Decided to write bus off for this year!

[belfert]

I've officially given up on my bus for this year.  Unless I win the lottery there just isn't any way it will be remotely usable in 2 weeks and 5 days.

I basically have to tear down my bathroom walls and start from scratch because they are totally out of square.  No bathroom means no bus.  No, a portapotty isn't good enough.  My intent for this evening was to finsih the walls, lay the vinyl in the bathroom, and do the shower tomorrow.  Now the walls might not be done for several days which puts me three or four days behnd.  I didn't have any slack in my schedule to get this finished.

Brian Elfert

[Brian Diehl]

I'm very sad to here about your troubles Brian.  I know how dissapointing it can be to miss a really important deadline.  You sure there is no way you can just jury rig something for this trip that would allow you to use the bathroom for now and then rebuild after you are back?  How about just putting some plastic up on the walls you have now and just shower using plastic to keep your wood dry?  My brother-in-law used his bathroom in his house that way for a few months while remodeling the bathroom.  It worked okay for him and might be an option for you.  Put some "stick down tiles" on the floor to get by until you can do something permanent.  All hope may not be lost!  Remember that the shower hardware comes off and the toilet will unbolt from the floor after your trip.

[H3Jim]

The first year I  used my bus, all I had was a toilet and a mattress on the floor, privacy provided by a large cardboard box.  For the last year my shower has been a half done wall, and a shower pan, but all waterproofing has been via visqueen plastic.  Not aesthetic, and definitely not comfortable to use, but it does work.  I have been surprised by the number of opportunities where I have been able to use other showers and toilets during my trips.

Maybe your situation is different, but I hope you can see your way to not giving up on your dream for this year.  You have been remarkably active, you have been very thorough and intelligent in your research (as I surmise from your prolific questions).

I wish you luck whatever you decide.

[TomC]

One of the first walls I put in was my bathroom wall.  And it is visably out of square.  But- I actually like it since it makes the sink area a bit bigger.  All I did was to have the dinette on the other side of the wall made with the lower cushion out of square also.  But then again, what is square in the bus?  Just get things ready for this trip and worry about getting it perfected after you get back.  More important that you get out of Dodge for awhile!  Good Luck, TomC

[Ace]

Wow if everyone gave up as quick as you did, there would be NO busses on the road!

Now enough of this whining! Get back out there and put SOMETHING together for your trip! Once your gone and use the bus, you'll want nothing more than to hurry home and do some more!

It's a way of bus life!

Ace

[Casper4104]

Ok Brian,  I haven't been following you that closely.  I assume there's some trip you're planning to take in "2 weeks and 5 days" ?

What vehicle are you going to use for the trip?  Does that vehicle have a bathroom? Are you going to cancel the trip?  Over a bathroom?!?!  There are bathrooms everywhere!

I've taken 2 week motorcycle trips with just a bike, a tool roll and a bedroll.  It's really not bad - there are facilities everywhere.  You can shower in most any truck stop for a few dollars - most are decent - some are really nice.  They will usually have mens' and womens'.  I once talked a heavy-duty-cutie at a truck stop counter into givng us 4 free showers after I bought a measly 50 gallons of diesel - and I had a working bathroom!

There are potties everywhere. Rest areas-restaurants-laundromats(probably need one of those once in a while anyway)-Dr's offices-DMV's-construction sites-bus stations (Ok, maybe we can't recommend bus stations).

The Navy really isn't a job, it really is an adventure, and that ain't becuase of the 5 star accomodations, and that's a Petty officer 2nd class talking.  What are you going to brag to the youngun's about?  "We didn't have a perfect bathroom"  "We ate out foie gras on Ritz Crackers - with no Caviar!"  "My first Mercedes Benz was second hand!"

Now quit your sniveling, duct tape a portapot to the floor and get out there!   

Let us know what you decide to do Brian - we're all pullin' for ya'

Casper

[belfert]

Ok Brian,  I haven't been following you that closely.  I assume there's some trip you're planning to take in "2 weeks and 5 days" ?

What vehicle are you going to use for the trip?  Does that vehicle have a bathroom? Are you going to cancel the trip?  Over a bathroom?!?!  There are bathrooms everywhere!

I'm thinking of either cancelling the trip or flying out there.

It ain't just the bathroom.  There is no electric or plumbing done either.  No seats installed yet although that is only one hour job.  I figured if I could have the shower installed by the end of this week I could get the electric and plumbing done in time, but that won't happen now.

Brian Elfert

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Brian,

I know what your feeling like!     And, I know what level of Standard you are trying to achive!

But,..........You have to let some things slide. So, the bath walls are not right. It's acceptable in a coach. Fix it after the trip....

There is nothing worse than a personal let down. But, that is something that your not doing to someone else...

Get over it!  and take the trip as is. After the trip you'll be recharged and resetting thoose goals more realisticly.

Don't Give up!

Nick-

[Paso One]

Hi Brian  Just read Nicks tag line in his signature and hit the road.

