BCM Community
Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: Paladin on August 25, 2010, 03:42:47 PM
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For those who are done or nearly so with their build, when you were doing your coach was there anything that you just kind of threw in without knowing if it would be really useful or not that later turned out to be a great idea? If so, what was it? What was your stroke of genius?
What ideas were sort of less than spectacular and aren't really useful after all?
-Dave
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the best for us? it's the inverter because it will run everything. All but the Ac's, laundry or oven. We also like the vacuum system........ the worst would be the built in under cabinet coffee pot (doesn't last) or the built in counter blender (just crappy).....fortunately we made those errors in other rigs
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Well for me it was just upgrading to a Air throttle I have owned the Bus for almost 4 years and been fighting the cable pedel for that long . Well couple weeks back I bit the bullett and installed one and Iam hear to tell ya It's better then sleeping on my bed lol I will never own another bus with out one . ;D
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My toolbox on slideout and the storage behind it.
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And the storage behind it...
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In our current bus I'm glad the converter added an Aquahot heating system. Three things I didn't like were the washer/dryer combination, the Jennair electric cooktop (two burners and a grill), and the house refrigerator. We removed the washer/dryer, TOO HEAVY, and we didn't use it. We replaced the electric Jennair cooktop (required 240 volt power to operate) with a 4 burner gas cooktop. We still have the house refrigerator and probably will have to keep it since it is centered on a crossways wall between the kitchen and bathroom and there is no good way to vent an RV refrigerator. We do a lot of boondocking and really miss the RV refrigerator we had in our GM 4106.
Good luck, Sam MC8
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Best thing I tossed into the bus was me, when I set off to meet BK, Jack and so many others, I've been to several rallys and met so many great people that I can't think of anything that means more to me than that or that I've enjoyed more than that, each run we make is the best one yet.
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small refreg in outside bay so drinks are outside..cell phone booster (wireless) -we have verizon broadband and it really boost it.
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Good question!! The best item we put in our conversion which was questionable was a trash compactor. When you are camping those little trash bags accumulate a lot where they turn into a PIA. Better a trash compactor than a dishwasher.
--Geoff
'82 RTS AZ
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Ditto on the roll out slide for the tool boxes.
Trace inverter. Man that's nice thing to have. Had an inverter in the first bus but two separate panels. one inverter and one generator/shorepower. Had to remember what powered what and that drove the DW nuts. And quickly.
I did put a lighted switch on the electric supply to the hot water heater. Light on, water cold. She likes that light to out.
We did install a washer and propane dryer stacked. Good guy points for me.
Bill
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For now and for obvious reasons, my 24 volt on-board marine battery charger! No more dead batteries after sitting idle for long periods!
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My Wife...Cable
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4. Inverter
3. Summit refrigerator
2. Central vac
1, THE MOST IMPORTANT!!! DASH AIR CONDITIONER!!!!!
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HWH 4 point hydraulic levelers ,Joey Bed, electric dump valves and 100lb Norcold 12v freezer in a bay
good luck
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It sounds like inverters pretty much rule the day though I kind of thought they would be standard. things to keep the beers cold seem important too ;D.
I'm liking the responses, great ideas and indications of priorities and gives the rest us us lagging behind a bit food for thought.
Anyone not wanting their washer\dryer let me know, the boss wants one....if it's cheap.
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Nu Heat electrically heated under floor mats.
Once I'd decided on Italian tile for the kitchen and bath floors, I had a feeling heated floors would be a big plus in Colorado during the winter.
It is very nice to be able to walk around bare or sock footed in winter, and never feel a chill from a cold floor.
If I did it again...I'd do it again.
Jay
87 SaftLiner
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The PO did not put a washer/dryer in our 35 ft. bus but he did put in a laundry chute in the bathroom that goes into the back bay. We have a laundry bag on hooks there, along with the soap and bleach. Open the bay, grab it and off to do the wash.
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1. SPRAY FOAM INSULATION!
2. Full size awnings on BOTH sides of the bus
3. Xantrex 4024 inverter
4. Flexible systems for boondocking (or shorting out your 110 systems by briefly running 3 roof airs). Those systems are: 12v lighting and fantastic fans, propane/110 fridge and propane furnaces.
