When we first purchased Opti-Force 1 (our bus conversion), we were very happy to see that it had blown in urethane insulation everywhere. Due to reading this magazine, the forums, and Facebook groups, we thought we had the best money could buy.
One of our first trips in Opti-Force 1, was in February and we spent three nights in Boston. It was in the low 20s outside. We thought no problem, we have a strong propane heater giving us 30,000 BTUs of heat in our well-insulated bus.
Unfortunately, we were wrong, it took all its BTUs to get us to a balmy 40 degrees. The next morning, after warming up, we went to a big box store and bought two electric ceramic heaters. Those gave us an additional 10,000 BTUs and got us “up” to the low 50s in Opti-Force 1.
Other than mechanical work, we did not do anything to the bus cosmetically yet. Nor did we renovate the interior, but I was officially on the hunt for a solution to my quandary.
The next week when we were in South Florida, the temperatures were in the high 80s. We had to run both of our rooftop air conditioners to keep the inside of the bus livable. I was beginning to doubt that our bus was insulated at all.
Looking through Bus Conversions Magazine, I saw a little unassuming ad from EHP (Engine Heat Protection). I saw that one of the owners answered questions on a few Facebook groups, so I reached out to Todd Lenson. What a delight here is a guy that knows his product, is confident in its performance and is very helpful with all my overly nerdy technical questions. I took some measurements and ordered enough EHP Rollboard to cover the walls, ceiling, and floors of my Opti-Force 1.
September 23, 2017, nine months after buying Opti-Force 1, we dug in and tore down the cabinets, walls, and ceiling. We were happy to find that yes, there was indeed a nice thick layer of sprayed in urethane insulation. We also removed the rooftop AC and propane heater units in favor of a Mini Split Heat Pump.
With all the information gained from EHP and armed with boxes of insulation, we moved forward, confidently. After everything was torn out, including all the wiring (that’s for another article) it was time to rebuild.
The EHP Rollboard insulation is very easy to work with, It’s a 1/8” thick flexible ceramic (we’re talking space-age material here) that feels and bends like felt. We attached it to the walls using contact cement, per the instructions.
In a few hours, the kitchen and living room were insulated. Already inside the bus, a difference could be heard. I hadn’t considered it before, but an added bonus of the EHP Rollboard is great sound-deadening abilities.
Since Opti-Force 1 doesn’t have a raised roof, we wanted to keep the floor as thin as possible. EHP was a real winner here as well. At only 1/8” (3mm”) thick it’s the ultimate solution for floor insulation.
We laid the EHP directly over the factory floor and then added a 7/16” plywood on top. With this, we only lost 9/16” of headroom, but we gained the equivalent of probably 5-6” of foam insulation.
In a whirlwind of activity, we got a lot accomplished (we had a deadline)! We insulated the bus, we added a solar system, we added the mini-Split heat pump, we put in new kitchen cabinets, and we installed a new electrical system. We accomplished all this from September 23 to October 10, 2017.
Back on the road, the first thing we noticed, was how much quieter it was inside the bus. On that trip, we didn’t encounter any real temperature extremes, but we were very confident in our new EHP insulation.
Our next trip started on December 26th. We drove out into the snow from our base in Granby, Quebec, and stopped a few hours later in Vermont for the night. The investment in EHP Rollboard paid for itself that night!
We could walk on the floor in bare feet without freezing. Our 12,000 BTU mini Split heat pump had no problems keeping us at a comfortable 72 degrees, despite its 28,000 BTU deficits over the previous winter's heating system.
GM PD41XX SERIES BUSES If you are converting or renovating a bus, EHP Roll-board should not be an option, it should be mandatory. You will not regret the investment, ever! Regardless of your climate, hot or cold, EHP Rollboard is by far the best investment you can make in your comfort.
You can follow along with their conversions and travels on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
You may contact Yvan at: yvan1lacroix@icloud.com
Qualify for a $200 Commission and a FREE 5-Year Membership or extension.
If you are working with any conversion parts or service companies, send us their information to support the only website dedicated to the nomadic conversion lifestyle.
We will contact them and if they advertise with us for at least six months, you will receive a free 5-year Membership and a $200 commission after they pay their first invoice.
Email their contact information to Gary@BusConversionMagazine.com
We are seeking a self-starter, energetic, honest person, with a pleasant phone voice to seek out new sales leads and follow up on current sales leads and then follow through and close deals.
This is a work-from-home/bus position and we are looking for someone who has some bus and/or bus conversion knowledge. This is a chance to earn money to either buy your own bus or money to buy materials to build your bus or tiny home, or to just earn some extra money. An interest in new and vintage buses and bus conversions is a plus.
All you need is a phone, a computer, a good internet connection, a quiet environment, and have a good working knowledge of MS products including, Word and Excel. You can work your own hours as many hours per week as you wish. The harder you work, the more you can earn. The sky is the limit.
You will be selling Advertising for up to three bus magazines
BCM, National Bus Trader Magazine, National Bus Tours Magazine, and Vintage Motorcoach Magazine
You can make one sale and potentially collect up to four commissions.
Contact Gary for more information a Gary@BusConversionMagazine.com or call the office to speak to him in person at (714) 614-0373.