The Bus!
What a kickass project, very cool. Please keep posting as you go.
What a kickass project, very cool. Please keep posting as you go.
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.
MUCV(Multi-Purpose Utility Command Vehicle)...The Dirtybus...
- Thread starter dirtygoat
- Start date
Here is the 1995 Carpenter 71 passenger school bus my brother and I just bought. We converted it to a "mobile home". It has an International D444E (7.3 Powerstroke) and an Allison.
Martin
Martin
4x4shortbed
1/2 ton status
Sweeeeet! I want to get ahold of a bus one of these days when the wife ain't lookin' lol! Definetly go for the wood stove, that would be awesome, and a deck on the roof would rock. Maybe build it out of steel or alluminum so it could be super low profile and have removable rails that you can put on so your drunk-ish buddies don't step off.
Hahaha I'm gonna have to save this thread lol
-John
Oh I almost forgot- I've heard of the "Rat Rod" guys buying old school bus seats to use in they're tiny little interiors cause the bus seats are so narrow. Might try posting on one of the rat-rod forums, might be able to sell them.
Hahaha I'm gonna have to save this thread lol
-John
Oh I almost forgot- I've heard of the "Rat Rod" guys buying old school bus seats to use in they're tiny little interiors cause the bus seats are so narrow. Might try posting on one of the rat-rod forums, might be able to sell them.
and they make good chairs around the fire pit in the back yard cuz there kinda water proof!
dirtygoat
1/2 ton status
Thanks guys...
I've been crawling around the thing for the last couple of days, just trying to get familiar with it...
I've spent a lot of time looking at other bus conversions, some really cool ideas... Most are the, "I want a tour bus" type of builds...
Nice Skoolie, 82355...
Good call on the seats, guys...
I've been crawling around the thing for the last couple of days, just trying to get familiar with it...
I've spent a lot of time looking at other bus conversions, some really cool ideas... Most are the, "I want a tour bus" type of builds...
Nice Skoolie, 82355...
Good call on the seats, guys...
dirtygoat
1/2 ton status
82355...
BTW, those are the same wheels I have... I've heard some bad things about these... Are you gonna change them out??? i haven't looked into the hub swap yet...
BTW, those are the same wheels I have... I've heard some bad things about these... Are you gonna change them out??? i haven't looked into the hub swap yet...
Nothing wrong with those wheels as long as you have them serviced by some one who knows what there doing
gotblazers
1/2 ton status
god whats wrong with me i went from being completely against this to wanting to go buy a bus build and turn it into a tow rig within 3 days 
No, I am not going to worry about those wheels. I've never had any trouble with them before.
Martin
Martin
Nice bus - Some guys I know bought an old bus to go on bike trips and built a deck storage area on the roof with spiral stair case out the back door to get up there
Corey 78K5
1 ton status
Are you gonna go with Venetian blinds or drapes?
Pizza_Man
1/2 ton status
That overhang in the front is intense! this should still be one damned interesting rig though
dirtygoat
1/2 ton status
god whats wrong with me i went from being completely against this to wanting to go buy a bus build and turn it into a tow rig within 3 days
It's like a drug...
Good to hear...
Nice bus - Some guys I know bought an old bus to go on bike trips and built a deck storage area on the roof with spiral stair case out the back door to get up there
I've been looking at a lot of stair builds...
dirtygoat
1/2 ton status
Here's a couple things I've been tossing around in my head...
I want to skin the back 4 windows on each side...
But, I want to do something about the other windows... I was thinking about rv windows, then I noticed the Chevy parts truck I have in the yard... I might cut out the back window and install it as a side window in the bus... I could cut the cab so I'll have the factory opening that I could weld onto the bus in place of the existing windows...
Then I started looking at the neighbors canopy... I could pick up a canopy for cheap the has side windows that could be used...
Next thing is the flooring... I was considering the shop rubber mat that Harbor Freight carries... It's 24"x24" and goes together like a puzzle... 1/2" thick and has a nice shock absorbing feel... It could help with dampening road noise as well as insulate... It can be cut to any shape and would also be removable for cleaning or replacement if wore out... My brother has some in his garage on the concrete floor and it helps a lot in the winter keeping your feet from freezing like the concrete does...
I want to skin the back 4 windows on each side...
But, I want to do something about the other windows... I was thinking about rv windows, then I noticed the Chevy parts truck I have in the yard... I might cut out the back window and install it as a side window in the bus... I could cut the cab so I'll have the factory opening that I could weld onto the bus in place of the existing windows...
Then I started looking at the neighbors canopy...
I could pick up a canopy for cheap the has side windows that could be used...Next thing is the flooring... I was considering the shop rubber mat that Harbor Freight carries... It's 24"x24" and goes together like a puzzle... 1/2" thick and has a nice shock absorbing feel... It could help with dampening road noise as well as insulate... It can be cut to any shape and would also be removable for cleaning or replacement if wore out... My brother has some in his garage on the concrete floor and it helps a lot in the winter keeping your feet from freezing like the concrete does...
dirtygoat
1/2 ton status
So, here's what I'm thinking...
Here's the tank layout...
Here's the tank layout...
Last edited:
cool, where does the wheel chair lift fit into this?
mr250twostroke
1/2 ton status
I believe he's moving it to the rear...
Luey, do you always turn your blankets down like that?
Luey, do you always turn your blankets down like that?
dirtygoat
1/2 ton status
Only when I'm expecting company...
I'm going to build the dinette, that way I've got storage and it will turn into a bed... Same goes for the sofa, it will be about 6' long... Sort of along these lines..
The bunks will have a top and bottom bunk for both... I'll have some heavy black fabric as curtains on each to block out the light... Something like this...
Still thinking the lift thing through... I might take it apart and use the rams and motor to build a deck off the back that I can deploy with the touch of a button... The biggest issue is, you can't close the door if it's deployed... I may have to mount it to the back and move my tail/signal lights onto the underside of the deck...
dirtygoat
1/2 ton status
Got the seats all out... The ones still in there are just for mock up to give me a feel for the space...
The ones facing sideways are positioned where the sofa will go...
The seats facing each other will be the dinette location...
The ones facing sideways are positioned where the sofa will go...
The seats facing each other will be the dinette location...
Last edited:
I would move both your bunks to the back
put you bathroom in the middle
wood stove up front
and you sofa on other side of wood stove
and kitchen next to bathroom and dineatte across from that
so it would be a living room first, kithen/bath next, and bedroom last
If your sitting on the sofa are you really going to want to look at people sleeping?
put you bathroom in the middle
wood stove up front
and you sofa on other side of wood stove
and kitchen next to bathroom and dineatte across from that
so it would be a living room first, kithen/bath next, and bedroom last
If your sitting on the sofa are you really going to want to look at people sleeping?