5. RV size bathtub for my 4 year old son and his dozen Tonka toys! (That's why I have a bus - to haul Tonka toys! ;D)
Glenn
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....chuckling at Tonka toys. Mine is to haul dogs since some hotels take dim view of two large German Shepherds walking the halls with me..
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:o
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What I liked- using two standard 120vac electric water heaters-one plumbed into the next with the final one wired through the inverter for hot water going down the road (no coolant lines to mess with).
Wiring the 120vac single phase only. This means we can only use one leg of the 50amp plug for 6000 watts, but at the campsite it has never been a problem-like it so much I'm wiring the truck the same way. Then no messing with trying to constantly balancing the loads.
Big tanks-130gal fresh, 85gal gray, 45gal black. Actually am going with 210gal fresh, 110gal gray and 70gal black on the truck. You can always travel with minimum water for weight, then fill up before you dry camp.
Having propane heating, and propane 3 burner stove-simple and almost never needs servicing (can't say that about AquaHots!).
Using as many standard off the shelf items that can be located at either a Camping World or Home Depot. I have had circuit breakers, valves, etc need replacing. Can almost always find a big box store now in any town.
And above all-keep it as simple as you can. Good Luck, TomC
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I liked having a 3 way RV refer. When at a campsite I could plug in and use their electric. When going down the road I could use my batteries which were charged by my alternator. When dry camping I could use propane and not run down my batteries.
I also liked having my grey tank with the option of leaving the emptying valve (whatever you call that) open and not having the extra weight or when doing a dump I could empty the black tank and then empty the grey THRU the black tank to flush it and clean it.
I liked having an angle counter for the kitchen sink that would look into the living area or out a window. I also liked having a propane stove rather then electric.
I like having the awning set up so that I could walk out my door and be under it without having to walk thru rain or whatever to get under it.
I liked knowing how full/empty my tanks were with just a push of a button.
These were all things in my former motorhome that I am hoping to duplicate in my bus.
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There are three things we added that were not part of the original plan. A Toaster Garage, pantry and storage under the fridge for the vacuum hose which is powered by Bissel.
(http://i363.photobucket.com/albums/oo78/Dreamscape_Eagle/Dreamscape/VacuumSytstem001.jpg)
(http://i363.photobucket.com/albums/oo78/Dreamscape_Eagle/Dreamscape/IMG_6322.jpg)
(http://i363.photobucket.com/albums/oo78/Dreamscape_Eagle/Dreamscape/IMG_6463Small.jpg)
(http://i363.photobucket.com/albums/oo78/Dreamscape_Eagle/Dreamscape/IMG_6459Small.jpg)
(http://i363.photobucket.com/albums/oo78/Dreamscape_Eagle/Dreamscape/PantryFinished.jpg)
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Things we really like that we were not sure about when installed include central vac using a small shop vac from Lowes, roof antenna and amplifier for cell phones and air card and PressurePro TPMS.
Things that did not work out are wiring phone jacks throughout the bus for use when parked and connected to phone lines (This was done pre-air cards and when cell phones were just starting to become popular). Jack
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I am going to go a little mundane, but this was important - replacing the chintzy little RV commode with a proper, manly man sized toilet. Very important for quality of life... :o
But I suspect the inverter, once I finish the install, is going to be very important too.
Two nice reclining chairs and the antique quarter-sawn white oak drop leaf table made a big difference. I highly recommend a drop leaf dining table.
Wife really likes the new propane range with the oven, she likes it a lot, keeps buying things for it.
Brian
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Lived with a propane frig. for six years and switched to a Summit elec. last year and we both love it. When I was building our coach,I found a microwave/toaster combo which saves space and works great.The added air card and gel fireplace are a plus also.
Don
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we have redundant heat, an everhot 3 zone and 2 baseboard elect units....we haven't turned on the electric in 5 years
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Wow, where to start! Being a tight wad and making my own headlight cans! The duct work for the heat pumps, I'm amazed that I actually built and designed the system! Wow, Paul I like that vacuum system and your cabinets look great, you are doing a great job! Craig, I never thought of sliding the tool box in side ways, what a space saver! Clifford, I want the information on that 100lb 12v freezer! I always expected to put the stainless bottom panels on my bus, but the cost ($25K) prevented that, the aluminum siding went better than I expected! When I purchased my bus ($13k) it was almost a wreck, somethings I spent to much, but I'm going to let this out......for the first time my investment where I am now is less than I expected it to be! Last time I checked I've spent less than $59K so far, but I'm not finished! I still have cabinets to build and paint! I've kept pretty decent records. I'm sure I'll never get that back, but I wasn't building it to sell! I just wanted it to be reliable and comfortable! I've kept it very simple I'm a believer in the KISS theory! One more point spending around 10 grand a year which isn't that bad!
