover brackets that we had purchased to install the solar panels on the roof. Once everything was bolted together, we moved the bus to the driveway and tried to install these brackets. Unfortunately, they did not fit in the planned spot. I tried to move the coolant hoses out of the way as best I could, but they just wouldn’t fit right, so we needed to find a new spot.

Our new spot was next to the fuel tank, but that means we can no longer fit the grey water tank there. Originally, that’s where the propane bottles were supposed to go, so we need a new tank plan. This is a problem for later.

After several hours of drilling and bolting, we finally had the frame in place and ready for the condenser. Once the condenser was in position, we noticed there was too much movement in the system, so we had to add some longitudinal braces to stabilize it securely.

After that, it was a matter of hooking up the electricity (which, of course, we initially got wrong, as I had forgotten which wire I had connected where on the evaporator after two weeks). Then we used a vacuum pump to evacuate the system and then let in the freon. Once everything was installed, it was the big moment to switch it on. And this lovely cool air flowed into our bus living room! Great success!

Time for the kitchen

Next, it was time to finish the kitchen walls. The challenge was to ensure that all connections remained accessible after installing the walls, which required some creative cutting and framing. The kitchen area looked much better with the completed under-wall! From there, we built part of the kitchen to prepare for installing the stove and sink.

Then it was time for work and travel, so we put the bus back in storage. We used this time to find a sink that would fit. Easier said than done, with a heater in the way and a custom kitchen layout. Three sinks later, we finally found one that would fit.

Wiggled too many hoses

In May, Oma came to visit. Always ready to lend a hand, we went to the storage unit to pick up the skoolie and… discovered LOTS of coolant fluid next to the bus! Not good! I suspect that since those hoses are 19 years old, they couldn’t handle the tugging and wiggling I did to install the air conditioner brackets the other day. It looks like we need new hoses. Luckily, we found two valves on the engine that let us shut off the hoses leading to the front of the bus, so we can delay that job until winter. We had to add 3 gallons of coolant to the bus and clean up the storage unit before heading home.

Everything AND the kitchen sink

Once the bus was in the driveway, we could start working inside again. Oma helped add more ceiling planks to the bus and then filled the hundreds of screw holes we had made. Next, we visited the depot to look for a kitchen counter that we could cut to fit. We bought a butcher block and then cut the holes for the stove and sink. It’s always nerve-wracking to cut big holes in a $150 piece of wood, but it turned out great. Soon, we were able to dry-fit the sink and stove. Oma then spent a couple of days polyurethaning the counter. It came out beautiful!

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The installation of the counter was straightforward, and once the sink was secured, we began working on the kitchen tiles. We used a smaller version of the tiles from the bathroom, and they turned out great. C decided that the boards used on the ceiling would work well on the wall above the counter, and it indeed looked good! Then Oma had to go home, and I had to travel some more, so the bus went back to storage.

Finishing up the kitchen

Once the walls were complete, we installed the stove/oven. It definitely has turned out to be a lovely space.

Looking forward to the next time we can work on it! We are so close to finishing, we can taste it!

Categories
Stage 2 roof raise

Week 7 of 2023

Skinning Continued

This week we continued skinning the bus. Since it is a two person job, we can only do this when we are both available at the same time. Saturday afternoon after archery and Sunday afternoon after church it is!.

First sheet going on the back of the driver’s side

Definitely a marriage builder….

As of now, we have the sheets on both sides of the bus in place. It makes it look so much better on both the inside and the outside!

Need more steel

It looks like we are slightly short of plate so we will have to get another sheet. We skinned a few of the window openings as well; one on each side of the future bedroom and one where the shower is going to be. That will leave space to install a fan so we keep the humidity out of the bus when we clean ourselves up.

We finished the door frame of the little door. Whenever we have a small sheet available we will put the extended door in place.

We welded two more bars inside of the bus to attach the top of the sheets that are covering the disability door. It all looks nicely closed up now

Categories
Stage 2 roof raise

Week 6 of 2023

First sheets!

This week we managed to get the first few sheets of steel on the side of the bus. We figured out that all those strengthened supports now won’t take any of the said-to-be self-tapping screws from China due to the thickness of the added steel. If it’s not too thin, it’s too thick. Looks like we will be returning the screws to China.

Raise the first panel

Family work day

The girls came out on Saturday and started to clean the bus window frames so we can put everything back nice and clean after we are done with the siding. Even N helped sweep up to keep the storage area clean. Meanwhile, R dismantled some of the strengtheners from the wheelchair door that we will put back on the bus.

Getting the sheets in place is a two-person job. Blinding off the (former) wheelchair opening gave us quite some trouble. Lining up the steel without leaving gaps was not an easy task. On top of that, the adhesive sealant made a big mess on the steel as well as on us.

Luckily, we won’t be able to see it when it is all painted on the outside and covered up on the inside. The first corner transition was added at the door as well. It seems that the bending brake we bought is not suitable to bend 18 gauge steel, so we went one size smaller. This won’t affect anything since the corner sheets are merely covering the gaps and don’t really have a structural purpose. Slowly but surely, we are putting the bus back together.

Installed corner sheet