Bailey Bus

The chrome trim came in for the counter tops.  After much deliberation we decided on t-molding for the edge.  We knew we wanted a metallic edge but actual diner style aluminum edging was just too expensive.  Instead I used two strips of plastic t-molding that only cost $15 (plus shipping).  Since I had already used some t-molding around the bunks I already had the router bit to cut the slot.

I decided to overlap the top molding over the bottom by just a little.  I think it came out pretty nice.  I also cut a radius on the corners or the counter so the molding would wrap around smoothly.  For that I used the portable band saw and belt sander.

We’ve also added 10, count em, 10 cup holders.  We can now safely transport two open drinks per family member.

And lastly, it was curtains for the kids.  Anything to get a little extra sleep while we’re on vacation.  Plus they have a little privacy (read: they don’t bug each other as much).

We also added some little things like lights in the cabinets and hooks here and there.  It seems like we’re always looking for places to hang things like towels, wet clothes, keys or whatever.

Thanks to the generous donation from Dave at Sign Effects we now have this great awning!!  I attached it to the roof by bolting the brackets through the stanchion ribs.  It works great!  It rolls out about 10 feet and it’s 12 feet wide.

Also new is the counter top and sink.  I’m still need to add the chrome edging around the edge of the counter, but the sink is all plumbed and operational.

Lastly, I installed a stereo that has an ipod docking drawer inside.  It’s a pretty cool little dash unit that also has an SD card reader and USB port.  I have some little bookshelf  speakers on it just to test it but we’ll be adding a bunch of speakers around the bus soon.

Also shown are the curtains in our bedroom and the towel rack.

So we did it.  The first actual trip in the bus.  It was a blast.  Even though the weather was crummy we still had a blast.  We’re not finished of course but there’s no better way to figure out the finishing details of the bus then to start using it.

Anyway, there’s more progress of course so here are some photos:

Progress includes:

Paint in the master bed area and bathroom, some finishing touches in the shower including a bow curtain rod, medicine cabinet, electrical panel and inverter cabinet, primer on the walls, shades on the front windows and new cabinet doors.

And now that we have some experience using the bus we’ve got a nice list of things we need next.

So we started putting cabinets together and realized two things:

1. Ikea gave us one wrong cabinet.

2. The original kitchen layout wasn’t going to work with or without the right cabinet.

So we went back to the drawing board and Kerry came up with what I think is a much better layout.  I don’t have an updated floor plane, but I have pictures of the cabinets installed, so take a look.

Also noteworthy (and title worthy) is the flooring.  It’s TrafficMaster Allure teak.  It’s like a cross between linoleum and floating laminate flooring.  Really easy to install.  A friend of mine put it in his house and it seems to be holding up in his kitchen and dining room so I figured I’d give it a try.

You can see the seats are now in an ‘L’ and backed up to the cabinets.  Also, we painted the ceiling white with a slight texture.

This still doesn’t bring the site up to date, but that’s all I have photos of right now.  More updates to come.

We’re planning on a trial camping trip for the first weekend in June.  I don’t expect to be done, but we’ll be done enough to try it out

Stay tuned.

So I’ve been very delinquent when it comes to posting.  I think the main reason is now that I’m registered and insured, my drive to get finished has kicked up a notch (or ten).

I have made much progress, but I’m going to post the older stuff first…

Here are some assorted photos from the waste water tank installation.  These are from 5/9.  The illuminated tank is the gray water tank (the light is from a drop light sitting on top of it).

I didn’t leave nearly enough clearance to access the bolts that hold it to the frame and ended up getting very scratched, dirty and frustrated while installing it.  The black water tank frame is made from new steal and contours to the tank.  The gray water frame is made from old bus seat frames.

There’s also some photos of the what the bathroom looked like around 5/16.  The wainscoting  is up and some of the trim.  Also most of the FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) is up in the shower.

I’m now registered and insured.  YES!  My title showed up yesterday.  I took it to my insurance company this morning.  They had told me before that they didn’t think they would be able to insure it under Commerce (my normal carrier) but I guess they changed their minds.

I hit the RMV a 1/2 hour ago and now I have my plates in hand!   Looks like I’ll need to take her out for a celebration trip to the ice cream shop or something tonight

The lady at the RMV looked at my RMV1 form.  “So your just re-registering this, you already own it?”.  “Yep” I reply.  She taps at the computer for a minute and looks at me “This isn’t really a 37 passenger is it?”.  “Noooo.” I laughed nervously.  “I wonder why it says that?” she pondered.  Then she went and got my plates

Sometimes it’s what you DON’T say that counts I think.

I told Kerry the best way to paint in tight spaces is with good old fashion child labor.  She was skeptical but in the end the kids pulled it off, and it only cost me 4 cents per hour!

Actually when I told the kids they could paint their own bunks they were so excited to start.

When the kids were done Kerry and I climbed into the bunks to touch things up.  After only a few minutes we were both tired of painting in such a cramped space.  That’s when Kerry learned the true benefits of child labor.

I spent all day Sunday making a poop-tank bracket for the black water tank.  Today I actually installed it.  We now have a pot to piss in.

After staring at the odd shaped tank for about 1/2 an hour I finally decided I would make a bracket that would fit the compound contour of the bottom using square stock.  I cut slices in the square tube so I could bend it.  Then I welded the cuts closed.

I’m pretty happy with how it came out and it works great.

It’s now installed and the plumbed.  More picks to come.

…still can’t be insured.

So the good news is: I got a title that says Auto Home!!  YEAH!  Auto Home is what Massachusetts calls motor homes.  When I originally talked to my insurance company they said this was the key to getting insurance and a camper license plate.  Two things I would like very much to have.

The bad new is, I struck out on getting insurance so far…

Now that I have my title (actually it’s in the mail, should be hear next week, but I have a title receipt which the RMV says should be just as good) I figured I’d take a stab at getting insurance.  I started out with progressive.  Their website actually had a category for bus conversion on the insurance quote form!  I thought I was golden.  But when I called to buy the insurance, they said “We no longer write those risks.”

Then I tried GMAC (a favorite among RV owners I guess) but they don’t offer coverage in Mass.

So I think I’m going to wait for the actual title to arrive and go back to my insurance company.  Perhaps I’ll have better luck there.

No posting sometimes means no progress, sometimes it means I’m too busy making progress to post.  This time it’s the latter.

This past weekend brought propane (which you already know) and my new little hot water heater, which I haven’t posted pics of just yet.  Also new this week: a closet, some paneling in the bunk area, a new propane regulator and a big hole in the floor for the shower drain.

The black and gray water tanks showed up today.  So visions of waste water are dancing in my head.

First things first, let’s see some pictures, because I know that’s the only reason anyone actually checks the updates…

Here’s the new water heater in all it’s water-heating glory.  Constant hot water means all five of us can take a hot shower (assuming we have enough water).

Here’s a wide angle so you can see the propane tanks too.  Propane isn’t hooked up yet because my auto changeover dual regulator wasn’t here yet.  But I have it now, so it’s going on this weekend.

Here’s the new closet.  The first picture is looking from the front of the bus back.  I know it’s a mess, but the new closet is there on the left, opposite the fridge.

Now here’s a close up.  Kerry and I are planning to line the closet with slat board.  You may never have heard the term but you’ve seen slat board in stores a million times.  It’s everything peg board should be but isn’t.  Google it.

Tomorrow, and this weekend, I’ll be working on the gray water tank mounting bracket and the shower plumbing.  I can’t wait to run hot water down the drain