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Post Info TOPIC: I found a Bus..
SnowT


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I found a Bus..
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Well I found a bus..

- Watched the auction Like a hawk and in the last dying min, submitted my Bid.. Damn it I won the Auction.

Now just to do the final inspection[got to fly up],arrange for transfer and pay for it..

So at this stage I'm a provisional owner of said Coaster bus..

- gone out the door are the Automatic and an Import..

If all goes to plan the bus, has already been complacenced as a 5 setter and under 4.5t.. so there goes once hassle..

it has been partially fitted out and I'm going to have a Look at what has been done and keep what I like and redo the rest..

- the Batteries are sitting in the garage at the moment, just need to work out their final resting place and start the real install..

I'm going to install a Tropical Roof for the bus.. which shall be made up out of the panels I plan to install..

 

so Once I get further into it I'll do a Build diary to show what I'm doing as I go along..

 

Juergen

 



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IF I say something Dumb.. Just Smack me..

 

I'm full of Knowledge.. I don't profess to know EVERYTHING, but I'm constantly Learning new thing's..

 

Let's see what mischief I can get up to..

J
Big Gorilla


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Sounds like you're off to a good star. Best of luck with the project..



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Retired Airline Pilot and Electrician..

I'm not old, I've just been young a long time....Ken

Since light travels faster than sound, some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

 
GaryKelly


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Enjoy every moment of it, Jeurgen, and make sure you keep a photographic record.

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Gary

Ford Courier with Freeway slide-on called "PJ". www.aussieodyssey.com
jules47


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Well done Jeurgen - hope it all goes to plan - partially done is good, as you can fit things where you want them.

Good luck with it - and hope to see you out on the road in the near future.

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jules
"Love is good for the human being!!"
(Ben, aged 10)
Nelly


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Best of luck with it all - some good photos to come along soon and most importantly - have fun.

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Where there is a will there is a way!!
Kooroorinya Kelpie


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Hi Jeurgen and all. Good onya mate. Hope all goes well for you and don't forget to pick the brains of fellow forumites when the sticky problems bob up. Hope to catch you somewhere down the track. Cheers.

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johnnz


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Hey Juergen, how about a few more details of your Coaster, is it a long or short wheelbase year etc.

    In my fifth year on mine.

           Great vehicles

                                John



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Johnnz
halfpint


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Good luck with it all.



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Going to stop to smell the roses.
Cruising Cruze


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Good luck mate
will take some time to fixed it up but you wont regret it enjoy the time to do it


Cheers John

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SnowT


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Ok Before I even get to the Build of the bus..

Here are some current Pick's of the Bus..

Front 57-sm.jpg

Here is the Front Profile of the Bus..

top_57-sm.jpg

Top shot of the bus..

-- Going to paint this with Thermo shield Paint.. Before I install the Tropical roof of Solar Panels..

 

Int-Front-wide_57-sm.jpgInt-Rgt-Rear_57-sm.jpg

 

So there are the Picture of the Bus..

 

It's got a fair bit of stuff done already.. I'm going to tweak it..

I'll use most of it but I have to rearrange thing's.. I'm moving one of the Beds to the Back of the bus and install the shower/toilet are towards the front..

The double seat is being removed as I only ever plan to have 2 extra people in the bus.. In  it's Place I'm going to be fitting a 200-300lt house fridge..

- Remove the Aircon duct work and free up more heat room.. [ Replace the Aircon duct with 100mm Pipe and custom make outlet to suit..]

 

Install the Batteries and all the rest of the Gear.. 

At least most of the work is done..

- Just got all the fiddly bit's to do..

 

Juergen

 



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__________________

IF I say something Dumb.. Just Smack me..

 

I'm full of Knowledge.. I don't profess to know EVERYTHING, but I'm constantly Learning new thing's..

 

Let's see what mischief I can get up to..

J
SnowT


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Well Pick up is Tomorrow..

I Fly up to the Gold Coast and do my Unofficial First trip Back Home.. LoL

Juergen

__________________

IF I say something Dumb.. Just Smack me..

 

I'm full of Knowledge.. I don't profess to know EVERYTHING, but I'm constantly Learning new thing's..

 

Let's see what mischief I can get up to..

J
KFT


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good luck with the trip SnowT

hope it all goes well

frank

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Avagreatday.

Kathy and Frank currently at Home near Quirindi NSW
Kooroorinya Kelpie


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Hi Juergen and all. Just had a look at the photos and I reckon you are 95% there. Let us know how your trip home went. Cheers.

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Mr B2


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Looks like you have plenty of room inside it, Keep taking piccys as you do it, Its great to look back on what you have done,

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Cheers, Brian,
SnowT


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Got Back from the Gold coast Sunday Night..

Started to have a Look at the layout of the Bus and Modify it to my own specification's..
- Now understand I'm building this Bus to be able to run all the good stuff, with out hooking up to an outside source of Power.. Solar @ this stage only.. Possible wind Later on..

What I have done so far..
- Removed the Double set to allow me to move the main Kitchen Bench towards the Front of the Bus.. The Location that the previous person was going to use for the fridge is Gone.. I'm using a Standard Caravan fridge... Small Domestic for me..
- so the Kitchen unit is Relocated..
- I have to get a new sink as the one supplied was a small unit sink.. about 400x800mm way to big for what I want to do..