[TomC]

Brian- One more-when I went to the first bus conversion convention at Laughlin in 1995, I did have the bathroom in and my bed, but that's all.  But there were others there that were using the bus as a metal tent with nothing inside except what could be tied down.  Throw a mattress on the floor, tape a porta potty to the floor with a sheet on a rope for privacy, get a Coleman propane stove and a few el cheapo pans, couple of Coleman coolers, some folding chairs, maybe a couple of electric camping lights-what more do you need?  You can gradually upgrade, but use it now! Lots of us have done just that

[gumpy]

You don't need a palace to go to NV. There are so many ways to make it functional for the trip. Throw up a couple sheets of plywood for privacy, or just a a bed sheet. It's just a bunch of guys going anyway, right? Pocket screws to secure the plywood to the floor and ceiling. Use a blanket or tarp for a door. Easy in, easy out when you get back and have time to do it right. Why do you need vinyl on the floor?  Even if you do, why does it need to be glued in. Mine isn't.

Hell, I put 5 years and 25K miles on my bus before I even  had running water or a toilet!

What's wrong with a porta-potty. There are rest areas every 100 miles along the interstate, and you have to stretch your legs or change drivers every couple hours anyway.

Or just hook the toilet up to the tank, and use a 5 gallon bucket to supply water when you use it. You don't need running water. If you gotta have a shower, get one of those plastic bag showers and hang it from the bus roof when you get there. Shower outside in the sand. A simple piece of plywood to stand on. Rough it a little! It's the desert!

I just don't get it. If it's mechanically ready to go, then go! Make do with what you have!

[Brian Diehl]

Brian, I'll second Craig's advise.  Make do with what you have.  You'll surprise yourself and have fun in spite of not having everything ready.  Go buy some batteries at Wally World and a battery powered lantern.  I've got a hardly used porta potty if you want to use that.  I also have a 5 gallon jerry can for water if you want to borrow it.  You can use your bus this trip and you can have a great time.  Figure out the absolute essentials you must have and get them done this next week.  Then if you have any time left work on the non-essentials.  It won't be perfect and it won't match your dreams/ideals you setup for yourself, but it will still be good.  I've got some extra sheets you can borrow for the trip if you want to borrow them as well for privacy screens.  You can do it!

[belfert]

Hell, I put 5 years and 25K miles on my bus before I even  had running water or a toilet!

You also rebuilt your bus from the ground up.  I decided to buy a newer rust free bus to avoid that.  I just way underestimated what it would take to get a usable bus by my definition.  I never expeted to be 100% done this year.

I just don't get it. If it's mechanically ready to go, then go! Make do with what you have!

I don't know what I want to do.  It doesn't seem hardly worth it to burn $1500 worth of fuel to drive a bus 4000 miles that has no more conveniences than a car or truck.  Actually less conveniences than a car/truck if I have no working A/C.  We wanted a bathroom for fewer rest breaks and the bunks so we don't need a hotel along the way.

The toilet is already plumbed into tank so I suppose I could do the 5 gallon bucket of water thing.

Maybe I'll keep plugging away for the next three weeks, but I don't want to do it in vain.  I really need my other friend to help more, but he is working on a rocket project that is the whole point of the trip.

Brian Elfert

[Busted Knuckle]

Brian I agree with all the others here! You've spent way to much time, $, effert, blood, sweat & tears from doing your researchto the point your at now, to just give up! Don't give up ! Plastic tarps are cheacp at Wal-mart or Big Lots! They'll make great temp walls or go with what ya got! Electricity? Hey again Big Lots sells thoise big heavy duty extension cords that have like 5 plugs on the end one of those a couple smaller cords and a power strip and yer "wired baby" run temp romex wiring from the generator or breaker box to the A/C units ! I know you know where the Flying J's are, they have free showers for fueling customers, then as said above make an outside shower when ya get there a cheap tarp & a 5 gallon water bucket hung from the bus will do the job! Look we all understand that you planned to have yer bus "ready" for this trip, and we understand the guys sharing it for the trip haven't been able to help! But hey don't let it stop you from enjoying what ya got you've spent way too much to get discouraged now! Besides taking it in rough form may help give yer buddies an incenitive to make a way to help finish it for the next time! Hey it's a bus not rocket science enjoy it! Temp it and roll with it! Go, Go, Go Go, Go!

 Brian get yer but in gear and enjoy that bus NOW! [/color] [/size]

GO! GO! GO! GO! GO! [/color] BK  

[gumpy]

Yeah, I underestimated the time it would take, too. I said 3-5 years. I'm now at 6 and counting, and loving every minute of it. We've put 35K miles on it. It's now functional, but by no means close to being done.

The A/C is the only thing I see that would be a show stopper, and I gotta say, I might not do it without A/C. However, it is the end of Sept. Things are cooling off out there, and you might not need it in a couple weeks.
On the other hand, you might. Really hard to predict the weather across WY this time of year.

I thought you had the generator thing solved by ordering a PowerTech?  So, run an extension cord up through the floor and tie a temporary line to the A/C unit. Plug in the cord and turn on the gen and your good. So what if it's a bit noisy. Fix the muffler later. As long as it's exhausting outside, and is safe and the radiator gets fresh air.

We still don't have good lights inside. I used some of the 120V flourescent lights from the baggage bays. They're all on a single power strip (that's right, power strip. No separate switch.) which is plugged into the single extension cord I have running from my inverter. I run my lights, microwave, refrigerator, tv, vcr, and dvd off the single extension cord. Works fine.

And last, if you're quibbling about spending $1500 for fuel, you might have jumped into the wrong hobby.  If you can't afford to put diesel in the bus for a 4000 mile trip, you probably shouldn't be converting a bus. On the other hand, if you do the math on motel rooms, food and gasoline to do this trip, I think you'll find you're within $300 of your fuel expense.

My opinion only, and that's how I justify all the money I put in mine