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Pat, check the Norcold site, but a little info for you I found out later after spending big bucks for the Norcold the Company Engel builds those for Norcold and others check out www.engel-usa.com (http://www.engel-usa.com) you can use it as a fridge or freezer nice units and Engel's are better priced and you can buy direct from the guy in Fl just pick your size no RV dealer to gouge you with the 100% markup lol
good luck
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I'm fulltiming in a 1990 TMC 96A3, and for the last several months have been off the grid, at a small airport in Nevada which has no electric lines. For the first 10 months, I was in a park, so my electrical and water systems were "park mode" -- 50 amps power and no tanks.
I started my conversion with a floor plan and some things that I had already bought, intending to convert a GMC PD4903. I used the same floor plan, minus a couple of feet of deck (the GMC goes all the way to the back, in the TMC, the radiators take up the very back of the coach).
Starting with the floor plan, I modified it step by step to fit the stuff I found on Craisglist.
The only thing which turned out to be a bad idea was running a house fridge from a "contractor-grade" genset, which put out ratty power. I now have the biggest propane/electric fridge I could find, and would not put in a house fridge again unless I was ONLY going to run in parks.
My coach features a queen-sized Sleep Number bed with the adjustable platform. Love it, wouldn't do without it. I kinda goofed the first time by putting the head of the bed to the back wall and the foot against the front bedroom wall -- now that it's turned crosswise, I have more floorspace and room for a taller set of drawers.
Next, since I'm now off-grid, my solar photovoltaic has proven to be the most important mod I've made. I used a 6500W genset for a while, but now only use a 1500W one to top off the batteries if it's been a cloudy day (I still make power when it's overcast, but not as much). Everything possible runs on 24VDC or 12VDC (from the Vanner), and the 3KW pure sine wave inverter supplies my AC needs. The inverter output goes to a 50A bulkhead connector, which the shoreline umbilical plugs into. If I go back into a park, I will plug the inverter's 120V input line into a 15A connector, and the inverter will keep the batteries charged. The batteries will also charge from the coach alternator, isolated through a solenoid with a covered control switch on the instrument panel. I have not yet checked to see how rapidly the coach engine will charge the batteries from the critical-low-voltage point, but it should be less than a couple of hours.
My water tanks are plastic food-grade 55-gallon barrels. I got 4 of the kind with clamp-ring tops, which made it simple to rig the fittings. They are on their sides in the service bay. I would much rather have square tanks, but not enough to pay hundreds more dollars to get them. I use the deadspace between them as best I can, for such things as can be stuffed in there.
I think the BEST thing that I did which hadn't been planned was my drawers. I was at an electronics / appliance store, and discovered that they were selling off 11 of the drawer pedestals that are meant to mount washers and dryers on, but which were "last year's" color or models. I bought all 11 of them for $9.00 each! Now, 4 of them (black) are my bedroom dresser, 4 (silver) are stacked to divide the kitchen sink from the living room couch, 3 of them (2 silver, 1 black, matching the black file cabinet at the front end) ARE the couch (with regular couch cushions) and one is in one of my cargo bays. These are steel with plastic drawers, 28 x 30 x 14 deep, so give me a massive amount of storage and look good.
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Pat, The vac is a great unit, sucks wet or dry and lets me know when it's full. A great investment and you can't hear it in the bay. I just plugged into a receptacle and wired it to a switch by the hose. Thanks for the compliment, it's been a great ongoing experience! ;)
Paul
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Wow, yall have lots of cool stuff. From my point of view, in the new bus the best stuff that is a bonus to us is: Front loading washer and dryer, heat in the floors, very large french door refrigerator, infinity light, and most of all, the trash compactor. That is from a womans view. Ken might have other answers. ::)
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Im likin the vacuum cleaner Paul! I will absolutely have to incorporate that one, thanks!