- The Narrow Bed is Gone... Which Adults are comfortable on a narrow 2" Bed.. [Not Me]
- The Other bed has been Moved so it's Closer to the Front of the Bus.. [Still Straddling the Rear Wheel arch but hard up now..

ALL of the Current Wiring has Been Removed as it was not up to My standards..
- There was actually a Few Thing's that could of caused a serious problem..
--> Have to Laugh.. they installed a 12v 2500w cont 5000w surge inverter to run off a SINGLE 100Ah Battery.
>> Issue with the inverter is the fact that the cable to run the inverter where not up to even covering the 2500w Load.. 208A's

So Basically I have gutted the layout of the bus So I can fit in the stuff I want/need..

Oh yeah it came with a Hot water system, 2 @ 12v Pump's and No fitted Water tank's..
- The water tanks supplied.. did not work for the original setup as there is no place to physically place them.. At least Not under the Bed.. and definitely NOT under the bus.. Wrong shape wrong dimension's..
That does not matter as I had already purchased a set of tank's to use for this Project..


The Bus is at the Mechanic's Getting a few thing's Fixed..
- timing Belt Replaced..
- filter Kit thru out.. Oil change.. and a Tune..
- A few smaller issue fixed..

I'm going to give the current Basic system a Run this Weekend.. and do an overnight at the Range..

Next week I'm going to build the Main bed in the Back of the bus and start on the Battery system install..
- also investigate to see if I have all the gear to make the tropical Roof So I can mount the Mini solar system on the Roof of the bus..
sm-IMG_2014_02_10_5809--sm.jpg

Narrow Bed Removed, Rear shelving Removed..

- the Aircon duct on the Left of the Picture has Been removed to allow for installation of  thing's Like a Shower.. Some Overhead Storage for Light stuff..

sm-IMG_2014_02_11_5819.jpg

In this Pic. the Red and Black Cable Going to the Charger on the Left should of been used in the inverter circuit.. but due to the nature of the person doing the wiring. they thought they would use them for the charger..

- also There was no form of Protection in either set of Power Cable..

If an issue had of occurred, then the Poop would of hit the fan royally.. No way at all to stop a critical failure[Fire situation..

The system was not designed to be able to free camp without the use of running a Generator..

 

[Me thinks it would be a good exercise to work out the cost of running a Generator for any length of time.. With regard to a good Solar/Battery system..]

 

 

So that is my Current Progression..

 

Juergen



Attachments
__________________

IF I say something Dumb.. Just Smack me..

 

I'm full of Knowledge.. I don't profess to know EVERYTHING, but I'm constantly Learning new thing's..

 

Let's see what mischief I can get up to..

J
jules47


The Happy Helper

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"[Me thinks it would be a good exercise to work out the cost of running a Generator for any length of time.. With regard to a good Solar/Battery system..]"

Juergen - me thinks it is also a good exercise to see how any fellow campers would like a generator running for long lengths of time - that is the pertinent point here, don't you think. Solar is silent!!!!!! And also relatively cheap compared to a good quality generator.




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jules
"Love is good for the human being!!"
(Ben, aged 10)
Mr B2


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200 Watt 12 volt panels are $220 each, In Melbourne,

A 30 amp MPPT controller is around $40-00 China,

200 A/hour battery, Gel, is around $400-00.

Battery should last 8 or so years, Keep it separate from your start battery,

Thats what I paid and it all works, Very well,

But I have seen the MPPT controller priced at $300-00, same one,

Thats only to put charge into the battery, and keep it charged,

Coming out of the battery, Thats your Dept,









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Cheers, Brian,
Aus-Kiwi


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Adding an extra alternator to charge storage batteries works great.. There's plenty 120 amp Alternators out there now
with built in regs etc..I start my gen set only when boiling water or making toast.. After 8 AM and before 7 PM ..

If there's people nearby I use the gas..
TV's etc run direct off 12 V..



-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Sunday 16th of February 2014 12:16:46 AM

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Whats out there
jules47


The Happy Helper

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Pretty sure Juergen is going to be using Lithium batteries.

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jules
"Love is good for the human being!!"
(Ben, aged 10)
SnowT


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I think your right there Jules..

they are actually sitting in the garage right now..
I'm in the Process of customizing my internal design..
- I have laid out the area where I'm going to place the 5 water tank's..[Yes 5 tank's]
- the tanks shall be under the main Bed..

I'm really think'n of painting the Roof with a Thermal shield paint[ doing the job myself with a brush and a roller..]

I'll post some more Pictures Tonight.. going to start to make the main bed frame..



Psst went down to the range over the weekend with the bus..
- I think the bus is going to work out.. With only the basic's in it..
A Place to sleep..
A place to setup the Laptop..
Access to 240v.. to run all the stuff..
I spent a comfortable time..

- Definitely got to put a sign on the back.. Slow Moving Vehicle..
The coaster is not the fastest thing, but then I like to enjoy the sight's when I travel around..

Juergen

__________________

IF I say something Dumb.. Just Smack me..

 

I'm full of Knowledge.. I don't profess to know EVERYTHING, but I'm constantly Learning new thing's..

 

Let's see what mischief I can get up to..

J
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