Dusterbd13-michael said:What about an easily collapsed (storm) pvc and billboard tarp awning? Shade, light weight, cheap, easily stored.
Yes...
Billboard Tarp: https://billboardtarps.com/product-category/billboard-vinyl/billboard-vinyl-13-16-oz/
Looks like it's durable and very affordable. No doubt that you could custom build for the bus better than a commercial product.
Second the billboard material. Cheap and strong! Don't run a grill under it!
A simple frame made put of aluminum pieces should be cheap!
Billboard material + aluminum frame =
Seems to be very strong and waterproof. I've seen this dome go through a lot of storms.
Re: Color
Not that you're probably psyched about the idea of more masking, but I played around for a couple minutes in photoshop to see what might help tie the blue in a little better.
ebelements said:Re: Color
Not that you're probably psyched about the idea of more masking, but I played around for a couple minutes in photoshop to see what might help tie the blue in a little better.
I knew the front bumper would help, but I hadn't visualized that blue top panel. That *really* makes it come together. The wheels? I'm not so sure.
Obviously, I have no talent for editing, but.. if ya could make my thoughts "pretty" for me... I know I like the upper panel -big help. I would def. prefer the black wheels. Just my opinion/suggestions. I think a black bumper would contrast well; blue bumper may be too much of the same? Would have to see the black lower trim to decide ... looks horrible on my poor dwg! (have done black rockers on a few cars; liked 'em...)
In reply to 03Panther :
Sure!
Thanks! From that I can tell I still prefer the lower trim blue, and the rims black. So so on the bumper. When John gets a chance for an update, we'll se what he plans.
If I remember right, he's moving to a new campsite now; Hope the short move went well.
Move complete, got to move a little earlier than originally scheduled. New spot has more "yard", more shade, and is oriented pretty much east-west, so much less sunlight through the windows.
Finished painting the ribs on the passenger side yesterday afternoon, will get a photo this evening.
I think I like black bumper better than blue. Def black wheels. I could be convinced to go with blue on the "forehead" and ... "afthead"? I'm planning on repainting the bluebird emblem and "swoosh" above the windows, like the one below, but in blue.
If I was made of money, chrome bumpers and wheels could look really swanky.
When the tooth fairy arrives, how about wheel covers.
You and the Mrs. have done great work. Enjoy the new spot. Be healthy, be safe.
I assume the wheels are 22.5's - Ive got a set of stainless simulators off my FL50 we can put in place; let ya look at 'em a while , see if ya like ter look. I didn't put them back on while doing all the brake work -Had wheels on and off at least a half dozen times, and this set is under the lugs.
The blue "bluebird" and swoosh is gonna look GREAT!
Again, no talent for this, but seeing the yellow bus, with black and yellow on the wide trim...
Got some flooring installed in the bathroom. Need to come up with a good solution for the vertical surfaces and the sloped step, and some kind of corner moulding to cap the edges off, but its a start.
I've gotten into a rhythm living in the bus. Mostly found places for things to live at least semi-permanently.
The gray water requires dumping about ever 12 it 13 days, the black could probably wait 2 or 3 times that long but I haven't tested that.
Still haven't found the bottom of the first 20lb propane bottle, and I use the stove several times a day.
I really don't use the lights very much, so my electricity usage (via the batteries) is limited to charging my phone and laptop and keeping the fridge cool. I hear the fan on the charger or inverter once in awhile, but not often.
The AC does a fair job keeping up with the heat, thus far (been up to the low 90s). If its going to be hot, I typically run it at 70 with a fan pushing cool air forward through the hallway. If it isn't hot or real humid, I have been shutting it off and opening all the windows. I have a small fabric sunshade on order that I want to try to fit to the skylights to help keep the daytime temps down in the front of the bus.
Other than that, I still need to track down the coolant leak, finish painting the outside, and come up with an elegant solution for the bathroom floor.
School's on hold for awhile, and in the meantime they really don't have much for us to do, so once we report that we're still alive and healthy, we are free to our own devices. Ready to get back to it, I'm struggling with the urge to get a toy/project to keep me busy (as if the bus isn't project enough). Hopefully will start survival school in early June.
This thing is truly epic!
True to form, hours after I post, something actually interesting happens.
Got a real good thunderstorm last night. Weather stations reported up to 70mph gusts, just under 2" of rainfall.
Rear skylight took some water, so now that's on my short list. Gotta find a ladder and re-caulk the cracks in the plexiglass.
Power's out, and water along with it. Fortunately I had the wherewithal to fill the kettle before we lost pressure, so I have coffee this morning.
Fortunately the really bad stuff stayed north of us. Bus is looking fantastic! If your bored, I have a few toys you might be interested in, and if your REALLY bored, you could even come over and do a bit more work on Charlie! You know, just to keep ya from gettin' rusty!
To bad about postponing school; not bad in itself, but longer till your done. At least your not in a bad place to weather out the crazy time... From seeing y'alls home area, family should be in ok spot too. Hope all the First Responders in the family are doing ok.
Welllll, back to the grind.
Off to boarding school tomorrow to learn how to get slapped around. I'll check back in at the end of the month.
Panther, I'll almost certainly be looking for some wrench therapy with Dr. Charles when I get back.
In the meantime... watchin' squirrels with my girls.
Now that is the best picture I have seen in awhile! Be safe.
Well that was a miserable experience. Great training. My feet are wrecked. Wife says I look like I'm 10+ pounds down, and I was pretty slim to start with.
Plenty of rain while I was gone, but everything seems to have stayed more or less water tight. Got a seam I want to check up by the front skylight due to what looks like a water stain on the curtain over the couch. Wife killed the first 20lb propane bottle this morning, so that's 2.5 months of use out of one bottle. Moving campsites tomorrow afternoon.
In reply to JohnInKansas :
Congratulations!
New Barbie. Scratch and dent sale, $49. Breaking it in with some home-grown Angus on homemade toast washed down with awesome craft brews.
In reply to JohnInKansas :
John, Good to see you're posting again.
How's life in the "tiny home" bus?
Thanks, Indy. Training has been hot-and-heavy enough that I haven't really had time to get lost in the forum like I normally would.
Bus is pretty good. Put the air conditioner away. Need to get a more serious heater ordered, my little office heater barely cuts it. Used 40lbs of propane in a little under 6 months, but that was with almost no hot water usage.
Flow rate required to trigger the on-demand water heater was just above my supply rate, so pulled a pressure regulator. Brought the flow rate at the sink from 3 gpm to 6 or 7 gpm, shower head from 1.5 to 2.5-ish. Kind of wish I'd just used a 5 gallon tanked water heater instead of the tankless on-demand.
If I had another $10k to spend on it: mini-split heater/AC, tanked water heater, full upgrade on batteries/inverter/charger and install the solar panels, awnings and window tint, better skylights. In no particular order.
The real answer: taking it in to a local shop over the holidays to have the coolant system checked (leaks when it gets hot), replace the front shocks. So I can get it back to Kansas in 6 months or so.
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