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Pat, The vac is a great unit, sucks wet or dry and lets me know when it's full. A great investment and you can't hear it in the bay. I just plugged into a receptacle and wired it to a switch by the hose. Thanks for the compliment, it's been a great ongoing experience! ;)
Paul
I thought about this, but doesn't the hose take up as much space as a portable vacuum would take?
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I bought a garage vac even before I had a bus because I wanted to do one and have been so set on plumbing the intake to a hard line running up to a regular home style receptacle or two in the bus to plug the hose into that I forgot the KISS rule. Doh! just do it like it that!
This is my vac for anyone looking, a great unit from what I've been able to tell so far.
http://www.amazon.com/Hoover-L2310-5-Gallon-Garage-Utility/dp/B000289920/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1282847254&sr=8-1 (http://www.amazon.com/Hoover-L2310-5-Gallon-Garage-Utility/dp/B000289920/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1282847254&sr=8-1)
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We had a Nutone central unit in our Eagle for 20 years and yes the hoses,wands, and if you have the carpet beater attachment they take up room we had a special closet in the bathroom for ours, the best for any bus is hard floors that what we went too very seldom was the vacuum ever use after that it just took up space
good luck
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#1- Telma Retarder bar none. No more ars clenching on grades, period.
#2 Summit refrig and dedicated inverter
#3 Solar panels and AGM house batteries to power #2
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Pat, The vac is a great unit, sucks wet or dry and lets me know when it's full. A great investment and you can't hear it in the bay. I just plugged into a receptacle and wired it to a switch by the hose. Thanks for the compliment, it's been a great ongoing experience! ;)
Paul
I thought about this, but doesn't the hose take up as much space as a portable vacuum would take?
I think it's all about what you want/need. I like it because it's easy to use, doesn't take up much room, very powerful and versatile. It came with all kinds of attachments. It actually stores easier than an upright, at least in our case.
Paul
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One of the features I engineered that exceeded my expectations is the twin bunks that slide together to make a queen bed. It was imperative to me to have overhead storage on each side of the bedroom and a wide aisle in the middle to maneuver around in the bedroom. You delete both of these with a center-mounted bed.
I bought two 12v linear actuators from Grainger that slides the bed decks together at the push of a button. When I go to bed I slide to the middle. When wifey goes to bed she slides to the middle which docks the mattresses together. This gives us plenty of room for sleeping and snuggling. This seems to be one of the features that we talk about the most in the coach, and it is one of the most “oh wow” exclamations we get from those who tour our bus. The bed decks also lift for storage underneath.
David
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David, the twin bunks that slide together, they must be the 36" matresses correct? Where did you buy them or did you make them?
Kenny
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I'm just a little surprised not to see things like backup sensors on front and rear bumpers, forward\down facing cameras and the like. There has been discussions in the past over seeing kids at the bumpers etc.
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Those are gimmicks that aren't needed if one uses good driving practices.
I am an old fashioned driver, too busy looking at my mirrors. Looking at a camera monitor only adds more confusion.
Nice to have though to keep an eye on the trailer while going down the highway.
JC
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David, the twin bunks that slide together, they must be the 36" matresses correct? Where did you buy them or did you make them?
Kenny
They are 32" wide. I had them custom made at R&B Mattress Co in San Antonio. They can make any size, softness, hardness, you desire. The only mistake I made was making them too firm. We added egg crate foam on top to soften them up. It seems the older I get the softer I want the bed. My granny had a feather bed when I was young. That was the most comfortable bed I ever slept in.
We paid about $100 for each mattress.
David
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I'm just a little surprised not to see things like backup sensors on front and rear bumpers, forward\down facing cameras and the like. There has been discussions in the past over seeing kids at the bumpers etc.
I've got a lower rear camera looking straight back and a camera in the pod on the rear cap looking down. They are very nice to have, but just not my favorite feature of the coach.
David
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Big enough inverter, solar panels and batteries. We boondock a lot.
Tom Caffrey
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Craig (Gumpy) likes his slide out toolbox If I had his bus I would be saying his pull down ladder for the rear roof access. I love that!
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Craig (Gumpy) likes his slide out toolbox If I had his bus I would be saying his pull down ladder for the rear roof access. I love that!
If I had the steps installed and a deck on the roof, it might have been included here, too :D I tend to forget about that because I have not finished it yet and so don't ever get to use it.